MarkR

Undergrad Institution: Large Research University (2010) Major(s): Geology Minor(s): none GPA in Major: 3.95 Overall GPA: 3.95 Position in Class: Top Type of Student: Domestic male GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 159 V: 165 W: 5.0 P: N/A TOEFL Total: N/A Research Experience: Job last semester of college, all jobs after graduating Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Graduated "with distinction" (like with honors, but no thesis), won an award from the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists senior year Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Last semester of school + year after: research assistant for high-temp hydrothermal lab (employed by research lab affiliated with a university); last year and a half: research assistant for large scale geomicrobiology projects (employed by a national lab) Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Second author on paper about acid alteration of sulfate deposits on Mars, third author on paper on Arsenic speciation as a result of biostimulation activities, TA for undergrad Geol 101 class Special Bonus Points: Spoke with POIs via email at both places prior to applying Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Applying to Where: University of Michigan - Isotope Geochemistry Stanford - Isotope Geochemistry

My apartment was, yes. I know other people who used rental agencies, but you will get a much better deal if you find an independent person to rent from.

Waiting... Waiting... Waiting... Two applications in, NO news from either. Unrequested by me, my boss emailed on of my POIs (she's a friend of his, I currently work in my field) asking when I could expect to hear some results. Four days later no reply, he sent another e-mail asking if she was out in the field in the Arctic and out of email contact. Two days later still no reply. Maybe she is? Either way it's frustrating.

This is my thought too. I don't want to be seen as whiney or annoying. That said, I'm still waiting for ANY news...

Right there with you..... but at work, not in class.

I went to CU for undergrad, and I lived up Table Mesa (15 min walk from the B'way intersection) for four years. Honestly I loved living in South Boulder. I was right on the SKIP route (a main bus that runs up and down Broadway, including through campus and downtown) and Southern Sun (the brewery someone mentioned above) was my favorite place in town. I'd recommend checking out the table mesa area. Also, people are posting stuff about rental places, etc. I found my places to live through Craigslist, and I later found other roommates to share my apt through CL as well. Most people I knew lived with roommates, having your own place usually meant living in an apartment complex, no pets allowed (I have a dog), and generally not so hot places to live. Having lived in Boulder for four years, feel free to ask away. I'll check back here to see if there's anything I can help you guys with.

Why assume rejection? I haven't heard anything at all yet from either program I applied to, and I'm doing my best to try to remember that's all it means: I haven't heard anything. I haven't paid any attention to the comparative literature results section, so I've no idea if there are lots of responses yet or not, but hang in there! It's the middle of February - I'm choosing to interpret the lack of response as I'm still in the running, admissions committees are still debating, and who knows - maybe today will be the day I'll get good news. (I'm also willfully disregarding the fact that two people in the results section have had e-mail interviews in one of my programs). Maybe today you'll get good news! Either way, don't give up hope. And good luck!

GOOD!!

Right there with you. NOTHING yet, from either program I applied to. My boss asks for news daily; I never have any to give. Today he actually e-mailed my hopeful future advisor (and one of his friends) to ask when us hopeful applicants (to Stanford geosciences at least) might hear some news. I'm torn if this no-news limbo is better or worse than a "thanks but no thanks." Hitting "refresh" a zillion times a day isn't helping much either.

I also haven't heard ANYTHING from either of my schools. I was talking about it with my boss today on our way into work and his guess was, for my field at least, no news is exactly that: no news. He said if I was applying to med schools or law schools I should be worried now, but in the geosciences at least it likely means they're still deciding and I just need to try to be patient. If you have any tips on HOW to be patient, that'd be great. I'm all out of ideas and seriously stressing as well. Good luck to you!