Traits of Unsuccessful Test Takers

1. Watching TV instead of studying
2. Taking naps instead of studying
3. Surfing the internet instead of studying

*

I'm not expecting much from myself on the subject test tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that my writing sample, personal statement, and general test scores will do enough to get me in the door. Plus, half the schools I'm applying to don't require the subject test.

I've got just over a month left before I graduate. I'm terrified.

Pre-test Panic

Thanks for the shout-out, Mary.

I took another practice test last night and my math score shot up--that's what happens when you live with an engineer who can teach you about coordinates and the pythagorean theorum (I probably spelled that wrong, huh.) My verbal score crept up a measly 40 points, but I'm still pretty confident. I wish there were simple little formulas to memorize in order to know more words, but it just doesn't work like that.

Here's where the panic comes in. I was reviewing the website to make sure I bring the right stuff, and it said if your id doesn't match the name you signed up with exactly, then you won't be admitted to the test. Well, my ID has my middle initial on it, and I didn't use my middle initial when I registerd. Hopefully that doesn't turn into a $130 mistake.

Cross your fingers for me. Hopefully my next post will be about how I rocked the GRE and not about how they kicked me out for forgetting my middle name.

*

Update: I rocked it. And no mention of my absent middle initial.

You know, these computer based tests are a little freaky. For those of you who haven't taken the GRE lately, the questions get harder every time you get one right. Towards the end of the math section, I was getting questions that could have passed for some sort of extra terrestrial language, and I couldn't tell if I was becoming delusional or if that was a good sign. It was a good sign.

Thank God it's over, though.

Now it's time to start grading papers...which I haven't touched for about 3 weeks.

Getting on the Rust-y Band Wagon

Yesterday, Jessica asked about Rust Belt Poets. Today, Mary weighed in, and so did the Scrapper Poet. Seems I just can't ignore this one.

Mary describes the Rust Belt Poet like this: "[There's] so much grit that even if your job doesn't require elbow grease you never really feel fancy. You never want to feel fancy. When you go looking for poetry you find it in excavators and dilapidated silos."

Karen says there are 3 primary qualities of Rust Belt Poetry:

1. Landscapes of debris (closed factories, old buldings, etc.)

2. Nature (in some form or another, even if a poet is writing about the urban landscape

3. Social/Class Issues (layoffs, unemployment, etc...)

I'm stealing from these ladies because I think they can say it better than I can. The interesting thing to me is how late I've come to an awareness that this is who/what I am and where I'm from. I didn't realize that the rest of the world (or the country at least) wasn't like us.

One thing I might have to question, though, is that a Rust Belt Poet should be born after 1969. True, the perspective will be different for someone who was around before the factories started closing, but I think that the mentality and the landscape of the region transcend age. I'm thinking here of Philip Levine, obviously born before '69, and Craig Paulenich, who uses the same debris/nature/class issues combination in his book Drift of the Hunt.

Another question I have is how much does class play into this? Can someone who was born into the upper-middle class, whose parents or grandparents weren't part of the industrial workforce of the last century, fit into this category? Does Rust Belt Poetry overlap Working Class Literature? Or is it a sub-category?

*

I just got an email from a friend about my thesis ms, and she said, "If your manuscript was a color, it would be brown and rust orange, and it would smell like stale cigarettes and rotting leaves." Now, this may not be the prettiest description, but I think it's accurate, and I think it means I definitely fit into the category of Rust Belt Poet.

Maybe there will be a movement.

*

I took a practice GRE yesterday and scored a 570 on verbal and a 450 on math. I'm happy with my math score (who cares if I don't know how to do fractions!) but I'm hoping to improve my verbal score a tad by tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me.

Clarifying

Issue #1:
I am not deleting my blog. I have never thought about deleting my blog. I love my blog. I thought my last post was stupid, and I was thinking about deleting that. Sorry for the confusion.

Issue #2:
Mary B, although a rockin' professor, does not fit into the category of "professors who are significantly older than me." Neither does Eric Wasserman. Nor does hanging out with Mary count as "hob-nobbing" as our friend Dawson likes to say. (Plus, if I remember right, Dawson is older than Mary, so...what does that mean?) : )

Anything else?

*

How smart are you?

GRE study question of the day. Choose the word that is the antonym of this: Sedulity

1. nonchalance
2. loyalty
3. hurriedness
4. willingness
5. majesty

Dictionaries are cheating. I'll post the anwer later.

*

I have ALOT of work to do. Yesterday I did 150 practice questions and missed 39. If it were a test with a regular grade, I would have a C-. And that's just the verbal. I haven't even cracked the math section yet.

I've always thought that for a writer/English major, I have a ridiculously small vocabulary. This test is confirming that notion. However, if all goes as planned, by October 23, that will no longer be a problem.

25

This is my new record for posts in one month. It's a little sad.

I had a very busy day today, starting with the eye appointment that started 15 minutes late (you know, I don't understand why doctors expect us to be punctual but they never are), then a nice stroll around West Akron with Rubi. After that, grocery shopping, making a huge pot of chili to freeze for those blustery September days ahead, a nap, and homework. Lots and lots of homework.

Right now, things are at a steady but fast pace. I imagine in a couple of weeks they will be rolling much faster and much rougher. I scheduled the GRE general test (end of October) and subject test (beginning of November) so I will be spending all of my free time studying (I cannot believe it costs $270 to take both tests! WTF?) so that I never have to take them again. The first time around, I studied for a weekend, and my scores showed it. Not wasting my money this time around.

Despite the storm clouds looming above me, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about this last leg of my masters experience. My thesis is shaping up, even though I've been neglecting it for the past few weeks, my classes are going to be fun and informative (crossing my fingers), and my students seem like a good natured bunch. There's so much to do, but most of it (minus gre preparations) is interesting and engaging. Besides, how could I complain when half of it is self inflicted? I have to admit though, I'm getting tired of good-natured, well meant comments about how getting the PhD is either pointless, too hard, or prolonged social suicide. My mind is made up, so leave me alone.

I promised myself that on Tuesdays (my only weekday off) I would pay bills and do laundry, and I haven't done either yet, so I best be shutting up now.

back in the saddle

After a whirlwind summer, I now realize I have less than 2 weeks until the first day of class. That means it's syllabus time. Actually, my syllabus has been done, what I really need is lesson plan time. Last year, I pretty much planned a day ahead. Didn't know enough to do otherwise. This year, I would like to not spend every evening scrambling for something to do the next day. I would like to have at least the first 3 weeks of class planned ahead of time. but first I need to check out my textbook and online handbook. I should get on that.

Last night, I spent some time looking for free GRE study guides online, but didn't find anything that made me happy. Anyone have any suggestions? (BTW, it really sucks that I have to take this stupid test again. I suppose "have to" isn't right...but my scores weren't very impressive the first time around.)

I also found this list of PhD programs in English from MLA. I went through the first 30 programs and already eliminated 13. I'm not sure what common wisdom says about PhD applications, but I think I'm going to try to narrow it down to five or six. I'm not made of money, you know, and I have to split my expendable income between phd app fees and first book contests. Or chapbook contests if I'm being realistic. Even though my thesis is in the final stages, I don't think I'll be ready for the contests in 07.

Sooo much to do! But before I get academic, i need to clean my messy, messy apartment!