#it's been so long since i've been in an undergraduate class i don't know that i remember how the good ones run

[medieval-canadian]

help how do i come up with discussion questions that make students actually think and engage rather than sit in fear/uncertainty or simply react?

[qqueenofhades]

PERSPECTIVE Q FOR U if you have the time!! Ive always dreamed of going back to school but my performance in undergrad was so unbalanced (straight A's for 3 semesters, then a withdrawal, then more A's then failing then incomplete etc.) And while my professors were incredible (and even asked me to do join a phd in archiving WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE!!!!!) and i remember almost everything we read and learned i didnt have a lot of direction and was im afraid a p mediocre student in the end. Since then i've been in government in DC and its been fantastic getting some impactful policy experience and the like but at this point its been almost half a decade out of school and i dont even know how to begin!! The trump "administration" was such a bonkers time to be a civil servant lol but DID help clarify the things i want now and the goals i want to achieve (crazy stuff like "feed hungry ppl," and "don't fuck up the earth too badly") almost definitely mean i have to go back for something. Idk do you have any colleagues/personal experience in making these kinds of academic pivots? I dont have any huge pedigree either im a state school scholarship girlie and the informational interviews ive done with dc area nonprofits and things have left me....less than impressed (lots of ivy leagues, lots of uhh baseline assumptions). Ok sorry this got long and reminiscent of reddit i'd love to hear your thoughts!

As ever, my advice would start with: is it financially feasible, do you know what degree you want (i.e. public policy, politics, economics, global affairs, is it something related to your present work or a total 180) and what school you want to go to, are you in the position to leave your current job, etc.?

Since you've been in the workforce for a while, that's practical experience that would help, and be easy to demonstrate for why you need the degree to enhance your career. If they do have questions about your uneven undergraduate transcript, hopefully you could get in contact with some old professors who could vouch for you and confirm that they invited you to the PhD program. Then again, graduate schools tend to be fairly forgiving as long as you can make a good case for why you want to join their program and adequately explain your previous academic career. I work at a good/highly-ranked private school, and our minimum GPA for admission to a graduate program is only 2.5. So there is probably more leeway than you think, if you're worried about your undergrad grades being an issue, and it's not like you have to be 4.0 in everything. Practical experience and a solid track record in a relevant field will also be helpful in demonstrating that you've done more since that time.

Likewise, and as ever: what is the financial situation? Are you in a position to leave your job, if that was to be necessary, and what kind of financial aid package can they give you? Is it mostly grants or mostly loans? Do you have, say, a partner who can continue to work and support you? Does the graduate program offer tuition support and/or a living stipend? As I've said before, they really should be paying YOU to do an advanced degree, rather than anything out of your own pocket. Is it possible to go half-time or full-time, and do you know how you want to apply it to your career when you're finished? Is there maybe an online program where you could take classes in the evening and/or in between work, or do you want the full campus experience? Do you perhaps just want a professional certificate or other enhancement to your qualifications, without having to spend the time and money on a full graduate degree?

Anyway, I obviously do support you if this is something you decide to pursue, and I think it's plenty doable. You'll have to do some logistics planning on your end and clarify what you want and where you want to go and what they'll give you in terms of money, but it's definitely something that can be achieved!

[ironsighthalo]

092824

yesterday after class i was pleased to spend time with one of my favorite colleagues. we hung out from 5pm to midnight, and really i think we could've kept chatting for hours. it's been a long time since i've had a friend in the 'real world' and away from the screen; someone that i could be more-or-less fully honest with, where i didn't have to censor myself so much.

it's a mutual feeling. he described it as, "the difference between having to justify why you like something and explaining what the thing is" -- i was really happy when, as he anxiously went on about warhammer40k dawn of war dark crusade, he stopped himself and said "i don't know why i'm performing embarrassment about this thing that i like. i know you're not someone i need to do that around."

so, we hung out at the bar until around 10. we talked about a lot of stuff: the networks and cliques surrounding the department (and their respective power levels), heteronormativity, love songs, weird time signatures in music, racial passing, living lives online, whatever. at one point another colleague walked by and greeted us -- he had just got done playing tennis (!) -- and we invited him to sit down but he was on his way home. i felt strangely embarrassed to be seen socializing by someone other than the person i was there to spend time with.

after four beers apiece and becoming overwhelmed with the undergraduate bro chatter increasingly surrounding us, we walked to find a better spot and smoke a couple cigarettes. it's a football weekend, so there were tarps with seating set up around campus. we found one that was fenced in, with tons of tables and chairs and other junk under a massive white tarp. we sat in the middle of it all. it felt very cinematic.

he had this fancy cigarette holder and sung the praises of expensive american spirits, which burn so much longer than the marlboro reds i very occasionally smoke. it was windy so i couldn't get the first one to light, but he made a barrier between the lighter and the elements with his palm -- something i think i was supposed to know to do, based on his gentle jeering about it.

i asked him a lot of questions about his family and what his life was like before i met him. he told me about how his political philosophy developed into a personal one that made him a little miserable. he told me about his experiences studying abroad in england and about his ex-girlfriends and about the characteristic breakup-that-made-him-suicidal when he was in college. he told me about the government jobs of his parents. lol.

i think the main theme of our conversation across the night was love and relationships; this all-pervasive heteronormative ideology of love and how it can be corrupting, i guess, or self-destructive. we talked about symbols and their value a lot. we disagree very much on these topics, but i am in some ways sympathetic to his views.

i woke up with a terrible hangover this morning, not the worst but certainly bad. and my throat, jesus christ, it still burns no matter how much water i drink.

[duythanhle]

Thur, September 28th: Today marks the first day of Chuseok holidays. School and restaurants around the school zone have started closing earlier than usual as Koreans prepare for tomorrow's festivities. Although international students don't have classes today, I spent the day in an integration class, learning from dawn till dusk.

This is our third lecture, and I'm gradually getting to know most of the 20 people in the class, who come from 11 different countries around the globe. I'm thrilled to have made many new friends, including Indonesians, Mexicans, and fellow Vietnamese. All of them are incredibly kind and friendly.

We studied from early morning until noon, and then we had an hour-long break for lunch. We usually go to the convenience store to buy lunch since two of my friends are Muslim, and it's challenging for them to find suitable food outside, given that most of it contains pork or pork-derived products. I remember when we first met, they kindly gave me a bottle of water, so I returned the gesture with a box of jelly. However, after checking the ingredients, they discovered some compounds derived from pig, which was embarrassing. To make amends, I bought a chocolate bar as a token of apology. We typically eat at the self-study corner and chat during lunch.

Today, we discussed famous places in Vietnam and Mexico. They expressed their interest in visiting the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam due to their unique underground architecture. We also asked the Mexican girl about her hometown and the history of Mexico. Thanks to my years of studying history, I managed to keep up with the conversation.

More than that, today was the first time I had the chance to wear Korean traditional clothing, something I've been eager to do during my two years of studying in Korea. I also took many photos with my friends, hoping to share them on my Instagram timeline.

Yesterday, I mentioned to my sister that I was in the mood for mooncakes. It seems like my wish was granted because many students brought mooncakes to class for everyone to taste, from Chinese to Vietnamese varieties. I had already informed my Korean teacher that I'm a Ph.D. student, but today she asked me again if I was an undergraduate or graduate student. It appears that she might find it hard to believe that I'm a Ph.D. student. After class, she asked me to help erase the board and gave me some cake. Even though communicating with her can be cumbersome because I'm not fluent in Korean, I hope that in the future, I'll become more confident in speaking like a native speaker. I think that's quite ambitious, but at least I have a dream and a goal to pursue.

[theunaestheticstudyblr]

I’ve graduated from a very prestigious middle/high school which was designed for gifted students it was really fun and gave us a lot of access to contests and courses and stuff, but I think it gave a false sense of what the academic world is like.

Because last year I’ve graduated and now I started college.

I managed to major in a really good medical field (doctor of pharmacy degree ) but I got in a very okay, not really exceptional university

And I don’t know what to feel.

Part of me mourn the fact that I didn’t get into medicine, even though I discovered I don’t really like it, I only like the allure of surgery and the glory and respect it comes from getting into such school. And this university is the best in the city (there are very very few) but certainly not in the country, I want events to attend, I want competitions to win, clubs to apply to, interesting people to befriend, and more aesthetically pleasing building to study in. And sadly the university doesn’t provide that much of any of these.

Sometimes I wish I applied to some program where I’d study abroad (that would certainly be interesting) and seeing one of my best friends do it really hit the nail on the head.

It’s just everyone says university are the best moments of your life and I’m really really scared that I wouldn’t get that, specially since I set up such high standards.

Do you have any tips where I would stop feeling that way? Or at least for making my university years more enjoyable/interesting/memorable ?

Of course! I was in a similar boat. I graduated high-school with honors and full rides to several distinguished universities and I attend a smaller, not well known university. I moved 10 hours from home to a city I've never been to and knew no one or anything. I went from a tight friend group and several clubs and activities to literally nothing. It's hard and disappointing and makes you question your worth.

The first step is acceptance and understanding. You know your situation and the reasons for it. It's where you are right now and it's your reality. Comparing your situation and yourself to others is so easy but it's so bad for you. And it's hard to accept things like this especially because they can make you feel lesser and like a failure, which I assure you you are not. There's nothing wrong with going to a smaller school. There's nothing wrong with being somewhere new and not super fancy. And it's ok to mourn and be upset over it as well as long as you come to turns with it and accept it.

The second thing I want to say is that schools tend to have a lot going on that you just don't know about. They absolutely SUCK at getting information out. I suggest following your school on different social media platforms to get more exposure to things. If they have a newspaper or newsletter, definitely get it! I found out that my school does guest lectures and resume building workshops and even has a diving club and I've been there for 5 years now. Most schools have a study abroad options available but don't really advertise them. Some classes even take place abroad as well. But you have to do digging to find them.

Another thing I would like to add is get to know your professors. Go to office hours. Ask about their paths and their experience in different fields. It can change your whole mindset and even set you on a new trajectory. They can also help get you connected to other clubs and organizations outside of the school as well!

Since you're in STEM, look for undergraduate research opportunities in your school. Talk to professors who do research with the university and see if you can shadow them or if they have space in their lab.

Also, get to know people in your class. Talk to the person sitting next to you. Talk to the others waiting for class to start or the people who ask a lot of questions. I know this can be hard and awkward but starting with simple questions about the class can lead to many great friendships.

See if your school has a discord or a Twitter or something. That's a great place to start meeting people virtually! If you meet several people who have similar interests, you guys could even start a club of your own!

And for the competition part, if the city has a brewery or late night cafe, sometimes those places have trivia clubs and events that could give you the same intellectual competition and thrill you seek! Get on Facebook and find some local clubs and groups that match your interests too!

The aesthetics of where you study don't impact your success whatsoever but I understand the want of that. Maybe you have a local library or garden you can study at.

Going to college is a huge change especially when you have high expectations and they aren't met. All you can really do is accept things and maybe apply to other universities as a transfer as well if you really aren't happy with your situation.

Anyways I hope you have a beautiful day love!!! And I hope I helped a little

[cat-26]

grad school anon here: Thank you so much for the detailed response!! I seriously appreciate it :) It is super helpful to see your journey with determining your grad school laid out.

Like, I've never really thought about big/small lab stuff before. My school is pretty small, and the only research I've been involved in has been on teams of 2-4 students w/ the professor, and I never thought about how the dynamic might change if there were more people. Also, it is super helpful to hear an engineering perspective (as an engineer myself!).

My uni is a primary undergraduate institution, so we dont have any grad students (at least not in engineering). The nice thing is that I was able to get involved in research last semester, but my options were pretty limited to begin with (only 3 research opportunities for my major). The research I'm doing is pretty computational, and while I think it is a valuable experience, I now know that computational is not for me.

Funnily enough, going into college I thought that I'd want to major in aerospace engineering (or at least go on to do it in grad school), however I ended up choosing mechanical engineering because not many schools have aerospace engineering as an undergraduate major.

Right now, I'm applying for REUs (research experiences for undergraduates sponsored by the natioanal science foundation in the us). Ive recently become interested in bioengineering, so now I'm applying to opportunities that seem interesting in bioengineering, but I havent taken a single biology course in college (lol). There's some big boi universities that I'm eyeing up for their research but idk if I'll get in because I've only really taken mechanical engineering courses

Anyways, thanks again for the response! I really appreciate it, and I thought I'd give you sort of my side of things too (might be interesting, might not). Also, I might message you some questions if I have more and feel up to it :)

--------------

Kind of funny side note: The spouse of the prof I am currently doing research with is planning some research that seems more my style, but I feel that it would be super awkward to be like "I'm ditching you to do more interesting research with your spouse - see ya!"

I'm glad my long answer was helpful!! And yes, don' t hesitate to message me with any other questions, I'll be happy to answer (or try to!)

And yes, your side is also interesting! I've heard a lot about REUs, I hope you get that!!! Bioengineering sounds so cool (it scares me, bioengineers are too powerful. You can go say hello to @\beacon-lamp, she's a biomedical engineer!) Fun fact about me: I wanted to be a vet so I started as a biology major, and switched to engineering when I realized I hadn't taken any bio classes and didn't need any more than calc II or physics I (and I really wanted to take more of those. Great decision on my part).

You can email professors from grad schools once you're a bit close to graduation to start asking about their labs, I doubt not having done research in specific fields doesn't hurt. (You can even ask what would make them more likely to hire you! Like, my prof tells prospective students to take CS classes since we do a lot of that)

Also, asking your prof to move to their spouse's lab would be so funny hahaha (now, will the prof be like "my spouse is awesome, go and be happy" or will they be like "hmm maybe stay in my lab.."?) But more seriously, I don't think any professor would be offended if you want to get experience on another kind of research

[lady-stormbraver]

Hello! About a month ago, you said you could definitely infodump about "Christian" counseling versus conventional therapy. I've been super curious about that ever since, but I don't have any experience with Christian counseling so I don't know what to ask. Take this as an open invitation to talk about that, please?

Hey friend! Thanks so much for this thoughtful ask, and for your patience as I've worked to formulate an answer!

So, before I dive in, a few disclaimers for context: First, I am a Christ-follower. I'm not here to say that Christianity shouldn't be integrated with psychology at all, and I'm also not here to say that every Christian who is a counselor should be a Christian counselor. There's nuance here, as I’ll discuss.

Second, I have a B.S. in Psychology with a Counseling cognate, and my long-term plan is to become a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). I was incredibly fortunate to receive an undergraduate education from professors who wisely offered us multiple perspectives, and the pros and cons, of many different theoretical orientations that Christians can take when approaching the field of psychology, and therapy specifically. I got to take an entire class on the integration of psychology and Christianity and the different ways this could look, which was incredibly cool... and incredibly eye-opening. A lot of the concepts from this course helped shape my opinions on counseling and Christianity, and the sort of therapist I want to become.

I have many friends who have sought counseling, both from counselors who labelled themselves as Christian counselors and those who did not (but may or may not have been Christians themselves), and these friends have been kind enough to share some of their experiences and perspectives with me. They have also been formative for my opinions on counseling.

All of this to say... I know a thing or two on this subject, but I definitely don't know everything, and I want to approach this with a spirit of humility. I'm also going to try and give as comprehensive and balanced a view as I can, so please bear with me.

If you're frankly not interested in reading my thoughts on this subject... no matter! I hardcore don't blame you! So I'm putting my infodump under the cut to avoid making this post more absurdly long than I fear it's already become. :)

So the first thing to know with Christian counseling is this: There's a difference between Christians who are counselors with a secular practice, (good) Christian counseling, and "Christian" counseling. When I say "Christian" counseling, with slightly derogatory air quotes, I am referring to the type of counselor who approaches everything through their version of a biblical lens, and tends to reject conventional psychology as fundamentally opposed to Christianity. If you hear about biblical or nouthetic counseling, this is probably the theoretical perspective you’ll find.

I’m sure many of us have been exposed to the perspective that mental health issues are sin issues and therefore ought to be treated as such. With this perspective comes responses to depression and anxiety such as “You just need to pray more”, “You don’t have enough faith”, and “You need to repent of an unspoken sin before you can experience healing”. I’ve heard these types of phrases spoken from the pulpit, from Christian counselors, and from well-meaning adult believers in my life. These words, when spoken to someone who is in acute psychological distress, can be incredibly damaging; I’ve seen this deeply wound people and lead to crises of faith.

I probably don't have to spell this out, but I will anyway: I take issue with the notion that mental health issues are sinful. Can you act sinfully while struggling with mental health? Yes. Is the struggle itself inherently sinful? No.

Mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety, are in part tied to chemical imbalances in the brain. These imbalances, once they occur, can’t be turned on and off by sheer force of will-- goodness, wouldn’t it be easier if they could? Nobody chooses mental health issues; they are a byproduct of the Fall, some of the world’s many brokennesses. Nobody in human history since Adam (except Jesus) has had a perfect brain, not even these same people who call mental health struggles sinful. Not even people whom we would call neurotypical. As my best friend likes to say, everyone can benefit from counseling! Some people just need it more acutely and immediately than others.

With all this in mind, I believe it’s far more harmful than beneficial to approach mental health with the mentality that it’s sinful, and that’s my main issue with biblical/nouthetic counseling. That being said, if you are looking for counseling that is strictly spiritual and offers biblical-based solutions, this approach is for you!

So what does Christian counseling look like when practiced in conjunction with conventional psychology? This theoretical framework will typically be known as an integrationist approach to counseling, although there is also a good bit of nuance within this approach. In general, counselors who operate with this perspective believe that “All truth is God’s truth” (St. Augustine); ie, that there are good truths to be found in the principles of psychology, and that an answer does not have to be found in the Bible to be beneficial for the psyche.

For example: Quoting Philippians 4:6-7 might not be beneficial for a client who is struggling with intense, debilitating anxiety, but evidence-based centering techniques may prove to be incredibly useful to them. An integrationist counselor believes that this is valid and does not make the client any less a person of faith. And if the client does wish to include biblical principles in their treatment along with those other techniques, that is just as valid, and the counselor will act accordingly.

You’re most likely to find a holistic approach to therapy here-- counseling that addresses and cares for the body, the mind, the environment, and the soul. Or, as one of my professors put it: a biopsychosocial and spiritual model of mental health.

Some Christians are called to practice counseling on a more secular basis-- and that is good and valid! Christians don’t have to (and shouldn’t, in my opinion) confine ourselves to a little bubble where we only offer counseling services to people of our own faith. When counseling clients who have different beliefs, it’s not professionally appropriate or ethical to evangelize. According to the ACA (American Counseling Association) Code of Ethics: 

“Counselors are aware of—and avoid imposing—their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature” (A.4.b.).

So basically, when a person is not licensed or representing themselves as a Christian counselor, and especially when working with clients who don't share their beliefs, they’ll be operating from a perspective within conventional psychology that won’t lend itself to spiritual integration.

Ultimately, after having said all this... each individual should choose a therapist based on what they are seeking and need out of counseling. There is no right or wrong answer here, but there are certainly pros, cons, and nuances to each of these counseling orientations that should be considered, explored, and-- if you pray-- prayed over.

And finally... if you're interested in reading more on the subject of how Christianity can be integrated well with psychology, I would recommend Psychology and Christianity: Five Views, which I read for that undergrad course I mentioned above. I also thoroughly recommend This Is Your Brain on Joy by Dr. Earl Henslin (I love this book with my entire heart, actually, but that's an infodump for another time) and my current read, Try Softer by Aundi Kolber (MA, LPC), which is absolutely wrecking me in the best way.

Again, thank you for this ask, dear friend; I hope something from this infodump was remotely interesting and/or helpful to you! If you’d like to discuss this further, my inbox is always open. :)

[milkybonya]

Hi Milky!! I hope you had a nice day today 🥰 I'm graduating in just a few hours! I can't believe it 😭😭 me?? A college graduate?? Sounds fake 😭 but it sounds extra fake because I'm taking an extra year to pursue a certificate so I'll be at the same school taking undergraduate classes with kids 2-3 years younger than me 😭 But idk I'm really excited because my mom is coming to see me today for graduation 🥰 I missed her a lot! I've been making origami for her as stress relief and I'm going to be giving it to her today! I'm not the artistic child in the family so I'm sure it'll mean a lot that I tried for her.

Things have been going really well recently by the way! Finishing up classes and resting for the last few days has been nice. I still have to do work for my internship/second job idk what to call it lol but it's been low maintenance and I can do the work when I want (it's remote!). I'm sure things will pick up on Monday when I start classes but I've been practicing a lot of self care that I hope will carry forward into the summer! Even though I've had a lot going on, my mood has been fantastic. Writing to Kingdom I think has helped a lot. They are all so nice 🥺 Seeing them cheer my posts on Weverse occasionally really goes a long way. Even tho not much has changed since March when I was really going through it, I'm doing much better so idk we love that 🥰

I hope things are going well for you in Korea! Astro on the 28th ahhh have fun!! I don't follow Astro but they seem like very sweet and talented boys so I'm sure it'll be a great experience 🥰🤩 and studying at the YG Cafe?? Hello that sounds so cool! I can't believe you saw a flash of Yoshi 🥺 I can't imagine just hanging out where idols might be coming and going! If you're willing to share, I'd love to hear your favorite part about being in Korea! I'm sure it's hard to choose just one, but if you wanna tell me about a couple, I'd love to hear 🥰

And I just saw your post about writing a blurb for moots' birthdays. You're so sweet 😭🥺 My ult is Baekhyun but idk I feel like I'd rather read for Arthur 🥺 He's climbing up my ult chart very quickly. My birthday is March 21 :) so it's just a little far away lol I haven't been on Tumblr a lot recently (but I have your post notifs on so I always come check when I see you're posting) but I need to continue reading your Treasure drabbles. The ones I read were so cute 🥺🥺 You have such a sweet writing style. It always makes me so happy.

And I'm glad you laughed at my delulu edit LOL everytime I would look at it I started dying laughing. Like I'm so embarrassed I actually made that but I actually did such a good job?? Considering I have like no experience with photo ending I'm happy lol I actually sent it to Arthur on the fancafe a couple days ago 😭 They aren't active on there anymore but they still check the posts so he didn't comment on it but I can only imagine he is laughing at me. As he should tho, it was so silly lol

I hope you have a nice weekend! 💙

omg graduating in a few hours?! you must be graduated by now then, congratulations my love!!! ♡ i'm so proud of you, you did so well... ♡ and hey, even if you're going back to school after and with kids younger than you, that's okay! age is not important, but doing things you love is !

i hope you had a lovely time and with your mom too 💟 i hope she loved the origami!! i didn't know you can do origami :O that's so cool! what kinds of things do you make ?!

i'm so happy you've been getting rest ^^ i hope you're able to keep up the self care ! and that your internship and new classes go well :O you're doing so much omg i'm insanely proud! and so glad to hear things are well :") to be doing better despite things remaining the same is honestly so powerful ❣️

yes omg astro this weekend.. they dropped their new album too and i love it a lot >_< especially my bias, Jinjin, his solo !

i actually... fully saw ikon coming out of their cars and going into the building it was so insane ! seriously being there near where treasure and other yg artists are gives me so much energy T-T

omg my favourite part of korea?? it definitely is hard to choose but i think it's in the small things?? like how good the public transit is, how well-mannered and polite everyone is, the fact that cute cafés are everywhere, the food!! i don't really enjoy cooking so being able to eat out healthily for cheap is such a blessing T-T and omg the convenience stores !!! i love that there's a river near my house, too.. i go for runs there a lot ! oops i listed so many things T-T

i'll be adding your birthday--!!

i can't believe you have my post notifs on aHH you're so sweet i'll cry,,, 😭

seriously your edit made me die for a good 5 minutes hehe so i can only imagine Arthur must've died too!! i'm so glad you sent it to him but it's a shame they aren't so active :( it would be funny to see what he says !

i hope you have a lovely week up ahead 💟

[soyouwanttobeamusicmajor]

Looking for advice...I just started my third year of my undergraduate music degree, and I'm really struggling. My classes are hard (it's conducting, music history, and recital year), and as much as I'm scared to admit it, I kind of hate it music right now. I've been struggling with the same problems in my primary instrument (piano) since freshman year. I'm miserable in my major, but I'm scared to even think about switching because I don't know who I am if I'm not a musician. Any thoughts/ideas?

Hey, pardon for the insanely late reply, Apparently no one else here logs in more than once a year heh.

I 100% empathize with your situation and I can honestly say by the second year of my collegiate music career I was over it. I may not have a solution for you but I can provide some anecdotes. 

Fact of the matter is, your bachelor’s sets you up to prepare a specialization, however many people go into music not having an end goal or “where do I see myself in 5 years” goal in mind, and this I believe is crucial to having a fulfilling collegiate career. I went to a school as a classical piano major 5 years ago, within a year I hated it and I thought to myself, why am I doing this.

My conclusions:

1. I love music

2. I can’t see myself in any other field

Notice the lack of:

1. I want to be a professional broadway pianist

2. I want to be a touring classical pianist

3. I want to be the best music educator I can possible be

and the more I thought about it, none of these appealed to me, and as much as I loved all these things, it wasn’t something I could foresee myself doing, long term. 

Late my second year of college after soul searching I realized my scene and my passion was music for visual media, and there would be nothing I would love to do more than be in that scene making music for products that I consume all the time anyways. My school had no course for that, so honestly, I got by, I did well enough to pass my classes, not amazing enough to guarantee me a spot in any symphony orchestra or an in house artist position, but I honed my skills to fit exactly what I wanted to do required me to. I put all my eggs in that basket, put every ounce of effort I could into it because.. I wanted to.

So my suggestion:

Narrow down what you want to do, bring it down to one or two things. If you’re an instrumentalist, figure out, where do I want my career to take me.

Hot take: Grades. Don’t. Matter. What you have to show for yourself does. 

If you want to be a Jazz pianist, fuck it, devote yourself to that theory, trap yourself in scales, study and listen to EVERYTHING you can of what YOU want to achieve. MedRen studies, appreciation of music, conducting, while all important in their own right, it isn’t what you’re trying to achieve. 

Conductor? Study EVERY score you get your hands on, learn the way of your favorite conductors. 

You mentioned your a pianist, ask yourself what you want to do with that? Aim to achieve those goals. 

And if at the end of the day you’re reflecting and you think to yourself,

I’m only doing this because I’m not good at anything else, start trying new things. Music will always be with you regardless of whether you pursue it as a career or not, but a fulfilling career will only come if you chase after it. 

I can go on forever about this, but this post is going to be too long, if you wish to talk about this further or if anyone wants to hear more from a pessimistic music major who somehow made it, feel free to reach out to me on twitter ( I swear this isn’t a plug I just don’t check tumblr) @Schubirds 

[heloisedaphnebrightmore]

Ok so first of all, idk what those anons are saying, but I think you're not just a fantastic writer, but you're also an incredible person in general! I'm so glad you're able to look past those cruel words and know your worth. By refusing to respond, you have taken away all of their power and I commend you for it.

Now that I've got that off my chest, I can get back to our convo. 😊

I'm just saying, it was like, 3 weeks instead of a month. You gotta give me credit for that. 😄 But yeah, life's a little crazy for us all sometimes and it just happened to be my turn.

120 Euros is insane! And some of them are more!? Here I just have to sign up on a website and pick a time. I had to drive an hour to get one the day of once, but it was worth it. I can only imagine how tough that would be. I would be so nervous if I got sick. I actually haven't caught a cold this year which I'm not sure how that's possible because I'm usually sick a lot and I'm super thankful.

Wait... You're telling me I actually have to take the advice I give? 😅 Lol, so I've started writing my response about 4 times now (I'm easily distracted) but it's been kind of nice because I drink water every time just to be able to say I did.

I haven't heard of that author before! I'll have to put them on my never ending reading list.

Omg, I am absolutely dying at how into this search you are. Don't think I didn't see your bio. 😂 I love how Tumblr is in on it too. Why yes Gina. Tis me, your subconscious. 🤣🤣🤣

Except for I actually am giving you clues, they're just super subtle and you've gotta read between the lines. If you look closely, I've actually answered both of those questions. 😉 (If you still can't figure it out I'll answer them but I wanna see if you can tell by looking at my previous messages)

Also, I think it's only fair that if we're talking about me, I wanna learn more about you too! What's your favorite movie?

Omg you got me! I'm definitely E.T. How'd you guess!? -⭐

P.S. One of these days I'm gonna trip up and forget to flip the anon switch so you'll certainly figure it out one way or another. 😉

My little star is back 💖!!

Awww, the amount of love I have for you is overwhelming and I don’t even know who you are. 🥺 Don’t you worry, I don’t let people bring me down, I’m way too proud for that. 😂 And I completely get that people’s life turn chaotic so I’m just glad you are back. 💖

Pounds, not euros, but yes, it’s not cheap. 😁 Healthcare in the UK is free, but the prescriptions and this particular test aren’t. It’s not that bad if you think about the fact that you don’t have to pay for further treatment because it’s free. What do you mean you are usually sick a lot? You mean catching a cold and stuff, not more serious kind, right?

Wait... You're telling me I actually have to take the advice I give?

That loud snort I let out when I read that. 😂 No, you don’t have to take them, they are just hanging in the air for the fun of it. 😂 I’m glad you are drinking enough in the end, my slippers are always ready to teach you a lesson. 😁

I really was hoping you would see my bio! I really am invested in this quest of finding out who you are and tumblr doesn’t seem to want to help! 🤣 I have a confession to make. I even have a post in my drafts which I planned to post if you haven’t showed up soon. Here is a screenshot of the title 😂

Also it’s 4am here and I’m reading through all of our conversations from the very beginning when you messaged me about Shadowhunters. You are a bad influence, but let’s get started, because no, I don’t want to talk about me, I am ready to find out who you are! 😂

It will be long, so click on that keep reading button if it shows up. Sometimes it doesn’t 😂

What I know about you so far; Shadowhunters edition

You like Clary because she has flaws.

In your opinion Simon is the best character.

Book!Alec is your least favourite character.

You think Jonathan and Valentine were ok villains, but not the best.

You are a sucker for Jace.

Izzy is also one of your other favourites and you hate the Yin fen plot mostly because it led to Rizzy and a toxic relationship.

You also love Max and we agreed that COG is taboo and we preferred the series version.

What I know about you so far; Personal edition

You are adorable

You are mysterious

You are sweet - and now let’s get started 💖😂

6 days ago you wrote; the new semester has started

You are hoping you'll be able to read and interact a little more

You love my nickname for you 🙈💖

You only kind of take care of yourself; Let me get my slipper! 😅

You are on a campus where people make food for you when you actually get your backside out of the room 😂

You are doing a research project on landing mechanics in a specific sport; This is where I thought I knew who you were. Then you destroyed it by saying; You are majoring in science and you like testing and analyzation 🙈 

You are considering a career in research one day which will be beneficial for your grad school application; This is where you got me confused. 😅 If you are to apply to grad school, that means you are doing your undergraduate degree now, which means you are supposed to be over 18 😂 But here we just call it University so I’m not 100% sure about what grad school is 😂Or are you in college which could be from the age of 16 and that’s before grad school too 😅

You have to get tested constantly at your school 

You have never seen Ben Barnes in anything and we haven’t talked about him until now

You got 2 assignments in one class 😂

You take long to decide what to read, as in physical books so you end up reading fanfic instead!

You feel like a spy as my anon 🤣

You are not an AI, but you are an Alien, ET to be exact 😅 and you are building a rocket ship to fly back to your planet

You keep sending me to drink water, but you don’t take your advice!!!

We talked a few times in different places; How is that a clue?! 😂

You get easily distracted 

You get sick a lot; I don’t like the sound of that!

You never heard of J.R. Ward

So in conclusion, 

Do I follow you? Haven’t found the answer to that, but since you said we have talked here and there, I assume I do.

Are you a minor or over 18+? If my assumptions about grad schools are correct then you are doing your undergrads now so yes, 18+.

Did I get any closer to who you are? No! 

Why? Because this “I’m majoring in science” threw me off completely 🙈 My one solid lead disappeared into thin air... bye bye Sherlock Holmes, welcome Dumb and Dumber 😅

Did I just spend 1 hour replying to this, searching for all the clues and now I’m going to bed at 5am just because I’m so determined in my quest? You bet, I did 🤣 

Also from the way you talk/write, I get US vibes. Probably I’m incorrect but oh well 😅

Now can you please give me a solid clue? I’m begging you! 🤣💖 Maybe the first letter of your first name or your exact age, maybe a birthday so I can completely ignore that one clue in my head? Doesn’t matter which one, but at least one, pretty please 😁

[theancientgeekoroman]

Hi so I'm a high school freshman rn lol but I want to study archaeology, and in my country they don't teach that, like it's not a career, there's only anthropology. So I've been researching a lot and I found out that La Sapienza in Rome teaches it. But idk do you think that it would be fine to go and study it abroad? Also, should I learn latin or ancient greek?

Hello! Anthropology is a good way to start and get to archaeology - the University of Delaware (my alma mater in the U.S.A.) just has Anthropology, but under that department, there are archaeology courses. One of my courses was Prehistoric Archaeology (which was one of my favorite classes!) listed as an Anthropology class. Also, remember that if you study a related program as an undergraduate, getting a graduate degree in Archaeology is possible. My undergraduate degree was in History with a concentration in Classics, so it was relevant for my Classical Studies MA, and then my Ph.D. is going to be specific to ancient art and archaeology (once I get in, that is!) A lot of different subjects are relevant to archaeology, so you don’t necessarily need to study it as an undergraduate. You can major in a relevant but different program, and go to archaeological field schools to gain archaeology experience. One of the most important things to remember about archaeology is that, from what I have been told, is that the most important aspect of archaeology is the experience. The more you dig, the better! Potential employers, at least in the United States, look more at how much you have dug in the past - it’s great to have the education - but finding digs you can participate in (and if you decide to go to Italy, there will be no shortage of digs you might be able to participate in). But there’s nothing wrong with wanting to major in Archaeology specifically before you start digging. 

However, if you really want to do a program abroad, do some research on the program. If you’re proficient in Italian, then I don’t think that would be an issue - but remember, studying abroad for a long period of time or for a full program is much different than short-term studying abroad. If your country does not have archaeology as a career, you should assess where you might want to go if that’s your career goal. It does make it easier when you’ve studied in that country to get a position as a professional there once you’ve completed the program. I’ve studied abroad four times, but it was always between two and five weeks, so I can’t speak too much on doing a full program abroad (anyone who is doing their program abroad and wants to add some specific advice to this, please do!) The other thing you really should consider with studying abroad is funding; make sure you look into the funding available for foreign/EU students (depending on where you live). See what the university offers and search to see if there are any exchange programs between your country and Italy that might provide you with a fellowship/scholarship. Outside scholarships for exchange students are out there as well, so make sure you look everywhere for them! Unfortunately, since I’m U.S.-based, I’m not sure if your country does things quite the same way, but see if you can find scholarship search engines. I use things like FastWeb on a regular basis, but also Unigo, Cappex, and ScholarshipDetective. Smaller scholarships are always good to look for (I was awarded a $600 scholarship from Mensa in my last program, and all I was able to do was buy my books for two semesters, so it wasn’t a lot, but every little bit helps!) Look locally and at the university you’re applying to, and you can always e-mail the person listed on the funding page of the university and ask them questions about your concerns. I did this with the University of Wales Trinity St. David when I considered going there for Ancient Religions (and honestly I might take some of the classes for fun when I have the time and money because I don’t have enough courses about Ancient Religion), but the amount of funding that would be available for a distance student from the U.S.A. wasn’t enough for me to even take one course, so I looked for different options.

I would advise looking into other schools as well! If you’re proficient in Italian, you can look into other schools, too. You don’t necessarily have to stick to just La Sapienza, but I would suggest researching all possible options and perhaps compare them in terms of the specializations of the professors (if you want to study something that’s a research interest of a professor, you can e-mail them and discuss your desire to apply to the program), compare the weather for the university with the weather to what you’re used to and make sure you can handle the change or are at least prepared for it! I’m a beach baby who ended up in the desert, and I was not prepared. If you’re able to, I would visit the university as well, because I think visiting and getting to see the campus facilities (classrooms, dorms, library (libraries, if there’s more than one), dining halls, etc.) is important. This is where you’re going to study for a couple of years, it would be good to visit to get familiar with the campus and gauge if you feel that it’s a right fit for you. 

So, in sum, I do think it’s totally fine to go abroad for your degree. I think studying abroad is really beneficial to people who do it, but the main concern for that is usually funding. If you would be comfortable living in a different country, I think you should do it, absolutely. As I said, I’ve only done short-term study abroad courses, so I can’t speak to semester/year/degree-length study abroad experiences, but if I had the chance myself, I would take it. Just do your research, e-mail potential professors, and consider whether you would like to stay at the university for a graduate program or to find archaeology as a career.   

As for whether you should take Latin or Ancient Greek, that depends on a couple of things: your potential research interests, where you want to dig, and finally, what you think you will enjoy the most! My program only required me to take either Latin up to the 600 level (6 semesters for a new student), Ancient Greek up to the 600 level (6 semesters for a new student), or a combination of both Latin and Ancient Greek (a total of 8 classes).  Since I didn’t know which one I would like better, I took both, so I could only take 4 semesters to complete the requirement because I took Ancient Greek and Latin at the same time. So, if you’re going to school for archaeology in Italy and you want to dig in the same place, Latin would make more sense. If you’re interested in digging in any of the ancient Greek areas (I dug in an ancient Greek and Thracian area of Bulgaria this past summer), then ancient Greek would be good to study. Part of the areas I visited in Bulgaria was inscribed with Latin, too, so it is prominent in a lot of places. Part of the reason I took both was because part of my research interest includes ancient religions and how they evolved, so I needed Ancient Greek and Latin and languages I haven’t even started looking at yet.

If you’re still not sure about whether to take Ancient Greek or Latin, I would read some of the Classical texts that are on reading lists in your native language, decide which texts you liked the best and decide from there whether you want to read those texts in their original language! For reference of what texts you should read in translation to decide, here is the link to the Yale list of reading for Classics: https://classics.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/downloads/YaleUndergraduateReadingList.pdf and here is one from Balliol College, University of Oxford: https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/classics-reading-lists. These would be a great place to start, and if you’ve already read a lot of or a decent amount of them, think of which ones you liked more. 

Finally, if you want to study both and are able to, study both! If you think you’ll like Ancient Greek more, then go for that one. I’m personally better at Latin, but I like Ancient Greek more. This might also depend on your program as well, how much they offer, and how far they expect you to go for your program. This would be another thing to add to your research list when looking into potential programs. 

I wish you all the best, and I hope this helps! If you would like me to clarify or expand on anything I’ve said here, don’t hesitate to drop me a line! 

-The Ancient Geeko-Roman

[ataraxiestudies]

do not reblog please

so i've been stressed about going abroad next semester

i've been accepted to a japan university!! so at first i was so happy because it was a two-year project in the making. i've been working on this since 2020. and it's been hard. the process, the application, money wise, too. having the good grades.

but i'm supposed to leave in three weeks and i have nothing.

because of issues related to japan politics, i still do not have the paper in order to apply for the visa. it should be coming at the end of the month/beginning of september, but it's really short and appointments at the embassy are hard to get.

and anyway i need to have an address in japan, which i do not have, because as of today it is uncertain and i don't have money to waste on making a reservation for any kind of accommodation. all the sharehouses i've contacted have told me i need to wait a few days (literally a few days before moving in!) otherwise it will cost me a lot of money that i absolutely do not have.

other stuff i still not have: vaccinations (i have the covid one but i need to have some for japan especially, it's not obligatory but recommended); insurance (travel and health); medicine (need to make doctors appointments and sign a lot of papers to get my medecine but cannot fill paperwork if i don't have a plane ticket); sponsorship paper to enter japan (need an address in japan for it + it will be issued in a few days after applying for it); etc. seriously the immigration process is insane. i'm full of admiration for any international student i've met through my life right now.

i guess two of my main issues are:

money.

obviously. main issue here. i've calculated the cost before applying, of course, but the reality of it is so much worse than i've anticipated.

it will cost me around 2500€ to move in. Maybe more, considering I don't have a plane ticket as of today. Maybe more for extra costs you don't always see coming around.

i'm not sure i will have the erasmus grand, or rather, if i will have it at its full capacity. as of today, i have no idea where my application stands. they say they will reach in september. in september i'm supposed to be gone already.

last thing, the uni in japan said that having a student job is not really an option. with covid, lots of stuff are still closed and they don't give that much work to foreign people/students.

so money wise, it's v stressful at the moment.

coursework.

this is also a really important issue to me. i've realized this past year that i don't like studying anymore (maybe never did!). i've been working & focusing on my thesis (this i enjoy) and it's really hard for me to get back on track in a real classroom. i simply don't see myself doing that in the future.

the coursework has changed since i've looked at it when i first applied. i don't really find any class interesting for me at this point. they have a lotery system when it's first coming first getting the class kind of for most classes. i need a lot of literature classes and they don't offer that much this semester around. plus it seems they put me in the undergraduate program, which is a bit weird to me.

it is my last year of my master degree. if i don't go to japan, i might stay in europe and take online classes, which are easier for me (i know this is a whole debate related to covid but really. it IS easier for me.) and i don't know, i want to challenge myself of course, as anyone does, but i also need to take care of myself.

moving to the other side of the world is not something i'm scared of. japan has been my dream for a long time now. but maybe i could go next year with more money and more freedom (not any coursework)? like with a Working holiday visa? i really love this country and want to visit it one day.

i don't really know what to do but i have to make a choice really soon. either way, if i go or i don't go, it will still be an adventure! i'm not worried about that. i'll make most of it of any path. but still, it's hard to pass on that opportunity. i know people who will die to go at my place. but i can't be living my life thinking about them all the time. what will be good for me? for my future? no. for my present? maybe that's better. i don't know.