For those of you new to this blog, I am still an undergrad. And right about now in the semester, a very tired, cranky undergrad.
Working seven jobs, two volunteer positions, studying for 16 units, researching and applying for grad school all at the same time will do that to a person.
I know I can get through this because I'm actually doing fairly well in keeping up with everything and doing well in my classes (I have two A's and one B+ right now. The other two classes are pretty much guaranteed A's as long as I keep going.)
I took the GRE subject test yesterday and I have no idea how I did. I skipped 12 questions, so I won't get the perfect score, but I wasn't going for that anyway. Having not taken quantum or inorganic chem yet, I studied for those by myself this semester. The only question I remember from the test was determining the relationship between Cp and Cv (Cp-Cv = nR). Having gone over the derivation at least three times last fall, I knew I would get that one right.
Research is...a struggle. The HPLC, that wonderful experiment that I was so excited to learn about, has now taken most of my time this semester. I still can't get the diastereomers base-line separated! I've learned a lot though and because the grad student I work with has basically left alone on this, I've felt more like a "researcher", making my own decisions and trying to interpret the data correctly.
I've also got to learn how to use the DART (direct analysis in real time) mass spec! Using instruments that require simple setups and then patience while the line inches across the screen should make me grateful because I have time to grade papers, study, create to do lists, do errands, make sure the classes I need are being offered, etc. Instead, I'm discovering I miss my lab. I miss the smell of organic fumes, the numbing noise of the fume hoods, even washing the hundreds of test tubes!
Maybe next Tuesday, I'll go in just to wash dishes. I'm missing my lab time.
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