Andean Pat

I don't know if you should take my advice, I am little cheeky so I'd definitely go. I wouldn't be totally outgoing and introduce myself to everybody, but I'd go.

OK, I this is the third time I write this because I do not want you to take me the wrong way. So let's see if this time I can speak my mind without sounding too harsh. If I do, forgive me in advance. What I see is this: first you wanted reassurance on applying for a US program. Now you do not know whether to accept a PhD offer at Cambridge. You are talking of one of the top 5 universities in the world. Fully funded. Top of the world. Fully funded. If you didn't want to go there, you wouldn't have applied In other words, not only you seem to be very smart but also intellectually mature so as to be accepted in one of the best programs in your discipline. What I do not understand (sorry if I unleash my monster) is why you need us to convince you or to reassure you that you are making a good decision? I mean, this is not about a topic (you can do a better topic in a post-doc) or a matters of years (4 or 6 is not a great difference), this is about you having the guts of doing what you have already done once: you applied to cam. Great! Now make a choice. You got in. Decide. You can do this!!! If you applied it's because you want to go there, so go!!!! And if you do not want to go because of ANY valid reason, you do not need to explain ANYONE that you rejected an offer to cam. It's your call.

I don't think it's a stupid question, and I am glad someone asked it. Thank you!

Hi Surlefil! I'm from Argentina as well! If you want, you can PM me and I'll give you some hints that other Argentines passed me over.

So, did you apply?

I was unofficially admitted to UConn but unofficially rejected it. I think it's a great choice! However, I agree with you on waiting it out, especially for UC-R. I wanted to apply here but my POI suggested not doing so because of lack of funding for international students. Patience is a virtue... you'll get there

So, just checking, you don't need to show a return ticket? (Some agencies have warned me to check this, since round-trips are usually cheaper than one-way tickets, I was about to buy a return ticket as well, but just found a cheap one-way direct flight to my future home!)

Congrats!!!!!

Dear future applicants and current GRE candidates, I was thinking how terrible the world looked like when I was preparing for GRE and now that my application process is over and I am starting a graduate program in the fall, I wanted to give you my humble advice, the same way another student gave it to me. GRE is not the end of the world. Believe me, it is not. However, you should behave as it is because although it is not (in my opinion) the decisive factor in your application, it is used to compare you to other students and, as many people in this forum have explained to me, it helps to cut off a pool of candidates. So do take it seriously. You will probably need to sit for it twice. Many people don't, but the majority does. I know many bright people who had to do it twice, including myself hahaha . No, seriously, bearing in mind that you have another chance is a good option. It helps you plan ahead (so that you have your results on time) and it helps you learn from your mistakes. So, just in case, plan to sit for it early enough just in case you need a second time, and save the money for that. If you do well on the first sitting, excellent!!! then you can spend that money on something more interesting Address the AWA section. Now, this is from my own experience so forgive me if it is not general enough. Apparently, students tend to devote more time to Q and V because it is what most POIs look at. I have learned from an excellent teacher that AWA is as important. If you address AWA properly, you will be addressing V as well. All sections are aimed at testing your ability to analyse, reason, present an argument, etc. I was trained in the AWA section so effectively that my V score was higher than I expected. If you can write it, you can read it. NOTE: She was American (I am international) and so maybe this is something current in the US, it was not here, that's why I point it out. Make a plan and study with someone. I did exercises everyday. I bought the books (the official guide, a kaplan activity book and another one full of exams) and I read a lot from the official guide, went to private lessons and got together at least once a week to study with other students. In fact, they were preparing GMAT, but getting together implied that I was going to spend 4 hours studying. It costs money. do not pretend to sit for it without expending a penny. This is a business. Now, maybe you can buy used books or have a private tutor for no money, that's great. However, if you get used to the idea that you need X amount of money, the same way you plan you applications, then it won't hurt that much when you pay for it. Now, if you can save some of that money, great!!! Celebrate. Sit for the exam and then go out!!! You made a lot of effort so you deserve to relax!!! This is my experience: I began a course on June 2012. The maths section was OK but the V was a complete disaster and I did terrible in the AWA, I sat for it in early September. I went to another institute where the approach was completely different, more professional (and expensive) and sat the second time in late Novemember. In conclusion, you can't fight it, you need and you need to do your best. Go for it!!!! :D

Hi! I've taken some education courses at graduate level and completely understand your situation: in some courses we were around 50!!! Imagine the age range (22---ummm 50s) and the background. As yours, our professors encouraged dialogue and class participation but did not happen often. The main reason was the lack of the professors' managing skills. I am a teacher, you probably know very well that the steer of the class is held by the teacher/professor, not these people you mention that speak a lot. Clearly, not speaking does not add up, especially because it seems others are doing the same so you leave room for those who speak a lot. I used to do that I think it was great of you to mention it in your mid term evaluation. Maybe the professors did not realize or maybe they are expecting a more active role on your (I mean, the rest of the class') behalf. What if you have some of those informal conversations with one of these super speakers? It's only a suggestion, I know in my case it wouldn't have worked. One of them was such a lickboot that in a final exam of theology he talked about some early modern literature thing. That much of a speaker he was. All in all, from teacher to teacher, maybe you can practise your own management skills and steer the discussions?

OMG, you can't be too careful... Spooky. Do be careful when you are out on the net guys...

I would consider one week. Anyway, if it's more than a week, you have no way to know that. So e-mail them, if they think you are anxious, is their problem I got an e-mail from the DGS of a school telling me they were planning to offer me a place but they were waiting for funding to come available. They described how much it would be, which was competitive compared to other schools I have been offered funding thus I kindly answered that it was very kind, that I was happy about the decision because I really wanted to work with that POI but that at this point financial matters were decisive for me and thus had decided to accept an offer elsewhere. I suppose they didn't take the nice way...

I liked the hammock idea.

I'm international as well and also started thinking about my essentials since I cannot take my furniture. I have lots of things here and I find them difficult to relinquish... I have been thinking a looooooot about this, and have decided first to take my favourite summer clothes, shoes and books, very basic. My favourite things that I cannot take, like my plants or other books (I have a HUGE library) I leave them in adoption to VERY close friends. I thought of boxing my favourite winter clothes, just in case anyone can mail it to me. Apart from this, my top five things are: * Mate set (thermos, mate, yerba, and straw) * Coffee maker + mug * Sportswear * Photos and frames * My grandmother's tablecloths Once there, I would definitely get: a tennis racket and a hockey stick, a huge mirror, a mobile phone, and a nice plant (can't have a dog in my apartment). I have two computers: a laptop and a netbook, both Dell and I don't know what to do with them: take both of them and eventually change them? Take only one? Which one (the netbook is 2011 and the laptop is 2008 but both work wonderfully), does Dell have trade-in programs so as to sell them in the US?

I would contact your intended POI, especially if you have questions. If it's just for saying "I'm happy to work with you", I would also contact him/her. However, I am not an expert in these matters, I have no clue on the diplomacy of POI-student contact, and I really do not care. I just go for it . If you are planning to accept, they want you there so I'd say it's great you have a more personal approach to someone, right?

* Why would you want to go to learn about Latin America to the US? Totally condescending. * Aren't you afraid of being away from home so much time? er... No. Otherwise I wouldn't have applied. * Oh, you are going to marry an American? Emm... Ok. Whatever. * And they pay you to go? Yes, that's the point.

stevie, then Temple it is???? I hope you are glad! I know a rejection is NEVER good news, no matter how low in your list a school was. But as many people said here (and it was useful for me), it only takes one acceptance. You are in the place you are supposed to be I understand how you feel, believe me, but things do happen for a reason, and you must know you DID everything you could and a rejection DOES NOT mean it was not enough. It only means that you are truly truly wanted elsewhere and you'll have an excellent career. I am writing so fast I think I may have switched to Spanglish, forgive me!!!!!!! All the best!!!!!!!

Czesc I completely sympathize with your feeling. Your top choices were not a long shot, neither were mine, and I am sure you'll make an excellent scholar! Now, things happen for a reason and the ways things develop are the best possible way. You are where you are supposed to be. POIs at Cornell want you there, they are willing to pay for you coming there. I don't know you, but I feel choosing a school (and accepting the offer) is like getting married. You are committing yourself for the next five or so years. for our generation, that is a lot. And when schools do not want you back, you feel heartbroken. Czesc, go out, celebrate, embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As stilla said, all the more reasons to celebrate!!!

Congrats to the Oxford admits! Czesc, you've got an excellent acceptance!!!! CONGRATS!!!!

Yes, but do they pay that much of attention? I don't know. By the way, there is a HUGE mistake in my post!!!! I meant to say "they are very North American and I DO NOT mean to be offensive" Please, forgive my typos!!!!!!!

Wow, clearly you are into stats! Unfortunately I tried to answer the poll but I must answer all three questions (otherwise it appears "error") but my answering the three questions may temper your results.

Rankings are very North American, and I do mean to be offensive. I do not understand why you like them so much, but I see the usefulness when applying for admission. I admit I did look at them for the reasons New England Nat: I intend to work in the academia and thus rankings and prestige ARE important. Besides, I could not afford applying for the schools I wanted and thus I selected some of them. One of the deciding factors was ranking (but not the only one nor the most important).I wanted to be admitted to a top-10 school and instead I got an offer from a less ranked one but very good departmental fit and overall excellent program (at least in my subfield and according to my expectations). On the other hand, my undergrad school is very well ranked among Latin American universities (it's top-20) but I don't think that in my field this is accurate, especially not now (there have been many changes in the last four years). I had the chance to attend school with an excellent course of studies with lots of electives (that's uncommon here) and MANY professors who were about to retire and composed a generation of brilliant historians. I may feel top-20, but I think it was chance hehehe. So, do have a look at rankings, but I wouldn't rely only on them. I am proud of my being admitted to this school, but I do not punish myself for not getting in another one (easier said than done, though )