GABA-daba-doo

Hi nananiemand. I was in the same situation as you. When you accept the award, you will then have to declare your status for the following year (tenure or reserve). This form has the option to switch your institution, and I believe that's all you have to do! Make sure you do it at least a week before the May 1st deadline, because it has to get approved.

I finally made my choice! Thanks to everyone in this forum for sharing your experiences and advice. You have some great options Wolfpack! I talked to a bunch of students and faculty at the Universities I was seriously considering... Most important for me was faculty of interest and their availability. I also heavily considered the lifestyle of the grad students (how stressed they seemed, did they seem to hang out outside of classes, what type of living arrangements were they able to afford), graduate student placement (I want to go into academia, so the number of students that went onto good postdocs was important to me), and funding. I think in the end, it really comes down to a gut feeling. I was lucky enough to be awarded the NSF which gave me a lot of freedom in terms of funding, but I still decided to go with the school I was leaning towards before I found out.

I got it! E/E, VG/VG, E/E I had a lower GPA, but multiple publications and excellent letters which was mentioned by all reviewers Good luck to everyone and thanks for all the encouragement and entertainment

For IGP we have to be there by August 17! But I want to be there by the 1st to get settled and everything

The fall is incredibly nice in Ithaca, but, yes the winters can be dark and gloomy... part of the reason Cornell has one of the longest winter breaks in the country (although not sure if this applies to grad school). I know a couple people who got happy lamps when they were there to get more vitamin D, but I always loved the winters there. There are some beautiful hikes in the winter and you can sled and go ice climbing. I never had a problem with the winters, but it can be chilly to walk to class so make sure you have some good boots and a warm coat!

I did my undergrad at Cornell and have used zimride a couple times to get to Syracuse. https://www.zimride.com/cornell/ It's sort of random when you can get a ride, but lots of people are going to and from Syracuse pretty often. Also, you definitely can fly to Ithaca, and in the summer you will have no problem with flights getting canceled... but it is expensive. However, when I was flying in (from SLC) I almost always flew to Ithaca unless I had a friend who could pick me up in Syracuse because the extra cost pretty much evened out if you have to take the bus. If you are coming from NYC, you can take the campus to campus bus, it's a little pricey but really nice. Also, if you are looking at living in down town Ithaca and not up on the hill, keep in mind that it can be a hassle to get to campus. It's pretty expensive to get a parking pass and they are limited (unless you will be up by the vet school). You can always look on North campus for cheap options or if you want to live above collegetown. Ithaca is an AWESOME place to live

I'm deciding between Vanderbilt and UCLA right now! (Although for Neuro direct admit). My biggest concern about UCLA is definitely the stipend vs. cost of living. I know it's doable but it stresses me when looking at apartments and everything. Are you worried about this le prospective grad?

Hi inyourgenes! I would definitely contact some students and see if they have suggestions for places to live. I have talked to a couple and they been extremely helpful. I was planning to fly down in July and look for housing and then move the first week of August. What about you? (I'm in Utah, so also a big move!)

I was offered a very generous fellowship offer from my second choice school. When I asked my lab mates and advisers about asking for more money from my top choice school, I was warned to be very careful in how I did so. My former PI is on the admissions committee at Cornell and he said that they would be somewhat offended if someone flat out said they wanted more money. He said a better way to do it (and only do this if you would commit to that school!) is to say that this school is my top choice due to the variety of research availability, collaborative community etc etc, but due to the high cost of the area I am worried financially about making a commitment. You can then ask if there are fellowships that the school offers you can apply to... such as this fellowship that I was fortunate enough to be awarded at this school. Research communities are very small so you should be pretty careful in how you approach this. Of course, I have heard of people asking for more money so it does happen and maybe some schools don't care or expect it. Good luck!

I will very likely end up at Vandy as well! inyourgenes are you IGP?? When I visited, some of the students mentioned that many of the places don't post online, so if possible it's best to go down and literally drive around and look for for rent signs. Lots of the IGP students live in Bellvue which is about 15 minutes away but less expensive. I've been looking some there because I am highly considering purchasing a townhouse or condo. If you want to be within walking distance, it looks like you will probably want to find a roommate. Lots of these places are pretty reasonable for a 2 bedroom. I am not sure if this is for all programs, but the IGP sends out a list of potential roommates and properties when the class list is finalized.

How much do you think funding should influence your decision? I was recently offered a very generous fellowship at what is probably my second choice school. It's an incredible offer at a very good program, but I am finding it very hard to turn down UCLA...which is by far the most expensive place to live of my choices.

Congrats on making a choice pasteltomato! Must be such a relief to have your decision made. All of my offers are in as of this morning and I have no clue where I will end up next fall. Did you talk to any additional potential PIs before accepting an offer?

I interviewed the second weekend. No idea if all invites have been sent out. Good luck!

I'll be there! Also, you can get a companion fish at the hotel! Direct from the website: Guppy Love Traveling without your pet? How about a little Guppy Love instead? Can't bring Spot or Kitty this time? Not to worry - we can bring you a complimentary goldfish to keep you company. Sometimes a little extra color, companionship and quiet relaxation are all you need. And without any extra effort - our staff is trained to feed and care for the fish so all you need to do is enjoy. Haha only in Portland

I was there for neuroscience theme. I am interested in glia work and UAB is the only school in the country that has a designated glia center which is why I applied.. but I think they have been the most accommodating of any of my interviews! The students, the faculty, all of it was awesome. Not to mention the cost of living, guaranteed support and excellent student outcomes. I never thought I would live in Alabama, but am seriously considering it! Which program were you there for?