like sands through an hourglass... shit goes from ok to down right depressing just like that
or:
why graduate school is bad for you!
[i'm totally working the rocky & bullwinkle vibe with the double title, if i do say so myself...
]
yesterday, i had a meeting with an advisor (my second reader), in respond to the "MA thesis draft" that i had given her. this was the draft where i did *exactly* what my first reader told me - defined a road, defined an interstate in contrast, and came up with some (potential empirical) questions vis-a-vis the difference. it's hardly stunning, blow you away original work. but it IS necessary lifting - there's not a lot of stuff out there on *interstates* per say, especially as a "space" and particularly tying to urban studies and broader political concerns. so i'm doing sort of the early theoretical defining that will shape my later work...
only THIS advisor doesn't see it that way. she all but dragged out the grad student handbook, as she repeated several times that an "MA should resemble an origianl piece of work that is worth publishing. this is more like a lit review or a first draft of a prospective. it is not an MA." and she went on... "to be an MA, i really think you need a much more orignal theory or some original work - like data."
the humdinger is that technically she is not WRONG. not really. (although, her lack of flexibility is a little obnoxious, considering her colleagues do things like write on why fat is political or cannot show up on meetings on time .... professionalism seems a little late at this stage in the game...)
it was a bit frustrating that she's unwilling to budge on what my MA can or cannot be ... i've certainly heard other folks who essentially just write lit reviews. and there's not really sufficient time (we have something like 20 weeks, during which we are taking classes etc) to pull this whole thing together. in particular, b/c what i'm trying to do has pretty limited precedent, there really are not existing data sets. for me, i'd have to compile tremendous amounts of unwieldy census data to get at what i want ... it's reallly not feasible, so thats why me & my first reader when THIS route...
it was also frustrating b/c she has little to OFFER, in terms of "positive productive feedback." i'm not talking about positive in the sense of patting me in the back. i mean, in terms of giving advice as to what to do now. so she pointed out this big hole, but really couldn't point me in a direction of where to GO. so it was like half useful.... apparently, this is her MO however. she is usually really difficult about drafts and what she wants and is really unclear. so ... that's some consolation.
where does this leave me? i dunno. yesterday Reader 2 was sort of like: "well, if you can CONVINCE me this counts as an MA ... maybe. or, you can find some oriignal data sources, and do that. you have time. oh, don't look so concerned, it will be *fine*..." (this is TECHNICALLY due in about 3 weeks - although we can really turn it in as late as *may.) she also consoled me with: "this will be a really good dissertation. it's just not an MA" ... gee, thanks....
so i emailed Reader 1 .. who's wife is having a baby? had a baby? i don't even know. she was due in february, and the month is pretty much over. basically, he's indisposed. but i emailed reader 1, and we'll talk (eventually?) and see what is what...
this also means that my plans for the year might change. if it turns out that i have to rework this AGAIN, and compile some crazy half-ass data set .... well, i'm not gonna get an ulcer. i'll drop the exam, take it in the fall. it'll suck, but so it goes. i'm not gonna go crazy and try and redo my thesis from scratch and prep for my qualifying exam.
in most ways, this is my fault. i should have done more the standard MA route. and reader 2 is just trying to help me do good work - i suppose. but it's frustrating, especially since i was just doing what reader 1 wanted .... so it goes. another day, another hurdle?
ok. done venting....
at least it's friday ..... 
or:
why graduate school is bad for you!
[i'm totally working the rocky & bullwinkle vibe with the double title, if i do say so myself...
]
yesterday, i had a meeting with an advisor (my second reader), in respond to the "MA thesis draft" that i had given her. this was the draft where i did *exactly* what my first reader told me - defined a road, defined an interstate in contrast, and came up with some (potential empirical) questions vis-a-vis the difference. it's hardly stunning, blow you away original work. but it IS necessary lifting - there's not a lot of stuff out there on *interstates* per say, especially as a "space" and particularly tying to urban studies and broader political concerns. so i'm doing sort of the early theoretical defining that will shape my later work...
only THIS advisor doesn't see it that way. she all but dragged out the grad student handbook, as she repeated several times that an "MA should resemble an origianl piece of work that is worth publishing. this is more like a lit review or a first draft of a prospective. it is not an MA." and she went on... "to be an MA, i really think you need a much more orignal theory or some original work - like data."
the humdinger is that technically she is not WRONG. not really. (although, her lack of flexibility is a little obnoxious, considering her colleagues do things like write on why fat is political or cannot show up on meetings on time .... professionalism seems a little late at this stage in the game...)
it was a bit frustrating that she's unwilling to budge on what my MA can or cannot be ... i've certainly heard other folks who essentially just write lit reviews. and there's not really sufficient time (we have something like 20 weeks, during which we are taking classes etc) to pull this whole thing together. in particular, b/c what i'm trying to do has pretty limited precedent, there really are not existing data sets. for me, i'd have to compile tremendous amounts of unwieldy census data to get at what i want ... it's reallly not feasible, so thats why me & my first reader when THIS route...
it was also frustrating b/c she has little to OFFER, in terms of "positive productive feedback." i'm not talking about positive in the sense of patting me in the back. i mean, in terms of giving advice as to what to do now. so she pointed out this big hole, but really couldn't point me in a direction of where to GO. so it was like half useful.... apparently, this is her MO however. she is usually really difficult about drafts and what she wants and is really unclear. so ... that's some consolation.
where does this leave me? i dunno. yesterday Reader 2 was sort of like: "well, if you can CONVINCE me this counts as an MA ... maybe. or, you can find some oriignal data sources, and do that. you have time. oh, don't look so concerned, it will be *fine*..." (this is TECHNICALLY due in about 3 weeks - although we can really turn it in as late as *may.) she also consoled me with: "this will be a really good dissertation. it's just not an MA" ... gee, thanks....
so i emailed Reader 1 .. who's wife is having a baby? had a baby? i don't even know. she was due in february, and the month is pretty much over. basically, he's indisposed. but i emailed reader 1, and we'll talk (eventually?) and see what is what...
this also means that my plans for the year might change. if it turns out that i have to rework this AGAIN, and compile some crazy half-ass data set .... well, i'm not gonna get an ulcer. i'll drop the exam, take it in the fall. it'll suck, but so it goes. i'm not gonna go crazy and try and redo my thesis from scratch and prep for my qualifying exam.
in most ways, this is my fault. i should have done more the standard MA route. and reader 2 is just trying to help me do good work - i suppose. but it's frustrating, especially since i was just doing what reader 1 wanted .... so it goes. another day, another hurdle?
ok. done venting....
at least it's friday .....
VIEW 8 of 8 COMMENTS
shard:
I think 3-10:30 will be very cool for taking classes in the morning.
galvagin:
I promise, I'll read and respond to your actual entry. BUT. You should read Preacher. Ennis and Dillon got their start on Hellblazer, but Preacher is a masterpiece.