Done

Finals are in - classes are over. Break has officially begun. Now if I can just get rid of this pneumonia then I'd be in business. I can't wait to lay in bed tomorrow and watch The West Wing and then do nothing the rest of the day.......ahhhhhh.

Yes I'm Alive

Ok so a couple of my friends (you know who you are) have been bugging me about updating my blog - so here I am. I am going to be better at updating - I promise. So my two faithful readers here you go.

I'm in the middle of finals week, it's been crazy. I ended up getting pneumonia which hasn't made finishing anything easy but I refuse to ask for any type of extension dammit! I just want to be done. This semester has been ridiculously stressful. The amount of work we have coupled with our placement which is three days a week make the work completely overwhelming.

My placement is at a hospital that has locked psychiatric units. These people are referred to as the "worst of the worst" and "the bottom of the barrel" (these are nursing and mental health worker terms not mine). They are difficult to discharge and almost impossible to place in the community because once they get out of the hospital they stop taking their meds and when that happens all bets are off. Overall though its a great learning experience. I have some interesting patients that I deal with, it's a place that really builds up my skill.

I've been totally stressed out this semester - and now I realize that blogging can probably help that.

Stess #1 - Living In A Dorm- Honestly I'm too old for this shit but it was/is the most cost effective way to do the whole grad school thing. All I can say is I hope I wasn't as annoying as some of the people in this dorm when I was their age. We also have a whole population of people who are majoring in Library Science...do I need to say more? Anyway that being said I have met some great people and have had a lot of fun.

Stess #2:The Amount of Work- Now I am no stranger to hard work, I just spent the last two years working full time and finishing my degree full time. But this is ridiculous. There is absolutely no way you can do this program and have any type of a job. The weekly reading list for each class is HUGE - most Professors will tell you what you have to read to be ready but some want you to read everything. Thank GOD I took two classes this summer or I would really be under water.

Stress #3: Feeling Disconnected- It's strange to hear about other people's lives going on while you feel like you are in a holding pattern. Although I don't miss my condo - I miss living in North Attleboro. I was having a lot of fun there and everyone was close. Even if I didn't have time to see them I knew they were close by.

OK that's enough bitching for now. There are a lot of really cool great things about Grad School too, but that's for tomorrow post.

Day 2

OK so I'm not going to count the days of the semester just this week - I promise! So I've slept here two nights had two of my classes already and decided that I pretty much like it here. The only thing that is very different is the fact the you hear ambulances 24/7. But for those of you familiar with Boston this would make sense because Simmons is right near the Longwood Medical area.

There are some things I definitely like about this experience so far: my bed is super comfy (I was worried about that), food is good and included in my dorm fees, people on my floor are nice, reading so far is very interesting and right up my alley, there are great lectures available right in the next hall, we are right in the area next to Fenway Park so there are a ton of stores (Bed Bath and Beyond/Staples/Shaws etc) and there is a movie theater close by. The biggest thing is that I really like my professors so far - for me that's huge.

A few things I don't like - being on the fourth floor (I'm getting good exercise though!), rooms that aren't air conditioned but our hallways are (???), my floor is very very quiet(lots of reading to be done) and well...I guess that's it. So all in all not bad!

Hope you are all well.

The Social Expirement Begins

So last night was my first night sleeping at "college". This is so hysterical - I can't believe I'm in a dorm room. Do you know what it's like to try to shove your 40 old year life into one room? Not easy I tell ya. The room is a decent size - if I was an undergrad there would be two of us in here (shudder). I desperately need my friend Kim to come and help me rearrange stuff. Until then here is what the room looks like semi-put together.



I've eaten in the dining hall twice - it's pretty decent food. Today is my first day of classes and of course with everything going on I haven't finished my reading (which is why I'm up and showered so damn early). Oh yeah, the showers. I just took my first of what will be hundreds of showers in a gym like stand up shower with that little space in before it to dress....now that's fun.

The people on my floor are nice I've met some other social work students so that's good. I've spoken to several second year students and then told me how much work the first year is.....yippeee!

The good news is car is sold - dropped it off yesterday
Condo is rented - signing lease on Saturday.

Now that I am here and moved in I should be able to update more frequently - kind of like I used to.

Big Countdown

Just 5 days 'til the big move. I packed some tonight but not nearly enough.....I used to love packing, going through everything and throwing shit away. Now I just want to be done with it!!!

Orientation tomorrow - we'll see how that goes.

It's official

I'm a graduate student. I had my first class tonight. The amount of work is going to be pretty intense. I have my research class on Tuesday and Thursday nights and my Realities of Racism and Oppression on Wednesdays. The syllabi for both looks pretty hefty - say bye bye to summer vacation.

The other news is I may be moving. They have graduate housing here at Simmons and I'm waiting to find out if I got in. It would make my life so much easier to not have to commute every day into Boston for class or into Jamaica Plain for my placement.

Talk to you all later!

Signs

I was brought up Catholic - made my first communion, confession and confirmation right on schedule. After that it was pretty much downhill. My parents tried to make me go to church but since they never really followed through on any punishments, I never really felt the need to go.

Now that I'm older I find myself picking and choosing things from various religions and quite possibly superstition. I've always been one of those people who have asked (prayed) for signs when I was trying to make a big decision. Sometimes I felt like a got them - sometimes I was pretty sure that I had made them up to fit what I wanted. Either way I do know when I've gotten a clear sign and I've ignored it - it's never been pretty.

So Friday I was waiting for the train at South Station I was chatting with my friend Kim and I was telling her how I ran into a friend of my mom's on the red line. The chances of that happening are slim to none. The more interesting thing is that she is a licensed social worker. So I quickly gave her the rundown of what was going one (while we stopped in the tunnel) and she just looked at me and said - Although it's a good program the Smith program is odd - you should go to Simmons. I just said hmmmmmm ok maybe. Then it was my stop so I got off the train.

So as I was talking to Kim I said to her - you know we are always asking for signs for things we are trying to figure out. How much bigger of a sign do I need than an offer of $20,000 toward my education. Kim who had been pretty pro-Smith just kind of stopped and said you know, you are right. She then said and just in case you weren't paying attention he sent a messenger to the red line to talk to you about Simmons. Hmmmmm.

So the bottom line really is how much more of a freakin sign do I need? I sat down on Saturday and did the numbers - Simmons is at least $35K less over the life of the program. I will have to move - but that's ok. I have the whole summer to do that.

So decision remade - Simmons it is.

Tomorrow I have to write Smith a polite letter that says "if you want me, you need to pony up". I did already call them and they said they had no more money. So that seems to be that.

Fly In The Ointment

So I am all set right? I have decided to go to Smith. Right?? Well today I got this email:

Dear JENNIFER,

Congratulations on you admission to the Simmons M.S.W! I would like to inform you that you have been awarded a SSW Merit Scholarship totaling $ 20,000 for the duration of your full-time M.S.W. program (a total of $ 10,000 per academic year). As you will start your program in September of 2008, you will receive $5,000 that semester and $ 5,000 in the Spring of 2009. This award is only given for your full-time M.S.W. program for two years.


The award will be renewed for the academic year 2009/2010 assuming that you maintain satisfactory grades and adherence to the ethical and professional standards expected of a professional social worker.


In order for you to receive this award, please mail us, the attached scholarship response form, by May 4 to acknowledge your acceptance of this merit scholarship award. You would also need to mail us your $ 200 tuition deposit as well as your admission response letter that was included with your original admission letter. If we do not hear from you by May 4, this award offer will be withdrawn


Congratulations! We look forward to welcoming you to Simmons in the Fall of 2008.

So here I sit frantically doing the numbers. Here is one thing I had tried to avoid the complete cost of my degree. It's going to be freakin expensive - that's for sure. So now I'm kind of back in decision making mode.

I'll let you know what I come up with.

3 for 3

So I found out today that I got accepted at BU School of Social Work. I found out via a phone call from the Dean which is unusual but I'll tell you why I got such personal service.

BU is a huge school - everything about the application process is online. It was a little tough at times to figure out, they had these things called "radio buttons" that I was confused about, but I figured it out. So the only piece of paper that you had to fill in and mail was a signature page. Oh and they had the most expensive application fee of $70.

Per the urging of my advisor I called BU two weeks ago to check on the progress of my "folder" and the woman (or girl) who answered the phone barely could open her mouth to say BU School of Social Work and when I asked her about my folder she said really nonchalontely "Oh yeah we are missing your signature page" You mean the page I sent in 5 WEEKS ago? So I asked her to send me the document again and I printed it out and mailed it to her again.

So imagine my surprise when I got an email from her on Monday saying they were still missing my page and could I resend it. So I picked up the phone and called - got the same barely understandable greeting from the same woman who apparently is the one sending me the emails. When I explain who I am and that I've sent this page twice she says to me "Did you send it in a plain envelope?" Ummmm yes - what do you think I did? Send it via carrier pigeon? She said "Did you put grad admissions on it?" I said No I didn't because I thought this address WAS grad admissions. Oh no she says it's probably upstairs - I could go look for it but I'd have to find someone to watch the desk. I politely asked her if this one page was holding up my folder being reviewed and she said "Oh yes". Nice - so my fucking future is on hold because you can't get someone to watch the desk. You have got to be shitting me.

So I hung up and needless to say I was PISSED. At first I wasn't going to do anything because honestly BU has been a distant 3rd in my choices. But then I started to think about it and realized it was the principal. I remembered an admissions counselor that I had been trading emails with back in Dec/Jan when I was first looking at programs. So I fired off this email to her:

Hello ******
I am not sure if you are the right person to receive this email but I feel I need to let someone know about my disappointing experience with the admissions office at the BU School of Social Work. I applied to the program back on Feb 27, 2008 and at that time sent in my signature form to the address provided. It was 5 weeks later when I called to check on the progress of my folder that I was told that this form had not been received. She resent me the form and I sent it immediately to the 264 Bay State Road address. Today I received another email stating that they haven't received the form.

I have been accepted to both Smith and Simmons and was hoping to hear from BU today or tomorrow because I have to make a decision by Wednesday. Obviously there is no way I will receive a decision in time. Unfortunately I will not be able to consider BU for graduate school due to the fact that my folder hasn't even begun to be reviewed and it's my understanding that they will not review it without the signature page.

I find it surprising and disappointing that the graduate school that has the most complicated application, the most involved essay and the highest application fees treats the application process so casually. I'd like to request a refund on my application fee -although I know it's probably not in your realm to ok a request.

I'm sorry to sound emotional. I was really looking forward to having BU be a part of my graduate school process but it doesn't look like that will happen.

Thank you,

Anyway after an email back full of apologies (but no offer of a refund) she got the Dean on it who personally pulled my file and called me to let me know I was accepted into the program. I do feel a little bad because I probably won't go there but I figured it was important that they knew how they were being represented.

Don't you think?

I Can't Believe I Forgot To Tell You...

I got accepted to Simmons College of Social Work. YAYYYYYY ME! Now I just have to decide between that school at Smith. I went out and visited Smith on Thursday and it was beautiful. They have a trauma track and a military track (families etc). Which of course is right up my alley.

Arrggghhh I hate these decisions.

Can someone please tell me what to do? I'd really appreciate it!

More Good News

I got into Smith College of Social Work. It's #2 on the list of the three places that I've applied. They have an excellent program! I'm really excited!

I GRADUATED!!!!!

OK so it's official now - I'm a college graduate!! I presented my thesis on Sunday night and got a standing ovation at the end. My grades come out today and I got an A. That's an A for 12 credits of work - very very exciting. I also stayed for the last 4 nights at Hotel Indigo. They have them throughout the United States and if you ever get a chance to stay in one DO IT - it's beautiful and the service is outstanding!

I'm so very happy to finally have my degree - there were times when I thought I wasn't going to make it (really). Now I'm excited to start grad school. Yipppeeeee!

What Now?

OK so my thesis is at the second reader and I probably won't get anything back until Friday. All of my graduate applications are in and I just did my taxes (getting money from the Feds & RI - have to pay MA). So now I'm stuck with the thought....is this what it's going to be like when I'm done with school? It's literally been 2 years since I just come home from work and been able to hang out...I think I'm going to have to learn how to do it all over again. I am definately going to have to get cable again.

Thinking, Thinking, Thinking......

I woke up this morning thinking about my birthday. I suddenly occurred to me that I am going to be 40 years old in seven weeks. I feel like I maybe I should be freaked out by this... but I'm not. Do I wish that I finished up my degree a few years ago so I would be working in a different field right now? Yes. BUT that means I probably would still be in the wrong field. Right in line with that "no coincidences" thing that I completely believe in, Lesley University showed up in my life at the exact right time.

I also woke up thinking about Grad school. Right now I've got three schools I'm applying to. The first one is Sarah Lawrence in New York. They have the only Masters in Health Advocacy in the country. I'm planning on taking a ride up there and seeing what the campus is like. They don't have graduate housing and it sounds like the area is pretty expensive to live in - but they are still on my list. The second choice is Boston University. They have a dual degree program that is a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Public Health that looks very interesting to me. The program is three years and you get your MSW after two and then continue on and get your MPH. The third one is Lesley but that really is my "safe" school. They say you should have a "reach" school and a "safe" school. I would love to apply to the JFK school of government for their Masters in Public Policy. It's a two year intensive program that makes you live on campus. The prospect of living in Cambridge for two years is very exciting to me. The only problem with this program is that you have to take the GRE's which are the Graduate Record Exams. I don't do well at standardized testing so am not sure how I would do with this. I'm going to take the practice test online and see how I do. If I do OK I may sit for it and give the JRK school a try.

I never in a million years thought I would be in this position where I would be worried about getting "accepted". It's a bit nerve wracking.

Anyone out there with any advice? Who am I kidding I'm just looking for someone to tell me what to do!