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Reminiscence 
Group: Members
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Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:25 pm |
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Well, looks like I'm stuck in Colorado for quite a bit longer now. I just got accepted into a Ph.D. program here in Boulder. Straight from undergrad to Ph.D. track...exciting and very intimidating! I hope to be a great plant evolutionary ecologist someday. More interested in ecology (and human-plant interactions) than the evolution side of it, though. Now the truly tough work begins.
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When you are out West
Please, at my behest
Since you are Nature's guest
Do something to help the rest:
Dismantle a fire ring;
Take a stone and give a swing.
You may find that it will bring
A lift of goodness 'neath your wing.
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| Post Number: 2
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ol-zeke
me in the Tetons
Group: Members
Posts: 10797
Joined: Sep. 2002
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:39 pm |
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Congrats! Was this PhD program your first choice? Don't answer if your advisor reads here.  Not often we hear of going straight to PhD from Bach. degree. You must be one of the bright ones.
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Everything I know, I learned by doing it wrong at least twice.
The easiest way to ruin a Friday is to realize it is only Tuesday.
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| Post Number: 3
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14069
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:41 pm |
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I have a few friends in the eBio PhD program. I could introduce you if you want. It might be handy, especially down the line when trying to pick an adviser (knowing who to watch out for, etc). Did they offer you funding?
In the meantime, welcome. And congrats! I'm about a year from finishing mine. If you decide to research the polar regions we might cross paths in the field.
BTW, I still have your mini-fridge in my office. Lemme know if you want that back (my office mates would kick me if they knew I was offering that back, lol, but... it is yours after all).
- Mike
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 4
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Reminiscence
Group: Members
Posts: 3532
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:43 pm |
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Under the circumstances, having been the victim of a horrendous car accident in November, and having missed so many graduate school applications and having been forced to submit so many late ones, this school (pays more) and this adviser (most interesting research I was considering) was indeed my top choice. I have a disgusting lab exam in the morning that may bar me from celebrating the way I should tonight.
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When you are out West
Please, at my behest
Since you are Nature's guest
Do something to help the rest:
Dismantle a fire ring;
Take a stone and give a swing.
You may find that it will bring
A lift of goodness 'neath your wing.
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| Post Number: 5
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14069
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:45 pm |
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Sounds like you got funding, and already have an adviser you wanna work with. Awesome! 
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 6
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Reminiscence
Group: Members
Posts: 3532
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:46 pm |
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(GoBlueHiker @ Feb. 26 2013, 7:41 pm)
QUOTE I have a few friends in the eBio PhD program. I could introduce you if you want. It might be handy, especially down the line when trying to pick an adviser (knowing who to watch out for, etc). Did they offer you funding? In the meantime, welcome. And congrats! I'm about a year from finishing mine. If you decide to research the polar regions we might cross paths in the field. BTW, I still have your mini-fridge in my office. Lemme know if you want that back (my office mates would kick me if they knew I was offering that back, lol, but... it is yours after all). - Mike
Haha! I have been meaning to get that one of these weeks. I'll be in touch. Looks like I'll have to find somewhere to live here that is a little more permanently desirable, and a fridge would be good.
I have my adviser already, but I suppose there is a committee to be selected. I think soon is the time to start reading through those program details a little more closely.
I've been indeed offered TA funding, which was what I was shooting for at this point. Looking forward to hopefully teaching more plant courses than general biology courses. We'll see!
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When you are out West
Please, at my behest
Since you are Nature's guest
Do something to help the rest:
Dismantle a fire ring;
Take a stone and give a swing.
You may find that it will bring
A lift of goodness 'neath your wing.
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| Post Number: 7
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| Post Number: 8
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Ben2World
Group: Members
Posts: 23917
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 7:50 pm |
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Looks like some challenging -- and exciting -- years ahead! Congrats!!
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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -- St. Augustine
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| Post Number: 9
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SW Mtn backpacker
Born to hike, forced to work ...
Group: Members
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Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 8:22 pm |
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Congrats, though most biology programs want you to go straight for the PhD now (no MSci. option anymore).
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Usually Southwest and then some.
In wildness is the preservation of the world. - Henry Thoreau
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| Post Number: 10
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wildlifenate
Group: Members
Posts: 5834
Joined: Jul. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 8:23 pm |
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I tried for a few bachelors-to-PhD positions when I was doing my applications years ago. I couldn't get the time of day from most of the professors I approached.
How'd you manage it?
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The GPS Geek
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| Post Number: 12
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Ecocentric
Group: Members
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Joined: Jun. 2009
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 8:42 pm |
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Congratulations! I suspect that you are going to be one of the good ones.
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"Travel suggestions from strangers are like dancing lessons from God." -Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
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| Post Number: 13
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swimswithtrout
Group: Members
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Joined: Jan. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 9:22 pm |
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Congrats !!
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Want to see The Wind River Range in widescreen 1080p ?
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| Post Number: 14
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Reminiscence
Group: Members
Posts: 3532
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 9:36 pm |
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I would agree with nate and say MS track is just as common as PhD track. Thanks for the congratulations, all.
Nothing is quite solid in stone yet, as I've only just received the initial decision. But as to how I managed it, a near-flawless transcript record spanning many years and many fields, having personal positive experiences with many of the faculty in my department (many of whom are probably on the graduate decision committee), and strong letters of support probably did it. A decent CV and statement of interest probably helped. My GRE math scores definitely did NOT help me get in. 
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When you are out West
Please, at my behest
Since you are Nature's guest
Do something to help the rest:
Dismantle a fire ring;
Take a stone and give a swing.
You may find that it will bring
A lift of goodness 'neath your wing.
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| Post Number: 15
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21834
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 10:42 pm |
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Congratulations and have fun!
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| Post Number: 16
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RebeccaD
Double Arch, Arches N.P.
Group: Members
Posts: 9867
Joined: Jul. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 11:46 pm |
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Congrats!
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Bits of writerly thoughts and random short fiction found at
The Ninja Librarian Blog
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| Post Number: 17
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spindle
Group: Members
Posts: 22197
Joined: Dec. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 12:15 am |
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Congrats again!
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| Post Number: 18
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Lamebeaver
trail? I don't need no stinkin trail!
Group: Members
Posts: 16226
Joined: Aug. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 7:03 am |
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Congrats.
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| Post Number: 19
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14069
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 9:46 am |
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(Reminiscence @ Feb. 26 2013, 5:46 pm)
QUOTE Haha! I have been meaning to get that one of these weeks. I'll be in touch. Looks like I'll have to find somewhere to live here that is a little more permanently desirable, and a fridge would be good.
I have my adviser already, but I suppose there is a committee to be selected. I think soon is the time to start reading through those program details a little more closely.
I've been indeed offered TA funding, which was what I was shooting for at this point. Looking forward to hopefully teaching more plant courses than general biology courses. We'll see!
No rush on the fridge. We have no problem keeping it a little longer.
Enjoy TA'ing, at least for a year or two. When you're ready to focus solely on research, it is far easier to get your work done when you're RA'ing for a prof working on a project similar to your PhD work. Plus, I think RAs make more (dunno how it is in eBio, but it's definitely that way in other departments I know of). That being said, I wouldn't give up my time TA'ing for anything, it was pretty great. Enjoy it. My $.02 anyway, worth everything you paid for it.
- Mike
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 20
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
Group: Members
Posts: 8760
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 9:54 am |
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Congrats! There will be a substantial amount of field work involved, I hope.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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| Post Number: 21
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14069
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 9:54 am |
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(Reminiscence @ Feb. 26 2013, 5:47 pm)
QUOTE
(GoBlueHiker @ Feb. 26 2013, 7:45 pm)
QUOTE Sounds like you got funding, and already have an adviser you wanna work with. Awesome! Yeah, in EBIO, an adviser actually has to stand up during the admissions process and advocate for your admission. Otherwise, no deal.
I'm pretty sure that's how it is in the Geography program too. The selection committee reads all the applications and ranks them on a point scale while weeding those that don't qualify. But after that it's up to each professor to choose which candidates they want to accept. Sometimes one or two profs argue over a student. Sometimes, a highly ranked candidate might not get picked if no prof is interested in their intended work.
It's obvious you did your research ahead of time and got to know the profs you wanted to work with (so you were a face, not just a name on a paper), which could've only helped your admission and funding offer. Good work.
If you're interested in a fellowship, look up the NSF Graduate Research Fellowships... they're quite prestigious, and only offered to beginning (1st-2nd year) grad students. Applications are due in November, I think. I could help you put one together if you're interested... it'd be good funding (more $$ than most TAs or RAs) for three full years and give you complete flexibility to pick whatever adviser and research topic you wanted while working on your degree. Just a thought anyway.
- Mike
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 22
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peeb
Let's see who's been naughty, and who's been naughty!
Group: Members
Posts: 4673
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 12:49 pm |
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Congratulations!
I liked my grad school years, but I don't miss them very much now
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It's all so simple when you break it down scientifically - Nick Bakay
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| Post Number: 23
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39578
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 27 2013, 1:26 pm |
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Hope you enjoy it! Boulder is a good school overall. Only know the medical research side though... though a colleague's son did do his undergrad there, but in something like lighting design, and he enjoyed it and has a decent career going so it worked for him.
OTOH an MS is useful only when either the school/program or the student is lacking, otherwise for a credible applicant for a doctoral program it's a waste of precious time, the Nike "just do it" applies. That said for those that need the additional credibility a successful masters will give their application it's a great thing, much like a successful junior college experience can open doors a lacking high school record would not but even moreso as graduate slots are very precious (being in far smaller numbers than undergraduate slots) and committees shy away from potentially "wasting" one on a student who's questionable. A successful masters graduate program can assuage those reservations and granted as funding gets tighter and tighter people's willingness to accept anyone other than a "sure thing" (however THAT is figured out...) does get tighter and tighter... but you never get that time back so I'd advise against the default position being a masters track for those who are definitely desiring going further for reasons of their career area or whatever. When I read a post-doc application I no more pay attention to a masters anymore than what they did in high school or as an undergraduate.
The city is hardly a hardship post either. Good luck!
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| Post Number: 24
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| Post Number: 25
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Reminiscence
Group: Members
Posts: 3532
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 28 2013, 1:59 am |
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Thanks for the comments, everyone. Mike, we should meet up again soon. In all honesty, I've been getting by just fine without the fridge, and although it would be more "luxurious," I am more than happy to let people who are getting good use out of it continue to use it. I'd definitely like to discuss your grant experience a bit more extensively. It might be time to look into moving back into the countryside semi-permanently, again. I moved to Boulder due to mountain weather that caused the complete totaling of my car and a traumatic head injury, but I could see enjoying a quieter life a little bit east and much cheaper than B-villa.
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When you are out West
Please, at my behest
Since you are Nature's guest
Do something to help the rest:
Dismantle a fire ring;
Take a stone and give a swing.
You may find that it will bring
A lift of goodness 'neath your wing.
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| Post Number: 26
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Reminiscence
Group: Members
Posts: 3532
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 28 2013, 2:03 am |
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(hiking_tiger @ Feb. 27 2013, 1:35 pm)
QUOTE [quote=Reminiscence,Feb. 26 2013, 6:47 pm][/quote] EBIO...almost sounds...disease-ish.  Congrats.
We do offer a Parasitology course. Otherwise, we loathe those people who spend their lives in the lab studying disease molecular biology (not to say that some of them aren't doing great things -just, blah to their lifestyle).
Actually, someone in this department just published a Nature article, I believe, evaluating fungal pathogen prevalence in amphibians as dependent on amphibian biodiversity. I believe prevalence decreases with increasing biodiversity.
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When you are out West
Please, at my behest
Since you are Nature's guest
Do something to help the rest:
Dismantle a fire ring;
Take a stone and give a swing.
You may find that it will bring
A lift of goodness 'neath your wing.
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| Post Number: 27
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hikerjer
Group: Members
Posts: 9144
Joined: Apr. 2002
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 12:03 pm |
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Well, congratualtions and best of luck in your quest. Personally, I can't imagine going through that grind. Getting my Master's nearly killed me. Primarily because of the BS I had to put up with. That was enough of higher academia for me. Jeeze talk about people not living in the real world.
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"Too often I have met men who boast only of how many miles they've traveled and not of what they've seen." - Louis L'Amour
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| Post Number: 28
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rangersven
Group: Members
Posts: 2991
Joined: Jul. 2002
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 4:48 pm |
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Awesome...!!! Great news, hikerrr...!!! Congrats...
Happy Trails,
RS
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"Backpacker.com's Original Provocateur"
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| Post Number: 29
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Reminiscence
Group: Members
Posts: 3532
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Mar. 01 2013, 7:42 pm |
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I don't imagine the grind will feel so severe once I'm at my field sites studying plants. Sounds rather soothing, that aspect of it.
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When you are out West
Please, at my behest
Since you are Nature's guest
Do something to help the rest:
Dismantle a fire ring;
Take a stone and give a swing.
You may find that it will bring
A lift of goodness 'neath your wing.
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| Post Number: 30
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
