Emdave

DO NOT ASSUME DEFEAT! Don't give in to the temptation to give up. Never say die! There is yet hope!

I hope they serve wine in purgatory, or at least beer.

This is my main problem right now. I want them to know that I'm interested and that they're my top choice..... without sounding like a stalker or someone super needy. How are other people navigating this dilemma? Especially now that we're barely more than two weeks until the deadline. Is it really pushy to remind them that you will have to make a decision (that will impact the rest of your life) in two weeks? But then again, seeming like a crazy person might impact your chances too. UGH. I'm also struggling with the whole "second best" thing. On the bluntest level, someone had to rank all of us and say "errrr, not first option, but enough to save for later." On the other hand, the differences separating people might be arbitrary or completely stupid. What do you think the etiquette is for asking about the admissions process (regarding your app) once you've gotten in? Just wondering.

Howard is particularly bad, but Jarvis still isn't that safe. I have a bunch of friends at Loyola and we've gone out together at night. They always told me that they're careful not to go more than a few blocks north of the Loyola stop because things start getting sketchy fast. We always went out in large groups even around Loyola, but there seemed to be less worry the closer you are to campus. So, I'll admit Howard is particularly bad, but I'm not sure I agree that Jarvis is "much" safer. Again, I'm not saying that Rogers Park is the pit of all evil and that everyone who walks through it comes out riddled with bullet wounds, but it's a similar case when people talk about Hyde Park. I'm considering moving down to UChicago and everyone tells me the same thing, "this stop is super sketchy, this place is less sketchy, this place is the least sketchy (but still a little sketchy), don't go south or west of these streets, and avoid this park at night." One of my friends who is at UChicago right now comforted me with the fact that, "well, you might get mugged in Hyde Park, but it's not like you're going to get raped or anything. Once every few years someone will get caught in the crossfire of some gang war, and then the police hire more officers and it's ok for a long time." That's just what I'm saying (albeit Rogers Park is a bit safer than that), but about parts of the northside.

It depends on which part of Edgewater. If you mean "super really close to Loyola from the south" it's not so bad. I would rather live somewhere else, but it's not so bad. I would say that if you're talking about the Granville stop through Bryn Mawr, there's some worry about safety, but it's not as high as Roger's Park. There's certainly more to do around there than north of Loyola. As for time between there and NU, it depends on the train connection at Howard. Granville is only like 4 stops south of Howard, and Howard is only like 4 stops south of campus, so maybe about ten minutes of actually being on a train. But, you have to get out at Howard and switch trains, so the time can go up from there. Normally, I would say it would take about 10-15, perhaps longer if there's a delay or you just missed a train, but if you know the schedule, you'll be fine. Now, I wouldn't live south of Bryn Mawr. I had to go to a shop right next to the Wilson stop (3 stops south of Bryn Mawr) and I was legitimately scared. A homeless person half-chased me for about a block on my way to the shop. Then, on my way back, a random woman started screaming at people on the sidewalk and scared the crap out of me again. This was the middle of the day on a bright afternoon (finally! the sun in Chicago!) and I was worried. Also, that was yesterday. tl;dr --> The area immediately around Loyola is pretty safe and has lots to do because of being so close to the campus. It reminds me of a slightly more urban version of Evanston. I don't know about the rents, so I'll defer on that question. Loyola/Granville is only about 15-20 minutes away by train (tops). Edgewater is ok for the most part, but the neighborhoods to the south aren't so appealing and safe. A quick metric for people interested in Chicago: it takes 45 minutes, almost exactly, to take the train from Jackson-Red to Howard. Google map those stops and use that to measure distance in time. Finally, if you're interested in really cool Chicago neighborhoods with nightlives and interesting things to do, I would recommend a place like Wicker Park. It's a little hipsterish, but it's worth the trek if fun is your main priority.

This thread makes me feel so much better about my life. I didn't practice for the writing section because I was freaking out too much about the math. I was in high-level writing classes in high school, I got As consistently on papers throughout college, and I didn't think there would be a problem because I scored really well on the ACT writing section..... and then I got a 4.5 on the GRE. My math score was actually better than I thought it would be, but I just couldn't understand the writing score.

But does "being patient" mean emailing the DGS (or my adviser again-- in like 2-3 more days) or just twiddling my thumbs and refreshing my email every five minutes? I don't want to be pushy or to sound too desperate (I *do* have another offer, but this is my top choice school!), but seriously..... 16 days

Advice time: Do you think I should email the DGS of Hopkins and ask about my status? Background: The last time I emailed with my would-be adviser, he said that we should hear a yes/no soon and just to wait, but no answer yet. That was a week ago. IN THE MEANTIME someone on gradcafe who was going to work with him specifically (accepted and all that) declined the offer. This person also heard from my would-be adviser that this person was the only one accepted for him AND that I am the only one on his waitlist. Possibly another admitted Americanist declined as well. I haven't heard anything back since a week ago. Does that mean "no"? Does that mean "we're changing the name on the paperwork"? My nerves are dying from this stress. 16 Days Until April 15

To address this specifically: no. To be fair, Evanston is not perfect. There's tons of undergraduates milling about everywhere. It could have more bars. It could be cheaper. It doesn't have any big-box stores like Target/Walmart for cheap/easy shopping. There could be more parking. It could have a bowling alley or mini golf. It could..... It could... It could..... But, if I sit down and compare the two neighborhoods AS IS, i.e. exactly as they stand at this moment in time, there's no question where I would want to live, where I would visit my friends if they lived there, where I would feel comfortable on most levels. Also, Evanston is working on a lot of it's "could be"s. We opened like 4 new bars this year, three major chain restaurants, two awesome independent/kitschy restaurants, closed the KEG (!!!!!!!) and we're working on bike lanes, more parking, more family activities, etc. It's practically a different suburb than when I was a freshmen. That said, it is a little more expensive. BUT, I would gladly part with $100 more a month (even though I'm pretty broke) just so I wouldn't get mugged (or worse) and so I could be close to the University and fun things to do. People who say that Rogers Park is better probably haven't been in Rogers Park, or walked through it at length, or driven through it at length, or been a woman and doing any of those things after 5pm. If you're willing to try, go for it. But I know where my vote goes (and the votes of pretty much everyone I know).

Sad to say, but completely true. None of my female friends feel comfortable going there after dark by themselves, half the shop fronts on any given street will be things like check cashing stores, liquor stores, a boarded up shopfront, a wig store, or something of the like. That's not to say there isn't a single good restaurant in the entire neighborhood, but they're so few and so spread out that it really isn't feasible/safe to get there for most people-- i.e. people who don't want to drive to a bar or walk through multiple blocks of Rogers Park (away from the L) at night. About a month ago, my boyfriend and I felt incredibly unsafe right near the Howard L station. We were leaving the station to catch a cab (because the L had stopped running for the night) and in the approximately 40 feet that we walked, we got caught up in a gang fight/clash. Thankfully cabs just sit right outside the station, so we literally jumped into one and the cabbie made an illegal U in the middle of the street to get us out of there. There were packs of people screaming at each other and it was really scary. It was so bad that the cab driver gave my boyfriend and I a lecture: "if you even hear something like that from the tracks, don't come down. Just call police and sleep in the station if you have to" So, that's a slightly extreme example, and it was at like 2am, but still. Roger's Park used to be one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago, but the best restaurants have closed and there's not much to do. It's mostly good for family homes for people who want to be near Northwestern or Loyola. I stand by my comment, it's a cultural wasteland with not much to do. And it's not that safe either.

Tangent: What do you think the dress code is for visiting days? Obviously don't wear a club outfit or sweatpants, but I've heard of visiting days that were primarily jeans and others that were barely shy of sportcoats. I don't want to be too over/under dressed, but I also don't want to get fully gussied up in an uncomfortable outfit because I'll be walking around all day.

Tangent: What do you think the dress code is for visiting days? Obviously don't wear a club outfit or sweatpants, but I've heard of visiting days that were primarily jeans and others that were barely shy of sportcoats. I don't want to be too over/under dressed, but I also don't want to get fully gussied up in an uncomfortable outfit because I'll be walking around all day.

Wha? #confused

Forgot to mention: Meanwhile, I have enough time to do exactly one campus visit for a school, and UChicago's are in week (for my program). I'm reluctant to go to those and take off those three days (even though I'd be traveling from one side of Chicago to the other) if I could wait a little while and orchestrate a visit to Hopkins. THE DEADLINE IS SO SOON. GAH. I wish I would just get in if I'm going to get in so that I can have a proper visit as an accepted student, OR that I get a final notice if I don't get in so that I can just focus on my #2 choice.

My would-be adviser said that it was a good idea, but that the university can't fund people who are just waitlisted. He offered to put me in contact with relevant people and students. He also offered to let me sit in on a class, etc. So he seems supportive. I don't know, though. I wasn't "invited" as much as I timidly mentioned it.

How bad is it that I'm contemplating paying around $200-$300 for a visit to a school I've only been waitlisted to? I want to see the school, ask questions of the students, and I also want to indicate to them that I'm seriously interested in the program. Is that sick? Is it normal? The anxiety from all this waiting is making me crazy.

Wait! We're expected to marry our profs? Good to know. At least mine is relatively young and nerdhandsome. I'll start packing my trousseau.

I wish they offered MAs in my field too, but that's just the point my mom doesn't get: They. Aren't. A. Gradschool. She thinks that I should just apply to all the schools I applied to for undergrad, because, well, I liked them at one point, didn't I? Doesn't matter if they offer graduate degrees. She also doesn't understand the point of advisers, hence: Mom: "Wait, why can't you go to this school?" Me: "There's no one there who could teach/advise me on my field." Mom: "Are you actually trying to tell me there aren't teachers at a University? Seriously?" Me: "Not in my field, and I have to have an adviser!" Mom: "Just ask one of the teachers to do it! Isn't that their job! Teaching!" More facepalm Blerg

My thoughts exactly.

I would like to bump this up so that more people will respond. Like the OP, I am also super confused. HALP

My favorite thing is when parents just assume that applying to grad school is the same as applying to undergraduate. Mom: "You should apply to that school your best friend went to, Middleburg? He liked it there!" Me: "Do you mean Middlebury? It's just a college. I can't apply there." Mom: "Well it was good enough for him, why isn't it good enough for you?" Cue facepalm

Hi errbody, A few things: 1) There is almost no graduate housing at NU, so don't worry about that. If anyone is telling you to live at Engelhardt, they must dislike you. DO NOT LIVE IN ENGELHARDT. 2) Many grads make the mistake of living in Rogers Park because they think it's actually Chicago and that it's safe and that it has more nightlife than Evanston. These three assumptions are all incorrect. If you're not going to live in Evanston (which has three new bars since last year!), live in *actual* Chicago. People who complain that there's nothing to do in Evanston haven't been to Rogers Park (which also isn't that safe). 3) Evanston apartments can be very nice! Most people I know who live in/around campus can get a decent 1BR apartment for around $1000/mo, which would be good for a couple. For kids, you might consider these two buildings: Evanston Place http://www.evanstonplaceapts.com/ and Park Evanston http://www.parkevanston.com/ unless you want to rent a full house somewhere in the northern burbs of Chicago. 4) Try to lock down a place as soon as you can because there is a severe shortage of undergraduate housing at NU, so there are tons of people apartment hunting at any given time. BUT, if you have to wait till almost the last minute, don't give up hope. Many people suddenly list their apartments at the beginning of the year when their sublet deals with friends/lovers/randos fall through. You can usually snap something up. UPass is awesome, but only certain divisions of the graduate programs get them. You can't buy one unless your specific division (i.e. Kellogg/Weinberg/SESP/McCormick) has a deal with the city. They're awesome if you can get one, though. As for cars: If you're a person on your own and you don't have any disabilities, don't bring a car. Even though Evanston has much more parking than the Loop, that's still not saying much. There's no free parking unless you have a residents sticker for you car (which costs lots $$$$$$$), and even then parking is limited. There are public garages you park in and get monthly passes to, but they're $85/mo. Some apartments have spaces that you can buy in conjunction with the apartment, but those also cost $$$$ and Evanston loves to charge huge fines for little parking infractions. Overall, though, I've loved Evanston and most people I know have loved Evanston. Engelhardt is the pit of all sadness. Rogers Park becomes (for many people) the pit of all sadness. If you're going to come to NU, try to live in Evanston or go somewhere like Andersonville. The commute is approximately four minutes longer than if you lived in Rogers Park. The L into Evanston (the purple line) stops at 2am. The bus that used to run all night (RIP the N201) has stopped running, which means that if you're out in the city at night and want to come back after 1:55am, you are going to have to take a cab or keep partying until the L starts again at 5:30am. If you *do* live in Evanston, splurge on the fancier, higher priced apartments for two major reasons: 1) amenities you won't get anywhere else and 2) you won't wake up to an undergrad rager at 4am every night because undergrads are too broke to live in those apartments. I hope that helps

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions or want more specific help on where to live!

1) Robert Maynard Hutchins-- president of the University of Chicago who disbanded their football program and instituted a mandatory classical Core Curriculum 2) Ovid-- that saucy bastard, he makes me laugh 3) Eleanor of Aquitaine-- she's just my favorite 4) Oscar Wilde, be still my heart! 5) as much as I like Teddy, Wilson takes my heart for being such a PhD nerd from Princeton who loved to remark on people's not being educated enough.

I guess that's my question. The reason that I'm dissatisfied with fuzzylogician's answer is that I'm not about to email a prof and ask "are you respected in your field? Can you email me a list of every grad student you've worked with so I can question them? etc." Beyond looking at some of their publications, seeing what level of professorship they have, and general googling, I'm not sure how to tell. One of the profs in my department happened to know the professor I applied to work with, but that still doesn't say too much about degrees of respect/clout/pull in the field.