I did well my first quarter of grad school — straight A’s (or the UW’s equivalent) — and I thought I was going to sail through my Master’s. However, as many of you know, I struggled last quarter, due in part to my gerbil dying mid-quarter and a demanding curriculum that taxed my feeble, depleted brain.

I got my grades earlier this week. Oops. I guess I should’ve actually written those terms papers.

As it turns out grad students have to stay above a certain GPA to remain in grad school. But my cumulative GPA has dipped below that threshold, and I’m now on academic probation, pending a faculty review (and after passing that, having to then raise my GPA). Mathematically, it’s looking near impossible.

So, two quarters of grad school down . . . one good, one terrible. Rather than prolong what looks to be an inevitable expulsion, I’ve decided to drop out of grad school, effective immediately. To stave off hunger and eviction, I’ve taken a job going door-to-door for WashPIRG. Anyone want to help the environment?