Andean Pat

I have other reasons, but the final push to get serious about applying was a comment a co-worker made about my "learning curve" re: a certain task she assumed I couldn't do.  Bear in mind that this task is something taught in community college to people who just got out of high school (and isn't difficult anyway).  With two degrees under my belt, I think I have demonstrated my ability to freaking LEARN.
 
But I work in the bizarro workplace.

Sorry, your screen name includes the name Dave. I know your first name because we've PM'd so I was having some fun playing with the gendered issues surrounding "marriage" to ones adviser.

It's Friday. Forgive me. I've written about 4,500 words in the last 36 hours and I need to "let my hair down."

I want to be a university professor, so getting a PhD is important to get there. I hate to have any other kind of job, except for gynecologist!

I just committed to a grad school, so I haven't actually started yet. But, I decided in high school that I wanted to go to grad school. But last fall, I started freaking out and going to the career fair and interviewing for jobs. I never tried that hard, but I had a moment of clarity when I was sitting in an interview with a manager that hired me for an internship a few years ago. He looked at my resume, then looked back at me and seriously asked me why I wasn't going to grad school. Then farther along in the conversation he told me about two different career paths that I could take, and I can't do both. One would be fine with a masters or a bachelors, the other needed a PhD. I realized that I wanted to do the latter option, and then I attack my grad applications with a fervor and I am so excited that I did.

There's a bunch of good "why I want to go to grad school" stories in this thread, mine included:
 

 
I know that the OP's recruitment weekend has long since passed, but the thread above could be a nice read for anyone else in a similar situation (e.g. people planning accepted students' weekends or next year's recruiting events).

I live solo and eat very healthy - lots of fruits & veggies, fish, shoping at the farmers market, etc.  Mostly cook at home.  I budget $450 per month for food (average of $5 per meal per day).  Healthy body = healthy mind.

Ah lab websites... The poorest-managed websites in existence.
 
I should know. I was put in charge of updating my lab's website, and it took me a year just to figure out how to edit a webpage. That's what happens when overworked graduate students are given the task of updating a lab website.

Absolutely!!!!
 
Now, Sigaba, I did use the search engine, but came up with not very helpful advice. Maybe you are right, maybe what was said here is no different from other threads. But that does not give you the authority to be so harsh and condescending. In some threads I posted a question that had been discussed elsewhere and very kind people  only pointed out those threads. Finally, thank you for posting the URLs of those other threads, I am on them right now!
 
Juliet & the rest: I can't thank you enough. Graduate school here is completely different (you enrol in one university but you don't need to take all the courses there and, very often, your advisor  does not belong to that school). I am anxious, happy, stressed, sad for leaving, all at the same time (and doing what Juliet mentioned: lots of exercise). I'm sorry my post carries no advice, but I can't just sit and read and not be thankful. Really.  
 
AP

I already know where I'm staying: graduate housing   Really, it's the only feasible option at least for my first year, not that it's a bad one.
I've been really holding myself back on so many things I need to buy. Why bother buying them and having to move everything halfway around the world when I can just buy them when I get there. Packing is what I dread the most!
 
Still, I just bought a new Samsung series 7 laptop. My old Acer still works but it's almost 5 years old and is getting a bit old and slow. Served like a trooper though. I'm glad I got it now because it took me almost 2 weeks to get my laptop customized so I'm comfortable working on it.

I was surprised that I got into...anywhere.  

Background story:

I only have a 3.2, and a guidance counselor told me not to bother applying anywhere.  She said I wouldn't get in anywhere decent.  I went ahead and applied anyway.  And I guess all the undergraduate research paid off.  I think my grades were offset by the fact I was in ROTC for the first half of college... it was tricky to juggle a math-heavy major while in the program (I'm not a math whiz).
 
And here I am, 12 months after she told me not to bother applying, getting ready to go to Hopkins, the top school in my field so glad I didn't listen!

I agree with many things said. I understand that being a foreigner is more exciting and you probably did not realize that you were wrongdoing. I also sense that there is some exaggeration in your reaction (do not worry, we are girls and we overreact sometimes) so be careful not to see ghosts everywhere. Besides, you are leaving later on. However, as you've said, you are both adults. If you feel you should talk to this man, go to his office, knock on his door and tell him that he inspired you but you feel things are awkward. If he takes it the wrong way, he is the child. 

I don't think a car is necessary for living in the Emory area. There are buses and shuttles that serve the Emory area and bring you to shops and restaurants so all your basic needs are accessible by public transit and/or walking (there are some hills though!).
 
Having a car makes life easier but lots of people get by without one.

although it is meant for college shopping, this list may come in handy....
 
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/bts01_checklist.asp?

although it is meant for college shopping, this list may come in handy....
 
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/bts01_checklist.asp?

although it is meant for college shopping, this list may come in handy....
 
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/bts01_checklist.asp?

although it is meant for college shopping, this list may come in handy....
 
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/bts01_checklist.asp?

You said 30 credits "on top of whatever graduate degree." That's simply not the case. You also generalized about "most states," when that's also not the case. Finally, some credential programs combine the credential with a M.Ed., but that doesn't make the path shorter... it's really more about practicality. A M.Ed. does not replace a credential.
 
I am a former teacher, have a valid credential from my state (California), and looked into credentialing requirements in various states when considering a move a few years ago. I do not have a Master's degree. I knew very few teachers who had them prior to hiring, though I knew some who got Master's of Ed degrees online. My partner is a credentialed math and physics teacher. His degree is in Physics.
 
According to NCLB legislation, secondary teachers MUST have a degree in the subject they are teaching (or something closely related) or pass a comprehensive subject-matter exam. A B.Ed. is not enough to meet NCLB "Highly qualified" regulations. If you could manage to pass a subject matter exam such as the CSET or Praxis without having a Physics degree, you would be able to get around the regulations, but that would be very difficult to do unless you had considerable coursework in the field. Getting a math credential when your degree is in Physics is not difficult, but you cannot teach calculus with a liberal arts degree, which is what a B.Ed. generally is.
 
Some schools offer B.Ed. that are focused on a specific subject, but that's definitely not the case in "most states." You still have to do coursework equivalent to a major in the subject because of NCLB requirements.
 
On a personal note, I have worked in 3 large secondary schools and knew a number of other teachers. I never met someone whose degree was in "education" and was teaching at the high school level. They all had degrees in what they were teaching or a related field (example: Communications majors teaching English). Even my friend who is an Earth Science teacher has a degree in Geology.
 
 
http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/methods/teachers/hqtflexibility.html

My Penn State waitlist did not work out so I made my decision. Sent the forms to formally accept the offer at SUNY Buffalo PhD program. oh and I did not forget to decline my poorly funded offer from NYU.
 
I'm glad this is over and a new semester is coming. It's been a great year on Gradcafe ! 

Get high! then come back to work.

They are VERY cheap if you get one that will take generic brand toner and drum.  A $13 toner will print 1600ish pages.  I had a color laser printer in my classroom and printed a lot, and had to replace each color and the black about once/year.  The drum lasted for 3 years.  Just watch out for a good deal.  I figure if I need color I will print at work or pay.  I rarely need color though.
 
I did buy a macbook last week and love it.  I don't need crazy high performance, but I do need reliability and longevity.  Plus I prefer the OS operating system over windows.  And most school districts and the university program I applied to use mac, so it's a better choice for me.  Anyways.  For $1000 I'm set with printer and computer.

My thoughts exactly.  Not to minimize your problems, but babies are so amazingly wonderful!
As others have mentioned, I've heard dissertation phase is actually a relatively good time to have a baby, because you have the most flexibility in your schedule.  Our department is more family-friendly, I think, as some of the students had kids before they joined the program.  Another person in the program had a baby in what would have been her second year of classes; they arranged for her to do more in the summer, to make up for not getting a stipend one semester.  Now she's back in classes, and besides all the normal mom craziness is back to the normal routine.  So, even when it's at a less convenient time, it can be done.
All this to say that your DEPARTMENT is the problem, not you or your baby.  If they want to be sexists (I don't use that term lightly) and seek to further limit the opportunities of women to be in academia, you don't have to apologize to them.  (I'm really ticked off on your behalf right now.)
In addition to scoping out your school's policies (the graduate student center or student senate may point you to the right sources, if you don't know individuals), it's worth scoping out what benefits your boyfriend has for "paternity leave" -- some companies are actually pretty generous.  If you come to your adviser with a plan in place -- how much time you'll need off, how your boyfriend is also making sacrificing, how you will arrange things after maternity leave, etc. -- then I think you will still appear like your professional self.  Rumors do spread quickly though, so I think it's best to tell your adviser once you have a plan in place, before it spreads to everyone else in the department.
Lastly, you need to buy this:
.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! (Sorry, that's all I can say! I am so happy for you! )

OP, As you have seen, I am not neither European nor American. What I've learned in life, and apparently several would agree with me, universal values such as the truth have no geographical boundaries. Probably you read about this in your Political THought classes. Likewise, dishonesty has no geographical anchor. Thus it is not a matter of relative truth, it's a simple question of taking someone's money to do something that you know you are not going to do. Theft is theft here, in China, in Europe and in the US. 
 
Let me strengthen my argument: here (in Argentina) PhD programs are more open than in the US and Europe. You enrol in one university buy you are only required to take a minimum of courses there, most of them you take them in other places, wherever they are available. Furthermore, your advisor does not need to belong to that university, although he/she usually thus. Moreover, in some cases you can enrol in one university in one city and work in another. This is all agreed, it is all one paper and all the people involved know about this (advisor, committee, DGS, you, etc.). As Kira said, why don't you try telling both institutions about your plan and then you come and tell us how wrong we all are? 

I think that it shouldn't be a problem because you will re-enter the country with with your F-1.
 
I strongly suggest that you ask your International Students Office and the US consulate closest to you. Gather as much information as possible from official sources.

I am so sorry you are undergoing such a frustration and stress! I am not even in grad school yet but can understand what you mean! I agree with Fuzzy's suggestions and really hope that you ace your presentation tomorrow. Do not let this person shadow your work!!!! all the best!!!!