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Heading into the tough stretch of the semester. I ended the summer trying to finish a book review that was taking me too much time, and it then extended over into the beginning of my Fall classes. I had to prepare for two conference presentations that I gave out of state (including all the hassle with hotels and flights), and I just finished them at the end of October and then last weekend as well. Now, I have to take the GRE this coming week and I also have to take a foreign language exam or else I cannot start my qualifying paper for my Masters. I am also applying to PhD programs, so I have been investigating programs, contacting professors, and getting all that squared away. Oh, and I also have my regular coursework, which includes two papers that are due at the end of the semester. So it will be a continued effort, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end if I get into a program.
A mobile home would be helpful: no worries about hotels and flights anymore ! 🙂BTW what's the foreign language you are studying?
I'm taking the foreign language exam in Spanish, moreso to get it out of the way rather than because the language will help me in my future studies. I already speak Spanish (though it's gotten somewhat rusty over the years) and so I figured I'd have an easier time passing it than Italian, which is more applicable to my field.
Why do you have to take the GRE? Do you need that to get into the PhD program? Did you take a GRE to enter your Masters program as well?
I did not have to take the GRE to get into my particular Masters program. I think mine was the first year that it wasn't required as part of the application. However, I obviously have to take it anyway. The good thing is that my knowledge of vocabulary is expanding. It is an arduous task studying for it, not all that prosaic because of the tortuous nature of the task, but if I proceed with alacrity it will only foster a solicitous attitude so I do well on the exam, obviating the truculent possibility of having to retake the exam in the future!I ain't prevaricating! ;D
but if I proceed with alacrity it will only foster a solicitous attitude so I do well on the exam, obviating the truculent possibility of having to retake the exam in the future!I ain't prevaricating! ;D
ROFL!!! Had to look those words up.
This is why I stuck with American History. I just never could grasp a foreign language enough to do European/Ancient History graduate work. I probably could do it with some help, but there are 4 U.S. History faculty members to every one non U.S. instructor in any particular college or university. So the market doesn't justify it for me. 🙂
You also have the added benefit of not having to travel so much for your research. You can probably find much of your material in archives in neighboring states, and you don't have to travel much to foreign countries (except maybe England). For my research, much of the primary materials will be overseas. That's both good and bad, but it does make things more difficult for me. The thought had crossed my mind that I would have an easier life had I chosen a topic more close to home. 😮
But you have to pick a specialty that excites you. I chose Prussian Military History long before I knew I would live in Germany. It is just fortuitous that I now live close enough to visit the battlefields I want to study and archives I need to visit.
I took my GRE yesterday. About four hours of the stuff. Since it was computerized I got my score for the test (except for the essay portion) and I did fairly well. While taking it I thought I was doing horribly since I kept running out of time and the questions were really tough. Anyway, good to get that out of the way. Just today I secured the third of my professors who will write me letters of recommendation. Now I have to pass a Spanish language exam on Tuesday or I run the risk of not being able to graduate next semester. Good stuff, eh.
