Archive for October, 2007
Grad school
Oct 16th
Recently, I was offered a graduate research assistant position with one of the professors here. I have not yet fully completed the graduate application, but the professor says that the committee reviewing my application so far was really enthusiastic, and that I have a really good chance of getting in. The position includes a tuition waiver and a stipend.
I have always wanted to go to grad school. Whether I go directly after graduating or after I’ve worked for a few years is the main decision I have to make now. On one hand, I’m kind of sick of school, and I don’t yet have much direction. Yet this is an opportunity that I may never get again. So should I go ahead and go to graduate school, which will in the long run give me more experience and more money? Or should I get some work experience, save up some money, find direction, and then go?
I know I’m the only one that can make this decision, but it’s driving me crazy. I really wish I knew which way to go.
I have another interview next week with a company I am really interested in. Maybe after that I will have enough information to make up my mind.
Student apathy
Oct 14th
The apathy of the students on my campus truly amazes me at times. It’s hard to get people involved in any campus events, to get them to participate in anything.
This past week or so, people haven’t even been coming to class. It’s been pretty empty everywhere (though not empty enough to make finding parking a relatively painless affair).
In any case, some examples:
*Thursday was National Coming Out Day, and the LGBT office was giving out free T-shirts all week to those who pledged to wear them on campus. Naturally I got one. However, during the entire day, I only saw one other person wearing the shirt. Even people I knew had signed the pledge to wear them on that day did not do so. I was very disappointed at the lack of support of campus. The LGBT office had also set up an awareness booth in the campus center, though I did not get a chance to head that way during the day. I hope they got a better response, though, than they did with the T-shirts.
*A couple of emails and flyers galore announcing the first meeting of a departmental club was sent out to the entire undergraduate department. It was supposed to be a big deal, but only 3 people actually showed up, among all those who received the email. (There were others at the head of the club that came regardless, so the grand total was about 8.) I was looking forward to meeting new people in my major, but I have to wonder if it’s worth it to go out of my way to attend meetings with only 7 other people.
*A combined engineering/computer science career fair was recently held (as mentioned in an earlier post). Although the fair got pretty good attendance, I was told by one of the department heads that the reason they had to combine the fair was that, when they held a standalone computer science fair in the past, a very, very small number of students actually attended and it wasn’t worth the employers’ time or money. How can you not attend? How can you miss out on the opportunity to meet with people you may someday be working with? Getting your name out there more easily? Bah, people. BAH!
It’s really sad that so few students actually seem to care. It almost makes me wonder if anything’s worth caring about… but of course I know there is. I just wish more students saw it that way as well.
Career fair
Oct 12th
There was a career fair at school today. Several companies showed up and had lots of fun things to steal… though unfortunately I felt too guilty to take anything unless I actually talked to the representatives and expressed an interest. I did get a chance to speak with many different interesting companies and pass my resume around. I have an interview already with one company, and a few others expressed a desire to set up an interview at a later date.
The company I interviewed with earlier was there, too. I was elated when they told me that the process takes several months, and that I would hear back from them, no matter the outcome. It’s nice to know that I’ll hear at least something, because it’s not exactly pleasant thinking they’re so disinterested they won’t even tell you the outcome of your performance.
In any case, if that company doesn’t work out or if I decide that I can’t drag my family away, I’m looking around to see what other options I have.
…And I just got off the phone with another company. I now have another interview lined up! Hooray for me!
Things are looking up, are they not?
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