Vivek’s Blog

It took me more than six hours, but I was able to move all my stuff to my new dorm earlier today (or yesterday).  It is tiny, as I expected, but there’s no roommate yet.  Not sure if someone is supposed to move in - I should’ve asked the people doing the check-in.  So everyday, I’ll wake up, and pray that no one shows up while I’m off at work.  I’ve used my knowledge of crystal structures to efficiently pack all my boxes under my high bed so that there’s a decent amount of room available.  I didn’t open anything that wasn’t immediately essential, and I plan to keep it that way all summer so that most of my stuff will be packed for the fall check-in.

Of course, there was an adventure to be had even though I was only moving my crap.  First, I went to the wrong dorm for check-in.  Then, I come back to my room after check-in, and the security guard tells me that I can’t take the wheeled bins outside the building.  This was a huge shock since I was relying on those large bins to help me move my stuff quickly and safely.  So, I took my suitcases and went off to my new room.  During the trip, I realized that it would be pure torture if I had to move my heavy items this way.  I went to the “Hospitality Desk” on campus to find a bin, only to be greeted by a line.  I had to wait 40 minutes to get a bin.  From then on, things were mostly smooth sailing except for the elevators in my new dorm that were crazy busy as everyone was moving in.  It took me about 5 trips over 3.5 hours to move all the heavy items.  The final two trips were much easier since I was only taking my computer and some random stuff.  By around 7:15pm, I vacated my old room and returned the keys.  Since then, I’ve been unpacking and organizing my stuff.  I ate lunch at like 5pm.

Anyway, I will return to more interesting tales tomorrow.  I hope.

…a punch, that is!  Bah, that was lame.

Anyway, I’m going to move into my summer dorm today (since it’s past 12am here).  Thus far, my online housing status does not list a roommate and although I’m praying it stays that way, I think the reality of the situation is that Housing is being incompetent (yet again), and just hasn’t bothered to change the info on my status.  Or maybe they will assign that room to someone during the second summer session starting in July.  For all I know, when I walk into my room tomorrow (today), there’ll be some dude moving in already.  Having to share that small room all summer would blow.

Once I get to my new place, I need to start up on this GRE prep.  Also, I meet my adviser on Thursday to discuss research.  Should be fun.  Right now, I need to pack my keyboard, mouse, and speakers.  Over and out.

I spent the entire day packing and watching Arrested Development and so, not much happened today.  Other than AD, the sight of two boxes I had just purchased taking flight due to the strong winds was perhaps most entertaining.  Good thing I was able to retrieve them quickly enough.  But anyway, I’m gonna go pack some more and then go to sleep earlier than 3am for a change.  I have to finish my packing tomorrow so that I can efficiently move my stuff to my summer room on Monday.  I’ve amassed an unbelievable amount of junk in my four years here.  Damn.

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.

Four bands.  Four hours worth of heavy music.  Seven hours without sitting down.  One incredible concert.

That may sound like some kind of advertisement, but it best describes my evening.  I was fortunate enough to catch the Progressive Nation 2008 concert on May 21, as it rolled through New York City for the first of two nights.  I was keen to watch Dream Theater live, especially after I’d missed them last summer while I was home in India.  Initially, I was skeptical about the concert, considering that four bands were sharing the bill.  However, I’ve started to like Opeth and watching them play with DT was, quite frankly, fucking amazing.

Read the rest of this entry »