I took my qualifying exams today, about three years later than the usual recommended time.
I've been rather embarrassed about the matter for a while, actually; usually the quals are
done at the start of one's research program, not after (as one of my committee members
has said) you have the material for four to six theses
; certainly not after one has
already begun informally interviewing. Nevertheless, untimely as it may have been, it's done and
it went fine. I actually enjoyed myself enormously, as I had the chance to give mini-lectures on
a variety of my favorite topics.
I will now be returning to my regularly scheduled pondering.