Make way for the student!

Well, I had a great interview yesterday and was accepted into the program. Registration for classes is in July. And the way the actual class times are set up is pretty cool. The program was created many years back. It was a small program at first, and there's not much funding that is provided by the state. So, a few years back, the department was receiving pressure to increase the size of the program to balance the demand for those wanting to enroll. They couldn't afford to bring on any more staff, so they did something different.

Instead of having each class last 15 or so weeks, they cut them all down to 8 or 9 weeks (each class only meets once a week). They were then able to have the class go weeks 1-8, and then 9-16 to allow double the students - and having the teachers show up the same amount of time. So, I'll only have one class at a time - 1 the first half, and then another the 2nd half. I might do 3 classes for Spring - I'm going to see how it goes for Fall. But I'm very excited!

In the next few weeks, I'll be receiving the official notice of acceptance, register for financial aid, get student loans (again), contact my loan company to say that i need a deferment (yay!) and then buy my book(s) and also get a new laptop. I've decided that mine I have is too large to transport (it has a 17.5" screen...) so I'm selling it, and then going to buy a macbook. Through the bookstore, the laptop itself is about 250 less than buying it from apple (student discounts) and I can also purchase software at a discounted price.

Oh, I can't wait to shop! I'm such a nerd for these kinds of things. Office supplies - love it!

Also, yesterday I finally went to the DMV and ordered my new license with out the restriction for corrective lenses! It felt so nice to take the little eye exam! Nerd again, I know. But now at least it's proof that I have normal eyeballs!

Tomorrow...

Well, tonight I spent preparing for the interview tomorrow for the MPA program. I finished up my statement of purpose - which was actually a bit more difficult than I expected. E$ and Shortie helped me out. I just felt like everything I was writing was really awkward. J told me I was just over-analyzing. But I can't help it. It's sort of in my nature.

So, I emailed it again one last time to E$ and Shortie. Then I got sucked into the web. I started checking myspace, sending Shortie comments, looking at blogs, all kinds of things. It was just so difficult to focus on the task at hand. But I managed. I wrote out some answers to questions I might hear. It seems funny. But it helps to bring your mind to a particular time or event or something that you can recall. The one thing E$ asked me about was to tell an interesting/funny story thing. Something that isn't too awkward or corny. I'm still working on that one. I do love our wedding story - parts make it funnier (like when my new pants busted open at the zipper - and we couldn't get them off...And did I mention this happened outside and I had to walk about 50 feet to get inside to the bride's room? Ya...that was fun).

But I have a few things in mind. And I have my little portfolio/padfolio thing with all the documents I need. I have my outfit in mind. I am going to get it all ready before I head to bed. I need some extra time in the morning...Today I couldn't get my ass out of bed before 7am. So that can't happen tomorrow!

One step closer...

Got the paperwork on Saturday for the MPA program....And I've scheduled my interview for 10am on Wednesday. Looks like I won't have to take the GRE (yay) and just have to finish up my Statement of Purpose letter. Fun times!

I'd like a do-over

I wish I didn't get out of bed today. Maybe if I slept in really late, it would have been a better day. Not that it's horrible. But it's not good. I'm getting bothered pretty easily. Manager's being impatient, realizing I forgot to send out some emails yesterday, my sister sending me stupid IMs, just not too fun. And what's worse - we got paid today. Even THAT can't put me in a better mood.



I think it started last night. Well, not last night, but the afternoon? I had such a great day with the excitement of grad school. Then I got a call from my cousin about our other cousin (not his sister) and how she put up these disgusting pics of herself on myspace. I really don't want to get into the history of why we don't really like her anyways ~ but it just bothered me. Then I go home, and I tell J how I'm needy. He says he'll be nice. lol. But no. I ended up making all the dinner. Partly because I just wanted to do it in quiet. He watched tv. We ate. Oh, I think we almost had an argument. But he wanted to avoid it cuz he knew I was just looking for one (that happens when I'm grumpy).



So, the rest of the night went ok. We ate, watched the first Pirates of the Caribean movie (tonight's number two). My alarm went off at 6:40, but I wasn't feeling it. I re-set it for 7. When that went off, I got up, my head hurt, and crawled back into bed next to him. He asked me if I was ok. I said no, my head hurts.



A few minutes later I get up, take a shower, get ready for work. I get to my car, realize I forgot to take out the tri-tips for Father's day (I know, too soon, but my mom swears I needed to take them out this morning), go back and finally get on my way. While driving to the freeway, my gas light goes on. Crap. It's already 8 and I'm still not at the freeway (normally I am practically at work by then). I get gas, and just keep thinking "Coffee's only a few minutes away."



But then I realize, I used the last of the creamer yesterday. Shit. So, I stop at the store. I finally get to work around 8:35. That's pretty late for me. It was just a downward spiral from there. People were just bothering me left and right. So, now it's 4pm, and I'm going home. And I'm going to open a bottle of wine.

Keep the good news coming!

Well, after I made public my decision to go back to school, I started looking more into the program, emailing contacts on the website, all that fun stuff. I also learned that there is a cohort program (same group of students going through the program, attending all the same classes) at the community college by my house. I emailed a person there (pulled the name/email from the site) and she wrote back the next morning that she sent it to the director from the college. I thanked her, then asked if she knew if there was a cohort starting in fall or spring. I was shocked when she replied back saying "Please refer to email below." She wouldn't even take 5 seconds to answer me??? Why was her name on the site as a contact when she wouldn't even help me? Man. Flakey!

So, I sent an email to a person who works directly through the college (not the community college). She was very nice, told me she sent me the packet in the mail, and that "yes" there was still time to enroll for Fall. How is that possible? I have no idea. Most departments have already stopped enrollment for the fall and moved on to those for the spring. So, either they still have room, or they just do things differently? I'm not going to complain.

So, I have this great opportunity right at my feet, practically. I will be completing whatever I need to as soon as possible. I will have to apply (again) for student loans - but can't until I'm accepted. I'm going to take out extra money to pay off my credit cards, buy a new laptop, and other misc. supplies. It just seems too easy/good to be true. Time will tell, but I'm very excited! J has also been thinking of going back, but he can't jump into it as quickly/easily as me. But he'll get there, I'm sure of it!

I might be crazy

But I'm seriously considering going back to school. After attending my sister's graduation, I realized how much I sorta missed it. Then with the job opportunity, I realized I need to get more experience to ensure that when I do decide to make the leap, I want to make sure I'd get the job. What better way then with your Master's? So, I started looking online to see what would be the best route for my career in HR. E$ suggested an MBA. I looked it up online and got seriously intimidated. The course load looked way intense. I have no idea about any of it. I mean, I majored in psychology. It's light years away from the type of business classes I'd have to take. But, I printed out and saved some info to help make my decision.

After dinner tonight, I went to look some more online. I saw that there was another option. There's a program that's and MPA. It's Masters in Public Administration. It's designed for people working in the following fields:

• Business/Healthcare administration
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Public Safety
• Social Welfare

So, since I fall into that third category there, I'm going to apply. Plus the great part is that there isn't pre-requisites, except that you've had at least 2 years of work in an appropriate field. I don't know when I can start. If they'd let me start in the fall, I'd do it. I think the program is about 2 1/2 years, so I want to get started as soon as possible! I can't believe I'm going to go back to school. So scary, but so exciting at the same time...

Just quick thoughts..

It's almost lunch time, so here's the quick list of this past weekend, and what's going on....more later when I have caught up from being out of the office on Friday....

• Small towns have their advantages. IE - cheap, but good, food. Case in point - on Saturday E$ and I went to have breakfast at the local airport...It's only really for those people with lil 2 seater planes. Both of us ate for 10 bucks (and it was goooooood).
• Watch out in Indianapolis - While eating dinner, we saw this guy across the street grab his face as a huge group of people walked past him. Turns out one of them hit him in the face and just kept walking....I later found out this happened to another guy (friend of a friend) - but he was driving in his car! Watch out!
• Shopping to kill time is dangerous. E$ and I spent some time on Sunday at the Indianapolis mall...more specifically - Nordstroms. Luckily it all fit in my suitcase & carry-on!
• LAX - even busy at 10pm on Sunday! When our plane (finally) landed last night, we got stuck circling around on the tarmac because there were no available gates for us to pull into. Finally around 11 we were able to off-load by the Delta planes (we were flying Continental).

The major thing that I have to report is that I did decide to go ahead and apply for that job in HR. I worked with E$ on revising and updating my resume. I think I'll either apply tonight or tomorrow. I sincerely doubt I'll even get a call back, but it never hurts to try!