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Jamie Todd Rubin
jamietr
07 May 2008 @ 07:57 am
Good luck, Norm!  
Norm (of the infamous [info]vickyandnorm clan), defends his Ph.D. thesis tomorrow, and then graduates from UConn on Saturday.

Not to belittle the professions (doctors, dentists, and lawyers), but a Ph.D. is the highest academic agree awarded for original research. (True, M.D.s spend years in school, but it is technical training, and usually does not involve original research.) We've already got one Ph.D in the group, Doctor [info]rmstraus, and I am exceedingly eager to welcome our second, when this weekend, Norm will officially change his first name from "Norm" to "Doctor Norm".

I must be perfectly honest and admit that I am fearfully envious of both Norm and Ryane. I have often dreamed about going back to school and getting a Ph.D. in some subject that fascinates me. Alas, there are too many subjects to choose from (astronomy, computer science, history, and physics to name just a few), and too little time. And besides, I have grown use to my lifestyle and it would be incredibly difficult to change things now. I've had some achievements of which I have been proud (graduating from college, getting my pilot's license, selling a science fiction story) but getting a Ph.D. makes these achievements pale in comparison in my mind. I am exceedingly lucky to have such hyper-talented friends and I am thrilled for Norm and I wish him the best of luck on his defense tomorrow, although I'm certain he doesn't need it.

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Current Location: Arlington, Virginia
I'm feeling: proud
 
11 thoughts | So what do you think?
 
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strausmouse: stu[info]strausmouse on May 7th, 2008 12:40 pm (UTC)
You know, my former eye doctor was Dr. Perreault. No relation.
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Jamie Todd Rubin: the scream[info]jamietr on May 7th, 2008 01:16 pm (UTC)
Hearing a person referred to a one's former (eye) doctor fills me with a kind of nameless dread. I should keep a list of people's "former" doctors so that I can make sure to avoid them.
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strausmouse: slayer[info]strausmouse on May 7th, 2008 01:22 pm (UTC)
She's only "former" because my office location changed and it's too inconvenient to go there now.
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rmstraus[info]rmstraus on May 7th, 2008 01:13 pm (UTC)
Good luck, Norm!
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Vicky and Norm: Norm[info]vickyandnorm on May 7th, 2008 02:04 pm (UTC)
Thanks guys. I'm a bit worried because, as an "advanced" graduate student, I fear the committee will really want to put me through the ringer. You know, to teach everyone a lesson that you shouldn't leave campus to pursue a career before defending the Ph.D. Plus, no one can even recall the last time someone "failed" the dissertation defense, so I certainly don't want to be the guy that everyone talks about for decades.

With all that said, things always seem to work out in the end, so I'm just gonna give it my all. I'll be sure to update you all when the defense is over and done with!

Thanks again!
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rmstraus[info]rmstraus on May 7th, 2008 02:38 pm (UTC)
Ah, yes, the fears that strike everyone at this time! When I took my oral exams, I was terrified to death that I would be the first in the history of the department to fail. The defense wasn't quite as frightening, but still...you never know.

But now I do know. And here's the thing. These are people who have been on your side for a while now. They have no reason to expect poor work, and no reason to try to keep you around any longer. At this point they want to see a completion as much as you do.

You'll be fine.
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kruppenheimer[info]kruppenheimer on May 7th, 2008 04:19 pm (UTC)
Soon to be Dr. Normie,
You'll do awesome(ly?). We are all so proud of you. One day you'll have to give us the abstract of your dissertation - something to do with organizations? And psychology? Wish we could all be there to help you celebrate your accomplishment and watch you graduate.

What will you do with all of your free time now? Oh wait... didn't you say something about babies or some nonsense?

Ryane, I'm really sorry... I'm not sure I've ever called you Dr. Ryane, although you've certainly earned it. Will try to make more of an effort in this respect.

Jamie, yeah me too. ALthough, while you don't go back because you couldn't pick one thing to research, I couldn't think of one thing to research. And then there's the whole loss of a paycheck, incurrence of debt. And what would I do with a PhD in English anyway? Teach? I'd be a terrible teacher. I guess I'll settle for my undergrad education, and bask in the glow of my doctorate friends. :)
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Jamie Todd Rubin: asimov[info]jamietr on May 7th, 2008 04:47 pm (UTC)
And what would I do with a PhD in English anyway?

I've heard so many people say similar things to this and is the absolute worst possible reason not to go back to school that I can think of. An education does not have to be practical to be meaningful. When I read the wide variety of books that I read, it's not to some practical end (for the most part); it's because I love learning. There are people who go to school because it's practical, because they want to make more money, because they want to be the leading expert in a field, because they want to influence policy. These are good reasons, but the best reason of all is to learn. And yet you rarely hear of anyone going back to school just because they want to learn something new. It's an absolute shame.

What would you do with a Ph.D. in English? The short answer is that you'd improve yourself. You'd set up a challenge for yourself that you'd work to overcome along the way. You'd learn something new, too, not just about English, but about yourself. And finally, you'd contribute something original to humanities body of knowledge. Something original. Isn't that good enough? Why should a Ph.D. in English have to have any practical use beyond that?
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Jamie Todd Rubin: amazing randi[info]jamietr on May 7th, 2008 04:41 pm (UTC)
You know, to teach everyone a lesson that you shouldn't leave campus to pursue a career before defending the Ph.D.

It's a ridiculous lesson that may have been true fifty years ago (though unlikely) and is simply not true today. And as a human resources executive, you are in a far better position than your committee to know how working (to support a family, etc.) and improving your education at the same time is favorable to both your job and your school.
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strausmouse: haha![info]strausmouse on May 7th, 2008 05:34 pm (UTC)
I think they will make it as easy as possible for you - they're sick of seeing your face and hearing your name for the past 34 years or whatever it's been...they just want to go on with their lives and send you packing.
Hope that makes you feel better! :)
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Vicky and Norm: Mortarboard[info]vickyandnorm on May 9th, 2008 09:36 pm (UTC)
I passed
Just to add a little closure to this blog entry, I passed! Thanks for all your kind words, folks!

Sincerely,
Doctor Norm :)
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