abeilles

thanks for reaching out! but I also just wanted to mention that clinical programs can be pretty heavy on quantitative stuff, so keep that in mind

I believe Pittsburgh has already done interviews, but I don't think they've made decisions yet

YES

I am ALL about the cadbury mini eggs

Ooh, I'm headed to a drugstore tonight for travel supplies... all that Easter candy is going to be dangerous

I've always gotten an email notification, with the paper letter (if they even send one out) coming later

Congrats!

trying (pretty unsuccessfully, I might add!) to focus on my current job and finishing up my master's... but mostly stress eating & lurking around the forums

Have you tried calling?

Well, I'm 26 and just starting this year!

Not always the case, unfortunately

I finished in 3.5 years, but only because I had the credits and couldn't afford another semester. I definitely would have stayed longer if I could have!

Congrats! I heard from Duke as well

Not all that helpful but I can tell you that the cost of living near NCSU is very low, if that's a deciding factor!

In regards to your last question, it unfortunately depends on the school/program

Seconding JP! I love it and I'll be really sad to leave. I went to BU for undergrad and lived on-campus for one semester -- total rip-off. I lived in Allston for the next 3 years, and the only good thing I have to say about the Allston-Brighton area is that it's convenient; you can get to boston (via the green line) or cambridge (via the 66 bus) really easily. I moved to Roxbury after that, which was affordable but not very accessible and to be honest it's a pretty rough neighborhood. I lived in Revere for a bit, which was affordable but INCREDIBLY inaccessible -- there was a single bus which ran once an hour, and it actually ended up getting cut once we moved out. We came to JP about three years ago and it's wonderful! quiet, green, family-friendly, no vomit on the sidewalks in the morning... but it takes me about an hour to get to Cambridge in the morning.

I should also note that my salary is pretty close to the stipend you quoted, and I'm able to afford to live with one person (my significant other) in a 2.5 bedroom in jamaica plain for $1400 a month ($700 apiece), though our place is underpriced. the price drop once you go to three bedrooms is pretty drastic, but the difference between 1 and 2 bedrooms isn't so great.

I think the general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't devote more than 30% of your income to housing (though admittedly, the majority of my friends here in boston probably go over). in your case that would be $866 or so, and to be honest I don't know anyone living alone on less than $1000 in the boston area. I have one friend with a one-bed for $1100 (in jamaica plain, one of the southern neighborhoods) but you'd be pretty hard-pressed to find anything under $1k. Here's a comprehensive report on housing costs in the boston area (for the 2nd quarter of 2012), including average price per square foot and average asking price in something like 86 different area neighborhoods. keep in mind the the majority of the cheaper areas are outside the city/ difficult to get to on public transport (and it's exceedingly expensive to park in the city). most students live in allston (an area just west of back bay/ boston university) or cambridge/somerville -- be careful -- some of the area's most expensive neighborhoods are in cambridge BUT somerville is great! http://static.rentjuice.com/rj_index/BostonIndex-2Q2012.pdf hope that helps! happy to answer any questions about boston living

I'm developmental psych and haven't heard anything from Washington since my interview!

Ah, you're right -- "Before you move in, the landlord can only collect the first and last month's rent, one month's security deposit, and the purchase and installation costs for a lock and key (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B)." (from http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/consumer/housing/tenant-and-landlord/tenant-rights.html)

I may be wrong but I think technically it's illegal for property managers to require first+last+security all in one lump sum. but they still do it!

just interviewed with someone who has recently been awarded a DOD grant, but hasn't received any of the money yet due to the sequester...

so important!

this is what I've been doing, and it's helpful! though so far no one has had anything really bad to say about the funding anywhere, and it's making me wonder if they're just putting up a good front...

Nice