Tomorrow It Begins, First of Three PhD Qualifying Exams

Tomorrow, I will take the first of three PhD qualifying exams. The first will be the longest at five hours on 20th-century American literature. Thursday, I will take my postmodern theory exam, which will take four hours, and next Monday, I will take an exam on Philip K. Dick’s writings, also four hours.

It’s storming right now, but luckily the power went off after a lightning strike for only a few minutes. I was stressing about charging my iPod and printing out a copy of my reading list.

Our lights are back on, the reading list is printed, and my iPod is now charging. I feel as ready as I ever will be. I just need to wash my water bottle, assemble a snack kit, and get some rest.

Here I go!

Published by

Jason W. Ellis

I am an Associate Professor of English at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY whose teaching includes composition and technical communication, and research focuses on science fiction, neuroscience, and digital technology. Also, I direct the B.S. in Professional and Technical Writing Program and coordinate the City Tech Science Fiction Collection, which holds more than 600 linear feet of magazines, anthologies, novels, and research publications.