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Mid -Terms, Presentations and Papers...Oh my!
By Crobar in Neurognosis
October 15, 2007

Yes folks, after cramming for my multivariate statistics mid-term I write a blog.  In just two short hours I'll have ANOVA tables, F-tests, Levene tests for homogeneity of variance all staring me down.  They'll mock me as I attempt to extract some garbled memory in relation the question and try not to be too hasty and make simple mistakes (as I seem to do when the test anxiety sets in).

Then it's time to work on the substance abuse presentations...woohoo.  I have mine pretty much done but nowhere near the amount of material I'd like to have.  I am, however, constrained by limited time.  So, I'll go over the wonders of what MDMA and Lortab, or one of the other many names given to a hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen combination, does to the brain and body.

Then, I get to start work on my sleep disorders seminar - gotta put together and 1 or more of material in the next 4 weeks.  As well as fitting in a presentation on HIV/AIDS as it relates to Health Psychology.  Although that one is a group project and I'll probably ramble on about CCR5 receptors, HIV deniers and basic virology.  All fun an interesting stuff - see all the great fun you can have as a graduate student?  And yes, that was sarcasm.

Pure academics aside, I'm also formulating a plan to worm my way into a TA position.  There is a class that everyone is required to take called the Biological Basis of Behavior.  It's basically a type of graduate level introductory neuroscience course.  Of course, this is the stuff that gets my...well, I like this stuff.  So, I have no doubt that I'll get an A in the course.  Now, the first thing to do is find out if the course has a TA since the instructor is new, there is a possibility this class does not have one.  Therefore I will inquire about being a TA for the class and if I have to prove I am knowledgeable in that material, I think making the highest grade in the class would be sufficient proof.

What?  What's that you say?  Highest grade?!  A bit of arrogance there Mr. Overby? Actually, no.  Neuroscience has always interested me.  I did well in my undergraduate physiological psychology course, I took the subsequent graduate level biology of behavior course and did excellent in there as well.  I went to UTD for a year in the neuroscience program (there's several reasons why I didn't stay in that program and not because it was "too hard") where I studied systems neuroscience, cellular neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, neuropharmacology et cetera.  I have the advantage of having a good amount of formal education in this area.  So, my plan is to plead my case for a TA position for the class, show what I know and even add some icing on the cake by going above and beyond what is asked in that class.

So why a TA spot?  Well it would work best for me.  It would mean that I get to work at the school and spend more time there.  I would not have to work so many hours and get paid much more than I am now - I believe the going rate for TAs is somewhere around $2000 a month.  This will also give me time and resources (but most of all enough time) to begin work on my thesis which will require a lot of work but that's what I get for choosing to do some neuroendocrinology work.

If I don't get into the Ph.D. program at UT I plan on staying and getting my second masters at TSU in Health Services Research so maybe they'd let me stay on as a TA for that class...hopefully, but I won't hold my breath for a comfortable position like that past graduation.

Well, there's my mid-term rant and ramble.  It is what it is.  Just wait until finals, then I'll really sound as if I've lost my mind.