colorisnt

Redbud and Evermann are actually kinda scary. The only way to get to campus is via a bus that rarely comes (tops I believe 2 times an hour). You can walk, but it is a good 2 miles to 3rd street or so. And coming back it is worse - all uphill. The places are old and scary and they look like the balconies are made of barbed wire. Mostly the people who live there are international students (particularly those from Asian countries) who could not find housing elsewhere due to visas, etc. I had a friend who lived in Evermann and it was not a nice place to live. The only decent housing is for families and I wouldn't recommend that. Wilkie is the "grown up" dorm for the undergrads. It is very antisocial and set up like a hotel. The rooms have twin beds and typical dorm furniture. It is a very nice dorm, but not my idea of a good time as a grad. There is another dorm now that is apartment style right next to my old dorm (where I lived last year). It is brand new (will just be opening in the fall), but VERY expensive. For the price, you can find something nicer without undergrads. If you don't have a car, good luck. Bloomington is not very transit-friendly. Your best bet is to get on the 9 route if you need to grocery shop. Somewhere near there is best. Most of the shops are on the East or West side and a GOOD ways from campus. Bloomington is pretty cycle friendly, so that is a good middle-road option, just make sure you get a damn good lock.

Some questions: 1. Any explanation for your low GPA? Illness, death in the family, etc? 2. Any research experience? 3. Do you have excellent contact with your recommenders? If not, get it! You need to know more than just a little about the schools which you are applying to. Emailing faculty helps. One of my BEST offers this application season came from a school that I had corresponded with. There was a professor there I really wanted to work with and I emailed her a few times, made a couple of calls. Emails don't hurt. Read some papers of people you are interested in (hopefully you have already seen a paper or two) and ask a couple of questions. Explain what you are doing and that you are interested in doing this sort of research. I ended up going with a school I didn't talk with much before my offer, but they read my personal statement, CV, and writing sample pretty closely because they knew a lot about me when they finally made a big offer and I visited.