Admissions Interviews

Q: What are your interests apart from psychology?
A: Well, make-up is really my passion.
Q: Oh really! Do you see combining these two interests in the future? 
A: Well, many psychologists could use some make up....(looks pointedly around the committee)

Q: What did you learn about psychology while you were working?

A: I worked with Jewish people so that taught me a lot about selling things!

Q: Do you know much about therapy?
A: Well, I went to therapy for 9 years, so I think I know a lot!

Q: What are your interests apart from psychology?
A: Well, I am really really a big fan of World War 2 and Hitler.

Q: Why are you interested in psychology?
A: I wouldn't say I'm very interested in it.

Q: Why do you want to study in English?
A: I think English and other languages are very future-like.


Q: Maybe to begin you could tell us why you want to study in Poland, why in English?
A: I hate Poland, and when I first started there, I hated my school, I'm not gonna lie.
Q: Well, why do you want to study psychology?
A: When I first started studying psychology, I absolutely hated it, I'm not gonna lie.

Q: What do you think about Dr. Sacks' approach to patients, as compared to more traditional approaches in neuropsychology?
A: I think he had a neuropathic way of treating his patients. 

Q: Are there any particular areas of psychology that you find especially interesting?
A: Neurotransmitters is actually what I'm in love with!

I feel like the new cafe/cake shop on my street doesn't realize that we are in the process of swift gentrification. The potential customers around here are not likely to a) be unemployed and able to come in between the hours of 10am and 5pm on weekdays, when they're open; b) purchase basic, bland sweet offerings without visible care taken to create an appetizing appearance; c) enjoy passing the blase, unsmiling salesperson,  standing smoking in the doorway. I so wanted a cafe on my street, and now that it's here I don't think I'll ever go! Good luck, little cake shop!

I find it really hard to objectively assess how much of my reaction to a student's rude message is me power tripping versus me responding as a human who thinks there are social norms and rules to be followed. Like, for instance, You shouldn't just announce to me that You will come to a different section of my seminar. I think this should be phrased as a question. There is actually no problem with coming to a different section of the same course. We have enough chairs. It's not a logistical issue, and of course I'm going to acquiesce, if asked. So why do I want to be asked? Because I want my power to be acknowledged? That seems like a stupid reason.

Anyway, because this chick has already missed more classes than is allowed, I have to figure out an extra assignment for her. I'm going to make it a goddamn effortful one.

A couple of things happened today:

1. I met my next-door neighbour. Apparently we have been neighbours since 1994 but she has been renting the place out, and of course I haven't been here nonstop. I mentioned that I was interested in buying if she was ever interested in selling.
2. In class two students claimed to have read an article about how the sons of single mothers are more likely to be homosexual. I dunno, I try to keep up on the science in these matters, and I have never heard of such a study. Maybe it exists. Luckily I was not alone in my skepticism and one of the other students pointed out that sons of single mothers might just be more likely to admit it. But if anyone knows of such a study, let me know, aight?
3. Also, my triathlon trainer said something appalling when we were doing our post-run stretches about breathing in and lifting our arms like a [derogatory term for male dancer]. I'm about to compose a friendly but clear email to him about how inappropriate that was. He's a clueless small-town youngster.

Dziś w Warszawie Manifa, więc są zmiany w komunikacji miejskiej.

...wtedy można co?

I googled myself today and discovered an online conversation my students had back in 2006 about what my political beliefs might be, and how they are reflected in the fact that I carry my backpack on my front, rather than my back. (This observation itself quite stirred their imaginations.)

Mark this emphatically in the "Things I did not expect" column:

Walk into a party, say hello to the host, hand her a bottle of gin, take off my coat, meet an older woman who exclaims "So are You, or are You not going to be my daughter-in-law?!"

...then regales me with exceedingly personal details concerning my would-be long-term relationship partner's (lack of) romantic experiences.