Every small town has its flavor, points of interest, rhythm of life. Even a corner gas station, linked to a major national chain, evinces this fact. Whether it’s the two-for-three dollars sale on two-liter cokes, the individually plastic-wrapped chocolate bars on discount at the counter, or the few endlessly hamster-wheeling hot dogs at the grillContinue reading “Out of Rhythm”
Category Archives: Positively PhD
It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s Over
…but it’s getting pretty close to over. Just a few more weeks to go.
The Story of Mankind
Only in the twisted world that is graduate school applications does the potential to receive a rejection letter constitute cause for wild celebration. What a weird world it is. Also a little frightening. Over the weekend, I logged on to check the status of my remaining application. When I did, I discovered a secondary financialContinue reading “The Story of Mankind”
Waiting and Winded
The grad school application process is winding down. April 15th is barely a month away, but I’m still waiting and trying to figure out how to proceed wisely. Tonight, I have to take a step back and admit that I’m feeling overwhelmed. I don’t really know what comes next. I’m not even sure what IContinue reading “Waiting and Winded”
In Retrospect
Reason #4731 not to re-read the personal statement that you submitted to a school at which you have been rejected: discovering a typo in the final sentence. Good job, self. I could be the first subject for a slightly-misleading-as-to-its-actual-purpose-but-catchy series of video advertisements with the following slogan: …should have gone to the Writing Center… I’mContinue reading “In Retrospect”
Like Petey in Remember the Titans
Okay, grad schools. Let’s have a 50%-off chocolate heart to heart. I am deeply appreciative of your consideration in not “breaking up with me” over Valentine’s Day. That being said, the stores are now making way for Cadbury Eggs. Any day now would be fine. Email is great. Snail mail is fine. I would evenContinue reading “Like Petey in Remember the Titans”
If This Keeps Up…
…I will have to re-title my blog: Perennially Penultimate Ponderings (that still didn’t make the final cut) (or even the wait list [who knew they had a wait list once removed?]) (but will have no final closure until April 15th) Womp, womp.
PSA: A Truth Universally Acknowledged
Contact: Jen, Public Liaison Phone: 704-255-1887 Night line: 828-859-2905 Begin Jan. 1 End April 15 A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a graduate applicant in the period of waiting must NOT be in need of extraneous emails from the admissions department of graduate schools to which she has applied. UnlessContinue reading “PSA: A Truth Universally Acknowledged”
Waiting Redux
If my life were a film, this scene would be shot in slow motion, with a sudden silence in the soundtrack. ::opens email inbox:: Title: Northwestern University Application Decision Available ::gut drops:: ::pauses:: Oh wait. That’s the one I already received. Sheesh. The waiting continues.
The Ultimate Alternative Career
As the impatience to hear the outcome of my graduate applications builds, I’m happy to announce that I have discovered the perfect alternative career should my academic aspirations fail to materialize. How, you may ask, did I achieve this gargantuan feat? I began by cataloging my demonstrable skills and passions: Researching obscure and esoteric facts.Continue reading “The Ultimate Alternative Career”
Snark on the Side 