Arg. I think I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The first phase of my qualifiers is almost done unless I get a total slapdown (or is that smackdown?) in the next week or so. The chair of my quals committee is optimistic though so...well, I'm not even going to try to speculate.
You see, the qualifiers are at the least, extremely nerve-wracking and stress-inducing. Because at the end of the ordeal, you're either truly a Ph.D. student (which is why at the moment, I only call myself a grad student) or kicked out of the program with (possibly) the consolation prize of a master's degree.
