Category Archives: students

Changing Locations to Finish My Thesis (a writing mini-retreat)

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Happy Coffee
http://funny.funnyoldplanet.com/funny/happy-coffee/

My goal is to finish (or darn near finish) my master’s paper: TODAY!

But I am taking a short break from writing my master’s thesis to blog because blogging relieves stress and unleashes some creative awesomeness. As part of today’s thesis writing marathon, I decided to change locations from where I normally write/study. I chose a coffee shop instead of my desk at home, and instead of my campus office.

According to a post by the Thesis Whisperer, there has been ample research to suggest that taking a thesis writing retreat will benefit the writing process. The change of location can be invigorating. So here I am at a coffee shop for a mini-retreat. However, for my dissertation… I might take a month somewhere. I have already floated the idea to my wife and she seems interested. For her the “no” factor is always money… which makes sense. But the “yes” factor for her is travel because travel is fun.

I am thinking Seattle, Portland, New York City or Chicago could all be great places for a month long retreat. Almost anywhere in Colorado could work.

Have you ever taken a retreat (or mini-retreat) to finish a major project? How did it work out for you?

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What are the Best Ways to Handle Criticism?

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Sheldong Fainting, how to respond to an avalanche of constructive criticism
Sheldon Fainting, “The Big Bang Theory”

Is it every writers nightmare to receive comments and multiple revision suggestions on every page of a submission? Continue reading What are the Best Ways to Handle Criticism? →

Are too many young people going to college?

bankruptcy, college, education, family finances, financial management, loan debt, loan reform, money, news, Nonprofit, occupy movement, Occupy student debt, politics, poll, sallie mae, self sufficient living, student debt, student loans, Student loans: As debts hit $1 trillion mark, students, teaching, tuition rates, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“A college education was once regarded as a first-class ticket to a better life.

But the rising costs of higher education, the burden of student loans and a less-certain job market have left many wondering: Are too many young people going to college?” — SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

College education is very important, but with the current tuition rates it appears to be a financial liability that outweighs the financial benefits. What do you think?

Obama (or Romney) … Will you Buy Me a Car?

bankruptcy, Barack Obama, college, family finances, Ford fusion, hybrid car, learning, Life As I Feel It, loan debt, loan reform, Mitt Romney, news, Occupy student debt, politics, sallie mae, student debt, student loans, Student loans: As debts hit $1 trillion mark, students, tuition rates, , , , , , , , , , , ,
2012 Election Issues
http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/

Dear President Obama (or Mitt Romney),

Please buy me a Ford Fusion Hybrid to help compensate for the outrageously high college tuition rates which have been sweeping the nation (and to offset the high gas prices too)! I can barely afford pizza and beer. If you are unwilling to buy me a car, then please do some SERIOUS work to get college tuition rates down. Also do some work to get the cost of college textbooks down!

Thanks for your time! Have a nice day.

Oregon College Education is Broken (and Broke)

bankruptcy, college, education, Eugene, family, family finances, financial management, learning, loan debt, loan reform, Management, money, news, Occupy student debt, Portland, student debt, student loans, Student loans: As debts hit $1 trillion mark, students, tuition rates, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Many students do not think about the loans they will be paying back, at least not until after they graduate. But tuition rates in Oregon are projected to go up again.

For Southern Oregon University the tuition increase is to offset a $2.5-million budget shortfall. For Portland State, the combination of tuition and fees is going down slightly… partly by allowing students who do not have health insurance to opt-out of health insurance if they do not want it. At the University of Oregon, the most expensive public university, tuition and fees are expected to exceed $9300.

According to the Gazette Times, “OSU’s anticipated tuition increase is still less than what it saw last year, when it rose 8.1 percent. The tuition increases are partially due to the decreasing share of state allocations. The Oregon University System received 16 percent less in state funds for the 2011-13 biennium compared to the last biennium, or $691 million compared to $824 million.”

How are professors supposed to assign a textbook to read for class when the student tuition and fees are already so high? Textbooks add to the problem because the cost of textbooks has risen at a pace of 4-times the rate of inflation.

When is enough ENOUGH? California has been devastated by the college tuition crisis, and it feels like Oregon is following the same model. People of Oregon… demand better from your state’s leaders. Demand better for your children.