js42

I've been an a 1BR in Russell for 1 academic year. I think everything I've read about Russell on this thread so far is true, except the weekly fire drills. We had them twice this year. The first was probably around 11 am on a Saturday and it woke me up. I took my time getting outside and it was not a big deal. Maintenance is a little slow (for many definitions of the word). We called three times about our shower leak before they fixed it. The first time they put tape around part of the shower head. The second time I think they just looked at the tape. The third time they fixed it. We were so relieved they finally understood that we weren't really frustrated. They do come like the wind when you say the words "possible gas leak" (it turned out our stove's pilot light was out when we got here). It is a small place, but they recently put in new windows and it makes the whole place seem newer to me. There isn't really a lot of noise or commotion near the apartments, but the campus goes a little crazy on game days and for a couple of other events. The biggest impact on my life has been the altered game day bus schedules. I'm not a fan. I'd recommend a car. We lasted through winter break without a car. The buses get you to a lot of places, but surprisingly not Piscataway. The snow wasn't crazy. People from warmer climes will want a good jacket and probably snow boots or other waterproof shoes. I'm not so enthused about Highland Park because I've seen a couple of the rooms my colleagues have and they're paying a little more for places that are at least as depressing as graduate family housing and their utilities, cable, and internet are not included in their price. Granted, they don't have the rules to deal with, and that can be a big factor, but I don't have to remember to write checks for rent or bills because it is automatically set up through the cashier's office like the rest of my fees. HP has a decent coffee shop, but the hours aren't great. Also, there's no good bookstore, bike shop, or good pub actually in HP. Plus, do you really want to run into your professors in the grocery store? I fly out of Newark (NJ transit train from New Brunswick to the airport). I've done JFK and I'm going to forget about it and Philadelphia because I don't like to deal with a lot of mass transit after a long flight. Maybe people with shorter flights or a love of trains won't mind the extra time. As for food, usually we cook, but grad students can also eat in the faculty dining halls. It is better than what they feed the undergrads.

I was in the McNair Scholars program and then worked for it. I have a few close (and probably lifelong) friends as a result. It was an atmosphere of constant motivation, not to mention, I think it made grad school seem tremendously easier (I'm just finishing my first year). There is still the unavoidable stress of a hefty reading list and lots of papers to write, but nothing is unexpected and for that I am grateful. I highly recommend it to any prospective grad students perusing this board.

I think about that all the time! Luckily I am close to my siblings. There is plenty of rivalry from both of them, but my brother has me convinced that I have inspired him to commit to his art the way I'm committed to academic life. This and the idea of participatory research help me integrate my two worlds.