College

[yorost]

I studied my M.Phil on a research fellowship. I just kinda assumed most people from lesser known universities had to either be willing to drive themselves into debt for grad school, or at least be marginally talented, enough so that your professor recommends you to another professor's program. I came from a pretty bad undergrad university, but the department I was in was pretty good. But I could not have afforded grad school without a fellowship.

Not all master's are funded as well, but PhD's, in my too detailed experience, are. If you're full time it's basically a career at that point, and they pay you piddly for your work so it's not unreasonable from that standpoint. Nah, it's on the school and prof to fund PhD's if you're going someplace decent.

Yeah, though, bad universities are one thing, but any place with a strong undergrad is good for grad school. Where you pick your undergrad, just make sure it's respectable and not a place taking 95% acceptance (even that's not killer if you're good). Tons of great schools out there for undergrad that aren't high end research places. In my program's class (and two around it) at a public ACC school, I don't think a single student came from a big research institute for undergrad. The Americans mostly came out of small private schools. Certainly, others in the department in my class had, it wasn't exclusive, but I met many that Ihadn't even heard of their school before (and now I can't recall some of them ).

[Perpetual Change]

Well, my undergrad was pretty awful. I'm not gonna lie. They let everyone in.

But, they were also interested in creating a lot of new academic departments. So there were a lot of new programs and stuff, and, due to smaller class sizes thanks to the smaller upstart programs, it was really easy to get familiar with professors and make impressions.

[73109]

Yorost, what experience do you have in all of this? It sounds like you know your shit.

[Cedar redaC]

Finals? Done!

[Implode]

My finals are in two weeks. Also, next year the university is moving a +/- grading system (including GPA differences between a+, a, a-, b+ etc.). Can anyone explain to me why they'd think this is a good idea? All it will do is lower almost everyone's GPA.

[73109]

They think grade inflation is pervasive problem perhaps?

I never did think it was fair that someone with a 91 got the same grade as someone with a 99. Plus, when there is an entire point difference between an 89 and a 90, that isn't fair either.

[Ħ]

My finals are in two weeks. Also, next year the university is moving a +/- grading system (including GPA differences between a+, a, a-, b+ etc.). Can anyone explain to me why they'd think this is a good idea? All it will do is lower almost everyone's GPA.

The inconsistent thing about that is that an A+ is no better than an A.

But really, it's good news too - if you get a C+, your GPA won't be as affected as when you get a C.

[Sigz]

Went to the career fair, got a few promising leads.

Have an interview next week with one of the companies I talked to. Fuck yeah.

[Silver Tears]

Aaaah just printed out and electronically submitted my dissertation. Now I want to change EVERYTHING.

[wasteland]

Aaaah just printed out and electronically submitted my dissertation. Now I want to change EVERYTHING.

Dissertation? What is that? (I know what the word means, just not with respect to your country's educating system)

[Silver Tears]

A project (lab or library or group) in final year that you have to do to graduate, in this case to get my Honours degree. You work on it for ages and it contributes loads to your graduating grade.

[wasteland]

A project (lab or library or group) in final year that you have to do to graduate, in this case to get my Honours degree. You work on it for ages and it contributes loads to your graduating grade.

So, what we call thesis. So you have already been three years in college? It's weird, here '92ers are still in their second year. Unless you skipped a year in high school because you were that good!

[Silver Tears]

I have been at uni for three years but I'm actually doing an intercalating year, the Honours degree takes four years in Scotland so I did two years of medicine then jumped into final year Neuroscience then I go back to third year medicine next year, so I'm just all over the place haha. Scots go to uni a bit earlier too I think 17-18 so we're usually a year younger than the English folk. Are your degrees just three years over there then?

[wasteland]

Well, first off we get to uni normally at 18-19 (19 in my case as I was born in May). Then there exist some courses lasting 4 years, some 3 and some 5. Physics lasts 3 years, but you will never find a job or enter the research world with the 3 year degree, so it's just a piece of paper that will allow you to get into the second phase of the degree, the so called Magistral (or Specialistic in some selected places) Degree, lasting two years. After that, if you want to enter the researche, there's the doctorate

Right now I am in my third year of the first degree, so I am close to finish it. Much blood and sweat still have to be spent to actually get there, though.

[Silver Tears]

Oooooh best of luck! Are you going to carry on to do the other two years as well then?

[wasteland]

Oooooh best of luck! Are you going to carry on to do the other two years as well then?

Of course! It's not really a choice, in Physics there is nothing you can do with just a three year degree!

[Silver Tears]

Haha well more time at uni the better in my opinion! Apart from not having any money 

[Cedar redaC]

I actually started at my university when I was 17. Technically, I was 18 when class started, but I was 17 the weekend before class for freshman orientaion.

[YtseCullen]

So I finished off my first year last week! I'm pumped and kinda proud of myself Feels good! Now to enjoy summer!

[yorost]

I actually started at my university when I was 17. Technically, I was 18 when class started, but I was 17 the weekend before class for freshman orientaion.

I turned 19 almost immediately upon starting university. I hit 21 months before any of my friends in my class so my birthday was my former RA taking me to the bars!

[Dr. DTVT]

My finals are in two weeks. Also, next year the university is moving a +/- grading system (including GPA differences between a+, a, a-, b+ etc.). Can anyone explain to me why they'd think this is a good idea? All it will do is lower almost everyone's GPA.

We are debating this at my school.  I, as well as most of the younger faculty, are in favor of this.  It does not lower GPA's like you think.  What it does is more accurately measure your performance.  Without +/-, the difference between an 89 and 90 for the course is one entire point.  In a +/- system, it is only a difference of 0.4 point.  For example:  If you had a 92 in one class and a 88 in another, you'd have an A and a B, or A- and B+.  Assuming the classes are equal in credits, they average to 3.5.

Edit:  Basically, what numbers said.

For all you professors-in-waiting, you better damn well like teaching, unless you plan on doing science at an R1 type institution.  I'll save the rest of the shit until you get closer to graduating with your Ph.D., but it's a hard ride even after you graduate and get a job offer on your first interview.

[Ħ]

Dr. DTVT -

Is your skill at being a good teacher a major factor in whether or not you get to keep your job as a professor? Like, supposing you were a darn good researcher but a horrible teacher, would that hinder your climb up the academic ladder?

[yorost]

Depends where. If you're at a top research university then chances are good that they barely care about your teaching. Go to a liberal arts research university and they very well might weight your teaching on equal ground. ...but teaching won't get your climb the academic ladder, research will because the top of the academic ladder is at research schools. You have to be a bad, bad teacher for a top research place to really scold you on it, especially since some of these places let professors buy out of teaching commitments.

[Dr. DTVT]

Dr. DTVT -

Is your skill at being a good teacher a major factor in whether or not you get to keep your job as a professor? Like, supposing you were a darn good researcher but a horrible teacher, would that hinder your climb up the academic ladder?

At a small liberal arts school like the one I'm at, teaching is top priority, and doing research is seen as part of my teaching since we don't have a grad program in chemistry.  It is seen as helping prepare students for graduate school and making a name for ourselves.  One of our chemistry profs and one bio prof have significant NSF funding, so we throw that around when prospective students & parents come to visit.

But honestly there is so much more to being a professor than just preparing lessons, teaching, and doing research.  There is advising, committee work, committee work, and did I mention committee work?  We do a ton of "behind the scenes" stuff that I really wasn't aware of even in graduate school.

[Silver Tears]

So I finished off my first year last week! I'm pumped and kinda proud of myself Feels good! Now to enjoy summer!

Woop!

[Implode]

My finals are in two weeks. Also, next year the university is moving a +/- grading system (including GPA differences between a+, a, a-, b+ etc.). Can anyone explain to me why they'd think this is a good idea? All it will do is lower almost everyone's GPA.

We are debating this at my school.  I, as well as most of the younger faculty, are in favor of this.  It does not lower GPA's like you think.  What it does is more accurately measure your performance.  Without +/-, the difference between an 89 and 90 for the course is one entire point.  In a +/- system, it is only a difference of 0.4 point.  For example:  If you had a 92 in one class and a 88 in another, you'd have an A and a B, or A- and B+.  Assuming the classes are equal in credits, they average to 3.5.

Edit:  Basically, what numbers said.

I must not know enough info. Becuase the way I thought it worked is that the + grades would be the integers: A+ = 4.00, B+ = 3.00, etc., and the rest would be incremently lower. That would mean that the average between an A- and B+ would be somewhere close to a 3.2 where in the old system it'd be a 3.5. I'm guessing I have that wrong?

[yorost]

No and maybe. There's no set rules, it can be whatever they want. What you describe isn't standard, but it could be right. Standard is +'s add 1/3 and -'s subtract 1/3, except A+'s are still only 4.00. My high school, though, awarded 4.33 for an A+ as well. It's a bad form of grad inflation, but universities don't necessarily notice, especially since they chop anything cumulative over 4.00 off at 4.00.

[Implode]

Ah okay. That wouldn't be that bad then.

[YtseCullen]

So I finished off my first year last week! I'm pumped and kinda proud of myself Feels good! Now to enjoy summer!

Woop!

Woop woop indeed!

[Phoenix87x]

For anyone who is getting ready to start Grad school, or has already finished, I have a question about student loans,

With the Federal Un-subsidized direct student loans, I know that the interest starts accruing immediately from date of disbursement, at 6.8%, but what exactly does that mean?

If I borrow $20,000 each year for 4 years, how much interest is going to get accrued by the time of graduation?

Is it actively accruing each day, week or month?  Or are they just going to flat out charge me 6.8% of $20,000? I'm really not sure how all this works.

[Lucien]

Senior year of high school next year, already know my college and my major.



Though I have heard the major is VERY difficult in the sense of being very tiring.


I love music too much to NOT go for a music major, though. 

[Ħ]

With the Federal Un-subsidized direct student loans, I know that the interest starts accruing immediately from date of disbursement, at 6.8%, but what exactly does that mean?

If I borrow $20,000 each year for 4 years, how much interest is going to get accrued by the time of graduation?

Is it actively accruing each day, week or month?  Or are they just going to flat out charge me 6.8% of $20,000? I'm really not sure how all this works.

That means that interest doesn't go up until you're out of school. Soon as you get out of school, the interest rate kicks in. So for you, you'll be indebted $80,000 right off the bat, and as you pay it off, your remaining balance will increase by 6.8% a year. You don't accrue that 6.8% continually; it kicks in on a specific date once a year.

[73109]

Senior year of high school next year, already know my college and my major.



Though I have heard the major is VERY difficult in the sense of being very tiring.


I love music too much to NOT go for a music major, though. 

What college/university are you going to? I find it interesting that as not even as senior you know already. How does that work?

[Lucien]

Senior year of high school next year, already know my college and my major.



Though I have heard the major is VERY difficult in the sense of being very tiring.


I love music too much to NOT go for a music major, though. 

What college/university are you going to? I find it interesting that as not even as senior you know already. How does that work?

Well, playing upright bass in an orchestra for 6 years... It's amazingly fun, and being in the top orchestra next year, I'd consider myself good at it.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana, by the way

[YngVai]

Senior year of high school next year, already know my college and my major.



Though I have heard the major is VERY difficult in the sense of being very tiring.


I love music too much to NOT go for a music major, though. 

It's incredibly tiring, especially when you work part-time and gig on top of that, but you get glimpses here and there of it feeling like it's worth it.