Temple, and Deadlines: Done

After months of toiling, typing and paying for pieces of paper I never even got to touch, the application process is done. Fini. Finito. закончена. Finished.

Yesterday marked the last deadlines I faced: Florida and Ohio State. Penn State's deadline passed on Jan. 10, and Temple's passed on New Year's Day. Now, the waiting really begins. A few schools have written to inform me of the various levels of completeness of my applications and each time I get this weird pang of anxiousness. I've written about it before -- "it" being the yin and yang of my Ph. D. application experience -- the sense of total excitement versus total terror. (This will balance out eventually, right? Har har har.)

Of course, there's this one thingy you need to pursue a Ph. D.: a Master's. And that whole graduating with a Master's deal relies on another thingy: a thesis. I'm happy to report that I finally feel like I'm going to accomplish these little thingies. All things considered, this semester (my last as a student at USF *gasp*) is off to a great start. I jumped right into my thesis work this semester, and I've actually filled out my graduation applications. The class I teach is organized and the students seem mildly enthusiastic (mild is good, considering I teach grammar). Work poses its own set of challenges, but also comes with a new intern and set work hours. (Who knew I would need a job to confine the hours I allow myself to work? This is probably why I feel I'm suited for academic life.) The Sabres are still holding a home-ice position in the playoff standings and Ryan Miller leads the league in a few stats. So really, life in general is good!

All that aside, I thought it would be a good time for another installation of...

Reasons I want to go to insert college here Temple.

The fun: Located on Broad Street. As a hockey fan, I know how to love to hate the Flyers. There's something magic about earning a doctorate on Broad Street, though. There's also cheesesteak, that big cracked bell, and accessible transportation to other, more respectable cities... like Newark. (I'd say I'm kidding, but hey, they have the Devils. That's all they -- and I -- need.) No, really, I actually have very fond memories of a 5th grade field trip to Philly and have always wanted go back. (No trademark sarcasm in that comment, I promise.) I really love cities with history and would relish the opportunity to live in a top 5 media market. (Not that anything is wrong with Tampa, coming it at #14.)

The education:

• The Mass Media and Communication Doctoral Program at Temple is generally considered one of the best in the country. It's definitely an established program. In my opinion, it doesn't hurt that it was originally recommended to me by Dr. Derina Holtzhausen a couple of years ago.
• The faculty. Oh my. The faculty. Dr. Priscilla Murphy. Dr. Donnalyn Pompper. We're talking public relations, crisis communication, reputation management (you know, my whole thesis). Throw in a little activism. That's just good stuff.
• As part of the program, topics that are covered include new media and international communication.

There are obviously more reasons I'm interested in Temple, but for now I'm going to wrap this entry up and hit the sack.

Until next time (hopefully less than two weeks from now!), adieu.

- Mel(li) :)