Reconsiderations

At the moment, I am still playing the waiting game. My fate is in four Canadian institution’s hands, pending their decision as whether or not I am PhD material. I hate it. I hate having no control and no longer being able to do anything to help my case. My top choice, the University of Western Ontario, informed me that they will make their decision in early March. That time is fast approaching and I find myself eager, yet terrified at the same time.

Tuesday night I received an e-mail from a professor at one of the universities I applied for. He is on the review committee and was apparently impressed by my file and the fact that I don’t have a very specific research plan. He contacted me to see if I’d consider doing research with him on dental microwear in a population of hunter-gatherers, if I am accepted by the university. I took more time than I probably should have to think it over, but finally responded to him earlier to say that yes, I would be willing to do that sort of work. I know very little on the subject, and have never claimed to. I don’t even particularly like teeth, but at this point, if it’s my ticket into a PhD program, I’ll take it. I certainly hope that this will not happen. This particular university is the one located furthest from my home and I have become increasingly hesitant to distance myself from it.