# Ask the guy who applied to grad school **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787 "2014-03-28T20:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/21 "2014-03-29T10:09:03Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > [Two thirds of US states require Master’s degrees to teach elementary or high school.](http://www.asha.org/uploadedFiles/State-Teacher-Requirements-Licensing-Trends-SLP.pdf) Thanks for the link. Not my field (Education, that is), but interesting to look at. I guess my next question would be _where_ is the OP getting a degree? I’ve lived part of my life in DC, and there was a minor scandal, now many years ago, where a city principal was collecting an additional 10K-or-something/yr based on a degree mill Ph.D. But I’ve also know educators who have advanced degrees from legitimate institutions and who were very invested in bettering education for students, so great for the OP if this is the case and not a paycheck grab (Sorry, I’m cynical by nature and profession,and potentially apologize in advance.) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/22 "2014-03-29T14:47:13Z")
Umass-Boston. A legit college. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/23 "2014-03-29T16:23:37Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Umass-Boston. A legit college. Legit indeed. Though the architecture on that campus seems very… utilitarian… to me. Did the ambiance of the campus affect your decision about where to apply? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/24 "2014-03-29T16:34:54Z")
No. It was mostly a financial/where I can get in decision. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/25 "2014-03-29T16:43:28Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > No. It was mostly a financial/where I can get in decision. Luckily UMass is also a decent school. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/26 "2014-03-29T16:51:19Z")
What part of Metro Boston are you in? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/27 "2014-03-29T17:17:49Z")
Have you any thoughts about the new common core? Thankfully, my youngest will just miss having it implemented, but I know it’s quite controversial. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/28 "2014-03-29T17:41:34Z")
Not totally familiar with it. However, IMO all 12th graders should graduate HS with a similar educational frame of reference. Standardized testing is the most efficient way to assure this. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/29 "2014-03-29T18:23:05Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Not totally familiar with it. However, IMO all 12th graders should graduate HS with a similar educational frame of reference. Standardized testing is the most efficient way to assure this. That’s not what common core is. Most states, especially after NCLB legislation, have standardized testing. Common core is different and highly controversial and affects all public school educators and students. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/30 "2014-03-29T18:50:30Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > That’s not what common core is. Most states, especially after NCLB legislation, have standardized testing. Common core is different and highly controversial and affects all public school educators and students. Yeah, I’m a little surprised that you could be close enough to finishing your BA that you’re applying for grad school and aren’t aware of it. I would hope that any grad school interview for education would include at least one question on current (incoming and outgoing) legislation impacting the field. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/31 "2014-03-29T19:29:53Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I hope to teach middle or high school. Given your stated history of suicidal behaviour, trolling, abuse of email priviledges and other self harming acts, do you think you’re a good influence to be in charge of children? * * * MOD NOTE: People can stop reporting this post. There’s nothing accusatory here – **etv78** has indeed admitted to doing these things. Hal Briston – MPSIMS Moderator ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/32 "2014-03-29T20:03:15Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Given your stated history of suicidal behaviour, trolling, abuse of email priviledges and other self harming acts, do you think you’re a good influence to be in charge of children? Afraid they’ll teach _him_ some new tricks? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/33 "2014-03-29T20:17:54Z")
Do you understand how intensely fucked you now are? -Smeghead, year six PhD student ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/34 "2014-03-29T21:17:31Z")
UMass’s website looks like they have a ton of different MEd programs, which one are you applying for? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/35 "2014-03-30T01:12:03Z")
How so Smeg? Btw, I’m 36, been awhile since I finished HS. Cinnamon, my mental health has greatly improved in recent years, so I believe I can be a positive influence. If you disagree, feel free to stay out of threads I start/participate in. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/36 "2014-03-30T01:46:06Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > How so Smeg? Btw, I’m 36, been awhile since I finished HS. Cinnamon, my mental health has greatly improved in recent years, so I believe I can be a positive influence. If you disagree, feel free to stay out of threads I start/participate in. Um, I suspect, since he indicated that he’s an advanced grad student (probably in education getting his 6th year degree), that grad school kinda sucks you in and you’re “done for”. That’s my take. Could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/37 "2014-03-30T01:55:29Z")
That’s what I figured. 😃 My program is 2 years, the last semester is student teaching. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/38 "2014-03-30T14:00:05Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Given your stated history of suicidal behaviour, trolling, abuse of email priviledges and other self harming acts, do you think you’re a good influence to be in charge of children? FTR, people can stop reporting this post. There’s nothing accusatory here – **etv78** has indeed admitted to doing these things. **Hal Briston** – MPSIMS Moderator ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/39 "2014-03-30T15:41:51Z")
FTR I didn’t report the post. I’m ignoring it because DFTT. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787/40 "2014-03-30T19:14:48Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Cinnamon, my mental health has greatly improved in > recent years, so I believe I can be a positive influence. If you disagree, feel free to stay out of threads I start/participate in. Glad to hear it and I’m impressed by your maturity in continuing to participate in this thread. In the spirit of the OP - congratulations on your upcoming graduation, and did you decide who to [invite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14136564&postcount=1)? > [@etv78](#): > > I didn’t report the post. I’m ignoring it because DFTT. However, accusing another poster of trolling, is, sadly against the rules. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-applied-to-grad-school/684787.md?page=3)