GeoDUDE!

Why don't you ask your program to allow you to make a decision on April 16th? Then you won't have to worry about time.

Eigen's point is important. CGS isn't at all in anyway legally binding and it is beyond me why anyone would think that. CGS overall is a good idea, but you should never let it prevent you from doing what you want imo. Ask for an extension, thats the most polite thing to do.

What % of people are being hired for TT from social sciences and humanities in US programs anyway? If he's talking about ETH Zurich, he's probably talking about a technical field.

when people talk about foreign PhDs not getting jobs in the US, that does not apply to Oxford, Cambridge, Zurich or Tokyo.

Unfortunately, the only people who can tell you how much/complex/depth the work you need to do to complete your dissertation is your committee. This is what the proposal is for.

It's even more crazy to enter a PhD program when you don't want to do it.

Most of the times I don't even get a fortune, just some random statement.

I think its bad taste but not plagiarism. Did your friend collect the data for the figures? Did your friend come up with the idea for the figures, or was he simply being used as a "monkey"? Sometimes writers speak to people who type up their novels for them. I'm not sure how they are cited, but I assume its similar.

I think you need to deal with it and grow up. Honestly, your going to have to deal with people you don't like. You don't have to be advised by them, but your going to have to deal with them no matter where you go. Just be polite when you see B.

Why are you having trouble ?

They could, but I doubt they will. Its best to be honest and ask them. We really can't help you.

I agree, although I would say that its really the Linear Algebra that you learn in Diff EQ and Multivariate Calculus that is really the important part. If both those classes(multivariable calculus, diff eq) did not include linear algebra, then I suggest taking a higher level analysis course such as advanced calculus. This will teach you how to build ODE/PDEs as matrices, which is fundamental for solving them numerically. I don't know which geology course I would drop in favor of it, probably geochem as minerology and structure seem to be core classes at most departments.

I feel like this happens pretty frequently too: people pass most of it but have to retake part of it. I knew a couple people in my dept who had this happen. It sucks, but also no big deal if you respond appropriately. The 2nd time around should be easier. Good for you for not letting this beat you up too much.

Have you thought about what it could do to help you develop a teaching philosophy (something required for people who want to become professors eventually, but also useful for industry stuff)?

I think if you are interested in academia you should seriously consider going to the better ranked school, IF there are other people there you would be willing to work with. Because going to a top program will open doors for PhD programs and other collaborations. That being said, if you are not very independent, you could fail. Also, social life is important. However, if you are not interested. in academia, I would go to the program that you are more comfortable in. It seems socially that you might fit in better at the second program, and it also seems like you think you would be more likely to finish. You also have to think about how much advising you actually need. While I talk with my advisor lot, real advising only happens once a month or so. I personally could survive in the kind of environment that you are talking about, so I don't have a negative inflection when thinking about it.

If you are going to be doing posters frequently, and competing for poster awards ect ... you should learn how to use InDesign or Illustrator. How good a poster can look in powerpoint is capped, but after playing with illustrator for a few hours I was able to make very good looking posters in significantly less time. Plus, ai files print faster on most plotters because of vectorization.

Its fine for a first apartment, I'm currently in them. Its actually not cheap, as you can get a 3 bedroom apartment for ~500 each ~2 miles away from campus. Its not anything like dorms.

Darkstar, It depends on how good you are with a machete.

What kind of appointment is this? also: https://earth.stanford.edu/

The point is that generally TAs are more competitive because professors have less individual say over who gets them: its the departments money. If your advisor wants you specifically, and has RA funding, he has a lot of say (its his money).

Hey Carls, I certainly think its possible, but I would apply to a range of schools (maybe 5 T-20 and 5 below T-20) and also a few masters programs. I think its really going to be up to the POI (if he/she has funds for a student). I think it would be hard for you to win a TAship at many schools.

It happens all the time. Once your advisor figures out what he is doing, so can you. He should still be able to advise you from another university if he gets another job, or you can go with him to that university. YOu can also choose another advisor. Conversely, you can ask your department to help you find another PhD position with someone in your field at another school. If your advisor is good, and your dept/uni is good, then they will back you. I've seen this a lot and most of the time it actually works out (its just sorta a pain).

That hasn't been my experience, since graduate students ARE the ones carrying out their research.

Funding is everything. They don't really want you if they aren't paying for you.

Science, for many people, has hinged on the assumption that if something is replicable, on any coordinate system, then it is "truth" or what have you. I think truth is the wrong word, but I'm failing to think of another word that is better. The more philosophical scientists search for laws (models) that can approximate observations. I think that is really what the essence of science is. Its the ability to isolate/replicate controlling variables on an observable phenomena. Be that mathematical, or qualitative. If there is no attempt to define an underlying "philosophy" of your subject matter, it probably isn't a science.