Entry tags:
thankfulness
Today's is easy.
After a fun day of gaming with friends and a dinner with the Musketeers, I got home to find my grades for the comps had been posted. As I predicted, I failed the last essay and passed the first with distinction (after spending nearly three bloody hours on it, I better have! :-) I passed the second and, much to my delight, passed the third! So I receive an overall pass for the examination, completing my last academic requirement for my master's degree! Unless some administrative hiccup takes place, I should receive my degree as of the 15th.
So I'm thankful that this long, strange trip is done. I started the degree program in 2004 and gave up on it several times. I completed only 4 of the required 12 courses in the first three years. I took one the following year; in 2008 I registered for only 2 courses: I withdrew from one and dropped the other (2008 was, for the most part, a Really Bad Year). Then in the summer of 2009 I decided the effort I had put into the degree was too much to be wasted, and I blitzed, completing 7 courses in two years, ending up with a 3.97 GPA.
I started this thinking that it would be a boon to my professional career. I ended it mostly because I wanted to have accomplished it, having once started it. I am pleased, and also relieved. It's an odd feeling these days, getting to the end of the week and realizing that I can do whatever I like with my weekend--I have no reading assignments and no papers hanging over my head. Next time I do something like this, I am SO doing it full time, instead of trying to go to school *and* work.
After a fun day of gaming with friends and a dinner with the Musketeers, I got home to find my grades for the comps had been posted. As I predicted, I failed the last essay and passed the first with distinction (after spending nearly three bloody hours on it, I better have! :-) I passed the second and, much to my delight, passed the third! So I receive an overall pass for the examination, completing my last academic requirement for my master's degree! Unless some administrative hiccup takes place, I should receive my degree as of the 15th.
So I'm thankful that this long, strange trip is done. I started the degree program in 2004 and gave up on it several times. I completed only 4 of the required 12 courses in the first three years. I took one the following year; in 2008 I registered for only 2 courses: I withdrew from one and dropped the other (2008 was, for the most part, a Really Bad Year). Then in the summer of 2009 I decided the effort I had put into the degree was too much to be wasted, and I blitzed, completing 7 courses in two years, ending up with a 3.97 GPA.
I started this thinking that it would be a boon to my professional career. I ended it mostly because I wanted to have accomplished it, having once started it. I am pleased, and also relieved. It's an odd feeling these days, getting to the end of the week and realizing that I can do whatever I like with my weekend--I have no reading assignments and no papers hanging over my head. Next time I do something like this, I am SO doing it full time, instead of trying to go to school *and* work.
Entry tags:
(no subject)
OK, well, my exam is done. For once, I have to say, I am not comfortable with or confident in my chances.
There are four questions, and you have to get a pass in three of them to pass the exam. If you pass all four and get a pass with distinction in three of them, you graduate "with distinction".
My problem was that I did not manage my time at all well. In fact, I lost track of time while working on the first question (after reading all four) and spent about half the exam time on that one! I think I will certainly pass that one, perhaps with distinction. I'm fairly confident with my answer on the second question; I should pass that, too, I think. At that point, though, I had only about an hour to do the last two questions (out of an original six for all four), so I cribbed together a response to one from some similar exam questions I had had earlier in a previous course, massaging them a bit to fit together. If I'm lucky I may pass that one--not sure.
Then it came down to the last question and about 20 minutes. Without going into what it was (I think that's probably a no-no for an open post), it wasn't my best subject (one reason I'd left it for last--I didn't want to get all wrapped up around it and burn up time--instead I did that on a topic I could handle! arrgghh!) So I wrote up a very short, very vague reply. I doubt I will pass on that answer, especially as it's the examiner's pet topic (I should have known it would be on there and swotted up!)
So, I'm guessing that makes 2-3 passes overall. Fingers crossed! We are supposed to have exam result back within a week. If I don't pass at least three questions, I can re-sit the exam once (only), but I would be very disappointed with myself.
Well, nothing I can do about it tonight. Now for some dinner...
There are four questions, and you have to get a pass in three of them to pass the exam. If you pass all four and get a pass with distinction in three of them, you graduate "with distinction".
My problem was that I did not manage my time at all well. In fact, I lost track of time while working on the first question (after reading all four) and spent about half the exam time on that one! I think I will certainly pass that one, perhaps with distinction. I'm fairly confident with my answer on the second question; I should pass that, too, I think. At that point, though, I had only about an hour to do the last two questions (out of an original six for all four), so I cribbed together a response to one from some similar exam questions I had had earlier in a previous course, massaging them a bit to fit together. If I'm lucky I may pass that one--not sure.
Then it came down to the last question and about 20 minutes. Without going into what it was (I think that's probably a no-no for an open post), it wasn't my best subject (one reason I'd left it for last--I didn't want to get all wrapped up around it and burn up time--instead I did that on a topic I could handle! arrgghh!) So I wrote up a very short, very vague reply. I doubt I will pass on that answer, especially as it's the examiner's pet topic (I should have known it would be on there and swotted up!)
So, I'm guessing that makes 2-3 passes overall. Fingers crossed! We are supposed to have exam result back within a week. If I don't pass at least three questions, I can re-sit the exam once (only), but I would be very disappointed with myself.
Well, nothing I can do about it tonight. Now for some dinner...
(no subject)
Rupert and I went out today. I meant to go out to Pax Nature, but somehow the morning got away from me, and I ended up with only the afternoon (Pax Nature opens at 8 and closes at 4, and it's an hour away with traffic, so...)
So I went out and rode down Sligo Creek Parkway a little way. All in all, it was probably ~45 minutes (my bike device only records the time the bike is in motion, which was 32 minutes), given how many stops for water and breathing I took. Definitely out of shape, as usual! (Though I think it's time to clean and lube the chain again--that might help.) Not exhausting, but I do need to do this more often (like, daily would be good...)
Someone went past with a group of other cyclists in the opposite direction and said, "Hey, it's Jan!" Not sure who it was (maybe Mark, the local librarian), but it's kind of nice to live somewhere where that can just happen randomly.
Stopped and talked to one of my housemates on my return. He and his lady are off to France next month and watching the strikes with concern. I certainly hope they won't last another month!
I have to take my exam this week. I have six hours for it; I might just take an afternoon off work... Just one more test and I will be all done!
So I went out and rode down Sligo Creek Parkway a little way. All in all, it was probably ~45 minutes (my bike device only records the time the bike is in motion, which was 32 minutes), given how many stops for water and breathing I took. Definitely out of shape, as usual! (Though I think it's time to clean and lube the chain again--that might help.) Not exhausting, but I do need to do this more often (like, daily would be good...)
Someone went past with a group of other cyclists in the opposite direction and said, "Hey, it's Jan!" Not sure who it was (maybe Mark, the local librarian), but it's kind of nice to live somewhere where that can just happen randomly.
Stopped and talked to one of my housemates on my return. He and his lady are off to France next month and watching the strikes with concern. I certainly hope they won't last another month!
I have to take my exam this week. I have six hours for it; I might just take an afternoon off work... Just one more test and I will be all done!
Entry tags:
quite prepared to admit I'm blowing my own horn
The grades for my final course are in, and it was 993 out of 1000.
That makes 11 As and one A- for a 3.97 GPA.
My comprehensive exams period starts in September and runs through the end of October, when I take the exam. Four questions, of which I need to get three "pass with distinction"s to get honors and three "pass"es to graduate.
I'm pleased as Punch (now, if only I were as good looking as Punch. ;-)
That makes 11 As and one A- for a 3.97 GPA.
My comprehensive exams period starts in September and runs through the end of October, when I take the exam. Four questions, of which I need to get three "pass with distinction"s to get honors and three "pass"es to graduate.
I'm pleased as Punch (now, if only I were as good looking as Punch. ;-)
Entry tags:
(no subject)
Thanks to fionnabhar, la_renardine, and verdandiweaves for their words of encouragement. :-) I'm certainly at least going to go as far as to add a "woo hoo!" here, as I have posted the last class assignment of my AMU tenure tonight. I have a week off before I start my comps, and I will enjoy every minute of it. :-)
busy weekend
So, beautiful weather out, but lots to do inside.
Yes, a full schedule...
ETA: Slow progress, but progress. Six applications now submitted; one completed and ready to be mailed (e-submission not available); two others require me to have hardcopy of my references for them before I submit. I expect I won't actually get into any of them, but if I got into more than one it would, at this point, actually be hard to decide among them.
And I got the grade back for my last class assignment; 50/50 despite it being late and the prof having some niggles about the formatting (why, tell me why it matters which pitch and font an electronic submission is made?)
- catch up on readings for current class (Intelligence in Low Intensity Operations)
- complete this week's assignment for class
- complete *next* week's assignment for class
-
write personal statement for St Andrew's CSTPV application -
write personal statement for U of E criminology application -
write personal statement for U of E Islamic studies application - clean apartment
-
take Rupert for tune-up -
complete and file US and MD tax forms for 2009 -
participate in Battle of Bosworth wargame on Sunday
Yes, a full schedule...
ETA: Slow progress, but progress. Six applications now submitted; one completed and ready to be mailed (e-submission not available); two others require me to have hardcopy of my references for them before I submit. I expect I won't actually get into any of them, but if I got into more than one it would, at this point, actually be hard to decide among them.
And I got the grade back for my last class assignment; 50/50 despite it being late and the prof having some niggles about the formatting (why, tell me why it matters which pitch and font an electronic submission is made?)
Entry tags:
phew!
Thanks god that's over with! Final exam for my CT class posted. Should have grades for the class in a few days, and that will be #9 done. Three more to go, of which I am already in process on two. And, oops! I'm way behind in the reading for those...
Entry tags:
#8, done and dusted
Finished my last assignment for the Central Asia class this morning at 3.30; when I signed on at 8.30 this morning, it was already graded, commented on, and the course grade entered. I think the prof was eager to be done! :-)
Very complimentary remarks, and a total of 103/100, thanks to extra credit (extra credit? really? I haven't gotten that since high school! gratefully accepted :-) Bumps my GPA back up to 3.96 from it's dismal low of 3.95 :-)
Eight down, one ending next month, two starting next month, the final one starting in May. The end is finally in sight...
Very complimentary remarks, and a total of 103/100, thanks to extra credit (extra credit? really? I haven't gotten that since high school! gratefully accepted :-) Bumps my GPA back up to 3.96 from it's dismal low of 3.95 :-)
Eight down, one ending next month, two starting next month, the final one starting in May. The end is finally in sight...
term paper done
Ten pages and 2500 words? How about 16 pages and 4200 words? :-)
I'll put together a summary for you all later--as always, when I finally start in on a paper, I find it even more fascinating than I could have expected.
Right now, though, I have some cleaning to finish and some cooking to do!
I'll put together a summary for you all later--as always, when I finally start in on a paper, I find it even more fascinating than I could have expected.
Right now, though, I have some cleaning to finish and some cooking to do!
Entry tags:
while I'm bunging lots of posts up here
There's probably lots I haven't caught up on, but here's a start ( Read more... )
(no subject)
As much as I carp about it, one thing I do appreciate about AMU/APUS is that it allows me online access to a number of incredibly useful collections, like Janes, JSTOR, Lexis-Nexis, and portions of Ebscso and Proquest. Worth their weight in gold, those are.
ETA: ...and ABC-Clio (US military history), Praeger (international security), and CIAO (international relations).
ETA: ...and ABC-Clio (US military history), Praeger (international security), and CIAO (international relations).
Entry tags:
Entry tags:
righty-ho--another course done
Comments from my prof on my term paper:
Those barmy enough to be interested in reading ~15 pages on "The Influence Of Britain And Russia On Iran Before And During The World Wars" are welcome to a copy by email. ;-)
I fully concur with your closing note here… Your paper significantly advanced the class in their overall knowledge base of the region… at first I was concerned that it might be too regionally narrow, focused on Iran alone as it was… yet its implications for the wider politics and cultural milieu of the region became manifest early on in the reading
Well written (of course), solidly researched, and an easy and informative read… just reaching assignment parameters, but its overall quality somewhat atoned for that…
Nice work! 98%
Those barmy enough to be interested in reading ~15 pages on "The Influence Of Britain And Russia On Iran Before And During The World Wars" are welcome to a copy by email. ;-)