And the winner is?...
Group DynamicsLast night, a wish was fufiiled: I did not go to dinner w/ my group of "friends" and when I spoke to my mother again about it, she agreed, as all parents will attest: it was a waste of money. So, a few hours after that, my flatmate knocks onmy door, I answer: "What are you doing right now?" she asks, I look at my one morsel left of the pb&j sandwich I had for dinner- "Nothing right now" "O.k, lets go to Jenny's B-day party!" I shrug. I really don't feel like going. "It is cake and icecream!" I since some insenserity from those girls sometimes. Like, I feel like an outsider with them a bit-since they knew eachother since the very beginning of being here. They unknowingly somewhat exclude me in conversations, and they act differently around me than they do with eachother-as I have noted.
She decides to go, asking me another 5 times (seriously) to come along-saying I was invited. me, cynical as always asks: "Did they really?" She says yes emphatically. "They really did!" and I was like: "O.k, did they say:'if all else fails, tell her we invited her!'" We start laughing, and tries to convince me otherwise.
Well, I ended up not going-and in less than hour, my flatmate is back. I asked her what happened as they were also supposed to watch a movie. She says another girl they didn't know so well came along, and was annoying them all. She herself said she was "not nice" to this girl, and decided to leave. I started laughing: "see, I am telling you, when another comes along, it changes the energy in the group!" and she goes, "yeah, I know what you mean now! It really does"
I chuckled, because what she descibed is the same thing that would have happened if I were there-only to a lesser degree, as I knew a good 3 of them pretty well.
Now that that story is over: Graduate School.
So, I have been researhcing grad schools-convinced that I shoud:
1.) Base my interest in the school on its program-soley
2.) Check location (Urban atmosphere-no more than 4 hours max away from home if in NY State)
3.) Master Degree Program only (English Phd degress arefading-FAST, although all the really good schools seem only to offer Phd programs....odd.
4.) One year Program (if the program is good, I'll do 2 years)
5.) **I would really like to branch out and see if I can swing it at an "prestigious school"
In terms of the program, I have also decided what I want my focus in English to be on:
1.) American Literature after 1865 (before that, American Literature was the diaries of Christopher Columbus and John Smith-and I am not kidding)
2.) Mix English degree with another discipline. I am really interested in the link literature has to Film studies and Psychology.
There are so many aspects that go into picking a graduate school! According to www.USnews.com, these are the best places with a focis on American Literature:
1.
University of California–Berkeley
2.
Harvard University (MA)
3.
Duke University (NC)
Stanford University (CA)
Yale University (CT)
Last night, I spent some hours looking at schools-and before then, even more hours. And I looked at Berkely (phd only-none of of my other requirements)
Harvard (Same as above) Stanford (seriously considering, although it doesn't have my other emphasis on film and psych) and Yale....well, Yale is BORING. And besides, 2 language requirements-I have to be able to read lit in 2 other langages? Don't think so!
Duke, I haven't really looked into, but I am sure it is the same as the other schools.
So where does that leave me to go? I am convinced that I will not be going to school in NY state. But I am not sure I could really hack it somewhere else. Ughh-what to do? I really need to figure this out this summer. By September, I have to know where I am applying to, so I can get going on getting requirements. I am praying I don't make the same mistake I did when decideing my undergraduate school. I want a positive and rewarding experience this time.....
:-)
posted by The Eternal Student @ 3:00 PM
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