Josh's Future

If you're going to read any post on my blog this year, this is the one
to read. Why is that? Well, here all things will be revealed and
understanding will flood your mind, the heavens will part, the angels
will sing, and Josh will hopefully get accepted to grad school in the Fall.

That's right. There have been rumors going around for a while, so I
figured I might as well get a jump on it and quell them now. Different
people know different amounts of what follows and I'll try and do my
best to relay all important information.

About four weeks ago now I decided to apply for grad school. I told
some people I was applying for January or next Fall - people that might
talk to Megan because I didn't tell her right away. Maybe I should have
told her sooner, but since I wasn't sure if I would be able to apply, if
I would get accepted, or even if it would work out for me to go in the
Fall, I didn't want to get her hopes up. Well, since I told her about a
week ago, and I'm sending in my application today, I figured I'd let
everyone know so they can pray for me.

I'm applying for a M.S. in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics. I am
studying with the full intent of possibly working abroad when I'm done.
I've seen a huge need in this area here and I feel it's a great way to
use the academic ability God has given me and the technical mind to
really help people in a way not many people are doing right now. Many
people could do what I am doing now, but breeding requires more
training. I've taken a course on it too and loved it. I like that
plant breeding can work with so many things - increased yield, increased
nutrient content, disease resistance, local adaptability, etc... It's
also no limited to food crops and I think agriculture and plant breeding
as a part of that push, could really help some countries in Africa.
Right now I'm thinking about the Congo and using that in my mind as the
example because it's what I know most, but I hear other places are in
similar situations.

A degree in plant breeding will also give me a good background for
further study, or give me the background to get a good job in the states
as well. Basically, I see it as a great option. It's also the only
thing I've considered studying seriously for more than a week. I've
thought about it before, and think it's great. All the people I've
talked to agree as well, so that's encouraging.

The application deadline for Plant Breeding is July 31, but somewhere I
saw that most appointments were made by April 15 with the people
applying by January having the best shots. I missed the January bit for
sure, but am hoping my application is good enough to get in by the April
15 deadline. I hope to know by then if I'm in, but I don't know when
I'll know. Maybe I'll get an e-mail when I send in my application
today. I also saw somewhere that about 10 percent of the applicants get
accepted usually, so it's definitely not a given.

If I get accepted I'll be in Madison for two to three years working on
that. I'll come back from Congo in August and have at least one weekend
to go camping and fishing before starting at Madison again. I'm excited
because Megan will finish in December, so we'll have another semester
together in Madison, and I'm excited to get involved with the Navigators
Christian fellowship again as well.

So that's my future as I see it laid before me right now. My family and
Megan are both all about it so I'm really hoping it works out. If it
doesn't work out, I'm not sure what I'll do yet, but will probably stick
around here a bit and come back in time for deer hunting. That's right,
I have priorities in life. Okay, maybe I wouldn't come back for deer
hunting, but I'd consider it. Hopefully I won't have to think about it.

So, here's my request: please pray for my acceptance to Madison this
fall and that I find out soon. After I send in my application the
people writing my letters of recommendation will be notified and given
instructions as to what to do, so you can pray for good letters as well
and that they will be sent in quickly. Thanks for the prayers, and I'll
keep you posted on any progress.