SteveRogers.info

Category: Academic Steve

  • Grad School List

    First, SteveRogers.info is now feeding into Facebook through notes. I am assuming more people are reading through Facebook but just wanted to point out that there is a blog out there….rarely updated at that.

    Well…this week has been big on the Grad School front. The GRE is done, which has allowed me to better draw up a list of schools. Honestly, I really didn’t make my list. I went from professor to professor asking for their recommendations. The list grew to as large as 17, but it got narrowed to about 11. It seems odd that I didn’t really draw up my list, but I don’t know a better way to make one. I could poke around web sites and rankings, but my professors were able to say: Yes, X is a good school, but they won’t give you the time of day. Or Y is a great school, but they never tenure anyone so their faculty is becoming weaker.

    I don’t really want to post the list online (I am a little paranoid ever since I got a slap on the wrist from work about posting something), but if you want to know, just ask. Probably the most interesting thing is that there is a school on the list that I would have killed to go to when I was 16. However then it was for engineering and computer science, and now I want to go there partially because of my favorite Amendment.

  • Assorted

    • If you have not already heard, I am going out with someone. Her name is Sue, and we have been going out since May (debating since March). We have very good to near best friends for over 7 years. Feel free to ask further questions if necessary.
    • I still haven’t gotten my Official GRE score, but all is well for grad school for the immediate future. I got the informal/unofficial confirmation of my acceptance last week. I was a little nervous before then, but fortunately my future is laid out until January 2008.
    • During that time, I sort of (re)realized how I struggle to accept support. Friends always offer: “Is there anything I can do?” or try to give encouraging words, but (maybe this is the case with everyone) I rarely take advantage of it. Then, when I sometimes do, it doesn’t really help. Is it odd that I struggle to utilize supportive people?
    • I am typing this from the my employers Receptionist Desk (the receptionist has the day off, and as the low rank on the totem poll, here I am). I am sort of become their technical liaison. Meaning, we have contracts with a couple of Communications/tech firms, but my organization is not extremely tech savvy. Therefore, since I have been back, if there has been a tech issue to come up (whether e-mail blasting or online mail distribution), they have come to me with whatever their firms have offered. I either say: “That sounds reasonable” or “Yeah, no way you need that for that price” or “I have no idea.” Just today (in the middle of writing this), the executive director pulled me into a meeting. He is letting me lay out a project for us to do next cycle, which I am excited about.
    • In two weeks and a day, I not only get to see Sue, but I get to see my sister get married. I had a great wedding present idea, but it is about double my price range (which is pretty significant, you only get to do this type of wedding present once). Therefore, in the next couple of days I need to come up with something. I am a good gift giver, so the registry does not satisfy me.
    • My room at Whimsy Manor is small, but it is doing okay. Julian (who I sublet to over the summer) warns me that it gets annoying. I think the thing that I have going for me is that my personal space is bigger than it was in my old room in New Hall, and significantly bigger than what I had in London. So we will see how it goes
    • I have started running again, but the bad news is that my knees definitely are not a fan of it. It was a little better the other day when I ran on a track instead of a treadmill, but they stiffened up later in the day. My sister chastised me before about using basketball shoes to run, but I don’t really need two sets of sneakers. I am not eating much healthier than normal, but some exercise is better than none.

    Now that was a classic blog post.

  • Good Day…

    Grad school is much more sorted out.

    NFL Season Started.

    But my former candidates are struggling with the $$$. Come on PEEPS CALL!!!

  • GRE

    Boy, do I have some prepping to do after taking a “Diagnostic Test”… My scores….yikes….

    My Verbal was actually better than my Quantitative, but I haven’t touched a thing of Math in a couple of years outside of polling and precinct data.

  • Grades

    I am one lucky SoB let me tell you…..

  • Yikes

    20 pages of Papers and 2 finals to study for in the next 4 days (2 Papers Due Wednesday, 2 Thursday…Big Day is Wednesday)…..

    I am legitimately nervous….

  • GWU History Department

    Tomorrow is my last day of registration as an undergraduate, and I have completely changed my schedule since learning the US Constitutional History is taught by a Women’s Studies professor. First off, GW what are you thinking. You are the college where I have constitutional debates three times a week, and you throw Women’s Studies at me (Nathan, I apologize, but that class would drive me nuts, just not my thing).

    Therefore, I am now taking the Modern American Presidency with an entertaining, but okay educating Professor. He is a little scattered, but I can manage. However, I don’t really know if I want to take it because I sort of already know all the general themes for each president Teddy through Slick Willie (who the class covers). Nothing else is offered really, and I want American. So eh.

    However, while at GW, the History Department has offered US Hist 1890-1945, US Hist 1945 – Now, Revolutionary US History, History of the First Federal Congress (which basically covers to 1800, but not technically). They lista class covering 1815-1860, but in 3 1/2 years here. IT HAS NEVER BE OFFERED. Basically the 19th Century of US history gets the holy shaft at this school. I am not saying I am a civil war nut or whatnot, but comeon, give me something.

    /rant