why do I have to do everything the nonstandard way?

it seems that I'm supposed to do all four subjects before working on my thesis. but that's not the way my preferences fall, and I want to get into the thesis, and not take three years to do this.

so this is what I'll do: study normally for two semesters. defer for one, while actually doing the thesis. then do the fourth subject. then, only minutes after starting the final semester, hand in the completed thesis.

of course I can't be enrolled while being deferred. so I'll have to join the Melbourne Uni library in order to get access to the Swinburne one while I'm deferred. and my fees will fall in 2nd half 2004, so there are issues there about getting the money back on tax a whole year later. but it's doable.

Dear John,
you may remember speaking to me a month or so back about the masters' program. I've managed to get approval from work for the course, but I have a couple of things I'd still like to sort out that I was hoping you or someone could talk to me about.
Below is my hoped-for course of study. As I'm part time here (four days a week), I'm hoping to get through in two years, and it's the configuration of that I need to discuss. Because of timetabling and some resulting clashes, I'm hoping it's OK to do the main part of the thesis three-quarters of the way through the course; plus there are some other issues, including my being away for up to three weeks later this year.
I still haven't spoken to Darren; I'll try calling him in the next week or so.
Sem 2/02: HAM 517: Cultural convergence
Sem 1/03 - would drop back to three days a week at work, using leave entitlements and study: HAM 500 Global telecommunications and HAM 516, electronic writing
Sem 2/03 - working on thesis
Sem 1/04 - HAM 525: key cultural issues, finalise thesis.

Hope to talk to you soon,

have got the magic letter committing them to funds.
now need to: ring Swinburne and check out that my course plan is Ok with them, and let Melbourne Uni know, I guess.
and set the video to record Media Watch and Sex and The City on Monday nights.

erk. have been told the form is signed off. life is only getting busier. once I get the letter outlining t & c, will have to contact Swinburne and tell them the bad news.
Dean is teaching next year. so that's something to look forward to.h