Monochrome Spring

Well, if you already are awake at these times, this is what I do: Shower first thing so that you start off refreshed. A lot of people get some of their best thinking out in the shower. Sit down with a coffee and nice breakfast at a workstation free of distraction. I usually clean off a spot on my table the night before. Have a list of things you want to get done before 8. For example: Read X paper and summarize their points on Y, or Write 1 page of methods for Z study I'm currently working on. Be realistic about what you can get done in that amount of time. It's harder to stick with something if you feel like you're never completing the entire task. Start in smaller bursts. Maybe 30 minutes of writing, 30 minutes of relaxing, and repeat. Eventually, you can get it to 50 minutes of writing and 10 minutes of relaxing per hour burst (or 2 straight hours if you want). Last bit of advice here: If you're not a "morning person", don't try to force yourself to be. Find 2 hours in your afternoon, where you could be more alert and productive. Take the tasks that you might normally do in that time frame, and move those to the earlier hours. These could be laundry, paying pills, sorting references in a citation manager. Anything that could be moved to another time, but requires less brain power than actually writing. You can use those free hours for writing, and get more done in that time frame too.

If it doesn't say DQ'ed, I would assume you're not DQ'ed. At least for the time being. You may find DQ when results come out, but for now don't worry. You can't do anything about it.

Check your application status online.

I have already formally accepted an offer to a Ph.D. program and declined another. This was the format of my decline email: "Thank you very much for your offer of acceptance to University of X. I enjoyed visiting the program and learning about the research going on there. Unfortunately, I am declining the offer, as I have accepted an offer at another program. Thank you again, Momo"

http://gabrielecirulli.github.io/2048/ Go distract yourselves.

To me, it just sounds like they're being forward and honest with you. They aren't preparing you for a Ph.D.; they are preparing you to go out into a career after your M.S. That's not to say that they aren't encouraging further growth. They're letting you know what your degree will actually mean. If anything, it's good that they let you know this, so you don't plan on a Ph.D. program if you accept their M.S. offer. And I was under the impression that most Masters degrees aren't funded anyway, so I wouldn't pick on that.

It is most likely less due to taxes. Ask the financial aid coordinator.

I second what Eigen said. I recommend reading through your PI's papers, as well as the papers of other faculty at your university who may be doing research that you are interested in. I think it will give you a big head start to be able to discuss the previous research of numerous faculty members in your program, and it could help you with picking out committee members. In addition to reading through the recent papers in the major journals in your field, I recommend going through your old undergrad (or masters) materials, and seeing which papers were cited frequently. Read through those again, because they are the foundation of your field and future work; being able to pull them up in conversations will also help. I personally love reading through major review papers. Email your PI and maybe other professors who you've talked with, and ask if they can send you a few of their favorites. And you can always piggyback off of references in these, as well.

Picking which program you want to choose is a tough decision. I also had to choose between two programs which both had pros and cons. One had an amazing advisor with connections, but I wasn't in love with the program and the funding was iffy for field seasons. The one I accepted has a less-prestigious advisor, but I was offered a great fellowship, and the coursework is more flexible around my research seasons. In the end, I had to choose the route that I felt would bring me the least amount of stress. I actually talked with the advisor from the first program yesterday, and we discussed collaborating while I'm at the second program, so I can have the best of both worlds. In the end, you need to choose which program will make you the happiest. Which factors do you consider to be the most important for that happiness in the upcoming years? Maybe try making a pro-con list, and weight each of the factors.

I wear TOMS without socks. I normally have very stinky feet, but I use a spray (tea tree oil I think) from a bath and body store that neutralizes the odors. As long as I'm adamant about spraying when I get home, it's not bad. And I throw them in the wash every once in a while.

Just assume it's 4/15 and you're not getting it.

Email from U. Pitt. Ecology/Evolution. Turned it down since I've accepted MSU. It was really hard to tell my POI that I'm not going there, especially since he kept flattering me, saying I'm the best candidate he's had in years, and we got along so well. But I feel like MSU is a better overall (safer) choice in terms of program requirements, timelines, funding, etc. Also, Pitt. POI offered to collaborate with me during my Ph.D. with some plots that are at the field site I'd be with my MSU POI anyway. So I get a bit of the best of both worlds.

For asking about more funding, I would just tread carefully. Some schools are open to it, while others are not. And this can be for reasons other than where the stipend is coming from. If you are close with your POI, ask them before you ask the finances department.

For what it's worth, I asked a professor at Pitt Bio and he said that negotiating stipend would be seen as rude, and that he would not recommend doing it. This is just one professor/department, but I thought I'd share. I recommend asking your POI what kinds of funding opportunities are available to students who find the stipend offered too low. This could open up a communication about increased stipend with RA or TA, without directly asking for more money.

Just sorted out my summer RA work with my advisor and found an awesome house to live in. Also found out that my stipend from my fellowship is given before classes start in a big semester lump sum. So excited.

You can't update your profile at this point.

As someone who just found a place, I highly recommend going on Craigslist and looking at renting out a room in a house. Seems to be cheaper and quieter.

What program?

Thanks! I actually found a room in a house with two other older students for <$500/mo. It's a bit removed from the main undergrad apartment complexes but close to my office space. I have to do a bit more research about the area and the other tenants, but it looks like a good choice.

Michigan State University dual Forestry and Ecology (EEBB) :3 Starting June/July.

Currently passing emails back and forth with my advisor, figuring out summer plans. I'm also Skyping into a house tour tomorrow for a place that I might move into in June. So exciting! Good luck to everyone who hasn't heard yet, and congratulations to those who have.

So happy for you!