The Forgotten MA

 

I've been in graduate school for 2 years now. I feel like one thing has become clear in all of this is that people seem to think those of us just getting a Masters degree do not really matter.

I've been told numerous times I need to just go to class and make straight As and nothing else.

I had a whole list of things I wanted to accomplish, but so far not many have been. 

It also seems that most professors think that because someone applied for the Ph.D. program they are SO far advanced from the MA students? This I can assess, is not true. 

I can't seem to put my finger on the ideology that MA students are even sub-par to that of the undergrads in the ways of the university machine, but I do know that most feel as though they are not important and it's a problem.

It amazes me

That as an academic I have to be reviewed and reviewed and reviewed to be able to publish and proceed in research, but filmmakers can just post whatever shit they want without any review process.

In the video below, Steven Crowder (a comedian/radio personality) talks about this video Vox produced. When I watched it I was immediately reminded of a documentary film professor (whose class I took for a day and dropped) who watched his roommate develop a heroin addiction (which ultimately ruined his life) and filmed it. Never once did the man (my professor) stop to think that maybe he should step in and help him, no.. let's just film it and submit it to film festivals and forget completely about the people in front of our cameras.

Now, I don't know much about the statistics in either side of the video, and neither give resources to their 'facts' so I say, if you watch.. take everything with a grain of salt. 

But wouldn't it be interesting to see what would happen if YouTube started a review process like academic journals have?

Procrastinating...

I find myself today.. Not because I'm so overwhelmed I don't know where to start, but because I'm so sure I'm going to fail I don't know why to start.

There's this thing..
I want to apply..
But knowing I might fail, makes me so afraid.

So today, I'm going to get over it.. apply

and more than likely fail.

Wish me luck

it's been awhile.

So it is now officially 2016.
I started the new year sick as a dog, but with lots of plans for what's to come next.

First, a good friend and I are going to take a road trip soon
Second, I plan to submit papers to conferences, and attend conferences as well.
Third, I'm prepping to write a book.
Fourth, I working on my Fulbright scholarship as well grant proposals.

and I plan to actually keep up with this blog.

See you around!

Never having enough time

This is the epitome of being in grad school.
never. having. time.

Someone asked me yesterday, "How do you do it?"

Honestly. I don't know.

Find the thing you're passionate about... or at the very least willing to work for.

I may hate my job, but I know it provides numerous things for me.
1. being money to support myself.
2. experience to add in my future.

Time management skills are a must in grad school.. that at the very least.

I'm still working on mine. Hopefully I can keep you updated on how(if) I can do it.

Getting into grad school with a low GPA

So I have been talking about my experience of getting into grad school with a low GPA.

When I finished my bachelors degrees I had a GPA of 2.86

The program I applied for preferred to have students with a 3.0 at least.

However, My director for my program gave me some insight that I think will be helpful to others in my position.

1. The most important thing is your letters of recommendation.

• Ask the professors that not only gave you good grades, but the ones you talked to. Ask the ones who saw how hard you worked and care about you.

2. Work really hard on your Statement. It's the second most important thing.

• You need to focus on your strengths, what you learned as an undergrad (as it relates to your masters program). Be sure to mention any conferences you spoke at or any publications you have. And also mention why you stand out from other students. What is your uniqueness that is an asset to the program.

3. GPA is the third most important thing.

• If your GPA isn't great, don't fret. Just shine on the first two things. And be sure to explain (if you can) about why your GPA might be low. Wether a personal or family emergency happened, or you were lazy your first few years and really got it together the last two years.

4. GRE scores.

• Not all schools require these. If your school does, a good score can make up for low GPA. If they don't just focus more on 1 and 2. Also, if you have a good GPA and a low GRE there's still no need to worry. Unless your school requires a minimum.. most schools don't care about the scores that much.

I hope this can help others out there that are in the same position I was. I did get into my program with a not so great GPA and a terrible GRE score. So there's always hope.

Busy week ahead.

I start my new job at GPTC on Tuesday.
Friday I have a meeting with the Director of Graduate Studies about my application from grad school
and for my documentary I'm working on to submit to Sundance one day.

It doesn't sound like much, but it's got me kinda freaking out.

Wish me luck, hopefully I'm not a lost cause for grad school.