Perfect, now not

Something was perfect, almost all due to someone else.  Then I made it not perfect.  I’m having a really hard time with that.

Music

I spent a few hours last night listening to music, mostly rediscovering old favorites.  Here are two, in particular, from circa High School thru College.

 

US News and World Report Grad School Ranking

The US News and World Report Top Graduate School Rankings were published.  Not good for my school.  We dropped from a near top 25 ranking to unranked.  If you review the methodology, I think it’s clear that this ranking says very little about the quality of education.  For example, the opinions of the respondents (Dean’s, Faculty, Admins of peer schools) has the largest weight (in some cases only).  In that sense, I’m not worried about the quality of my education as I am quite pleased with it so far.  However, as someone who will be going on the academic job market, where the reputation of your PhD grantor counts quite a bit, this worries me.  Can you say Postdoc?

When spring break meant fun

Ah, spring break is upon me.  As an undergrad I loved spring breaks.  Even when I couldn’t afford to go anywhere (almost always), it was a chance to chill on campus and hang out with friends who also stayed on campus or make new friends.  Now spring break means catching up on readings, grading, writing articles, and, if possible, getting ahead on some class projects.  Another example of the beast that is the PhD.  I’m gonna start a list of things to do when I finish the PhD.  First entry is to take a vacation.

Advice to college students

Don’t argue over 1 point on your quiz when it’s only worth 20% of your final grade, especially when you are wrong.  That 1 point is worth 0.2 points on your final grade.  It annoys your instructor.

Oh.  And I never know if it’s advice or advise

Youth ‘Choking Game’ Can Be Deadly

Ya think?

 http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/02/14/youth-choking-game-fad-can-be-deadly/

MD/DO or PhD

When I was deciding on whether to go the PhD or MD route it basically came down to financial security.  Most will be surprised to learn I went (am still going for I guess) the PhD.  The decision was quite easy.  Med school = $250K - $350K in student loans, with a “high” starting salary to follow.  PhD = free tuition and a stipend and, at least today, about $75K - $85K a year to start in the part of the country I live.  Should I become disabled or otherwise not able to work I’d be stuck with the med school loans whereas none for the PhD.  On top of that I’ve met several physicians who advised against their profession.  I’ve never met a PhD who said the same.  (Though, some have said for what they ended up doing - usually management or administration - a master’s would have been sufficient.)  A no brainer for me.

VDay

Yesterday was a good one.  That is, after about 9:30 pm, which is when I got home from class and got to spend some time with the fiance.

Congress (again)

Second idiotic congressperson statement: Roger, I’m sure you’re going to heaven. 

 I didn’t know God ran for congress…and won.

Congress

I am listening to the Clemens v. McNamee clusterfuck on ESPNRadio.  One of the congresspersons asked Clemens which jersey he would wear to the hall of fame.  How is that relevant?  He asked it in jest and managed to ruin his impartialeness in the process.  Great job.  These people are our congresspersons.