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Anyone else applying to this? I'm confused as to what should be in the bibliography. All it says is: Annotated bibliography (two to four sentences each) for no more than ten key sources related to your research; both primary and secondary sources. I'm interpreting this as a list of references upon which you base your claims and foundational to your research.... does this mean you should be referencing these papers in your dissertation description? Or previous research statement? (Both??)

Ugh. I know I shouldn't care.... but I checked the list this year, and personally knowing 3 of the girls who got it, only one of them really deserved it. It's so sad when you know the inner workings of this messed up process (like advisers who lie in their letters of rec). Bottom line: I'm sure a lot of applicants deserve it, but don't you dare judge yourself by whether or not you get awarded. There's no reason the reviewers can sort out the bullshitters.

Somehow, I figured people would be more supportive and less judgmental here. I think there is a limited time during which you are lucky enough to have classes to stimulate your learning, so I'd like to make the most of it.

I dunno if it's too late to respond to this. But I ended up taking the course, loving it, and doing well. I learned about a lot of backround theory that now allows me to view my research from another perspective with possible new applications. That said, my adviser sent me in numerous loops, promising me one thing only to change his mind later...it was a mess. To comment on some of the items mentioned above. Part of the reason why I want to take more courses (and really, I'm talking 1 class a quarter at most, I don't think I'm asking a lot here) is because I feel I lack the background for a lot of the research I'm doing (to the point where others will tell me "you never learned about [insert topic]? really?"). I'm confident that as I run into a specific research-related problem, I can use my brains, existing literature, and (let's be honest) the internet to figure things out...get the right equation...yaddayadda. But I feel like I'm missing a part of the story. And I feel like when I talk to my colleagues, I don't want to always be nodding at what they say while making mental notes on what parts of our conversation I'll need to google later. I'm no computer science major, and I learned enough C++ from stackoverflow on my own to hack a commercial data logging unit to apply to my niche project. So please don't lecture me about needing to be spoon-fed information. I don't really think thriving in a classroom setting is equivalent with being incapable of self-learning or do-learning. And lastly, skipping over a lot of details... it's not a financial issue. But I agree with y'all that I should pick my battles and this isn't worth it...so auditing it is.

I somehow flubbed my way into grad school and, even more surprisingly, funding. Well, this is all well and good, and people tell me I should just worry about my research at this point... But dammit, I want to take classes! I like learning. I like an environment of lecture, reading, and study. And I like being able to say "yes, this experiment is important, but so is this class and this homework that's due creates a mini deadline to make sure my learning stays on track". My adviser seems bent on preventing me from taking anymore classes while I'm here. He keeps pushing me to audit. Or he'll say I can take a class and then find ways to delay and eventually deny me. I am making decent progress on my research, and since I'm independently funded, it seems I should have some say about how I get to spend my time. What to do?

http://www.borenawards.org/ http://www.amscan.org/study_scandinavia_details.html http://www.chateaubriand-fellowship.org/ http://www.baef.be/documents/fellowships-for-us-citizens/study-res-fellow.-for-us-citizen-.xml?lang=en As well as the fact that sometimes the school itself will have funding for foreign PhDs to come visit, as was the case for me: http://phd.au.dk/graduate-schools/scienceandtechnology/for-supervisors/grants/

My dad sends me cute videos when he knows I'm stress. Particularly, I like anything that falls into the "unlikely animal friendships" category: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeB2vVBOLOw Also, I like to cry, nap, and wake up with some tea. It's lovely. I think some people view crying as weak, but I just view it as a process of emotional release. I might watch something sad to get started.

I only maintain my linked-in profile because there's resume-generator for it. http://resume.linkedinlabs.com/

Doesn't that depend on your school? Or pre-college preparation and study skills? I worked my butt off in undergrad. Academically, grad school has been breezy. It's hard in other ways though. Womp-womp.

TeaGirl, I tried to make a conciliatory statement and look at things from your perspective, but I actually feel I am the one being attacked by you. You have very many statements where you put words in my mouth. Even when you direct quote me, your following text of paraphrase is used misconstrue my words as way more aggressive and personal than they are. I am asking you for more detail, because my experience was in contrast to yours. In doing so, I am asking you to observe your experiences through fairly common metrics of gender bias (or lack thereof). As DTB noted, why feel upset about this? Implying that all the women who don't recognize discrimination are of lower intelligence? I think it has nothing to do with intelligence, I think it has to do with subtlety and social conditioning, as I mentioned before. I am fairly well read in studies concerning gender bias, so if I sound skeptical, it's simply because I am a scientist.

Yes, don't give into the Blerch: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/running I would also say that it helps to set your priorities at the earlier stage of your research. Because then, maybe you won't go for the adviser who equates constant lab presence with efficient work. Or maybe you can plan experiments according to your social calendar. As juilletmercredi mentions (and in other posts around the forum bring up), while you are very busy, you are actually fairly flexible with your hours and to some extent (depending on your field) where you spend those hours. It's very easy to fall into a rut of business while forgetting that socializing is a goal with its own validity and importance. So yeah, set your goals beforehand and keep to them.

(My previous edit was because I made an incorrect link.) My main frustration is when I feel people argue that gender discrimination won't exist if women simply rise above it. This view discredits a lot of women who put in extra effort they shouldn't have to (and maybe they still find themselves behind). I believe that many links in this thread show that this issue is embedded in social expectations and bias from authoritative/managerial figures. The statistics are improving but still pretty bad. I think a large cooperative effort is necessary to address the gender gap. I'm not saying that this is TeaGirl's point,and upon reflection, I believe it's unfair that I single out her statements to make my own arguments.

To address three particular points in order... 1) Many women think this about men who are actually not more capable then they are. 2) Yes, both cases exist, but what matters more is the relative prevalence in which they exist. 3) What metrics do you use to assess the gender discrimination? Admittedly, you are not provided with many same-gender peers. Probably, you are not provided with many same-gender mentors. Statistically speaking, you will likely get less credit than a man for the same work. (I linked a science-specific article but this trend generally exists.) Yes.

I don't know how to phrase this like I'm not trying to start an argument... The "I don't see this in my field" sentiment... I just feel like even if it's subtle doesn't mean it's not there? Specifically addressing TeaGirl, I'm not a mechanical engineer but I've had a decent amount of experience in that area. Maybe it's just chance that anywhere I've been in the field seems so "boys club" to me. That said, I feel that the effort to address gender discrimination can help a lot even if it doesn't solve the problem... At any rate, I'm reminded of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kOjNcZvwjxI IMO, the problem is that you still have discrimination-justification... Like this: http://scripting.com/2013/08/19/whyArentThereMoreWomenProgrammers And this: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/546561-the-challenge-to-read-50-50-male-female.html#post1774638 Two completely different fields, yet pretty much the same logic of ascribing a deficit in female representation to inherent female traits that result in lower quality work.

I will say that I often spend a lot of front time trying to schedule, automatize, and delegate things as well. Good pre-planning saves you from a decent amount of dull work. Have a task anyone could do? Ask (nicely) an undergrad. Have to do it yourself even if its dull? Grade papers during it (and while we're at it, figure out how you grade the fastest). Doing the same software tasks over and over? Write a script. (Seriously, so many of my labmates waste time doing the same data analysis over and over again and fiddling with their plots, when a simple script could help them with that. Sometimes I write one for them, I feel so bad.) Also. Collaboration. My labmates and I also do favors for each other a lot. If the only reason I have to go in on the weekend is to flip a few switches and check things are okay, I might ask my labmate to do it for me and offer to do the same for them the following week.

I think 65 was the max I ever worked and I really disliked it. Maybe I'm doing it wrong...

I actually think if you explain your story like that to anyone, you sound rather admirable. Most applications will take into account personal/medical history as compelling as that. Have you considered applying for awards/fellowships? These may add stars to your CV that help you stand out even if the rank of your school does not?

Undergrads don't always really understand what they are getting into. It's a learning experience for them. Echoing other responses here: you're helping them rather than the other way around. Put this way, it's a bit less frustrating (I think)... unless your PI is forcing you to work with them. I'm really bad as a leader, so I always find this situation stressful...

Sure, but what if you don't get that? Any little thing helps IMO.

Hey, I've thought something along similar lines before, so don't feel bad. I did something similar with an organization that I'm in (granted, we're an informal group) and I brought it up something like the following: "Hey, I think we should make an award for ____ achievement. Our members can use this as practice for applying for other awards and we can give them feedback. Also, it gives our members a chance to have something to add to their resume, and we want to help our members do well." Remember, when you help others look good, you look good yourself.

My impression was that all young Scandinavians spoke near perfect English.

In my experience, this is more about connections than anything else. First check with you adviser whether or not (s)he has any connections at these schools (or at other schools - are you truly looking at research that matches yours or are you simply listing "brand name" schools? The US is incredibly large and you can probably find more that 4 schools that align with your work). Regardless, you will probably need your adviser's support to go abroad. If your adviser cannot help you in this regard, it would be best to start emailing professors directly and start talking about joint projects you can do and what you can offer them. Some schools will have money set aside for visiting scholars, but you need to have an in. Concurrently, you can look for funding opportunities from UK organizations and/or from individual schools of interest. If your adviser is supportive of your project, then it's possible (s)he will fund you during your time abroad. It is possible that your school has funding to send students abroad. Unfortunately, as I am American researching in Europe, I've only looked looked into funding sources the other way around... You SHOULDN'T have to pay tuition fees because you are not enrolling in the other school (you are there for research and not classes, correct?). Again, I truly believe the ease of this depends on your strength of your network. There's money if you can convince people to want you there.

Seconded. Additionally, as a student, you have some wiggle room to direct class in more interesting ways. Ask questions, hard ones? If she refuses to answer during class, try to figure it out on your own and come back to her saying something along the lines of "I worked out an answer to this problem using the foundation material from this class. I feel the problem is relevant to what we are learning and that others would benefit from hearing the answer since it is not overly complex. May I share it with the class?" Keep doing this and she should feel that you desire to be challenged.

Your situation does sound terrible and I sympathize a lot. I read over the whole thing and two points stuck out to me a lot. 1) You said that you would give up on your NSF but then later mentioned that you submitted it. Well, I think it was a stupid idea to give up on it after all the time and stress you'd already spent on it, but that's besides the point. You can't complain about having too much work when you spend time on something you were specifically told to stop on. 2) She questions how you are spending your time. This is also something my adviser used to do to me. (I think the only thing that changed this matter is that I received outside funding and that his lab has grown enough that he can't keep track of us all.) You mentioned emailing her a rough calendar. Instead, make the most detailed calendar you can make and put in on google calendars or something public so that it is always there for her or anyone to see. Fill in things from sleeping to TAing to lab time and cover other items (free time, therapy time, shopping etc) with valid sounding things (writing center appointment, grading, etc). It may help to show her how absolutely booked you are, it was for me. Finally, ask you labmates for advice. How are others dealing with her? Learn from them. If no one else is surviving then figure out a plan with the group and it may be easier.

Riverside has mostly been fine for me. I've played it cheap as possible for the first two years, but I'm getting to the point where I'd rather spend a bit more to get a nicer place. In this sense, you can get very good deals renting a room in a house, but it's up to you to get along with your roommates. I've had problems with different standards of cleanliness and now that I have a stipend increase, I just want my own place that I can keep nice. Honestly, if you look at any sort of apartment rating website, nowhere in Riverside has good reviews I'm considering Stone Canyon but some of the reviews for there sound really disappointing. Anyone else having better luck?