Vivek’s Blog

This is the start of a new “series” where I’ll answer questions that I get asked a lot.  Questions can be left in the comments on any entry in the series.  I’m kicking things off with one that almost everyone (except my fellow engineers here) asks me:  “How much more do you want to study?”  Or, “why do you want to study so much?  Get a life/job.”

It’s really hard to give anyone asking this question a satisfactory response in a few words.  Yes, I’m a nerd (or geek, if you swing that way) and I love science.  I’m also the curious type and willing to put in long hours to try and do well in my classes.  Plus I like doing research.  And of all these can only lead down one path:  a Ph.D.

Hence, this summer, I’ll be prepping for the GRE.  I’ll take the exam in August and start applying to Ph.D programs in Materials Science later in the year.  By April, I’ll get back responses and I’ll see where I end up going.  It’s not that I don’t want to get a job after finishing at Columbia - it’s a matter of whether I can get one before I have to accept offers from any grad schools that admitted me.  Further, by getting into a Ph.D program, I can postpone having to deal with the real world for a few more years. :-D  Speaking of the real world, it is way easier for people with doctoral degrees to find a high-paying job;  if nothing else, they can become professors and still do research on something they’re passionate about.

Some people have suggested that I should quit engineering, get a degree in finance/econ/management and start making a 6-figure salary right away.  But I’m not wired for business and I enjoy science and engineering a lot more.  I’m not saying that I can easily understand any science concept thrown at me.  What I mean to say is that I am more likely to do the hard work necessary to do well in the sciences, rather than econ/finance/whatever.  Life’s hard and I can sometimes be starved for free time, but hey, at least I’m doing something I enjoy doing.  Not every class is fun but I learn something new each time I attend a lecture, however boring and poorly organized the class might be.  That’s what keeps me going, I guess.  And also support from my parents and most friends.

Plus, I’d rather make stuff than roll around in numbers/stock prices/simulations/finance-y things all day.  Fuck that.

P.S.: Anyone who finds it hard to pronounce my name correctly can call me Viv so that you don’t feel guilty when you butcher it each time you say it.  No offense.

So it begins.  I’ve formally started researching graduate schools to apply to later this year.  I’m trying to come up with a list that includes some of the top graduate programs for Materials Science, but at the same time, I need some backup schools.  Places that I’m nearly guaranteed to get into.  During my undergrad college search, Adelphi and Georgia Tech were my backups and I got into both.  I need to do something similar again.

So far, my list includes schools like Northwestern, MIT, Standford, UT Austin, Caltech, etc. and I have to do more research before I can finalize this list.  I also don’t want to apply to too many colleges so top choices + backups seems to be the way to go.  If I get into any of my top choices, I’ll definitely go.  Otherwise, my backups should be good enough to make me want to pursue graduate study.

Of course, if I get into multiple programs, then things like financial aid will play a big role in my decision.  But wait a minute, all this is months down the line!  I need to first prepare and do well on the GRE exam and then send in strong applications.  Decision time is almost 10 months away.

I’m also going to try and look for a job.  If I can land one I like between now and March-end, then I might consider working for a bit before going into grad school.  We’ll see, I guess.  Also, just what the fuck is up with the weather in New York?  It’s far too cold for May!  Also also, it seems like the theme switcher is now working fine.  I haven’t worked on the theme or on anything else website-related today.  Tomorrow will be different!

I have no poetry skills so I won’t even attempt to write this post as some sort of poem, as the title would suggest.  However, I will make every attempt to make this post enjoyable to read, maybe even include some jest.

If you go to Columbia or are one of the chosen few who already know what the word Mudd means, then the rest of the post is perhaps useless for you.  It might be interesting, but definitely nothing new.  For everyone else, this post will help clarify some of my away messages on AIM/Yahoo/GTalk/etc.

Mudd is the shortened name of the engineering building at Columbia.  It is tall and big.  It is divided up such that there are one or two departments per floor.  For engineering students, more or less, all classes happen in this building.  It also houses all the research labs, a cafeteria, a library, and a computer lab.  Which brings me to the reason for writing this post:  I spend several hours every day in Mudd.  Most of that time is spent either in the computer lab or in the library, and not in classrooms.  Almost every Monday, I’m there from 10:30am to 6:30pm (minimum).  I even go there on weekends.  Pathetic?  Maybe.

All engineering students feel a strange attraction towards Mudd.  It’s like a home away from home away from home.  Our dorms act as our home away from home, but Mudd is our home away from our dorms.  The library is well-stocked and the computer lab machines have all kinds of useful software for students.  Plus, there are printers for, you know, printing stuff.  I usually go there for group study fun times or when I’m solo, I just plug in my headphones and do my work.  Few distractions.  There’s food and drinks so you really don’t have to leave the building for anything.  Except perhaps showers.  You can totally find a place to sleep if you want to.  There’s WiFi everywhere (except that one room on the 11th floor) and ethernet jacks in several rooms.  Furthermore, the elevators are crazy fast, especially when not busy.  Also, we’ve got automatic sliding doors at the entrance.  Yep, we’re engineers all right.

I obviously spend way too much time in this building, but there are others who practically live there (you know who you are).  And did I mention the sky bridge on the 10th floor that connects Mudd to the building next door?  Pretty sweet, eh?

This week just doesn’t want to be done. There’s still one essay due before this week is out. Ugh. I’m currently chopping and changing my essay to make sure I say all that I need to in 1200 words or less. It’s very limiting - piezoelectrics just cannot be discussed adequately in four pages of double-spaced text.

Anyway, today was the second-last day of classes and my last two classes of the semester are on Monday. Then a study period of just under a week before finals start. My exam schedule this semester is simple: two exams on May 12 and two on May 15. The two on Thursday are back-to-back. Good times.

In other news, I need a new belt for daily use. Just thought I’d throw that out there for all you belt junkies.

So much work to do and not enough time to do it all in.  I have a presentation tomorrow, an essay due on Thursday, a homework set and as essay due on Friday, and one more problem set coming my way soon.  I was being lazy and unproductive for the last two weeks, but this current week is being a total bitch.  So I apologize for another meaningless post with a song lyric as its title.  But I have to rehearse this presentation and get enough sleep for the madness to follow.

At least I get to see The Verve!