Ivy League schools are old and prestigious. But here's something you probably didn't know. To be awarded a Ph.D at Cornell or Harvard, you have to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language! Even if you're getting a degree in, say, electrical engineering. One cool possible exception is that Harvard may let you substitute a programming language for a foreign language. Boy, the prospect of trying to master a foreign language so does not appeal to me. Like slogging up the South Sister. Not my cup 'o tea, or maybe it's just my attitude.

I'm checking out grad schools online, trying to whittle down a list to five or so that I'll apply to. I'm looking at the best too, I figure I need to try for the best. I found at least one ranking of stats graduate schools on-line, and off I go. Cal-Berkeley, MIT (Operations Research), Cornell, Harvard, North Carolina, Purdue.

Not looking at Stanford, they don't offer any full-time support. There is a problem, though. If a grad student doesn't want to commit to a Ph.D program, there is often not great funding at these elite schools. In a way, a doctoral program looks mighty inviting, if not a little daunting. But it's 4-5 more years! If I think of time frames, a 1-2 year Master's degree, getting a "real" job for several years, then deciding whether to go back to school. That sounds good.

But I can't be paying much for grad school. That might mean not going to a top-tier program.

Soon, it'll be time to preview my fall classes. I'm rather excited about two of the four. That would be Intro to Mathematical Statistics and Simulation. Also taking a senior project class, which could be cool, probably depending on what kind of project we get. I don't really have too high of expectations. The last one is Engineering Materials, which doesn't excite me, actually if I'd get scared of any class this would be it. Here's where we have to use chemistry (a perceived weakness of mine--we'll see) as well as math (cool!) and physics (yeah!). But it's a decently hard class, it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

Be strong in God's grace, the Bible says in 2 Tim. 2. Had to think on that one a little bit. See if you can make a connection between that thought and the controversial statement, "If the heart's right, everything's right."