Crucial BBQ

Well, yeah, I'm in the same boat. However seeing as some programs are large and some are small; how some receive hundreds (thousands?) of applicants and some receive just a handful: how some decision letters emanate directly from the department/program and other from the "graduate school"; I hardly believe that all decisions are made in waves. I will agree that clear admits/rejections are more-than-likely made first. Though, sigh. *fingers crossed*

*and by phone...

I have noticed in the Results that many (all?) who applied to the UMD College Park received their admit/reject decisions via email. I also applied and am awaiting a decision. However, when I click on the "Check your Status" button (in APRA) I am taken to a page that states that admissions decisions cannot be communicated via email or webpage. The gradschool.umd FAQ page simply states that a "letter will be generated and sent to the address you provided". Should I expect an email? Confused and stressed.

As someone who has moved from California to Kansas, Kansas to California, California to Minnesota, Minnesota to Maine, Maine to Massachusetts, and Massachusetts to Maryland (Maryland to....?) all as an adult, I know a few things about moving. *Do not move junk, garbage, etc. This may sound redundant, but I guarantee that you will spend the time packing and shipping crap you do not need nor even want. *Divide your stuff into three lists/piles: the stuff you absolutely cannot live without, the stuff you can live without, and the stuff you are on the fence about. You will notice that the pile of stuff you absolutely cannot live without is the smallest pile if you are honest. Get rid of the stuff you can live without and honestly think about the rest. *Donate what you cannot sell (get receipts for tax deductions) and sell what you can. Sell as much furniture as you can and keep in mind that IKEA and thrift stores are cheap. *Chances are high that this move is going to be temporary. I guarantee you will still have stuff packed away in boxes when you finish grad school. This is the type of stuff you should get rid of. *Store stuff with family if possible. It is going to take time to set up your new place anyways, if something can wait, let it wait. Have this stuff slowly shipped over time if needed. *Purchase boxes from Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, etc. They are cheaper than purchasing from "box" stores, moving stores, etc. Of course you can cruise stores and businesses for used boxes they are tossing out, but... *Try and stick with the same-sized box. It makes packing and stacking that much more easier. *Try not to move during August; usually the hottest time of the year.... *Get friends to help with the move instead of hiring movers. You'd be surprised at how much work a person is willing to do for a case of cheap beer and/or a pizza. *This is a matter of personal tastes, but there are websites that list items and services offered for free, including Craigslist. If you are moving to a college town (ahem, Boston), chances are high that you can acquire a mansions-worth of stuff for free or cheap from undergrads who are moving back home and leaving their "stuff" behind. *Penske and UHual are about equal in my experience. *If you require a moving truck and will also bring your car, just rent that car-tow-aparatus and tow your car with the moving truck. It'll be cheaper than paying for gas for two vehicles. *Try to reserve a moving truck as far in advance as possible. The closer to the 1st of the month it gets the more these things become unavailable. *Books are heavy. A "small" box of books can easily weight 80 pounds or more. Disperse your library between multiple boxes, filling the rest of the box[es] up with blankets, clothing, pillows, and other light items. You will thank me for this tip. *Begin packing/downsizing as soon as possible. Believe me, it is never too soon to start the moving process. I guarantee you have way more shit than you think you have and will find yourself scrambling to pack at the last minute. This is when you will end up packing and moving garbage, stuff you do not need or want, etc. *Shipping stuff through UPS and FedEx can get expensive. That 80 pound box of books is going to run around $90. Ten of those boxes is $900 right there, which could be roughly the costs of a moving truck depending on how are you are moving. USPS has a media mail rate, which might be cheaper. You can also ship via Amtrak and passenger plane...not sure on the pricing, though. The absolute cheapest way to move is to move with the least amount of stuff.

Perhaps it is because I am a student of science that I say this, but shouldn't these types of books/reference guides have been read/used during undergrad?

Not the school's name, but I always liked MITs IHTFP. Speaking of MIT, acronyms, and confusion.... I am originally from Sacramento, CA. Sac State will always be CSUS to me, yet when I mention CSUS even to those who live in Sacramento the typical response is "where?". I also lived in Minneapolis. The University of Minnesota is also known simply as The U. Not an acronym, but many years had passed before I realized Miami University was not in Florida.

Not sure about volleyball, but I know a few people who were swimmers. For the most part they did it as an extracurricular, but did so with the hopes of one day swimming "professionally" on the competition circuit. Unlike other sports, swimming is one of the few where 0.01 seconds can mean everything. As such, swimmers spend an insane amount of time practicing and working out in order to gain that 0.01 second edge. Everyone I knew who played lacrosse did/does because of a love simple for the game and nothing more. While it is true there are many (American style) football leagues around the World, the fact remains that most college players do not go on to play professional football. That does not mean they do not end up doing something relating to football, if even playing it, but according to the NCAA only roughly 1.7% of college football players go onto the NFL. Granted, the NCAA acknowledges that they do not keep track of those who go on to play professionally in leagues outside of the U.S.. Still, if only 1.7% of U.S. college players go onto the NFL, and the NFL is the largest football league in the world....and... There are just under 70K college football players during any given year. As you can see, there are a lot of college football players leaving college ball every single year. There is simply too many of them for the majority to end up doing "something" for football after they leave college.

For what schools? When it comes to college athletics, schools are "members" of one of three Divisions. Div 1 schools can recruit up to 80%-100% by use of athletic scholarship, Div 2...not sure of numbers, but they have the ability to partially recruit based on athletic scholarships, and Div 3 schools cannot recruit based on athletic scholarships. College athletes are amateurs, and as such, not "allowed" to get paid to play. That is why there are athletic scholarships, to attract the best talent...it is the work-around. College athletics are not developmental leagues. Without the "college" part, there is no way the could exist.

Off the top of my head, UC Davis has a final deadline of March 1 and URI has a deadline of April 15. However, you missed the UC Davis deadline for fellowships and the URI deadline for financial aid. Some graduate programs have rolling admissions, but I cannot think of any off the top of my head. If you want to go to graduate school ASAP, I would look into schools that have a Spring admissions cycle. That should still give you plenty of time to create the best application, SoP, research schools/programs, retake the GRE if need be, etc.

*edit* Three schools I applied to are on the list. *eats crow*

I never heard of a universal deadline. Never heard of this, probably because none of the schools I have applied to are on this list (although I did just quickly glance through), and many schools I did not apply to, either. Of the schools I applied to, when you accept an offer you place a down payment to hold your spot just like undergrad. And like undergrad, if you later decide to take School Bs offer, you are free to do so with the understanding that your down payment is non-refundable. I have heard of some acceptances as being binding, but as far as I know if you don't want to go to School A you don't have to.

Is this from the MIT undergraduate admissions page? I remember my one reject from undergrad, from Tufts. It was quite long for a "no", four to five paragraphs in length, and totally obvious it was a form letter even though it tried hard to be personal. .

I see you are a psychology major....

Oh you bet I'm still going to apply. Might be the best $80 I ever spent

Also happened, sort of. The POI I contacted said I was a great fit and would support my application, but....she was soon leaving to take a position at another school. At least she told me to get in touch with her in a few years (after she has secured funding) if need be and she would take me in. I did mention this in that SoP as I figured she was still technically the head of the lab in the mean time...

Up until the middle of January I kept referring to the admissions officer of one of the programs I am applying to as Brian. I was very politely reminded that her name was actually Brynn, to which I replied Oh, yeah. That makes sense.

Well, you can potentially fly-in in the morning, then return in the evening. I would do it. About funding. If they were to get funding today, they more-than-likely would not have access to it until about a year from now. At least that is how it generally works with the sciences that I am aware of. It is possible they have some reserve cash they can release immediately once they know more funding is coming in, I dunno. But hey, they only said they cannot guarantee funding at this point, and they were working on it..not that they definitely do not have the funds.

Good reading, but I believe these mistakes should be ones that applicants already know to avoid with the possible exception of I want to save the World because...Or, perhaps, not fully researching the program. I mean, who really writes their own LOR? Or gets their boyfriend/girlfriend to write one on their behalf? As for LORs, my understanding is that if a professor agrees to write one, they only do so because they have positive things to say about you and believe you have the ability to perform well in graduate school and with research. I have never heard of a professor agreeing to write an LOR with the sole purpose of discouraging the admissions committee.

Perhaps it was your LORs that kept them interested. Or perhaps they are just getting a late start. There is an entire thread some where in these forums about the same subject. I'll try and dig it up.

I looked into the program in question a year ago. The delinquent courses in question are differential equations, computer programming (I am assuming at least one intro class), and two semesters of introductory physics with calculus. It then goes on to state that not all students will require these courses. However, an addendum was added in bold this year that specifically states that all applicants must have these things and that the previous comment about "not all students may need these courses" is to be overlooked (why they did not just update the website to reflect this is beyond me) and that even though a student may never use differential equations, let's say, the background knowledge is still deemed useful. Okay, I can understand that. Now, I did not take differential equations, but I did take a few higher level math courses in the 300 level. These were theory type courses, proof and conjecture, that sort of thing. I may have only done algebra-based physics, but I did take one year of calculus. However, unless the program checks my school's catalog, I am not sure if they will know the difference. I have also taken a physical oceanography course. Aside from that, and medicare GRE scores, my preparation I feel is far more advanced than perhaps the majority of students that are also applying. I was fortunate enough to have been in an undergraduate program that emphasized hands-on learning as much as lectures and "text book" learning. Based on my own research, I know for a fact that I was doing things in my freshman and sophomore years that most students in this program/discipline in question do not do until their senior year, or grad school, if at all. That is one of my strong points that I hope will trump everything else. I know that I have two strong LORs, with one being from a non-academic source. This is the only program I am applying to that does not state in any way that they do not apply a holistic approach to applications. They also do not say that they don't, so.... I have read accounts, usually in the form of blogs or articles, from deans of graduate programs or professors who take on grad students claim they sometimes take on "poor" applicants if the applicant clearly demonstrates drive and tenacity. My GPA and GRE may not be competitive, but I feel that my overall application is. Just wanted to hear some first-hand success stories. Everyone is nervous this time of year.

Finding a rental in Baltimore is extremely easy and most landlords will try to get you into their units on the spot. You can arrive in the AM on any given day of the week sight unseen and have a place by the afternoon. I kid you not.

I technically do not live in Baltimore, but moved to the area two years ago when my GF began attendance at JHU for grad school. Baltimore is simultaneously the coolest place you will ever live and quite possibly the worst. On one hand The Wire is an accurate portrayal of Baltimore, on the other, it gives the false impression that the entire city is like that. One thing to keep in mind though is that the ghetto is never far. Unlike other major U.S. cities that are decent through-out with pockets of bad areas, Baltimore is ghetto throughout with pockets of decent areas. And those decent areas are really cool, eccentric, and fun with lots of stuff to do/see. There is also something like 14 colleges/universities within the Baltimore area, so a decent number of students living off campus. Most students seem to live in Mt. Vernon or Charles Village as they are the cheaper "good" areas. Mt. Vernon offers a lot to do, great restaurants and cool bars, etc. It is also probably the 'hipster' part of Baltimore. Fells Point and Canton are good, too, but pricey. Federal Hill is also a great area, but also pricey. Pigtown and the area around the University of Maryland Medical campus is in the process of revitalization and gentrification, but still has a few pockets of griminess. There are a few buildings downtown that might be worth living in...the closer to the Inner Harbor, the better. Many Medical students seem to live here and based on my experience grad students are all but guaranteed a unit without need of background check. I am not too sure about Homeland, but the neighborhood itself is considered one of the best in the city, and JHU is also near Roland Park, with is probably without a doubt the richest neighborhood in Baltimore. Both areas are "old money". If you park your car on the street, do not leave anything, ANYTHING, out in plain sight. Someone will break in and steal it. Most violent crime surrounds the drug trade. If you are not a heroin junkie or dealer, your chances of being murdered decrease significantly. Baltimore is the heroin capital of the U.S., though. Stick-up kids are a real deal, and will rob you in broad daylight even on a busy street. Mostly they are just after your laptop or iPhone. However, these types of robberies generally tend to stick to the area around Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Druid Hill, Butcher Hill, Prospect Park, and the area around MICA are also decent. If you are white, and wonder into a seriously bad area, it will be assumed you are only there to buy drugs...even from the cops. Also, if you are white expect to hear "white boy" and "cracker"...often. Some people claim that Baltimore is the worst place on Earth, and others think it is the best place on Earth. Some live there their entire lives and never experience anything worse than having the change stolen from their vehicles once or twice and others experience more violent crime. One good thing about Baltimore is that the areas you should avoid stick out like a sore thumb. It is that obvious.

I should also point out that you more-than-likely will need a co-signer no matter how much money you have in your bank account. Also, be prepared to show not only show proof of bank account, but also how much money is in said account.

I did undergrad in Boston and moved to Boston from Maine. I also left Boston two years ago, so unless anything has changed since.... Avoid living in Allston or Brighton at all costs. These are student ghettos. Not sure about Allston, but you need a parking permit to park on Brighton streets. In order to get a parking permit, you must provide proof of residency (copy of your lease) and proof of vehicle registration. Your vehicle WILL get towed if you do not have a permit. There is absolutely no overnight street parking in Brookline, just so you know. A parking spot behind my building ran $165/month. Tow trucks patrolled the lot a few times per day, seven days a week. Guests will get towed unless they get a guest permit and park in the proper space. People in Boston love to double, and sometimes triple, park. Often times directly in a traffic lane. If you did not take the time to shovel out a spot during the winter, do not park in an open spot even if it is not marked. You will piss someone off and might find a nasty note at the least, or a flat tire at the most. Shovel your space and "reserve" it with an old chair, trash can, etc. Housing: the Back Bay, if I recall correctly, has officially banned college students. Not sure if that extends to grad students, though. The North End is trying hard to ban college students, too. Too many noise complaints and general disrespect towards year-round residents. Free stuff: The streets of Allston/Brighton become full of apartment stuff between August 1st and September 1st. Mostly Ikea stuff. You might be hesitant to grab that brand-new looking couch because of the bed bug issue, but practically every type of household item can be found. Lamps, desks, dressers, tables, etc. My entire apartment was furnished this, including the mint-condition couch (after careful inspection). I kid you not: many college students move in at the end of summer, hit up Ikea, then get rid of everything when they go back home for the summer. Repeat for four years. Other: Boston has almost all but lost its blue collar image/neighborhoods. Practically everything is divided between professional/yuppie/richie and undergrad college student. Boston is insanely expensive, and you do not get much for you money. Boston does have a great public transportation system that is also not very great. It is awesome in the sense that you can commute by public transportation to almost any destination you can think of within the Boston vicinity. Some busses even run 24/7. The downfall; none, zero, zilch, run on schedule. The busses and the Greenline quite simply arrive when they arrive. With the Greenline for example, you can wait for a half hour before a train comes in your direction, but you will see five or so pass in the opposite direction (they're supposed to run once every 10/15 minutes or so). Or you can get three trains in a row. Word of advice: If you see a Greenline train approaching behind the train that just stopped at your stop, wait for the second train. It will be a heckofalot less crowded as Bostonians seem to have a problem with waiting. No matter how full the train is, no matter how much you think the car cannot carry anymore people, ten more people will get on. Not try to board, but seriously, they will cram the fuck in. Then you get to the next stop and think that no more people can get on....then ten more squeeze in. Then that train breaks down because because it is carrying too much weight and causes a serious delay. Greenline tip #2: Greenline trains will all-of-a-sudden go express if they are running too far behind schedule. That means that they will all-of-a-sudden bypass many stops. If you have your headphones on and did not hear the announcement.... Greenline tip #3: Avoid the D line at all costs. This is the line that ends at BC and runs past BU. There are way to many stops in between and the train stops every 20-30 seconds because too many riders cannot be bothered to walk that "extra" 500 feet and most get off at the absolute closest stop to their destination. And BU is an extremely long school. If you ride the D line at night, it will be packed with drunk college kids....some of who are drinking and puking on the train. Greenline tip #4: Just spend the extra ten minutes it takes to walk to the C line. Your trip will ultimately be a 1/2 hour faster....and less crowded. Greenline tip #5: Catch the C train at least a 1/2 hour earlier than you would reasonably need to catch it in order to get to your destination on time. The D line, an hour. I lived in Brighton. Most students move in September 1st. Most rentals go through a leasing agency, that is just how Boston does it wheather you are in college or not. In order to get a September rental, you need to have a place locked down by June. Seriously, get a place at least 3 months in advance as the closer to September it becomes the less units are available unless you can afford a $2000/month studio. I don't think anyone can truly comprehend the sheer number of college students who live in Boston. Some estimates place it as high 400K. I guarantee you that no landlord is desperate to get rid of units. In fact, the opposite is true: too many applicants for the same crappy apartment. Landlords jack up the rent because they can. I would avoid Allston/Brighton all together, except I did get lucky in Brighton. The "street" I lived on "only" rented to professionals and grad students. Seeing as how I did not begin undergrad until I was 23, I was able to easily convince the landlord I was a grad student. I still heard people partying most nights...loudly. And there was that one person who must have been a music major of some sort....bagpipes and other instruments were heard at all times of the day and night.

If I remember correctly, Harvard is ranked number 3 and Yale number 13. Last time I saw a list, there were something around 100 schools on it that had a public health school/program. Sorry, but 3 is not wayyyyyyyyyyy better than 13 unless there are only 13 programs to begin with. Also, Harvard University contains seven colleges, one of which is Harvard College. Another is Harvard School of Public Health. While still a part of Harvard University, it has nothing to do with Harvard College. Not sure if it is the same with Yale, but around Boston if someone says they go to Harvard it is always meant they go to Harvard College. I did undergrad in Boston. Boston is not as cracked up as most think, and many choose Boston-area schools simply because they want to go to school in Boston...then end up miserable because they realize Boston is not as cool as they had hoped.