Ana
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First of all forget about solid mechanics. Get into underwater robotics, go to the Panama City campus of FSU, do projects for the Navy and dive the frigid waters of the GoMex
Diving during grad. school
- Thread starter RedCash02
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covediver
Contributor
Be careful. Diving is what prolonged by graduate degree for two years. It was worth every minute of the time away from the books and working three jobs.
Could afford the time and cost to dive. UCSB campus and the surrounding coastline offers great beach diving
Could afford the time and cost to dive. UCSB campus and the surrounding coastline offers great beach diving
There is a prof. at Cal State Fullerton that is (or was) doing work on repair of concrete using fiber composits. You could twist that into marine related applications and save a load on tuition because it is a second tear university. And, like I did, justify buying some need dive gear using financial aid or a grant. Once in the CSU system you can hook up with the Ocean Studies Institue in San Pedro and do experiments/projects at the USC facility at Catalina Island. Free lodging, free dive boat, free lab - provide your own food and dive buddy for projects. Contact me if you need a C.E. to dive with you.
theatis
Contributor
If we are talking about an MSc, then don't bother worrying about it, it's going to be over before you know it. But if we are talking about a PhD, it will feel like it's taking forever, if not actually take forever! 
I can't help you with those destinations but my advice would be: 1) If you plan to stay in academia go to the highest ranked university in your field that will take you. Other than planning to work with a specific professor, no other variable is more significant. It seems that you have some solid choices there. I know others may disagree but I would argue very strongly on this. 2) Diving can be really therapeutic for a grad student, it's just that you are unlikely to find the time to actually do it.
I can't help you with those destinations but my advice would be: 1) If you plan to stay in academia go to the highest ranked university in your field that will take you. Other than planning to work with a specific professor, no other variable is more significant. It seems that you have some solid choices there. I know others may disagree but I would argue very strongly on this. 2) Diving can be really therapeutic for a grad student, it's just that you are unlikely to find the time to actually do it.
Rainer
Contributor
I'm finishing my PhD at the school you're considering in Cambridge. I dive at least every other weekend up on Cape Ann. It's BS that you won't have time or money for diving. Great school, fun city (Boston), decent diving, and horrible weather (I grew up in San Diego). Not a bad place to spend five years, but at this point, I'm ready to head back to CA. Now, back to that dissertation...
I got certified all the way to DM in grad school (5 year PhD). I think a few dives a month (in summer, on weekends) should be do-able, if one manages time and money well.
By the way, lots of universities have marine programs (for degrees in marine biology, oceanography, environmental engineering, limnology, geology, atmospheric sciences to name a few) and have links to field stations in nice tropical locations or oceanographic research institutes (Woods Hole, MBARI, Scripps, Hopkins etc). I think one just has to find a project that fits.
My dream "research" destination is Moorea, Tahiti. UC Berkeley has a research station there - visiting researchers pay something like $30 per night for accomodations. Tanks and air provided. Imagine being in paradise on a shoestring (relatively speaking) when other tourists are paying >$300 per night.
By the way, lots of universities have marine programs (for degrees in marine biology, oceanography, environmental engineering, limnology, geology, atmospheric sciences to name a few) and have links to field stations in nice tropical locations or oceanographic research institutes (Woods Hole, MBARI, Scripps, Hopkins etc). I think one just has to find a project that fits.
My dream "research" destination is Moorea, Tahiti. UC Berkeley has a research station there - visiting researchers pay something like $30 per night for accomodations. Tanks and air provided. Imagine being in paradise on a shoestring (relatively speaking) when other tourists are paying >$300 per night.
Rainer
Contributor
$30 per night is not cheap (that's $900 a month for rent). Most grad students are finding housing for cheaper. That said, I'd come up with that kind of cash for a few months "research" in Tahiti.
theatis
Contributor
Rainer:
Well, since you called BS on me i'll qualify this. It MAY be the case that you find it difficult to accommodate your diving time wise. I shouldn't have generalized but neither should have Rainer. I can speak from painful experience (both mine and of others close to me in a variety of disciplines) that it's indeed possible to barely find the time to sleep let alone dive. Again, not universally the case, but something that may happen and in no way BS.
Rainer:
I'll totally agree with you there!
Hoosier
Contributor
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We can't count ABD status here. ABD status is all your time based on your own time table.
I clearly limited in the period of course work. My answer is still "No Way"..
You are a super genius one who doesn't need that much work though. Most grad. students work is a big burden during a course work (for example, 48 credits in two years in my case. Again, I see some program at So So schools only requires 32 credit in the same major and same period time.)
Are you kidding? If your major is realated with or includes a scuba diving, to say BS is a fair analytical statement?
If your school is located in a diving favorable area (west, east, or FL), it will be possible to keep your hobby though. Most grad. students just want to have more sleep during a course work based on my experience.
You know, two years really go quick while you are in a grad. school.
YMWV though.... Just my 2 cent.
I clearly limited in the period of course work. My answer is still "No Way"..
You are a super genius one who doesn't need that much work though. Most grad. students work is a big burden during a course work (for example, 48 credits in two years in my case. Again, I see some program at So So schools only requires 32 credit in the same major and same period time.)
Are you kidding? If your major is realated with or includes a scuba diving, to say BS is a fair analytical statement?
If your school is located in a diving favorable area (west, east, or FL), it will be possible to keep your hobby though. Most grad. students just want to have more sleep during a course work based on my experience.
You know, two years really go quick while you are in a grad. school.
YMWV though.... Just my 2 cent.
dmmike
Contributor
Hey,
If it was not for diving I would not have made it through the Engineering Programs I signed up for, not bragging just want to relay how important it is to have an out-let. First time around when I was going for Manufacturing Engineering, little diving to much stress. Second time around degree in Enviro. Engineering, to much chem. and not enough diving, still did not learn. Third time around the horn, ( I know, get a life) a degree in Quality Engineering, way to much math, but lots of diving, and the bigger the final the more we dove, great stress relief. When I got my degree from business school way to much diving, but it made up for the stress of classes.
What I'm trying to say is do what ever it takes to be in the water as much as posible. Many times the only thing that got me through was getting wet on the weekend. When its quiet underwater and you can think about problems it amazing how quick the answers will come, must be something about the water, mother earth, ect......
If it was not for diving I would not have made it through the Engineering Programs I signed up for, not bragging just want to relay how important it is to have an out-let. First time around when I was going for Manufacturing Engineering, little diving to much stress. Second time around degree in Enviro. Engineering, to much chem. and not enough diving, still did not learn. Third time around the horn, ( I know, get a life) a degree in Quality Engineering, way to much math, but lots of diving, and the bigger the final the more we dove, great stress relief. When I got my degree from business school way to much diving, but it made up for the stress of classes.
What I'm trying to say is do what ever it takes to be in the water as much as posible. Many times the only thing that got me through was getting wet on the weekend. When its quiet underwater and you can think about problems it amazing how quick the answers will come, must be something about the water, mother earth, ect......
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