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indydream

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  1. I don't want to make sweeping generalizations, but I am in a similar class right now (5 people, not a new class but one the prof loves teaching and I think she is just grateful that enough people enrolled that she could still teach it) and I definitely feel this way. I haven't tried pushing deadlines yet but I know other people have without repercussions (contacting her ahead of time at least, and asking for extensions). I also think the bar is set really low in terms of grades - normally this prof is sort of tough but this is the most lenient class I've ever taken. People have produced some seriously mediocre work (like presentations) and she'll be like "oh, fabulous! A++!!" Makes sense though - it's not only a break for us, it's a break for the prof too! So they are probably in a better mood, thus making them more agreeable when it comes to being flexible.
  2. I would also try asking your adviser about these things - the first time I had to give a poster presentation (in a similar event to yours, it sounds like - not a formal conference, but good practice for a conference) I was totally lost, but then my adviser sent me the powerpoint of an old poster a former student had designed, which both gave me a sense of the content that should be in the poster, and also served as a powerpoint template to design mine. Also, I found out that I was able to print my poster out at the University without any cost to me (the department payed for it or something) so it would be good to check with your adviser, just in case there are these perks you aren't aware of! Also, I highly recommend putting a graphic in - either a graph, or a chart, or any kind of visual from your experiment - it makes people more likely to look at your poster!
  3. Thanks guys - I'm thinking I'll just write "undecided". Sending it off now!
  4. Yes, I am going to turn it down right away - today - which is why I asked for advice right away. I just wanted to get some perspective as to whether it would seem rude if I listed multiple programs. Just to clarify, I'm not sitting on these offers for no reason. I held on to this offer only long enough to get the official letter from one of the other programs; now that I have one official letter (as opposed to unofficial emails), I am turning it down. Just turned to gradcafe for advice in that moment. The mail won't get picked up from my house until noon tomorrow, so it's not like I'm delaying this for anyone by asking around on here for a few hours tonight! Any other thoughts?
  5. I've received four offers to PhD programs, so I am now in the decision phase. I am torn between two of them which are top programs, and there is a third that I am finding really hard to walk away from for financial/personal reasons, so those three are still on the table. The fourth, which was my first acceptance, I am confident I will ultimately turn down. It is not the best fit for me, it isn't in a location I particularly want to be in, the stipend, while good, isn't enough to counteract these things. However, for other people I'm sure this would be a fabulous offer (esp. people who would be a better fit, since that's really the biggest reason for me) - it's a great program with a good stipend, and I want to give someone else the opportunity to attend! So I know I need to turn this program down, ASAP (like, today). I have no problem about doing this, but the only teensy dilemma I have is that on the letter they sent me, they told me to respond by filling out this sheet. On the sheet is says somethign like "Check one: I will accept this offer//I will not accept this offer. Instead I will be attending _______________________" Should I just leave this space blank? Should I fill in the name of the place I think I probably will end up picking (I've almost made a decision, I'm just grappling with people giving me conflicting advice at this point). Should I put down, for example, "University A or University B"? I'm worried I will sound rude if I imply "I want to go ANYWHERE but your university!", but I don't want to put down the name of my most likely pick in case they communicate with each other (my subfield is extremely incestuous and they all talk amongst each other) and then I change my mind. Please help, and soon, so that I can turn them down while there is still time for someone else!
  6. I am in a different field, but this is the story of my life. On a similar note, I keep getting emails from admissions@genericgradschoolemail.com with the first line being "Congratulations!" - and my heart leaps as I imagine I've been accepted somewhere, only to find out they are telling me "Congratulations, we'd like to invite you to apply to our MA program!" (I am applying to PhD programs in a field where a masters is essentially worthless). Also, I accidentally checked the "life sciences" box, so I keep getting emails to apply to bizarre biology programs, which I'm sure are very interesting to some people, but it's not my field at all
  7. About what you said about subconsciously eliminating choices - I have definitely been doing that too. For a while every time I got new information about the school I was leaning towards, I convinced myself it was a good thing (even if it wasn't) and every time I got new information about the school I was thinking I wouldn't attend, I convinced myself it was a negative (even if it wasn't!) But then I visited the school I thought I would NOT attend and I actually ended up loving it. Somehow, even though technically it made my decision harder (if I even get into either of these places!), it's also made me feel better knowing I have TWO great potential options. So I would say go - maybe it will force your pesky subconscious to notice things you haven't noticed yet! Also I echo what people said before- it's good to meet the people who will potentially be your colleagues. I totally get the burnout though, and at the end of the day it's your choice. If you really feel like it will be a healthier decision to cancel the interview, go for it and don't worry about it.
  8. Thanks guys - I ended up using Dr.-- for one, since one I couldn't remember how he'd introduced me and I couldn't remember how other students referred to him (he was in a different subfield), so I decided to play it safe. The others I all used first names. Thanks for the advice!
  9. I recently attended an interview weekend at one of my top choices. I'm about to send out a few quick thank-you emails. At the interview weekend, it became clear that people expected us to refer to the faculty by their first names - all of the graduate students did, and the faculty introduced themselves using their first names. Also, I have corresponded with two of the professors who interviewed me and they both signed their emails with their first names only. Is it appropriate for my thank you emails to begin: Dear (FIRST NAME ONLY), etc. at this point?
  10. I don't know if you have been accepted yet, but I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago and I am about to be in this situation again for the next couple weekends. My visits were interviews, although my sense is that if they are paying for you (which all of my interviews are), it is more of a recruiting/interview weekend rather than JUST an interview. I didn't sit in on any classes, but I did meet with several professors and aside from the class it sounds like my experience was similar to what yours will be. In response to your questions: 1. I did read several papers of all of the professors I was told I would be interviewing with (I was only given this information a few days before my visit, so I printed out some abstracts/shorter papers and skimmed them on the plane). I was more familiar with some profs work than others. At the end of the day, I was glad I did it just for the sake of feeling confident, but it was probably unnecessary. Most professors first asked me about my own research, and then told me about theirs. This may be different in your field - I am applying to Psych programs. 2. I printed out my transcript/personal statement/resume and quickly reviewed the very basics before my interviews, and had hard copies with me in case I was asked specific questions. Again, I guess I'm glad that I did this just so that I wasn't worrying about it, but I didn't really need it - the questions I was asked were about very broad aspects of my SOP, regarding research that I am very familiar with and comfortable talking about. 3. I am also a girl, but let me qualify this by saying I think this varies DRASTICALLY from field to field (or even, in my case, subfield to subfield). I wore dress pants, a plain sweater, nice shoes, and a pashmina. I was very happy with my clothing choices - some of the interviewees were wearing suits, but others were wearing more casual clothes (t-shirts and corduroys - no one was wearing jeans). I felt happy being right in the middle. I'd ask some people in your field though - a great resource is your grad student host, or any other grad student who has contacted you, if that is a possibility. If you've already been accepted, it might matter less. I don't have time now to write out a whole narrative of my experience, but basically my weekend consisted of the interviews themselves, a few informal talks about the format of the program, and several meals which gave us a chance to meet other prospective students, professors, and grad students. If you have already been accepted, congratulations! If this is technically an interview, I would try to make the best impression you can while still being comfortable and relaxed - they are paying to fly you out there, so that is a good sign! In the end I was accepted to the program I had this experience at, so that's a good sign!
  11. I had a friend last year who was waitlisted at every program she applied to, and then was accepted off the waitlist from every school. So it is possible!
  12. I'm not going to go through the effort to post mine here right now, but I just realized this would have been a good exercise to do BEFORE submitting my apps - it made me realize that I may have overused some pointless words! A good way to check to make sure you didn't use the word "passionate" too much The word "opportunity" shows up relatively large on mine, I think I kept saying "it was a wonderful opportunity" and "I had the opportunity to..." over and over again! For some reason the word "something" also shows up pretty big, and I can't figure out why...
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