Timewaster's Guide Archive

General => Rants and Stuff => Topic started by: Mr_Pleasington on December 19, 2003, 03:40:10 AM

Title: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Mr_Pleasington on December 19, 2003, 03:40:10 AM
Well, another one down folks.  By all reports I just finished the toughest semester of optometry school.  It's all downhill from here.  Especially next year, which is just externships.

I managed to do a lot better than I thought I would this semester.  I'm especially proud of an A I got in Clinic, something that is hard to get and that means the doctors are particularly pleased with my skill with patients.  

And next year is going to rule.  Starting in May my externships take me to Kansas City for 3 months at one of the best disease rotations in the country.  Then I got to Brisbane, Australia for 4 months to do a contact lens rotation, and then back up here that spring for graduation.   It's going to rock.

For now, I'm just chilling.  I'm going on a cruise starting this weekend and will be in the middle of the Caribbean for Christmas.  I can't wait.

Then I come back ready for the new year.

Yeah!
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: JP Dogberry on December 19, 2003, 03:56:22 AM
Hey! Brisbane is where I'll be moving in about a months time.  I assure you that it will indeed rock. Brisbane rules.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Mr_Pleasington on December 19, 2003, 04:05:03 AM
Well, Jam, you and I are going to have to meet.  And waste time.   Or something.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: JP Dogberry on December 19, 2003, 04:09:28 AM
Yeah, sounds fun. Tell me when you end up here, and I'll let you in on the city's best places to waste time.  I think I know a number of them already, which speaks great lengths for the potential time-wasting of the place.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 19, 2003, 11:48:52 AM
Cool- yet one more doctor in the world to be dimayed at how bad my vision is.

I've just got one tough semester left, and then one class to take at some point during the summer.  This winter  semester isn't going to be a lot of fun though - 18 credits, 6 classes, and 5 of them English.

But I'm so close I can taste it!
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Mistress of Darkness on December 19, 2003, 02:00:04 PM
18 credits in winter semester? That's crazy. . .

Good luck though
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Mr_Pleasington on December 19, 2003, 02:32:53 PM
I feel your pain, fuzzy.

The last two semesters I've carried 22 credit hours.

This coming one will be 23.

And yet, it's supposed to be easier. We'll see.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock on December 19, 2003, 03:00:49 PM
My cousin is going for 21 credits next semester.

And good for you Mr. P on whatever it is you did.

And Fuzzy, I think my vision can out-bad your vision.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: EUOL on December 19, 2003, 05:48:40 PM
I've got another year...or so, left on my masters.  I find myself more ambivalent than I probably should be.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Brenna on December 19, 2003, 06:12:09 PM
I'll be done with my Masters in April (Huzzah!) Next semester will be crazy, though, because I have to write my thesis (except for the first chapter--that's already written and only needs revision), and take two grad classes, one with a teacher I *really* don't like.

At least I'll have dance classes to keep me sane. :)
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock on December 19, 2003, 06:40:42 PM
I'll start off politely. So Brenna, how are those dance classes going? Well I hope.

Nextly, why is it your taking dance? For dramatical purposes, or mayhaps just because?
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 19, 2003, 08:06:24 PM
Now why would you want to be impolite to Brenna?  She takes dance classes because she is a good dancer and enjoys dancing.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Brenna on December 19, 2003, 09:58:15 PM
What Fuzzy said. :)

I take dance classes because they are a blast.  I do folk dance and ballroom dancing, and compete in ballroom dancing.  

I'm pretty good at it, and it relaxes me.  It's also a very nice workout. :)
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on December 19, 2003, 10:43:44 PM
You are all sick and wrong. More than 15 credits in a semester is insanity. No wonder you all think Nicole Kidman is pretty.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 19, 2003, 11:38:04 PM
This is the first time I've ever tried 18 credits.  I HAVE to graduate.  We literally cannot afford to live here for much longer.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: stacer on December 20, 2003, 12:57:51 PM
If you can't afford Provo, where in the world can you afford? Provo's got one of the lowest standards of living in the nation, above only Idaho, Missouri, and Arkansas. I would love to live in Provo again, pay the rent I used to pay there -- 1/3 of what I now pay.

Of course, I feel your pain--lower rent, but lower wages, too.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Brenna on December 20, 2003, 01:08:56 PM
Not just lower wages, fewer jobs.  Unless you like working for minimum wage, which most people don't (and minimum wage doesn't pay bills very well)., Provo's job market isn't the best at the moment...
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on December 20, 2003, 02:33:06 PM
I think you're missing a fundamental factor: Once she graduates, she can get a full time career started. which is hard to do as an undergrad.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 20, 2003, 03:49:18 PM
Yeah- two paychecks instead of one.  And we can move to wherever offers J.T. a good fulltime job for doing something he LIKES instead of him working two jobs he hates and being miserable all the time.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: stacer on December 20, 2003, 04:06:52 PM
I was really just bemoaning my outrageous rent prices in relation to Provo. From what I've heard, though, the job market in Provo is worse than it ever it was when I was there, and that's pretty bad. Why can't we have both? Low rent, good paying jobs. Is that too much to ask?  :-/
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 20, 2003, 04:58:55 PM
I'm leaving just in time, too.  BYU just started a new policy - all BYU approved housing has to be within a 2 mile radius of the campus.  Estimates are that this will drive housing costs right back up.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: stacer on December 20, 2003, 06:56:35 PM
How in the world do they think that's possible? Are they still trying to do that SCAMP thing or something? Provo doesn't need high rises.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 20, 2003, 07:57:08 PM
I believe the official reason is that places further away from campus are harder to moniter and to make sure that the "spiritual environment" is healthy and perfect and crap.

Of course I'm sure this has nothing at all to do with the Off-Campus Housing office, and their own desires.  And nothing at all to do with the fact that all people who make up the Off-Campus Housing department are LANDLORDS IN PROVO.  Nope.  That doesn't scream "conflict of interest" at all.

*mutters obscenities under her breath*

Oh, and yes, they are still trying to do the SCAMP thing.  And it still keeps getting "set back."  
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Entsuropi on December 20, 2003, 08:11:07 PM
/me snickers as he considers the state of the "spiritual enviroment" at his house
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on December 20, 2003, 10:00:30 PM
Provo real estate needs to stuff it. In fact, nearly ever business I had the displeasure of working for or purchasing from or taking service from while I lived in Provo absolutely sucked. Mormons seem to run terrible businesses, on the whole.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Mad Dr Jeffe on December 23, 2003, 11:52:46 PM
So glad I skipped out on BYU
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 24, 2003, 05:30:26 PM
Some parts of BYU are great.  But it needs to stop billing itself and its employees as perfect.

The price is right, and I've been VERY impressed with the education I've received.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Entsuropi on December 24, 2003, 06:19:05 PM
Quote
The price is right, and I've been VERY impressed with the education I've received.


I find that no university is even cheaper, and i am impressed with not having to do education anymore :D

But, can you compare your education to that provided by another university? Realistically?
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on December 24, 2003, 11:19:50 PM
Realistically? BYU is a great education. Academically speaking it's barely below the level of schools like UVA and Chapel Hill: the "not quite Ivy League but almost" schools. Yeah, a BYU education is better than probably 75% or more of the universities out there.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Spriggan on December 26, 2003, 09:22:53 AM
and considering the cost for LDS church members to go there.  It's what 1,800 with health insurnace?
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on December 26, 2003, 10:07:46 AM
it only costs a few hundred more for non-members, if I remember right. (which serves to keep the football budget down, what with it's scholarships).
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: fuzzyoctopus on December 26, 2003, 01:50:54 PM
Yeah, Sprig, that;s about what I'm paying per semester.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: Spriggan on December 26, 2003, 11:31:03 PM
actualy SE I think it's 3k a semester for non mebers now.
Title: Re: Mr.P's Semester Roundup
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on December 27, 2003, 02:03:12 PM
eh... still beat out of state for the U or even in state for UVA