Classes

I've been considering which classes to take in the fall at Western Carolina.  I have one required class for all incoming master's students in the Biology program plus a one credit seminar.  That leaves me with room for two other classes. 

One class that I'm certain that I will take is Ecological Co-adaptations which is about co-evolutionary interactions in the ecosystem.  The other two classes I'm considering are a plant physiology class and a population and community ecology class.  The choice between the two is tough.  While I could use the information and experience from both, I'm leaning toward P&C ecology.  The plant physiology is a slash course (a course for grads and undergrads), which is just fine, but the P&C ecology class is a 600 level class and will likely be more challenging.   Many of the courses that the Biology Department offers to grad students are slash courses, so that makes me inclined to take as many of the relevant grad only courses as possible.

The choice between the two is also a choice between zooming in and zooming out.  In the plant physiology class I would look at the fine-scale functioning of plants, whereas in pop. and community ecology, I would look at the large-scale functioning of species and communities.  The plant physiology class would be a nice foundation to build on and is probably going to be very concrete and applicable to what I want to research, but the P&C ecology class will give me the bigger picture background that I don't feel like I have right now.  The P&C class also goes into modeling, something I have very little knowledge of at this point.

I'm consulting some professors, but now having seen the syllabus for P&C ecology, I'll probably go with that one.

And the winner is...

Last week I accepted a spot in the master's program at Western Carolina University.

It has really happened.  Two years and three applications cycles after starting this blog and starting my grad school search in ernest, I have been accepted to a program.  I am so grateful for this opportunity.  I'm really proud of myself and excited beyond words.  I'm excited to get to spend two years working my ass off.

I will be earning a MS in Biology.  My research will be part of a project with the Forest Service that is studying how the size of small harvest patches affect the establishment early successional habitat and is seeking a threshold patch size for creating that habitat.  The study has treatment sizes from a single tree to 4 hectare (9.9 acre) patches.  The project is investigating effects of the patch sizes on the plants, birds, and bats.  The project is also studying the financial side of harvesting at these scales and public perception of the different harvesting treatments.  It is a pretty awesome project and is the reason I even heard about WCU.  I saw the opening posted on the Ecolog listserv.  There are two professors who I might work with, both of whom are focused on the vegetation side of the study.  I met both of them when I visited the school, and I think either of them would be great as an advisor.

While I'm there I will be TA for the Bio Department, which may be challenging but is also likely go well with my background as an educator.  I am a little nervous to be leading a class that I've not taken before, but I will be responsible for a lab section.  I'm sure once I get into the groove I will be ok.  As I learned at ODS, fake it till you make it--and you will make it.  Puffin always added that last bit, which I like.

My partner in crime this year also got into a program.  She will be working on a PhD with an awesome advisor on a project she is stoked about.  I'm really proud of her.  I'm sure we will stay in touch to compare notes, give encouragement, and celebrate successes.  I start in August and she starts in June; life is moving fast.

So I know I haven't used this blog much, in fact I'm quite a terrible blogger, but ultimately I started it for myself.  I may try to write more as school progresses.  I can use it a platform to inform my friends of what I'm working on and to practice writing for an audience.  I plan to publish my eventual thesis, so I can use all of the writing practice I can get.  I had a moment this week when I thought about how I may need to change the name of the blog, however.  My career in ecology is no longer a dream.

Back In The Ring, Round 3

I'm back in the application game.  After taking classes in the spring and fall at UW, I'm now working on my application for them.  I'm reworking my Statement in big ways.  The Statement I wrote for Minnesota was basically a longer version of the one I wrote in my first round of applications with specific information added about the professor I wanted to work with.  Now I'm taking a slightly different approach and have cut much of my original writing.  My goal is to be well under 1000 words.  750 would be good, but I doubt my ability or willingness to go less than that and say all I think I need to.

This year I feel like I'm further down the path than I've ever been.  I have three more courses under my belt with two As and an A- (that was in stats and I'm darn proud of that A-).  I have communicated with more professors than before, and I'm putting myself out there more.  I've made a great deal of progress in the last year, and I have a better understanding of what I want to do than before.  I also have a better idea of what I'm up against and what my weaknesses are.  I have encountered some dead ends and rejections, but that is the nature of the game.  Rejection is a fact of the process--and really a fact of life.   A friend of mine recently put it this way, "Grad school challenges one's insecurities. Often. Think about it. It's a filtering system. People who did well at each tier advance to the next tier. Eventually, you've got a very dense concentration of bright people and high achievers. The competition just keeps increasing."

One opportunity I was interested in had a great number of interested applicants.  I put in my materials and didn't make the cut.  But I put myself out there and that's the point.  I have to take the risk to gain the reward.

I also have a companion in the process this year, something that has been invaluable.  We are both looking at ecology programs but in slightly different areas of interest.  She has been a tremendous help and support, and I have been able to support her as well.  We have helped one another with writing our statements, letters to professors, and CVs.  We check in frequently about progress (or lack of) and goals.  We listen to each other freak out every now and then and talk the other down.  We give a word of encouragement or kick in the pants when necessary.  I'm really grateful for her help.

I feel really good about my progress and my chances this year.  I'm living the dream and doing the work.