so i got this book that is supposed to help me prepare for the next 5 (hey i'm optimistic) years of my life. It's pretty good but a little depressing as well.
I don't want to be anything other than someone completely dedicated to the humanity of the globe and i thought that going to grad school was a way to aid me in that. but from what the book says, academia is as much a hierarchical good ol' boys club as anything else. However, I am in a women's studies program and i'm hoping that that means something, that that will negate a lot of the pitfalls he points to in the book.
So some useful or not so useful tips he offered (summer what do you think?):
Create a calendar mapping the entire length of your program including the dates of publication of articles you should be working on and conferences etc.
make contracts with your professors about when you are supposed to finish things and stick to them
write and work on your thesis for a couple of hours each day as opposed to in large concentrated blocks
set up a filing system etc.
For those of you who know me and have seen my room, or my apt. you know that organization is not something that is high on my list of priorities but i guess i've got to work on that. It's just hard to get into that frame of mind when it's the summer and friends are here and gavin is playing!!!
But i'm going to get it together. Trust! B/c the revolution depends on it!
7 comments:
1) there is a saying, 'if you wanna make god laugh, make a five year plan.' at least i think that's it. this is funny. very funny. don't get me wrong, it could happen, but i think it very much depends on your discipline. i'm not a goal-setter, but i say make small, reasonable goals for yourself and work towards meeting them.
that said, if you're running around trying to publish articles and get on the panel at conferences all the time, you will not finish in 5 years.
2) this is also super funny. this might just be my experience, but a lot of profs could give a shit about when you get that paper turned in b/c they don't wanna grade it, and frankly, have better shit to think about. my point is: don't expect these profs to make sure you honor these contracts. getting a ph.d. is a lot about self-discipline. hence, my response to number 1.
3) didn't have to write a thesis, so i wouldn't know. but it seems like a pretty decent idea. of course, i'm one of those people who has to read, let the info settle in my mind, and then go through the excruciating writing process at the end. so this wouldn't work for someone like me.
4) organization is key. i have binders w/ notes and articles from every class i took in grad skool. i also have files on each text i've read. that way, when i reread, i can see what i was thinking and how i'm thinking about the text now. it's really helpful--esp. when you're teaching.
damn summer-i was going to comment- but never mind. anyway- i might try to use some of those techniques on my own...
Good luck in grad school and if youre ever tired and want a break from doing all your work- call me and ill send my school work for you to do...
-alii
good luck and many blessings on your upcoming 5-yr (pump the positivity) endeavor. don't be depressed by this book. ask yourself some very important, ADW margin-to-center ?'s: who wrote this book? what paradigm is the author operating in? who are you? what paradigm are you operating in? - and change the methods accordingly, or create your own methods altogether. in any case, disciple makes things easier (organize your life/ plan your work/ work your plan/ etc). you've got the mind and the passion for it and that is a key component....hey, i need ur mailing address too!
-tmL
if nothing else, adw makes spelman worth living. thanks for reminds us 'reese. and yeah, what she said....
It seems that someone has already made all the comments...so I'll say this.
Ask you mother...ask you sister...ask meeeeeeeeeee!!!!
haha better than writing a thesis and the teacher didn't read it! But yea... I got the same book because this grad school thing is scary you know. But you'll do fabulous. You are an amazing writer and a genius this is something that you love you know? Its only the beginning to bigger things.
update please
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