Batch #1

Oh dear! Is it really that time already? Mid December? Time to submit applications 1-5/ 8. I've been working on my personal statement, and I'm still debating when to press submit. I leave Thursday for Philadelphia, and would really like to be done by then... but that means TOMORROW! I know I can't be done with all of them by then, so I'll have to bring website addresses with me, and my zip drive. Hmm... my I don't think my sister has microsoft word... that could present a MAJOR problem... maybe I can borrow Dave's laptop (yeah right)... Oh well, one more day to figure it out.

Anyhow I spent nearly 4 hours tonight ordering my transcripts online. Who knew you needed to include a phone number?? Also, the maximum you can order at a time is 5, and for every subsequent order you do on that day you must "force the order"... and after every 5 you have to re-type your creditcard information, address, etc information. YUCK. I'm so glad it's over. I'm in shock at how expensive 11 transcripts were. (over $100).

At this point I have also submitted the general application and fees for UC and Case Western. They don't require the personal statement with their online grad school application, so I sent it in. I will wait to mail my statements to them.

Tomorrow I must submit my application to Pittsburgh. (It's due Jan 4) Then before the new year I would like to submit applications to Arcadia, Northwestern, Michigan, and Indiana. Arcadia will have to wait until I get back from Philadelphia (at least the supplemental forms and letters of recommendation-- which I should get in the mail while I'm gone).

My nerves are on end as I try to make sure I have everything I need complete. Does the statement say what it needs to? Does this school get a resume? Where do I submit the materials? What forms have to be mailed in, and which have to be attached to the online application?

So... tomorrow: Discuss my personal statement with Rob and Cecilia. Submit at least Pittsburgh's application. Go to work and give Becky the form for Case Western. Go to Leah's for a party for Cecilia and Mark. I doubt it, but maybe I can squeeze in some time to do some Christmas shopping?? Believe it or not, this winter break has been so busy I haven't had time to shop yet. And at the least, I would like to get Dave his gift tomorrow. Although I may be testing my credit card's limits this holiday season (grad school application fees... not gifts)

Now- time for bed, still trying to get completely better!

Cold, Cold, go AWAY

No, I don't mean the temperature outside... I'm sick! I thought it was just a sinus infection, but now that I've coughed enough that my ribs hurt- I'm pretty sure that I'm sick. I took today off work so that I wouldn't spread my infection to any patients. Today I finished my first (very) rough draft of my personal statement. Yeah... I'm going to die cutting this down. The draft is 1,087 words/ 5,775 characters long. Northwestern requires max of about 500 words/ 5,000 characters (although they give 700 characters for work experience...), Indiana's max is around 750 words. Some are ~2 -3 pages... but I'm not always sure if double or single spaced. Anyhow, I'm sure it will all work out. I have lots of people to help me look over it.

I'm excited that tomorrow is our work dinner party. Free dinner at Barcelona in German village. And wine before dinner at Rob's. (Yay!) That reminds me, I need to get a bag to put Rob's bottle of wine in!

Let it Snow!

It's over! Yay! The hardest quarter EVER is OVER! So far 3 A's... so I'm happy. Why do I do so well when I'm overloaded? Anyhow... it snowed Tuesday night, I woke up to about 3 inches of snow on the ground, and it just kept coming until about 3 in the afternoon Wednesday. Around that time I went to clear the snow off my car and realized that Dave had cleaned it off for me! What a wonderful surprise! Here he is with a broken finger (I can't remember if I told that story or not...) and he manages to help ME out! So I left around 3:15 for my last final. Done. Finished.

Now... I have to clean my horrendous room. I've basically just been moving the piles around for oh... 4 months! :-p I also have to write my personal statements and submit everything soon! So I'm about as busy as I was. I'm working next week. Yup... crazy me. I wish I could just relax...

Oh, and as a tradition after fall quarter... I may be getting sick... I think I may have the beginnings of a sinus infection... what joys!

Work sure pays off

I work hard to do well. I probably work harder than I need to, but I figure if I do my best work then it's worth it. I only have 1 final left: it starts 4:30 on Wednesday! Almost exactly 2 days away. So far I KNOW I got an A in Neuroscience... and I'm feeling pretty good about the other two. This last one I'm going into the final with a 94%... so let's hope I keep my A! Lots of work....

Below are a couple pictures from my group presentation last week.

Now I'd say, then it's time to relax... but that would be lying. So after the final... time to finish working on grad applications and the materials for my research survey for my thesis. All that needs to be finished a month from now! Oh boy... at least I know next quarter will be easier!

Something else I realized today... at the end of spring quarter I will most likely be 7 credit hours (2 classes) away from having completed a double major. And I could probably count my work at CCG as internship credit, leaving me 5 credit hours away! If only I had realized this a year ago! Oh well, I just hope graduate schools notice all those credit hours in biology when they look at my transcript!

Another picture! -attempted picture from my desk this summer. Is supposed to be the sunrising over the Horseshoe, but unfortunately I couldn't seem to turn off my flash!