dat_nerd

I think the main question is this: how important is driving distance to you? If you are okay commuting from other parts of the Atlanta metro area, I think you'll be able to get a 1BR apartment for the price you're looking for. If you're talking about living in downtown or midtown, any place in a decent neighborhood will put you well over $1k/month for a 1BR, and probably closer to $1.5k/month plus utilities if it's a good neighborhood. It is an unfortunate tradeoff between location and cost.

Venting time! I'm really really really anxious about my living situation. I'm living in a crowded dorm with undergraduates, and it's really stressing me out. I am introverted, so all of the noise and having people around so much makes it hard for me to balance my sanity with grad school. I don't get any "recharge" time, so I never feel like have more than 70% energy at the start of the day. Don't get me wrong -- I love my roommate, I love being introverted, and I love being a grad student, but it's hard to balance those three when there's so many people! Thankfully, I am moving out to live in a studio apartment in 6 weeks, but now those 6 weeks are going by. oh. so. slowly. Any tips on how to pass the time?

UW has a much, much better name than Harvard when it comes to computer science. UW is a top-10 school. I don't know anyone who would consider Harvard to have a better CS program. OP, congrats on the acceptances!

Does "Professor A" have tenure yet? If not, when will he/she be applying for tenure?

Start building stronger connections to your professors. You'll want to gain some research experience as soon as possible so you can write about it in your applications this fall. They'll also be able to give you personal advice about where to apply, how to start research, etc.

You'll want to stick to parts of Atlanta that are north of I-20 and east of Northside Drive. Decatur and Midtown are good neighborhoods, but tend to be pretty pricy.

800/month total? Or per person? If you're talking about total, then no, you won't find anything in a safe neighborhood near GSU for that price. If you have a car, you could probably find a more affordable space outside the perimeter or in north Atlanta.

Bump! What's new?

I'm sort of a health-freak, but I LOVE making salads. A salad with fluffy kale, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, swiss cheese, almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, soy protein, cranberries, avacado... mmmmmmm Oh, and chocolate. My diet consists of eggs, salad, and dark chocolate, all in equal proportions.

As an INTJ, I'm seriously not used to being in the majority. This is awesome.

Oh man, that stuff is truly nasty. I haven't had to take it for a few years now, but I was on prednisone off-and-on for several years growing up. I hope you're feeling better! And way to keep on top of the asthma with exercise.

I doubt it. Being rejected on a lack of research fit is the more likely reason.

"Professor of interest" -- meaning the advisor you'd like to work with at prospective schools.

For what it's worth, I've been buying a week's worth of (healthy!) groceries for just $40/week. It's more doable than I'd thought, especially if you can make good use of the grocery store's weekly ad.

I use Mint. I find it extremely useful for tracking my expenses and budgetting. You may want to give it a try.

I moved from the Pacific NW recently, and haven't had decent espresso since.

Huh? You just posted a new topic.

I think you'd be a strong fit for UIUC. Others to consider: Cornell UT Austin GA Tech UMass Amherst

Ask your professors -- chances are that they're looking for research assistants or know someone who is.

I started with the US News rankings, and then compiled information by hand from there. I also attended career fairs where grad school representatives were present and could provide me with more detailed information. My undergraduate advisors were also extremely helpful in helping me understand each school's department culture and research focuses.

I advise you to apply to CS research experiences, rather than work experience. Research experience will hold significantly more weight than any kind of work experience. I know CS PhD students who have never held a CS job, don't have a CS background, but had relevant research experience and make very successful students. Additionally, you will obtain stronger recommendation letters from a research program or internship supervisor, rather than your boss from an industry internship.

Cool! I am definitely interested in reading your blog. Would you please PM me the link?

Congrats and congrats!

I had a couple of visit weekends that overlapped. Two of the schools were willing to let me visit at a later time, and still cover travel costs. I recommend that you ask around before you commit to any particular visit weekend.

Cool! I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the advice.