“You’re Overthinking It,” Says TA Who Really Just Thinks You’re Stupid

While you were discussing a problem with your graduate student TA during office hours, the TA corrected you by saying that you were “overthinking” the question. While your TA’s words might have seemed comforting recent reporting reveals that “you’re overthinking it” is actually code for “you’re a moron.” 

“Ooh wait, that’s not quite it. I don’t think this problem is as complicated as you’re making it out to be,” said your TA, wishing she could instead say “you’re so stupid that you don’t even know where to begin.”

Rest assured that your inability to answer that one question has appropriately revealed to her your general incompetence in all aspects of academia. 

“You probably only got in because of ‘daddy’s money,’” was another thought she wanted to tell you, but chose not to because she is contractually obligated to be nice to you. 

At press time, your TA was upset that rather than focusing on the research that would earn her a PhD and eventually lead to a Nobel Prize, she had to waste time hunched over your midterm, attempting to decipher your work that would eventually receive a grade well below median.

–NS ’23