GeoDUDE!

i'm not really sure you have to be a "biker" to bike around davis. I effortlessly biked the 3-4 mile ride from my host's house to the department building.

Reeses, I also haven't heard from BU; and met my POI at agu.

They emailed me that I would know by the 28th.... didnt everyone get that email ?

you have a month. wait a few more weeks. visit the school if it is acceptable. if there is two weeks left, then start contacting other schools

WHOI final decisions all come on the 28th i'm fairly sure.

MIT

Yes.

Just now! Davis, as a campus is simply awesome. You really dont know how many bikes there are until you see it; Imagine the 405 freeway in socal but filled with bikes. Downtown is pretty cool; lots of places with many brews on tap. Students seem smart, jovial. Still kinda processing it (traveled 16 hours today cuz of stupid airlines). Is there anything specific you want to know?

There is no debate; go with the money. you will be making a huge risk otherwise.

nope

Yes, it seems that a lot of departments are backed up, judging that I've only heard from two places (or that for some reason one school likes me and the others don't)

This seem strange to me; My instinct (and asking professors about this) is the opposite: Lower ranked schools will better the offers of higher ranked schools while higher ranked schools will expect you to take the paycut(within reason) because they have all the leverage. You seem to think that there are very few good students; The opposite is true as there are more qualified PhD canidates rejected every year than accepted. This is especially true if the high ranked school is public. Private schools tend to have more leverage, but why would MIT match the offer of no name state school when MIT knows they offer much just in reputation alone. Graduate students are, for the most part, disposable. Post Docs, Tenure Track canidates are experts in their field, a much different situation.

I have 13k... not bad since my ugrad was 55k a year.

My current institution is the same; and they made a big mistake IMO because they could have kept me if they offered me a PhD. You need to ask about funding; chances are they fund MAs for 2 years as a TA/RA/Fellowship (we do). Chances are moving to a PhD will be the same as most; you have to reapply but if your advisor wants you its pretty hard to say no to them, especially if you have claim to that TA position already. I would only do it if you feel like you want to go to a better institution after your masters; declining a PhD offer is risky, and i probably wouldnt do it, but the masters degree might elevate your application enough if your research goes well to apply to the MITs, Columbia's and Stanfords of the world. So yes, i would consider it, but you have a PhD acceptance. Tell them you are interested in it, but only go if you dont like wherever else you get into (for example CU boulder is a great school which I would not turn down if you were to be admitted).

You have already made up your mind then.

You would be surprised at how much a difference a visit makes.

If something is recommended is it a good idea to do it?

Many programs value diversity of ideas; They don't want the same people in their programs over and over. Adding new blood into the mix is a great way of adding new ideas to a departments research. It could be fairly accurate, but to say you dont have an advantage would be a stretch.

Do you have proof of this? I would think that spatial learners would be excellent at both math and generalized tests. Most offical IQ tests use spatial examples. I am also a visual/spatial learner, and while I have had some problems with memorization, I have had no problems (more than normal) studying physics, math, chemistry, computer science and geology. I don't think your attitude will get you to the places you want. Most people are probably better than their test scores, but i'm sure that English departments want competent people. If you think you have a learning disorder in mathematics, you really should get an official diagnosis, because if not the test scores tell a story that you don't want the adcoms to believe.

No

One of my physics professors (at a small liberal arts school) does Ocean/Climate modeling. He did have a physics undergrad. I'm sure you can get a professorship in a series of departments if you model, and if you don't you will be limited to Earth Science depts. Moreover, if you have a great mathematical background, the financial district can be your friend; as well as the sports analytics world. I'm sure Areospace, and the military also hires climate scientists.

Yea, I would go to get a feel for the department.

Is this a joke? Take the PhD. Never pay for your education after undergraduate, and Princeton's PhD program fits within your career goals.

Mine currently is, as is almost everyones in my department. I had a very poor ugrad gpa. I am on a TAship

Congratz crazy, UT is a great school. I have more info on the WUSTL waitlist... seems that its a nonlinear waitlist and they try to create a well balanced incoming class in terms of interests. Therefore, it seems to me that there arent people on the waitlist in my field of earth sciences, but acceptance is highly dependent on who drops out.