| Questions and responses (5 submissions) |
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| 1. |
The semester and year you graduated if other than Spring '06:
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Short Answer
1 response
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May 2006
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| 2. |
Time it took you to get your degree:
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Text Answer
5 responses
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2 years plus 1 class 2 summers each, but I had credit for 3 classes (9
credits) coming with me from my other graduate degree |
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3.5 years (part-time)
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2 1/2 years - came in as a M.A. Literature major and then joined the wonderful world of Tech Comm in Spring '04.
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2 years full-time: 2 fall and spring semesters' worth of class. No summer school.
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2.5 years
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| 3. |
If you specialized in one, or more, of the following "clusters" in the program, please indicate all that apply:
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All That Apply
5 responses
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|
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Web Design & Development |
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1 |
20.00% |
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Environmental Communication |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Medical/Health Communication |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Industrial Communication |
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0 |
0.00% |
|
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Agricultural Communication |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Organizational Information Systems Communication |
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0 |
0.00% |
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I did not specialize in any particular area. |
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3 |
60.00% |
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Other: Science writing which sort of falls between Env and Med/Health communication; more of a journalism slant. |
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1 |
20.00% |
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| 4. |
Your favorite required course was:
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
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ENG 512 - Theory and Research in Professional Writing |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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ENG 515 - Rhetoric of Science and Technology |
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3 |
60.00% |
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ENG 517 - Advanced Technical Writing and Editing |
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1 |
20.00% |
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ENG 518 - Publication Management for Technical Communicators |
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0 |
0.00% |
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ENG 675 - Projects in Technical Communication |
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0 |
0.00% |
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I wasn't particularly charmed by any of them. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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| 5. |
The
required course that you've found to be most valuable in the working
world, or you think will be the most valuable course in the working
world is:
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
|
|
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ENG 512 - Theory and Research in Professional Writing |
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0 |
0.00% |
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ENG 515 - Rhetoric of Science and Technology |
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2 |
40.00% |
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ENG 517 - Advanced Technical Writing and Editing |
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1 |
20.00% |
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ENG 518 - Publication Management for Technical Communicators |
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0 |
0.00% |
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ENG 675 - Projects in Technical Communication |
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2 |
40.00% |
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None
of these have been particularly helpful in your work to date, or you
don't anticipate any of them being helpful in the area you are pursuing
or will pursue. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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| 6. |
Your favorite elective course(s) was/were:
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Text Answer
5 responses
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Usability... I think this should be required. It reshaped the way I
approach documentation and also software development. |
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I don't think I took any, since I had those transfer credits
|
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I enjoyed all courses I took with Cat Warren: 1) Science Writing for the Media 2) Gender and Medicine
I took some instructional design courses that were somewhat useful.
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ENG 507 - Writing in the Health and Environmental Sciences.
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ENG520 Science Writing for the Media. I took this course my first
semester in the program and it influenced my class choices ever since.
HI581 History of Life Sciences. William Kimler is a GREAT teacher.
ENG508 (or was it 507?) Usability: Made me see things in a different
way. |
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| 7. |
In terms of employment, you are currently:
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
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Unemployed, and not looking. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Unemployed, but looking. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Have a job, not in technical communication, but looking for one in technical communication. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Have a technical communication job offer, but have not yet accepted it. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Currently working in a technical communication job, but not satisfied with it. |
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1 |
20.00% |
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Currently working in a technical communication job, and satisfied with it. |
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4 |
80.00% |
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None of the above (please describe your situation): |
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0 |
0.00% |
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| 8. |
If you are currently looking for a technical communication job, what kind of job are you looking for?
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Text Answer
0 responses
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| 9. |
If
you are currently employed in the technical communication field, did
you get your job as a result of obtaining your MS degree in Technical
Communication?
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
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Yes |
|
3 |
60.00% |
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No |
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1 |
20.00% |
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Other: No, but I did get a raise. |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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| 10. |
If you are currently employed in the technical communication field, how long after obtaining your degree did you get hired?
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
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I already had my job when I entered the program. |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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I was hired as a part-time, co-op, temp, or contractor while still in the program. |
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2 |
40.00% |
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I was hired as a full time employee while still in the program. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Less than 3 months. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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4-6 months. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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7-12 months. |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Other: I've been in the field for 3 years, but just started this new job
Other: I was hired while I was in the program but did not start until after I graduated. I have a one-year fellowship that started June 1. |
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2 |
40.00% |
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| 11. |
If you are currently employed in the technical communication field, how did you get your job?
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
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ETC Distribution List |
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1 |
20.00% |
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STC Distribution List |
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0 |
0.00% |
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STC Web site |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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Networking |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Classifieds - Newspaper |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Classifieds - Online, such as monster.com, trianglehelpwanted.com, etc. |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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Used a "headhunter" |
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0 |
0.00% |
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Other: STC Carolina Chapter website
Other: Referred by a fellow student
Other: Dr. Dicks |
|
3 |
60.00% |
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| 12. |
If you are currently employed in the technical communication field, for what company or organization do you work?
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Text Answer
4 responses
|
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IBM - Rational User Assistance
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IBM
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IBM - WebSphere Extended Deployment
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North Carolina Sea Grant
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| 13. |
If you are currently employed in the technical communication field, please describe the type of work you do.
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Text Answer
5 responses
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I am working on the Rational User Assistance team. I primarily share my
time between managing the Portal Tools infocenter and Content Senstive
Help (tutorials and infopops) I will be the lead writer for a new
assett managemet environment and in charge of customer facing demos.
:) |
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I am the main technical writer for an organization that produces
laboratory information management systems. I do things like online help
.chm files, HMTL emails, proposals, etc. |
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I work in technical learning development. My group creates online technical courses for IBM employees.
|
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I (try to) write help content for WebSphere Extended Deployment, a software product.
|
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I am the Science Communication Fellow. Responsibilities include
writing:
- articles for Coastwatch, Sea Grant's bi-monthly magazine
- press releases
- documents needed by the different staff members of Sea Grant
I also edit articles by other writers.
I've only been there a month and a half and this is what I've done
although I've been told that I will write a whole lot more. |
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| 14. |
If
you are currently employed in the technical communication field, and if
you care to disclose it, your salary falls within the following range:
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
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Less than $20,000 |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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$20,000 - $35,000 |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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$35,001 - $50,000 |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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$50,001 - $65,000 |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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$65,001 - $80,000 |
|
3 |
60.00% |
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$80,001 - $95,000 |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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More than $95,000 |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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I would rather not say. |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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| 15. |
I work:
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
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Full-time |
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5 |
100.00% |
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Part-time |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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Other: |
|
0 |
0.00% |
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| 16. |
Briefly describe your capstone project:
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Text Answer
5 responses
|
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I did a website that featured online tutorials.
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Created a manual about a software application at IBM.
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I wrote an article intended for publication in which I created a
tutorial for teaching biotechnology communication with the public.
(Journal - IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication) (The
project was an extension of Dr. Steve Katz's work on biotechnology and
public communication.) Post-675: Dr. Katz and I are still working on
the article, which has changed dramatically since the end of the
675. |
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Article on GM rice in eastern NC intended for publication on SEED magazine.
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Website: www.salemfh.com
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| 17. |
What was the most important thing you learned doing your capstone project?
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Text Answer
4 responses
|
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That NCSU will be losing quite a lot with Dr. Steven Katz being gone!
|
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How to speak publicly without throwing up.
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Obsessively plan and organize throughout each milestone and the
semester until the very end. You aren't done until you've received your
consultants' approval to pass the course. Let the word "follow-up"
become your best friend (it is one word, right?). Most importantly,
make a habit of closely/regularly communicating with your consultants.
Make them help you!!! I'm dead serious about my answer to this
question. Your consultants should get tired of seeing you in their
office and reading your emails. Furthermore, know that it's okay to
disagree with any feedback or argue your position if you feel your
ideas, statements, etc. have been interpreted incorrectly. If there is
a conflict, and you decide to just let it go, it may haunt you later
(at the defenses for instance). Remember, if you don't create a strong
presence with your consultants, they are only
seeing/reading/reviewing/evaluating your project (and graduation
status) four times the entire semester! |
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time & crisis management
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| 18. |
If
your answer differs from the previous question, what nugget of advice
would you give to those doing their capstone project in the future?
|
Text Answer
5 responses
|
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ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS UP FRONT....GET YOUR ADVISORS ON THE SAME PAGE.
Meet with all in the same room if possible in the beginning to sketch
out a group "plan" |
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No need to give in to the stereotypical panic that people like to talk
about. As long as you are a hard-worker, can budget your time (why
leave everything to the last minute? it's pointless), and choose a
topic you're interested in, there's no reason you can't excel. |
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Take a Xanax. No--really...don't drop out because you have a fear of
public speaking. You will get plenty of practice and the faculty isn't
out to get you. |
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See above
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It helps to have at least one consultant on board beforehand. The
semester before you take your capstone project, talk to a professor
whom you would like to work with. Bring in your idea and work it out
together. Once you have that professor invested--and interested--half
your battle is won. I made sure that my preferred professor was ok with
my topic and idea before I started and it really made a difference
because you have someone who knows what you're doing and where you're
headed, even though you might miss one or two of those 675
deadlines. |
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| 19. |
Who was your favorite faculty member in the program, and why?
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Text Answer
5 responses
|
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David Covington! Laid back, great attitude, easy to work with.
|
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Dr. Covington always had time for me, when I was having troubles with
Flash and Dreamweaver or offering wise working-world advice. His
laid-back manner was so nice to be around, and he genuinely loves his
job and students. |
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Dr. Steve Katz and Dr. Cat Warren. Both are funny and warm and
entertaining. Both seem to really care about their students and enjoy
their jobs. I love, love, love them. |
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N/A
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No one in particular, actually. They were all good to work with but no one really comes to mine as FAVORITE.
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| 20. |
Were you a member of STC while in the program?
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Multiple Choice
5 responses
|
|
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Yes, the entire time. |
|
1 |
20.00% |
|
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Yes, part of the time. |
|
3 |
60.00% |
|
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No. |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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| 21. |
If not, why didn't you join?
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Text Answer
2 responses
|
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No time. Also--didn't see the real benefit.
|
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I'm not really sure. I meant to join. Hell, I even sold items at this
year's bake sale. I filled out the membership form, but I just never
turned it in to Will. |
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| 22. |
Are
you at all considering the Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media
(CRDM) PhD program at NCSU, or any other advanced degree for your
future?
|
All That Apply
5 responses
|
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Yes, the CRDM program. |
|
1 |
20.00% |
|
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Yes, another doctoral program (please specify in the "Other" box below): |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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Yes, another masters-level program (please specify in the "Other" box below): |
|
1 |
20.00% |
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Yes, but none of the above (please specify in the "Other" box below): |
|
0 |
0.00% |
|
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Absolutely not! I'm done! |
|
2 |
40.00% |
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Other: If I worked at a job that paid for it
Other: Not sure yet.
Other: Throwing a couple around, but too soon to name specifics - something with language, though :-) |
|
3 |
60.00% |
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| 23. |
Anything else you'd like to say about anything:
|
Text Answer
4 responses
|
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Above, I listed ENG 517 as my favorite. Well, please do consider that I
had 517 with Dr. Covington, who did the Macromedia suite. I've heard
that Dr. Dicks teaches it differently (more true to the title of the
course). So, the reason I liked it the best (and
that I noted that it had a lot to do with the "real world") is because
it was practical skills application - I use Flash and Dreamweaver today,
and am glad I learned them in the program.
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