RiseofthePhoenix

Just an update. I had a 2.87 UG GPA. I got into a masters program and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. I just got into an awesome program with full funding.

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

Just an update. I had a 2.87 UG GPA. I got into a masters program and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. I just got into an awesome program with full funding.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

I'm bumping this thread for the 2013 cycle. I have an awesome offer from Emory and was wondering if someone could suggest names of apartment complexes or communities in or around Candler Park that are more affordable or highly recommended. I'm a quiet person who enjoys city life and went to visitation weekend but don't really remember what the area looked like

I think he's basically saying that an LOR from somebody in your MA program would carry more weight than his because it would provide a better assessment of your capabilities as a graduate student.

A good LOR is one in which the letter writer explains how s/he has trained you in various aspects of the discipline and how that training has made you a better writer, critical thinker, etc.

Phd programs are a lot more interested in your development as a graduate student in an MA program than in your undergrad career, even if that's in a different field.

IMO, being a graduate student and getting an LOR from an ug advisor might be a bigger red flag.

I think he's basically saying that an LOR from somebody in your MA program would carry more weight than his because it would provide a better assessment of your capabilities as a graduate student.

A good LOR is one in which the letter writer explains how s/he has trained you in various aspects of the discipline and how that training has made you a better writer, critical thinker, etc.

Phd programs are a lot more interested in your development as a graduate student in an MA program than in your undergrad career, even if that's in a different field.

IMO, being a graduate student and getting an LOR from an ug advisor might be a bigger red flag.

It depends on you an the program. For me, fit was very important because my research interests are in a very small subfield. Next, I looked at places that I knew would offer good funding because I'm 29 and have more bills to pay than maybe a 22 year old fresh out of ug.

Everything else was kind of secondary. One note about rankings tho. I applied to a variety of programs ranging from 5-82 in ranking and got into a mid-30's ranked program that has amazing resources, an awesome funding package, and a perfect fit in terms of methodology. I know plenty of people who are in top-10 programs who are miserable because of the competition per resources, fellowships, and grants. If you feel like you'd be a great fit, by all means, apply to all the top places in your field. But remember that rankings aren't everything, and no ranking or prestige is worth going through 5-7 years of hell in a place where you're not happy or a great fit.

Best of luck!

Gotta love grad school. It's not research and intellectual challenge that brought us to our destiny. It's paranoia.

You're not alone. Everyone feels this way. The only commitment to be made during this time is to oneself and April 15. Everything you feel is normal for someone going thru this phase of the application process.

I would be totally cool with being compared to Popeye. He's a badass. Also, I think the OP is losing it. On second thought, considering that s/he's a graduate student, I think s/he never had it to begin with.

In @ Emory.

In @ Emory.

Congrats so happy for you!

In @ Emory.