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thom1820

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  1. I prefer backpacks because messenger bags, while looking cool, always hurt my shoulder and if I have to run to avoid being late for class, the bag part thuds against my side. Also, the straps of most of them seem to want to rest between my boobs and that makes them look weird. Sorry for the TMI but that's a major deterrent for me. I suppose some of those problems could be eliminated with the Chrome kind?
  2. Ugh, I'm having the same problem. None of my classes are easy, but I've picked the "easiest" one and basically stopped going. I can't focus for more than half an hour at a time. I thought it would go away once I got accepted and figured out where I'm going, but now I just waste time on craigslist looking at apartments, rereading the program's website, online window-shopping for a new grad school wardrobe, etc. etc. I will say though: try not to slide too far. I have been just barely hanging on and had big plans for getting a lot done this weekend. But then on Saturday I suddenly ran a high fever and felt miserable. I had to go to urgent care and it turns out that I have a viral infection that is showing up as a sore throat, swollen glands, and pinkeye. A grown woman with pinkeye! Anyway, it totally wiped me out and my eyes still hurt so it's hard to keep them open and all my plans of digging into my projects over the weekend went out the window. SO that's my cautionary tale: don't leave so much to the last minute that you can't finish it if something unexpected happens.
  3. I get a lot of "is that a good school?" To which I usually say "Well, it's not a bad school..." Also, I have had people of people say "Where is LSU?" And when I say Baton Rouge they say, "No I mean...like, what state?" which is amusing. OH, and when I was considering Virginia Tech I got a surprising amount of "aren't you afraid of getting shot?"
  4. So I got accepted at these two programs and I change my mind between them at least once a day! I'm also waiting on LSU but I am betting it's a rejection. I'm trying to figure out how to best describe the differences so I think I'll list the key pros and cons for both. Also keep in mind that I am NOT getting funding from either so there is no "go where you got the most funding" option available. Also, I don't have any money for visiting right now, so I'm trying to decide without visiting. Some background on me: finishing a BS in Stats from UW Madison this semester, sub 3.0 GPA, seeking a more applied program in order to get into and industry, NOT planning on going on to a PhD. Virginia Tech Pros Higher ranked than UCSB (but not tons higher)Much cheaper, both in tuition and in cost of living Seems to really emphasize internships after the first year Potentially too difficult? They made my apply-to list because my advisor said they focus more on applied stats, which is important for me. My problem is that I am bad at Calculus; I got a BC or C in each of the three semesters I had to take. I actually got an email from the director of graduate studies that, even though I am accepted, "If you are not comfortable with advanced calculus, perhaps you should consider another program." So that's terrifying since I really am bad at calculus. On the flip side, I consider myself to be intelligent, and I have done great in all stats classes including the ones that used calculus. So...I don't know! There's no way to know if it'll be too hard until I start, and I'm so scared that I'll hit the wall with the calc and then have to drop out.Seems to be in a sort of podunk-y area Pros They have a division within their Masters program--regular stats and applied. So here, I'd specifically study applied stats and all the course descriptions have happy phrases in them like "focuses on application rather than theory."The climate, the beach...actually, one of the reasons I didn't visit is because I know if I did I'd become emotionally attached to the location and have trouble being objectiveCons [*]So expensive! I'll be paying for everything with loans so this is a big deal[*]Easier program may not impress potential employers as much So...what do you guys think? To me it seems very complicated but most people in my life have been saying to go to Virginia Tech because "you'll be fine, you got through calculus okay so far, etc. etc" but they don't really know, and I BARELY got through calc and just...well, you get it.
  5. Over the summer I will be busier than ever. I work part time now, and I applied for a full time summer internship at the place where I work. If I get it then I'll be doing that, otherwise I'll just keep the job I have now, working nights (manager of a fund-raising call center). If I get the internship and I'm feeling REALLY ambitious I'll try to do both! Then I'm getting married in July and, depending on all the work stuff, taking a honeymoon to Thailand.
  6. Either swiss and provolone cheese, green peppers, cucumbers, red onions, banana peppers, avocado, lettuce OR my personal specialty, vegetarian Italian "beef" sandwiches: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=11919.0
  7. I finally heard back from a couple more: rejected from NC State and accepted at UCSB. Which doesn't change things much since I don't think I'd go there--expensive place to live and I think it's the lowest ranked and most expensive program I applied to. I am glad to hear you thought the Virginia Tech program emphasized applied stats. That's what I'm most interested in. The internship opportunities are also exciting. So, I guess if I get into Iowa I'll have some thinking to do, otherwise I think I could definitely be happy at VTech. Plus, at this point, they get points for being the only school to not make me wait an agonizingly long time!!
  8. I posted when I got my first acceptance (still my first and only AD) because it felt so weird to hear something. It was not from my first choice school. Once I did that, I decided I won't post anything else until I decide where I'm actually going. Even if I do get into my first choice now, because I don't want my facebook to be multiple posts about where I did and didn't in, that does seem conceited, like I need people to comment on every AD I get.
  9. Ha, yes! I especially like these two from the list. In my experience, some people really are master scrimpers living very close to the bone, but most undergrads, myself included, would have extra money if they stopped drinking and/or eating out. And I definitely endorse asking family members. If need be, ask them to give you a loan. Even if your parents charge you interest, it'll probably be less than the rate on a student loan, and they probably don't want to see you buried in more debt than is strictly necessary.
  10. I'm an undergrad student at UW, and my stepdad teaches here. I'd agree that the bill shouldn't make you cross UW off your list. It is scary though, and one thing I'd think about is whether profs will stay here if it passes. They're going to be losing money and I'd bet that some of who don't have serious roots in Madison might start looking at other schools. I don't want to incite panic, but it's something I wonder about.
  11. Unrelated, but PompousPilots, could you tell me when you heard from NC State and how (website, letter, etc.)? I applied there and haven't heard anything. I applied to the Masters program though, so things could be different for me, but I'm still curious.
  12. Hm...of course I know nothing but I'd think it's positive. Schools get so many applications, it seems unlikely that they'd be like, "oh, one of our hundreds of applicants is missing a piece of their application! We must track them down so they complete it and we have another application to read!" If they weren't interested, they'd be more likely to just reject you due to the incomplete application. So I'm thinking they have read what you have and liked it and want it to be 100% complete so they can accept you. This might be overly optimistic, but that is my opinion.
  13. Ugh, I feel so crazy, but it's good to know I'm not alone. I have an iphone, so I always know if I get an email. Doesn't stop me from refreshing it though, just in case. Beyond that, I have a ritual: 1. Come here to check results. Do a scan of all the new results. Then do a search just for "statistics" and read anything new/reread a lot of the old ones. 2. Check Florida State apply yourself site. After I check that, I log out and check their more detailed "status check" to see if they got my GRE scores yet or if they're started reviewing my transcripts. 3. Check UCSB site. Even though the "decision available" link is still grayed out, I go into the detailed page and reread "Application complete as of 2/10/11" because, you know, I'm crazy. 4. Check LSU. 5. Check NC State (saved for last because it is the hardest to get into.) 6. Come back here to check "waiting it out", "the lobby", and the Math/Stats section. 7. Depending on how much time I have, look at Craigslist for Blacksburg apartments. Thankfully, I stay on campus most of the day, so I don't have to check the mail much. But when I do get the mail, I bundle it all up without looking at it, out of superstition, waiting until it is on the kitchen table to see where it is from.
  14. I don't *want* to turn to food, but cooking is by far the best distraction...fun, tiring, completely shuts down the "go check email" part of my brain...but then I have to eat the stuff I cook! Agh.
  15. I have given a lot of thought to plan B. I have applied for some jobs related to statistics, saying that I am graduating in May and could start after that. But I haven't heard anything back from any of them. So I'm not optimistic about landing a job in the field without an advanced degree. If I didn't get in to any schools or find a stats job, I would probably be stuck in the wonderful world of fund raising, or "development." I'm a manager at my school's call center, and as such have been told that I'm an ideal candidate to go run a center at another school, since a lot of schools are just getting theirs started. I really really really do not want to do that though, and recently decided not to go to an informational session about a job of that nature which I was invited to. Even though it would have been smart to attend, I refuse to think of that as an option for right now.
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