Grad School TA's, Sound Off.

[theperfectstorm]

I am moving and want to send some stuff downstream. So, I would like to do a big PIF to some deserving Teaching Assistant in Grad School. (Spent many years on a stipend myself)

Of course, such a thing requires that we have a few off that species lurking about. So I am just gauging potential interest.

Any TA's (RA's, GPTI's, ABD's) out there? If so, where are you and what are you studying?

 

[soapbox]

I am moving and want to send some stuff downstream. So, I would like to do a big PIF to some deserving Teaching Assistant in Grad School. (Spent many years on a stipend myself)

Of course, such a thing requires that we have a few off that species lurking about. So I am just gauging potential interest.

Any TA's (RA's, GPTI's, ABD's) out there? If so, where are you and what are you studying?

What a great idea. I'm no longer a TA, RA, or ABD (I'm now Dr. Soapbox), but DE shaving was really good for my mental health during the last year of graduate school. I think you're doing a very good deed here. Kudos.

 

[gollum83]

What a great idea. I'm no longer a TA, RA, or ABD (I'm now Dr. Soapbox), but DE shaving was really good for my mental health during the last year of graduate school. I think you're doing a very good deed here. Kudos.

Shame on you! You posted this six months after I finished!

 

[Abagadro]

ABD in political science/public administration. Did a year of TAing but then went broke so went back to work full time. Can't seem to get my *** in gear to do the dissertation.

 

[LegalEagle143]

I'm not a TA, but I am in law school - does that count?

 

[Abagadro]

I'm not a TA, but I am in law school - does that count?

It means you should GIVE stuff in penance rather than receive.

 

[gollum83]

It means you should GIVE stuff in penance rather than receive.

Agreed! No one likes a lawyer, even a soon-to-be one!

 

[LegalEagle143]

Thanks guys....

 

[soapbox]

Agreed! No one likes a lawyer, even a soon-to-be one!

Until s/he's the one on your side of a dispute.

 

[gollum83]

Until s/he's the one on your side of a dispute.

Meh, I have a few years, easy, before LegalEagle can sue me for character deformation.

 

[Abagadro]

Until s/he's the one on your side of a dispute.

Trust me on this one, they NEED a lawyer, but they still don't LIKE the lawyer. Particularly when they get your bill.

 

[wundergussy]

I am about to start my last semester of my MAT (even though we had our "graduation" walk two weeks ago) and just finished a year of student teaching. Forget a stipend, I have been working full time with nothing but loans and bills for over a year now. Not technically TA-ing, as I was the only one teaching most of the year. Fingers crossed for a job this fall!

(I realize this doesn't really count, but I wanted to throw my hat in the ring with the other grad students on here)

 

[LawLess]

I am an RA for a consumer law attorney here at school. Basically doing gruntwork of interviewing indigent clients, doing case research, writing memos...etc.

 

[ScotchDave]

I hope to be an RA in the Autumn (fall to all you Americans), other wise I'll be studying for a masters. Do I qualify?

 

[DunEdinRanger]

I suppose pursuing a doctorate in lobsterology doesn't count?

 

[adonnellyr]

I'm a TA Just marked a pile of the little bugger's essays actually! I'm an english lit student, and am TA'ing the first year english course and was lucky enough to get a summer course TA-ship with a prof I sucked up to earlier in the year. I love how some students look up to us, even though most of us are living well below the poverty line. Also, as to what I'm working on, I get to edit and be research assistant on a new biography coming out on Mordecai Richler. Unpaid work of course, but the CV will thank me later!

Oh, and I'm in Ontario.

 

[gollum83]

I hope to be an RA in the Autumn (fall to all you Americans), other wise I'll be studying for a masters. Do I qualify?

What the heck is that supposed to mean? I've heard plenty of my fellow Americans use the word autumn before.

 

[theperfectstorm]

What the heck is that supposed to mean? I've heard plenty of my fellow Americans use the word autumn before.

Yes, but in 8 years as a student and another 8 as a Professor I have never heard any U.S. person or institution use the phrase "Autumn Semester" about the academic year. We say "Fall Semester."

Or perhaps he's just being a git.

 

[adonnellyr]

I'v never heard the term "Autumn Semester" either. It sounds slightly more poetic though...

 

[gollum83]

I'v never heard the term "Autumn Semester" either. It sounds slightly more poetic though...

Use it. At best you can start a fad. At worst you just come off looking slightly eccentric... not that anyone would notice, after all you are in grad school, you crazy fool.