Monochrome Spring

I was surprised at how much departmental politics can play a role in your decision. You don't think about it too much beyond if the students are happy, until you get to the department and see what's really going on.

Well, if it wasn't laid out in the instruction, that sucks. You should email the appropriate people in charge of graduate admissions and funding, and ask if you are still being considered.

If anything, things are staying just as busy, because I'm finishing my graduation requirements, finishing up a literature review to publish, and planning for field work abroad. I think it'll slow down in spring, but for now, things aren't letting up.

If your applications stated that they wanted official transcripts from all colleges/universities, you should have submitted those dual credit transcripts with your regular ones. I took numerous dual-credit courses, submitted those transcripts with my 4-yr university transcripts, and had no problems. I think it's extreme to say that your children won't take any dual credit courses, when the solution is as simple as submitting a transcript, especially when there's probably more gained from taking those courses than lost.

Davis is amazing for Ecology and I think you'll love it there. Feel free to ask me any questions about the department if you need help making a decision.

I've scouted out some apartments in my top choice city and emailed management about when they think I should put down a deposit. I like being well informed before I make a final decision. Plus, I may need to move in June instead of August.

I typically get INTJ, but have also gotten INTP. Scientist/Thinker is my career according to the site. It would be nice if this thread had a poll for each type.

Ask and you shall receive:

Congratulations! You've just accepted an offer of admissions for graduate school. Here's the thread to discuss program, courses, research, conferences, housing, meet-ups, etc. with the other grad cafe peeps who have been keeping you neurotic throughout the process. I thought about including a form like in the admissions thread, but figured that this would more relaxed with less stats competition. So, introduce however little or much you want. Title courtesy of knightrunner.

I have heard from faculty in a few biology departments across campus confirm this. You're tentatively accepted, but they want to make sure they you aren't a crazy person that they can't handle for 5+ years and they want to decide who gets the most competitive funding. (Current UC Davis student)

I was told that I won't have a final 5 year funding package assembled until I hear back about fellowships. But I only need to TA 1 semester, and I do a lot of international field work, so it's best if I get external funding, instead of an RA or TA. I guess I'll just have to wait until end of March until I know for sure. At least my first year looks great.

I haven't gotten a definite number, because I'm waiting to hear back on the NSF GRFP (uni. will give me a bonus couple $k on top of that) and three university fellowship nominations. Those all have comparable stipends of $27k/yr. If don't get any of those, then I'll drop to about $17k on an RA.

A couple pieces of advice to mull on: 1) Your dissertation only needs to encompass one issue. It should be a grouping of projects fitting a common theme, working to answer a larger question. You can always address your other ideas with a postdoc or in your later career. 2) Some of the greatest findings have come from simple ideas and simple experiments. Don't worry about making everything complicated. Break up your larger ideas into smaller, simpler questions/experiments.

Total pay for summer '14-fall '15 is 33k (1 calendar year of $27k and an early summer $6 incentive). I got a competitive recruiting fellowship that is pretty generous in order to pull students in. It's doing a good job.

Silent for me too. But I heard from someone at my last interview that he got an acceptance with my POI. At least it wasn't high on my list!

1) Finish undergraduate research project --> write up manuscript and get it submitted to journal for review 2) Order a bunch of books and field guides pertinent to my field sites 3) Finish reading Game of Thrones (and as many other books as I can) 4) Hike in Sequoia National Park and Yosemite

I think it's more important to make sure that you're happy with the research and the program. You're not really downgrading much, since you're still looking at a relatively-competitive program with choice 2. And in the end, a lot of your career opportunities come down to what you did during your graduate studies. Prestige is important, but your happiness is more so.

I've received a fellowship offer so far: Stipends are $6k for summer '14 and $27k for fall '14 - summer '15. Tuition, fees, and health insurance are fully covered, as well. No news on the next few years, but I'm waiting to hear back on 4 fellowship nominations/applications, currently. My POI also said that he has research grant money to cover any of the remaining, non-fellowship, years, but the stipend would probably be closer to $17k/yr. Tuition, fees, and healthcare seem to always be covered within my program.

I'm minimizing all of my belongings to what I can fit into my sedan to move across country. Anything else, I'll buy when I'm there. The moving costs just aren't worth it, knowing I'll have to move again in a couple years anyway.

About $10k, but I plan on paying off most of it in grad school since it looks like my fellowship is pretty good for the area. I don't plan on taking out any loans in graduate school.

Of course you can't fail your classes because you still need to graduate. But you can get a few lower grades like B's and C's. Note, however, that your acceptance and any funding offers may be contingent upon a certain GPA. Also, fellowship opportunities for the first few years of graduate school may require undergraduate transcripts, and a low GPA because of a poor last semester will only hurt you. It's your choice in the end, but be sure to weigh the consequences before you slack off too hard.

When I got my first interview invite, I was at an Internet cafe in Panama. When I got my unofficial acceptance, I was at work. When I got my official acceptance, I was at the recruitment weekend poster session.

Some will be. But I know a few that are open. (CSU Long Beach and Michigan State University)

I will be in another country during that period, doing field work. I have no idea how much internet I'll have. Poop.

I've decided to switch my PI at my top choice university and I feel horribly about it. I like the 1st PI, but the 2nd one fits my research interests better. I've been emailing the new PI to figure out logistics and now I have to tell the 1st PI that I won't be joining his lab. It's especially awkward because the 1st PI helped me with my NSF GRFP application. Ugh. Does anyone have experience with this kind of situation?