RiseofthePhoenix

I rode MARTA when I was there for interview weekend. I'd say MARTA is limited in the sense that it runs in a + shape going north-south and east-west. There is a MARTA station about 1 mile from campus which goes west to downtown, from where we rode anther train south to the airport. I rode MARTA once in the morning on Sunday and again on a Thursday afternoon and I'd say that I felt both safe and comfortable. But I think they told you not to rely on it because, while it runs pretty frequently during the day, it doesn't stop anywhere outside of the the big plus sign on the map.

^ wrong forum my friend.

I know right! Oh well. Have you decided what you're gonna do for housing yet?

I'm probably going to move to Atlanta sometime in late July/early August. I'd love to move sooner but alas, bills be damned!

I was super lucky because I got to be really good friends with my MA advisor. He pushed me and was very upfront with me at times but he was also a very good mentor and friend. I think it's not so much about picking yourself up as it is about growing thick skin. What I mean is, if you change your perspective a little and start viewing your relationship with your advisor as one of mentor-junior faculty as opposed to advisor-student, you might be able to maneuver the rough patches more skillfully. A great piece of advice I got from my advisor early on was that in order to succeed in academia, I had to be tough and welcome criticism. Now, I know that most people have horror stories about a jerk advisor and can imagine what a horrible experience getting constantly chopped down by your advisor is, but like so many other mentor-protege relationships, I think to some extent, the rough experiences are a part of the deal. At least that's how I've come to view it. Sorry I couldn't give you any positive or fuzzy responses. Just my two cents.

Babysitting, pet-sitting and waiting tables/host/server type jobs are relatively easy to find with no previous experience necessary. Pet-walkers or sitters especially make a ton of money.

I also just wanted to throw this out there: I would be open to a roommate situation for 6-12 months with a fellow graduate student who's new to Atlanta like me. Feel free to IM me if interested.

Hey Pat. I've been super busy! Campus Crossings are nice and they include many amenities. They're super expensive but are a good option for the first few months before you can get a feel for what the city is like and where you really want to live.

Thanks LMac. Yes, I have departmental contacts who have offered to help out with the move and housing, and I will be speaking with them soon regarding all of this.

In retrospect, all the annoying people who kept saying "you'll get in somewhere" were right

"When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chödron.

I haven't looked at duplexes but I would consider it if I can get a 1BR within the price range I mentioned above.

I will be moving to Atlanta with a suitcase of clothes, an Xbox 360, chess board, and two boxes of books . I'm in my late 20's and am equally inclined to rent a room or get my own place close to campus. I've been looking at apartments online and it seems like $500-675 is a reasonable monthly rent at a decent place in Druid Hills/Decatur area. I would like to be 6-7 miles from campus at most. Does this sound about right or am I way off the mark with my assumption?

I am! Any idea about what to do about housing?

What did you say in response to the congratulatory email? I guess I don't understand how you'd accidentally mention something you shouldn't have. When I got a congratulations email from the adcomm, I simply replied with "thank you, this is great news!" Having said that, I don't think this is a big deal. They made you an offer and it's not like they're gonna rescind it. Just wait till 4/15 and officially respond to the offer.

If you've already been accepted you can wear nice jeans and a button down shirt. I wouldn't wear sneakers and baggy pants or a tshirt. If it's an interview weekend, slacks/khakis and button downs for sure. If you're a girl, I'd say wear the female equivalents of what I said above. Good luck.

^ wow that's pretty awesome, congrats. When you said lower rank I thought maybe you meant some place in the 50-60 rank. Doesn't OU have rolling admissions?? Also, I think it was you who mentioned an offer from Simon Fraser? That sounds like a pretty awesome opportunity too if tey offer a decent funding package.

Just out of curiosity, what's this lower rank school that offers a ton of money?

Frankly, it's really hard to give feedback based on the vague info you're providing. For example, what does so-so funding mean?? Where are the schools located geographically? How do you know the advisor is amazing before you even start working w them? What do you consider a "great stipend" to be? Again, what part of the country are we talking about? A phd is a 5-year commitment and a lot can change in your life over the next 5-years, ie marriage, divorce, burnout, excellent opportunities outside of school, family stuff, etc. so, the idea of going to grad school partially funded or on a really low stipend or paying partial tuition, at least for me, is out of the question. Money, while not everything, is still a very important part of the decision process. I worked as a TA and outside of school to finance my MA and I can tell you that the last thing you need in a 5-year program is money issues. Also, you say it's a "great" program but bear in mind that sometimes people accept an offer based on what they *think* will be awesome fit/advisor/departmental culture, only to find that things are actually not so great once they're in. I'm not saying this will be the case with you, but just something to consider. As for questions for the programs, I would ask about TA/RA loads, what the teaching requirements will be 4th and 5th year, whether there are travel/conference grants available, whether grad students co-author papers, what the placement of the programs are, and maybe negotiate a higher stipend.

Wow congrats ohgoodness!!! And amlobo!!! It's good to have friends in high places

Shit hole

I'd suggest waiting for funding details and visitation weekend at least. Although, I was in a similar boat and accepted my offer after funding info/visit, and later got rejected from the rest of my programs. If you're not in a rush, sit on your offer for a while.

You are definitely not alone. This is a good opportunity to practice some meditation to calm the mental chatter and just experience the mood swings and the raw energy of anxiety for what it is. It helps me not only fall asleep, but also get sound asleep, even if it's only for 5-6 hours a night.

Depends on what you mean by "so-so school". Also, what matters more is what the ranking of your specific program is. It's impossible to answer your question without knowing more details.

Yes, getting a phd will challenge you financially, emotionally and mentally. Yes, the work load is heavy and working hours long. I don't understand how any of this is supposed to be revelatory in any way. If you're an undergrad going in, then know that this is the beginning of your preofessional career. You're really being hired on as junior faculty inthe sense that, hopefully you're getting funded and paid to do some kind of work as well as do research. Also, I'm getting really tired of hearing people drop the "oh, you're the adjunct generation/no more jobs for you" line. I hear the same thing from nurses, doctors, electricians, bankers, lawyers..etc. Long story short, while I appreciate the endless spiel for what it is, the bottom line is that grad school can also be fun and a great place for personal and professional growth if you learn to navigate the waters.