aegis921

Nobody is saying weather should be the strongest determiner of one's choice. But to completely discount what environment you'll be in during what will likely be a very challenging period of your life seems a bit naive to me. You might look back and regret saying this after pursuing your graduate studies in Baltimore.

If I weren't moving to California for graduate school, I would continue to live at Point West. It's super affordable, and the community is nice. The other two complexes you listed are south of campus -- traffic gets ridiculous in that area towards the end of the work day. It's really easy to commute to and from campus when living in Point West or the neighboring areas. I ended up living in the area for four years (three at houses) because I have been really happy with it.

Yeah, I received a payment from Stanford on 4/5. I attended the second JHU interview weekend, so maybe they're processing them chronologically? I'll follow up with them on Monday.

Someone did mention on this forum that JHU is particularly bad about reimbursements -- has anybody received anything in the mail yet?

Just did so. Good luck!

Both schools are great in the area OP is looking into. I'd advise against choosing a school just because of its name, especially at the level of Berkeley and MIT. The name of both of those institutions go very far. I've visited both schools (and even spent a summer at one), and I wouldn't say MIT is any better or worse. I've met quite a few grad students who turned down MIT. It really comes down to personal fit. OP: Did you not have a good match with faculty members you talked to when you visited MIT? Maybe you could spend more time looking through their webpages and emailing/calling them. I'd imagine you had a few professors of interest when you applied to the program, no?

Wow, didn't think I'd get it after leaving out a somewhat important sentence in my proposal. Guess I was being a little critical of myself.

For those who attended the Stanford interviews, what did you think of them and the department? I've heard great things about the program!

Same here Congratulations to you.

Yeah, the second interviews ended Friday. They told us we should expect to hear back in around one week. It probably depends on your focus group. Didn't imaging only attend the first interviews?

I think you might have overlooked their first question, but I agree with your answer to the second. From what I can tell, some other people on this forum have received updates on their application by contacting graduate coordinators and/or professors.

To those who attended the first JHU interviews: what was your experience like? Looking forward to visiting next week.

Congratulations! It's a great feeling

I don't think contacting the office would hurt. I submitted my application for the chemical engineering PhD program the day before it was due and received a phone call a few days later. Acceptances don't always go out all at once, so I wouldn't give up hope for NU. The first visit weekend for Berkeley is this weekend, and the next is two weeks later, so I think it is likely they have sent all of their acceptances out. It still might help to contact the department though.

Yes, sometime in December. I think some other people have as well: http://thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=berkeley+chemical Not sure whether they are done sending acceptances, but the visit weekends are really soon.