"are you cohort three?"

Monday's class is (essentially) an introduction to doing doctoral-level research... and last week, when I walked into class, I was almost immediately approached by a guy thrusting a clipboard in my direction while asking, "Cohort three?"

Now, I did recall that the professor with whom I'd talked about the program mentioned that we'd be in a "cohort," which basically meant they bring new students into the program together and have them take the same core classes together. In the case of our political science cohort, there are somewhere between 12-15 of us who are taking the same basic core of three classes together this fall.

I knew all that somewhere in the back of my mind, but honestly, I was a bit overwhelmed by the clipboard and the question and the new class, etc., so I just sorta stared blankly at this guy and maybe -- *maybe* -- grumbled, "Huh?"

"You know, political science Ph.D., cohort three?"

"Ah. Yes. That's me."

What was sorta funny about the class, though, was that we've been temporarily moved into a classroom in the building next door to the building where all the poli sci things happen. The room was apparently a geology lab room, because there were all these rocks and topological maps in the room, and random extension cords hanging from the ceiling. One guy walked in the door, said, "Is this intro to geology lab?" and immediately skedaddled when we all sorta laughed and said no. At least five people in the room stood up and left.

Monday was the first class we had just as a cohort (Saturday's class is about three times as big), so we had a chance to go around the room and introduce ourselves. It was good to hear everyone's names -- NOT that I remember them, naturally.