I'm getting out of practice, updating this blog!
By and large, the last couple of weeks have been pretty ordinary to be honest. Lectures, coursework, and testing participants. I'm almost done with one of the studies I'm running now, just two more weeks of testing and I'll have all my data. It's always good getting to the end of testing (something that takes a heck of a lot longer in patient studies, hence the ongoing saga of my clinical trial), and I'll be interested to see what the results are.
This week, I finally finished my clinical psychology essay. This is the last short essay I'll write at Kent, so it's a bit of a milestone. Now all I have left are the second half of my dissertation and an extended essay for neuroscience, then all of my coursework will be done! Four exams, and then graduation. I have to admit, things have gone very, very quickly since I got my master's place. I suppose that's what a happier outlook does to you!
I started preparing for my exams yesterday. Revision is an awful time of the year if you do it properly. Usually between 8 and 12 hours each day of poring over notes, condensed notes, textbooks and lists of names and dates. It's not fun or easy for anyone, good student or not. But, it's definitely worth it once you see the grades on the paper! In fact, it's two months today and I'll be done with my degree. That is a scary thought!
Tuesday this week saw the last of my French classes. I'll be very sad to see the end of them to be honest, although when I go to UCL I expect I will take the next class up to build upon what I've already learned. In two weeks, I'll also be on my way to Paris! It'll be a nice break before I start the hell of revision, plus I'll have the chance to practice what I've learned in my classes. Hopefully I won't make too much of a fool of myself. In any case, I'm sure it will be a great trip and I'm really, really looking forward to it.
The other piece of good news I had this week was getting over the £1,000 mark on my MSc fundraiser! Thank you so much to those of you who shared and donated! It's officially less than 6 months until I start now, and I'm getting more and more excited about everything.
Finally, I've been tutoring over the last week or so. It's been a new experience, and I'm glad that I can help people out with their work. I enjoy cognitive and biological psychology very much, and I hope that I make the topic interesting for my student.
While I was teaching the other day, my student asked how I got into psychology, and I remembered what a strange story that one makes. I can't remember who I've told about this before, so I figured it would be an interesting thing to write on here. Here goes.
When I was younger, I was really into a band called Travis (still am, of course!). You'll probably recognise most of their songs, even if you don't know the band (Why Does It Always Rain On Me, Sing, etc.). I saw them live a couple of times, and met a few of the band members (they remembered me too, by the way, and the lead singer wrote to me regarding a show review I'd written on their site!). Anyway, their second album is called 'The Man Who'. It's a bit of a strange title, admittedly. The man who, what? I looked up the origins of the name once, and discovered the album was named after a book by Dr Oliver Sacks: The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat. Of course, it looked extremely interesting, so I went ahead and bought the book. The book itself describes conditions such as hemispatial neglect and agnosia, and talks about the people behind the conditions. From then on, I've been completely hooked on learning more about these problems, and what can be done to help the people who are affected by them. Dr Sacks is a complete hero of mine, and last year I was privileged enough to meet him. He talks a lot about the human element to cognitive and neurological disorders, and how often in science and medicine it's easy to forget about the people behind them. The talk that I saw him give spoke of how we should be mindful of patients, and ultimately do things not for the sake of knowledge, but to truly improve people's lives. This is something I will take with me as I (hopefully) advance through my career, and every time I've worked with a patient I make sure to be careful that I'm helping the person, rather than investigating a treatment.
So, there you have it. From music to neuroscience. It's a random story, but hopefully a good one.
Friday, 28 March 2014
Monday, 17 March 2014
Positive
It's now week 21! After Friday, I have another three weeks before the end of term, and then starts the one month+ revision period. While I tend to find exams ok, I have to say I loathe the revision period. It's almost two months of shutting yourself away every day for hours on end, reading and re-learning everything you already know. I put myself through this hell for the grades, and thankfully it pays off. Luckily, the F1 season has started up again, so I consider these weekends to include enforced breaks while I watch the race. It saves my sanity, that's for sure!
This year, I have very few exams - only four. I'll be done on the 28th of May, and I'm not sure how I'll feel once the final exam is over. I remember feeling slightly shell-shocked once I'd finished my second year exams, although there were a lot more with not quite as long to revise in between. This year, the final exams marks not only the end to the torture of revision, but also the end of my degree. I have to say, it's been four years of ups and downs, but right now I'm definitely on an 'up' swing.
Aside from receiving my exam timetable, last week I also registered for graduation! This has been a very long time coming - I think I wanted to book my graduation at the same time as my friends last year booked theirs, so I'm so happy I finally have it sorted. I'm sure the ceremony will be incredibly boring, but at least I will have my degree officially, and it will be a celebration of sorts. Plus, I get to wear the ridiculous hat, which will be something to laugh about.
As well as the news about my graduation and my exams, I've also been very encouraged by the response to my master's degree. It's been just over a week since I received the news, and I think it's now finally sunk in. The next step is for me to raise the money to afford my tuition fees, course costs, and travel expenses to and from London each day. I need to raise around £13,000 for this (ideally more to be on the safe side with the travel), and now I'm just over the halfway mark!
Trying to raise such a large amount of money in such a short amount of time isn't easy. If I wasn't so desperate to do the degree right away, I would defer for a year in order to find a job and raise the full amount on my own. As it is, I'm working as a research assistant and a clinical study coordinator alongside my studies (makes for very busy weeks and very, very long hours), which has given me most of what I have earned so far. It's hard work, but I certainly don't shy away from this, and it will definitely be worth it when I'm up in London! I'm very lucky too that I receive a scholarship from my current university, all of which has been put towards my fees. My final bursary payment this month will also head straight to my savings account to boost the total.
As well as everything I'm doing myself, I'm also looking to charities and foundations for grants to study. While I haven't heard anything back from these places as of yet, I'm hopeful that at least one will show sympathy towards my plight and help me raise the rest of my fees! UCL also offer two scholarships for which I may be eligible, however as I won't know the outcome of my application to these until a month before I start, I'd rather not run the risk of not having the tuition covered should my applications be unsuccessful.
Perhaps the most meaningful money I have raised has been donated by some truly wonderful people on my fundraising page. I have to admit, I set the page up completely on the off-chance that someone would want to help me, and I am completely overwhelmed by the fact that so many people have helped me! I still have a way to go on the fundraiser, and so I'd be very, very grateful if you could check it out and share the link (or even donate if you can!). Even the smallest amount will go straight towards my MSc costs, and I promise to keep everyone updated as well as I can. You can find the fundraising page at the following link: http://www.youcaring.com/tuition-fundraiser/maria-s-master-s/127559
So, all in all I've had a very good week. It is certainly a big change from the past four months, where my life has been dominated by uncertainty and bad news. I'm hoping that the positive news and good feelings will continue right up until the end of my degree, and on into summer. The aims of this week include finishing my last short essay at this university, and fathoming the data analysis for my dissertation. Let's hope that these two pieces of coursework go as well as the rest.
This year, I have very few exams - only four. I'll be done on the 28th of May, and I'm not sure how I'll feel once the final exam is over. I remember feeling slightly shell-shocked once I'd finished my second year exams, although there were a lot more with not quite as long to revise in between. This year, the final exams marks not only the end to the torture of revision, but also the end of my degree. I have to say, it's been four years of ups and downs, but right now I'm definitely on an 'up' swing.
Aside from receiving my exam timetable, last week I also registered for graduation! This has been a very long time coming - I think I wanted to book my graduation at the same time as my friends last year booked theirs, so I'm so happy I finally have it sorted. I'm sure the ceremony will be incredibly boring, but at least I will have my degree officially, and it will be a celebration of sorts. Plus, I get to wear the ridiculous hat, which will be something to laugh about.
As well as the news about my graduation and my exams, I've also been very encouraged by the response to my master's degree. It's been just over a week since I received the news, and I think it's now finally sunk in. The next step is for me to raise the money to afford my tuition fees, course costs, and travel expenses to and from London each day. I need to raise around £13,000 for this (ideally more to be on the safe side with the travel), and now I'm just over the halfway mark!
Trying to raise such a large amount of money in such a short amount of time isn't easy. If I wasn't so desperate to do the degree right away, I would defer for a year in order to find a job and raise the full amount on my own. As it is, I'm working as a research assistant and a clinical study coordinator alongside my studies (makes for very busy weeks and very, very long hours), which has given me most of what I have earned so far. It's hard work, but I certainly don't shy away from this, and it will definitely be worth it when I'm up in London! I'm very lucky too that I receive a scholarship from my current university, all of which has been put towards my fees. My final bursary payment this month will also head straight to my savings account to boost the total.
As well as everything I'm doing myself, I'm also looking to charities and foundations for grants to study. While I haven't heard anything back from these places as of yet, I'm hopeful that at least one will show sympathy towards my plight and help me raise the rest of my fees! UCL also offer two scholarships for which I may be eligible, however as I won't know the outcome of my application to these until a month before I start, I'd rather not run the risk of not having the tuition covered should my applications be unsuccessful.
Perhaps the most meaningful money I have raised has been donated by some truly wonderful people on my fundraising page. I have to admit, I set the page up completely on the off-chance that someone would want to help me, and I am completely overwhelmed by the fact that so many people have helped me! I still have a way to go on the fundraiser, and so I'd be very, very grateful if you could check it out and share the link (or even donate if you can!). Even the smallest amount will go straight towards my MSc costs, and I promise to keep everyone updated as well as I can. You can find the fundraising page at the following link: http://www.youcaring.com/tuition-fundraiser/maria-s-master-s/127559
So, all in all I've had a very good week. It is certainly a big change from the past four months, where my life has been dominated by uncertainty and bad news. I'm hoping that the positive news and good feelings will continue right up until the end of my degree, and on into summer. The aims of this week include finishing my last short essay at this university, and fathoming the data analysis for my dissertation. Let's hope that these two pieces of coursework go as well as the rest.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
ACCEPTED!
My blog has been somewhat stagnating of late, or has been rather negative in tone. Honestly, not much has been happening beyond the usual boring rigours of student life - essays, note-taking, and more essays. In my case, this has included essays, note-taking, and conducting research in the lab all day. Still, this is what I want to do, so I can't complain.
This week, however, I have GOOD news! After months of waiting, heartache, and a rollercoaster of other emotions, I have finally been accepted for an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London! Getting into UCL has been a dream of mine for a very, very long time. The university is one of the best in the world for neuroscience research, and I wanted to be a part of it. It feels fantastic to say that in six months' time I will be studying there.
I applied for the MSc way back in January, and it had been a long time waiting. Over the last week I was rapidly losing hope, and generally being a pain to live with and listen to (I cannot thank my family and friends enough for putting up with me while I was nothing more than a bundle of stress and anguish!). On Friday, the applications website finally updated from 'Application Complete' to 'Currently being processed by Admissions' - I'll admit that at this point my anxiety reached a whole new level, and I spent most of the day searching through forums to see when other people had received an answer following this status change. Searching through forums brought a mix of hope and terror. I managed to find out that, no, this change didn't mean I'd been accepted, and generally people received an answer at 2am.
I did consider staying up until I had the answer from UCL on Friday night/Saturday morning, although my tiredness got the better of me. Needless to say, I didn't really sleep that well. I woke up at 2:30am, and did wonder whether to check the applications website at that moment and get it over with. Thankfully, I came to my senses and went back to sleep. When I woke up again at 5:30, curiosity got the better of me. I'd already opened the login screen on my phone, so I clicked the relevant buttons and awaited my answer.
You can imagine my relief when I saw that the answer was positive. Far from jumping around the room (it was still early after all), I smiled and let the adrenaline die down a little. At 6am I got up, told my parents, and let the news sink in.
So, I've finally achieved a goal of getting a place. Now, I need to raise my tuition fees. I've managed to save a fair proportion of the tuition, although I still need the rest and enough money to commute to London each day. I'm reluctant to take out a career and development loan, and so I'm hoping to raise the money through scholarships, hard work, and the kindness of others. I've set up a fundraising page, and I am hoping that you lovely people can share it for me (or even donate if you would like!). You'll have my gratitude forever, and if there's some way I can repay you then please let me know. The fundraising page can be seen here, and I'll be posting regular updates on my progress from now on. It seems exciting times are ahead at last!
This week, however, I have GOOD news! After months of waiting, heartache, and a rollercoaster of other emotions, I have finally been accepted for an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London! Getting into UCL has been a dream of mine for a very, very long time. The university is one of the best in the world for neuroscience research, and I wanted to be a part of it. It feels fantastic to say that in six months' time I will be studying there.
I applied for the MSc way back in January, and it had been a long time waiting. Over the last week I was rapidly losing hope, and generally being a pain to live with and listen to (I cannot thank my family and friends enough for putting up with me while I was nothing more than a bundle of stress and anguish!). On Friday, the applications website finally updated from 'Application Complete' to 'Currently being processed by Admissions' - I'll admit that at this point my anxiety reached a whole new level, and I spent most of the day searching through forums to see when other people had received an answer following this status change. Searching through forums brought a mix of hope and terror. I managed to find out that, no, this change didn't mean I'd been accepted, and generally people received an answer at 2am.
I did consider staying up until I had the answer from UCL on Friday night/Saturday morning, although my tiredness got the better of me. Needless to say, I didn't really sleep that well. I woke up at 2:30am, and did wonder whether to check the applications website at that moment and get it over with. Thankfully, I came to my senses and went back to sleep. When I woke up again at 5:30, curiosity got the better of me. I'd already opened the login screen on my phone, so I clicked the relevant buttons and awaited my answer.
You can imagine my relief when I saw that the answer was positive. Far from jumping around the room (it was still early after all), I smiled and let the adrenaline die down a little. At 6am I got up, told my parents, and let the news sink in.
So, I've finally achieved a goal of getting a place. Now, I need to raise my tuition fees. I've managed to save a fair proportion of the tuition, although I still need the rest and enough money to commute to London each day. I'm reluctant to take out a career and development loan, and so I'm hoping to raise the money through scholarships, hard work, and the kindness of others. I've set up a fundraising page, and I am hoping that you lovely people can share it for me (or even donate if you would like!). You'll have my gratitude forever, and if there's some way I can repay you then please let me know. The fundraising page can be seen here, and I'll be posting regular updates on my progress from now on. It seems exciting times are ahead at last!
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