Flying South

A few more days and I'll be heading south for my interview! Excited and nervous at the same time.

Titles and Expertise

I always have trouble coming up with descriptions for "about me" sections.

I ended up signing up for this website "Quora" just to feed my curiosity about things and see what people have to say about various topics and I was prompted to write a description of myself that would identify me... I'm also guessing my expertise so when I answer questions people can decide how heavily they want to weigh my opinion.

Anyways, I always end up reading other people's descriptions to get some inspiration. From the few I read, it seems like people like to describe themselves using titles. I'm guessing part of it is because you are supposed to show your expertise on this website, but I started to feel weird. Do we need these titles in order to feel important and like our opinions matter? Some people like to use fancy words to describe themselves and what they like do but why do we need to do that? I guess sometimes fall into this trap too. As most people, who know me well, know, I love doing research in the area of clinical psychology... but does that mean that I need to label myself as a clinical researcher? I went to an arts school and I love to paint everything... but does that mean I need to label myself as an artist? I study psychology, but does that mean I need to label myself as a psychologist? I guess I'm uncomfortable with slapping these big labels and titles on little old me.

So what did I write in my description?

"student of life for life."

Multiple Regressions

I'm so glad I went on the SIS system to check the rooms for the tutorials I'm teaching when I did. Saw that the multiple regressions re-opened and registered right away! Although I had an overnight shift right before the first class, I was so pumped that I didn't need coffee to keep me awake. No exams, but the course assignments are applications of the course material onto our own research! That being said, I get to use my own data in the assignments! I was so excited after I read this on my syllabus that I started jotting down ideas right away as the prof talked about the types of analyses required for the assignment. I have a another one of manuscript ideas that I can get off the floor now! Super excited! Two birds, one stone!

Class dismissed!

The last tutorials of the semester were held this week. The feelings are bittersweet. Sweet in that Christmas is just around the corner, yet bitter because I realize that I'll never see my students as a class again. While some students came up to me and thanked me for all my help this semester, I also had students who left the class quickly and quietly like it was just another week without saying goodbye... and of course the regular stragglers who still had many questions to ask. I really hope that what I've done for my students this semester is enough.

Nervous to get my first TA evaluations.

ABCT 2012: Washington, DC - Pt. 2

I'm terrible at blogging! I should set up my schedule to have blogging hour out something.

Anyways, the rest of ABCT...

Friday wasn't too great, the POI that my PI was going to introduce me to couldn't make the conference. I was thoroughly disappointed. The whole grad school application process has already drained the self-confidence I had, so with the conference being as overwhelming as it is (with all the awesome research and researchers) my self-esteem was destroyed and I was defeated. Fortunately, the grad students a d other RAs in my lab were there to support me and comfort me!

Once you hit rock bottom, the only direction left to go is up.

Saturday was good in that I went to some interesting talks and poster sessions. I got to talk to students of a couple POIs I'm applying to work with. My own poster presentations went well and we had an amazing lab dinner where my PI and previous grad student mentor talked about my project which reassured me that I might not be as hopeless as I've been thinking for the past few months.

Sunday was amazing in that I had a great conversation with one of the grad students of the POI who I really really want to work with. Then an epic night in DC and then home sweet home!

ABCT 2012: Washington, DC - Pt. 1

I finally have the time to blog! Well, more like I decided I should just start blogging when I go to conferences just to keep people posted. Well, whoever reads this anyways. So yesterday morning, dad and I woke up bright and early (5:30am, ugh) to get to the airport for my flight. I get all these funny looks because I have this massive tube on me. The guy at securities looked at me and thought that there was a J.Biebz poster in my giant tube... and he thought I was a high school student.... I guess it's probably because I wasn't wearing any makeup LOL. I slept for most of the flight to Minneapolis for my transfer to BWI (we meet again, Minneapolis.) This time, I made sure I triple checked the gate number for my transfer. Long story short, last time I was flying to Orlando I had a 3 hour layover and decided to work and the gate number changed on me and I almost missed my flight, good thing I heard my name being called. I still had to book it this time though, since my gate was on the other side of the airport and I got caught up helping a Chinese granny figure out her gate. On the flight to Baltimore, I had a super talkative seat neighbour who showed me all the pictures on his phone and told me everything about his kids, twice. So much for studying for the GRE. Once we landed in BWI, I just had the urge to break out in song, "GOOD MORNING, BALTIMORE!!!" Too bad it was about 7pm at night. By the time I transited to my host's place, it was 9 and I was about to die. She was super amazing and made me tea and everything. Finally had the chance to turn in for the night, texted my parents to let them know I'm safe. I was feeling super homesick for some reason and so my mom's response actually made me cry.

This morning, I got text messages from my host letting me know that there's a really awesome breakfast place with wifi nearby. Went there for an awesome omelette bagel (NTS: 2 eggs, red onion, red peppers) and freshly squeezed orange juice, got all caught up on emails and messages. Stayed for a while and then walked to Prometric for the GREs. Afterwards, went back to my host's to pick up my stuff and off I go again. Another 2 hour transit to National Harbor, got there before my roommates and got to lounge around and get all comfortable for a couple of hours which was really nice (especially after that horrible, horrible exam! 

I'm ready to start one of my favourite weekends of the year, ABCT WEEKEND!!! =)

Meeting my research hero tomorrow, I can't wait! 

LoveK. 

Graduate Record Exams

Since I'm applying to graduate programs this year, I had to write the dreaded GRE. Well, I've actually written it once already last year, but that was before the revised version came out and I didn't exactly spend a lot of time studying... So this year, I spent a year with the vocabulary and tried my best to do math without pulling out my calculator. Then big serious study sessions and doing actual practice problems from May until October. Being a Teaching Assistant for a writing intensive course really helped because I basically teach my students and grade them on things that I need to know for the Analytical Writing component. Around September, I realized that I actually have a lot of GRE books... It turns out I have the ETS, Princeton, and Barrons study guides (all which I purchased at a bookstore's closing out sale in Seattle) and then I purchased the Kaplan this year to get more info on the revised version. Anyways, I got sick a week before my exam and unfortunately had to write my exam sick. I did pretty good on the Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Writing, but unfortunately my Quantitative Reasoning took a hit because my head was feeling all stuffed up. Oh well, I guess I'm going to go in for a rewrite so that I don't have to worry about my Quant score being a weak spot on my application.

I think my biggest advice to people studying for the GRE Quant section would be to review the math material (I recommend Kaplan's math review section in the back of the book, AND/OR Barron's math review), take a look at some of the tips and tricks you can use to cut down on time and work spent on each question (I personally loved using the Princeton study guide for this), and then before you go drilling practice questions do one of the free Princeton FREE practice exam (timed) at http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/free-gre-practice-test.aspx this practice exam helped me figure out what kinds of questions I was having the most trouble with, provided answers, and showed me how I was distributing my time among questions. The Analytical Writing section of this practice exam also gets graded and you get feedback from people about your writing which is GREAT! Then, drill the math like no tomorrow (work do the questions throughout the study guides, at the back of the book) and don't forget to go back and try the questions you didn't get the first time again after you check the answer, do another practice test on the Princeton website to see if you're doing better. Then keep practicing the questions (you can start easing off) and do the practice tests that ETS provides (http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/powerprep2). Taking the practice exams really helped me focus and feel more relaxed (Turns out that I knew way more than I thought I did for the quant section).

When you go into the exam, just breathe, relax, and treat it like you're just doing another practice exam. I think I wore the same sweater as I did while I was doing practice exams (My moisturizer leaves this really nice smell on the sweaters I wear at home so that helped me relax a lot). I got super comfortable in my seat (curled up on the chair like I would at home) so while my mind just focused on the exam, I actually felt like I was writing the exam at my kitchen table.

I think I felt more nervous walking out than walking in because I had no idea if my score were good enough... felt like they were but turns out that I could've done a bit better on Quant. Damn headache! Oh well, learn from my mistakes... (take care of my body first before trying to power through everything) and I guess I'll do better next time. Third time's the charm!

K.