Get ready world because I have escaped the Black Hole of Studying (that’s just the name I gave it) and am returning to the real world! Yep, this is a pretty big moment for me and the rest of the Neuro-crew. We are officially done with the Written Qualifying Exam!!! (unless, of course, we fail it and have to retake it).
Taking the written qualifying exam itself didn’t turn out to be the worst experience of my life (that honor undoubtedly goes to the fall quarter Neurophysiology exam). In fact, the worst part of the experience wasn’t having to read 40 papers or having to balance a heavy research load or even trying to comprehend the figures in that silly GABA Transporter paper. It was simply the inevitability of the exam. The stress of waiting and worrying and wondering what exactly we were going to be tested on.
This is not to say that the exam went smoothly and that I feel super confident about my answers. One of the problems with these kinds of exams is that there is really no way to feel good about things when you’re finished. It’s not like a multiple choice or short answer exam, where there is a finite amount of knowledge and once you account for that, there is nothing left. Instead, we are basically given open questions with no limits or constraints, and expected to generate comprehensive and coherent answers. It’s really quite daunting when most of us have never been directly exposed to the material we’re being tested on. It’s funny how I was the “expert” in our group because I happen to be in a lab that does molecular biology. Never mind that I just joined the lab two months ago and that I have never once done any of the techniques covered during the exam. I guess I can’t complain given the expectations that come along with the perks of being a self-proclaimed genius.
There will be more reflections on my qualifying exam experience, but first I am going to enjoy my freedom. And, by “enjoy”, I mean “watch TV”.
Here is a funny exchange that took place yesterday during our break between the cellular and systems exams:
Jen B: I’m feeling pretty confident about the cellular portion of the exam.
Seth: Yeah, that’s because it’s in the past.
* John Ohab Quote of the Day: “I’m aiming for remedial work.”
* Seth B. Quote of the Day: “I’m already getting started on my remedial work.”
* Brian/Josh J. Quote of the Day: “If I don’t get assigned remedial work on at least one of the sections, then I will have been studying WAY too hard.”
* Jill D. Quote of the Day: “Traveling when you’re knocked up is not a picnic in your pants, I’ll tell you that much…”
* Movie Quote of the Day: “He’ll live.”
September 12, 2003
science, UCLA