Post Prelims

Well, I realize I've been m.i.a. from the blog world...let's be honest, m.i.a. from much of the real world as well the last month.

The Olympics happened, right?!

But what have I been doing? Well, one word...studying.  On August 1st, I started my preliminary examinations.  These are essentially the comprehensive exams over a four day period.  The first, second, and third days you meet in a computer lab, receive a question, and have four hours to answer it. Then on day three, you are also given a take home question that is specifically written for you, you have twenty-four hours to read/write/submit your case.

On August 4th at 1pm, I submitted my case study.  And now, I wait.

In the midst of waiting, I started classes yesterday and I am working on the introduction, literature review, and methodology chapters for my dissertation.

I should find out at the beginning of September if I passed my written prelims at which point I'd schedule an oral defense.  So for now, I wait, and work, and go to class, and write.  This is a big step in the journey and I'm grateful to have it behind me (and I'll be even more grateful when I find out that I've passed).

Happy New Year! (yes, I measure my year's by the academic calendar)

Back to Life

...back to reality.

Reality is...
It's the beginning of July (yikes!)
Today is my mom's birthday, happy birthday mom!
I take preliminary exams in ONE month (August 1st-4th)
I will be writing the first three chapters of my dissertation this summer
June 29th was the hottest day in history (107)
I got too much sun at the pool today

That's all for now.

Back to life, back to the present time.

GRE Results

It's done. Or at least I hope so. :) I took the test at 5pm today (17:00) and at 8 something received my combined score of 1070. Although I was hoping for a 1200, I'm just glad it's over.

It's hard to combat the multiple feelings rushing over me. On one hand, I'm a bit disappointed that my score wasn't higher. On the other hand, I'm elated that it's over!!!!

I don't do well on standardized tests, I panic about the time, the questions, and everything else in between.

But it went okay, I got essays about topics I knew..and hey, I got a 1070. Phew!

God is good.

Hopefully, this is the last time in my life I will EVER post about the GRE! :)

Starbucks is calling...no not literally!

It's Monday night, approximately 10 minutes til 8pm and I'm heading off to Starbucks to study for what will hopefully be my last night of studying for the GRE.

I've worn out my friends with words, and I am not sure my brain can hold much more information pertaining to this test.

But I'm off for one last time to visit my friends Nick, Matt, and blondie (I don't know her name and they don't wear name tags) who work at Starbucks. I'm just going to refresh my mind of these words I've spent so long memorizing.

For now I'll leave you with this, it was my fortune cookie from lunch today with my math tutor (a former CL who is getting her PhD is statistics).

So I'm going to begin visualizing a perfect score, after all, nothing is impossible with God...or according to this fortune cookie. ;)

On a side note, this weekend was great! I had a wonderful time visiting with friends from afar, playing in the lake, and many more oddities which I will gladly post about later this week.

Starbucks, here I come. :)

GRE Madness

Update on the GRE:

I'm taking it in a month. Yep, one month and counting.

I've made over half the amount of needed vocab words. (I'm working through a book of 500+ words; I've made cards for words A-L, about 100 pages of words)

I have memorized (most) the GRE commonly used words from a-e

I still have a long way to go, but I'm making progress.

Here's to hoping for a great score....or at least one where I never ever ever again have to take this toilsome test!

GRE Practice Test

Well, on Saturday, I took a diagnostic test for the GRE. This gives you an idea of your score, where you stand, etc.

Well friends, it's official. I need to study!

I scored in the 50% for verbal and the 30% for math (yikes).

The good news is I can study the math and add vocabulary words to my vernacular each and every day.

For example: Studying for the GRE is arduous, no truly, it is. :)