I really don't even know how to begin reflecting on or processing the visit in my head. It's so weird because I only applied to Winthrop for undergrad so I've never been through this whole visiting potential colleges thing before. I mean, I've stayed at UNCC and Virginia Tech for extended periods of time so I know what it's like to go to a unfamiliar school and to settle there, but with REU things I was just kind of thrown in there and figured it out as I went. It's not like I visited the schools first and then chose where to apply. With this decision, it's all my choice (assuming they accept me). I'm the one picking what I want to study and where I want to live and it's overwhelming.
I liked Clemson. It's a really pretty campus and the surrounding area's pretty as well. It's a very small town and the people I met were very friendly. It feels safe, and it feels like people are happy to be there, which I think is a good sign. There is a lake and trees and open fields and overall lots of good places to spend time outside. I feel like I would be happy living there.
I think I'm about 90% sure that that is where I'll be going next fall. It meets the characteristics I think I want in a grad school (smaller town, east coast, nice people, good professors, temperate weather, safe). Besides, Dr. Hodges is there. I know how important the advisor/student relationship is during grad school and I really can't imagine having a better mentor. We've proven we work well together and that's extremely valuable.
Also exciting is that we'd be practically starting a new lab. That means we get to define who we are, what we do, what lab culture's like. It might be more difficult building from scratch but I think it would be worth it to have that kind of freedom.
It was a good visit. I'm glad I went and that I was able to go with people I knew. I know I was quiet most of the time but I was thinking a lot about things...it's just a really big decision and I want to make the right one. I'm sure I will :)
Soooo sleeeppyyyy...but no nap for me this afternoon. Mom's invited the new music minister from their church over for dinner tonight, so she'll need my help cooking and cleaning and such. It's okay, I don't mind too much. Maybe I'll just take an early bedtime tonight.
Four days of real summer left. I move in Sunday and classes begin Tuesday and then time begins to move a lot faster. As soon as school starts there will be more things to do than there are hours in the day to do them, but with only 14 hours of classes I should be okay. I need to start planning and writing about all the things I need to accomplish this year. I have to do things like grad school applications, research paper conference submissions, SLC team leader stuff, finding someone to mentor, applying for graduation, taking GRE, programming competition studying...the tasks are endless. Once I get in school I'll be able to get everything organized in paper and in my head and it'll be okay. Right now, though, with so much family-related going on and my things scattered in boxes all over the place it's so hard for me to focus and write down what all I need to be doing, much less actually begin to accomplish things.
short-term tdl:
- Pack boxes to go to school
- Write documentation for Virginia Tech research project
- Spend some time with Victoria before she leaves
- Practice piano (scales & new piece) so Ms. Austin doesn't think I forgot everything over the summer
- Make a list of grad schools to look into
now to accomplish it. later!
1 comment:
that's so exciting! i wanted to go to clemson for undergrad but my parents vetoed that haha. now i'm thinking about staying in australia for postgrad! aaah i can't believe everyone's growing up and moving on. this is so crazy. don't you feel old now?? man. well good luck with everything! see you next semester! ps. i've been reading your blogs :)
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