Pre-Orals Wrap-Up
Tonight, I just experienced the First Great Travail of my Caltech student career. It wasn't that bad. I am now loaded with the magnitude of endorphins that only comes from a marathon three hour oral exam. It was so fun that I get to do it again in two weeks at my actual oral exams on October 5. orate fratres et sorores . I still have a great deal to review, and my presentations need work, mainly in clarifying what I actually did, which is very difficult to do in fifteen minutes. I've sat through enough conference talks to know how important a skill this is, but I still am amazed at how matters that seem clear to me can be very unclear to an audience. Pre-orals give everyone this kind of perspective. But I also am glad to see that I did a better job on one presentation than the other. It gives me a wider sense of what works and what doesn't.
The questions went fairly well. I have to work on my "witness style." The strategy for this exam is to answer only the questions that are asked and be sure the question is fully out before being answered. It's very much the way a witness in court is trained to respond, but for someone who is used to imposing semiotic analysis on every question, it's not instinctive. I also suspect that the committee will ask different questions, which will require further preparation.
As anxious as the orals made me, I have to say that I was most worried about how the pre-orals are indicative of one's place in graduate student society. This forum gives you the best place to present yourself as a scientist to your colleagues. My biggest fear at the moment is that people are gathered in some office somewhere secretly trashing me. Yes, I am deeply insecure, but I am being realistic. It was a mixed outing, but it's not the big deal. The big deal comes in two weeks. So I need to clarify my research and make it more defendable. After that, it's just me and my committee.
And, of course, there's something to be said for maturity. The week's highs and lows have been rough so far, but I just simulate First Year Spinator in front of me. Several times this week, I could imagine First Year Spinator in the Kent bathrooms losing his lunch or wanting to cry. The only common desire between us is the desire to get drunk, but I have to get up tomorrow and make some figures, and First Year Spinator doesn't drink where it is illegal.
Quote of the Night (said): Q: Where is the salmon picture from? A: Off the coast of Alberta, I mean British Columbia.
Quote of the Night (unsaid): Dang you, O repetitive Martian atmosphere.
There was probably a better quote I actually said.
ESA(20060920.1)
Tonight, I just experienced the First Great Travail of my Caltech student career. It wasn't that bad. I am now loaded with the magnitude of endorphins that only comes from a marathon three hour oral exam. It was so fun that I get to do it again in two weeks at my actual oral exams on October 5. orate fratres et sorores . I still have a great deal to review, and my presentations need work, mainly in clarifying what I actually did, which is very difficult to do in fifteen minutes. I've sat through enough conference talks to know how important a skill this is, but I still am amazed at how matters that seem clear to me can be very unclear to an audience. Pre-orals give everyone this kind of perspective. But I also am glad to see that I did a better job on one presentation than the other. It gives me a wider sense of what works and what doesn't.
The questions went fairly well. I have to work on my "witness style." The strategy for this exam is to answer only the questions that are asked and be sure the question is fully out before being answered. It's very much the way a witness in court is trained to respond, but for someone who is used to imposing semiotic analysis on every question, it's not instinctive. I also suspect that the committee will ask different questions, which will require further preparation.
As anxious as the orals made me, I have to say that I was most worried about how the pre-orals are indicative of one's place in graduate student society. This forum gives you the best place to present yourself as a scientist to your colleagues. My biggest fear at the moment is that people are gathered in some office somewhere secretly trashing me. Yes, I am deeply insecure, but I am being realistic. It was a mixed outing, but it's not the big deal. The big deal comes in two weeks. So I need to clarify my research and make it more defendable. After that, it's just me and my committee.
And, of course, there's something to be said for maturity. The week's highs and lows have been rough so far, but I just simulate First Year Spinator in front of me. Several times this week, I could imagine First Year Spinator in the Kent bathrooms losing his lunch or wanting to cry. The only common desire between us is the desire to get drunk, but I have to get up tomorrow and make some figures, and First Year Spinator doesn't drink where it is illegal.
Quote of the Night (said): Q: Where is the salmon picture from? A: Off the coast of Alberta, I mean British Columbia.
Quote of the Night (unsaid): Dang you, O repetitive Martian atmosphere.
There was probably a better quote I actually said.
ESA(20060920.1)
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