GeoDUDE!

You should probably look for programs that accept scores with less than 300 GREs: That score is atrocious.

Step 1: Decide what kinds of things you find interesting Step 2: See where your Advisor's expertise fits under something you find interesting. Step 3: read 100-150 journal articles on the subject Step 4: identify a gap in literature you read Step 5: form a hypothesis to test that gap. Step 6: test that hypothesis Step 7: write up thesis step 8: defend thesis step 9: publsih

I would buy a new laptop, and if I wanted windows 7 I would buy a windows 8 machine and install windows 7 on it (http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-System-Builder-Packaging/dp/B00H09BB16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405974923&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+7). That being said, do you notice the laptop runs hotter? Have you cleaned out the fans? It can probably last another few years if you have been taking care of it. A new laptop could cost anywhere between 500-3000 dollars depending on the specs you want: a new 500-600 dollar laptop will probably be a lot faster than a four year old laptop that cost ~1200 back then.

My LOR: 2 ugrad professors and my masters advisor.

I definitely think it is a bit weird: While a lab tour might be important when deciding where to go to grad school, I don't think that is how most people decide where to apply to graduate school. Meeting PIs/Grad students at a conference is one thing (I certainly did that at AGU) but i'm not sure what information the prospective applicant could get from a short visit/lab tour when admission is out of the applicant's control at that point. Especially in Earth Science, where most students are invited to visit if they are accepted on the departments dime!

It's probably best to ask USC.

I am shocked to see that there are academics that think plagiarism is "nonsense" .

You won't be able to contribute as much; you are just starting out. Why would you think you are expected to contribute as much as people who are already in grad school? There might be some social differences, but, the people in your cohort wont be the only people you can make friends with; branch out like you said. stop worrying.

I'm not sure if people are still looking, but for those who want to buy a windows machine, woot has some really good deals: http://www.woot.com/plus/business-class-pcs-1?ref=cnt_wp_1

If you like firm mattresses (better for your back), you can get a quality one cheaper: I bought one for 100 bucks (serta or some sort). It also makes it better when you eventually move again: you wont feel guilty about donating it when its so cheap.

Only you know who knows you best.... if your professional and academic contacts don't know you well its still better to get letters from them than people who aren't in the field.

The reason why people think macbook pros are over priced is because they don't understand the computer manufacturing business: just because some parts deliver similar performance does not make them equal. The biggest reason a computer slows down is the degradation of the thermal efficiency of the bins on the motherboard and and memory. Thats why replacing the memory on your laptop can speed your computer: if the laptop runs cooler it will also run faster. When manufacturing hardware it is build for certain tolerances: Macbook pros use industry grade quality control and tolerances which is a much more expensive manufacturing process that what goes into non business class computers. Another reason Macs might last longer, is that, they are much less susceptible to foreign data types while browsing the web. If your windows computer is slow, perhaps reformat it? A lot of the speed comes from accessing things from the hard drive, a full mechanical hard drive is much slower than an empty one. So its not completely true that there isn't a huge difference between hardware on macs and pcs: just because they are build on the same architecture does not mean the engineering is the same. And that engineering is key to why mac products cost so much. This isn't some "buy a mac" post. I think the upper end of ASUS and some of the other BUSINESS class laptops can be just as good as a macbook if windows is your thing. Using bootcamp on a macbook isnt really a good solution: you have to restart your computer every time and if you use windows a lot it becomes annoying. Its only meant for the occasional use of windows: I wouldn't use windows as my primary OS on a macbook, ther really is no reason for that.

15% is basically means you will not be putting away for retirement for the next 25 years unless you make substantial amount of money (over 100k /yr ) and live well below your means.

Its not really about time but about efficiency: when you first start a project, it is much easier to waste time. The maximum efficiency of the project should come right after the proposal: you have laid out what you need to do.... now do it! Before then the project is much more open.

If the minimum requirements for the GRADUATE SCHOOL, not the department, is 3.0, which it is many, then it is very serious. Not to say you can't get past it, but often GPA is a way to get your awesome LOR read. Remember, its both the department and the graduate school that admits you, so to get past the graduate school approval, you need a real appeal from the department to get you in. Perhaps its different for an MSW than other programs, but while people have done it, the vast vast vast vast majority of graduate students have over a undergraduate gpa.\ If you want to raise your GPA: Retake the classes that you got a low grade in or take more classes and get As in them. Thats how your raise the average score.

Sometimes novel work takes longer to resolve: In my 2 years masters thesis I didn't have novel results until March, 1 month before I was supposed to defend, and while it took me even longer to defend that I wanted (june), we are submitting the paper to the highest impact journal. You should talk to your advisor, does he/she know that you desire to publish the work you already have? I'm sure your advisor wants to publish when you can, but perhaps there is a non discussed plan. Sometimes if your goals are lofty, say Nature or Science, it might take longer to prepare your argument. All researchers publish differently, just because a few of your peers are publishing now does not mean that you should be. Research isn't like class, where there are grades. There are interesting results, and there aren't, and a good deal of luck comes into interesting results. Like I said before, we were expecting ok-modest results when I started my thesis but were presently surprised at the very very end. Whose to say this isn't the path you are on? Graduate school is as an emotional test as an intellectual one: the rigors of research is filled with failure, even for brilliant ones. This is often hard for graduate students because in general they have succeeded where others havent for so long.

Most of the masters students at my pervious department were funded (waiver + stipend) and all of the students (masters and PhD) are funded at my new department. This is the case with many programs. The difference is that the amount of people applying to some subjects is high, so only the best admitted students get funded, and the rest is used as a cash cow. In my opinion, an unfunded MA/MS, non professional degree, is a rejection just like like an unfunded PhD.

Guess we shouldn't try and be honest in all of our work.

Its in my opinion, that one should not go into debt for graduate school, and even if one has the money in hand, should not pay for it. If you work hard enough you can find a way to make a live able stipend and get your grad school paid for in almost any subject. Some people find it worth it, but as stated, I would never consider it.

We had first TA meetings the week before classes start: I didn't even know what classes I TAed on the friday before and I started on Monday ! Don't worry about it.

Because it expected that it the words written in the letter come from the recommender, unless stated otherwise. Agreeing with the sentiment, making some edits, and shipping it off as your own work is CLEARLY a form of plagiarism. Even when you paraphrase someone else's ideas, you are supposed to give credit. Unless the letter says "this recommendation letter was written by the student, but as the recommender I full heartily agree with it", then I call foul play.

Just because something is commonplace does not mean it is ETHICAL. Cheating, lying and stealing happens all the time, does not mean we should do it. If the advisor asked him to apply for travel grants, and is unwilling to write the letter for the required grant, that is just wrong. Furthermore, this isn't a cherry picked opinion. I'd advise you to read the opinions of the stack exchange question. Furthermore, look at who writes the answers: almost all the people who are against this practice are professors. Many of them tenured at top universities in their field. This is a big deal, tread lightly. You wont endorse it, but you certainly are by telling him to do it. If my advisor asked me to do this, I would not apply for the grant.

grad school classes are easy (in my experience), don't worry about it. Worry about what requirements you have to do outside class.

That is not what academics think at all: I would never want to work someone who asked me to do something like that. from Peter L Clark, professor of mathematics at University of Georgia: Is it acceptable to write most of the reference letter and have the prof make minor edits? "No, this is a form of plagiarism and academic fraud. What you pass off as your written word must actually be yours except where you explicitly document to the contrary." Furthermore, it bothers me that you think that this is not wrong is a huge problem, one you should think about when you are publishing or perhaps even writing recommendations for people in the future. I certainly, would not want to associate myself with anyone who does something like this, even if it is widely spread.

Stuff like that is considered academic dishonesty though.