Larri

OK, first of all: yes, this is normal! Everyone is university, especially in the natural sciences depending on experiments/ programming/ .... knows this, because one small mistake can render hours of effort useless. You're not alone in this. Second of all: don't panic. I know it sounds ridiculous, but thinking clearly is the only thing that is going to help right now. It's obvious your situation is unbearable to you right now, so you need to change something. Consider your options: - Quitting. Is it worth it to quit, after you put in so much work? Aren't you going to regret it? Would research in a different place be more successful? Veering away from grad school entirely: do you have realistic job opportunities in the field you're in? And could you move back to a place where you're happier/ have more social interaction? - Continuing. Talk to your PI. Ask for help if possible. Make a tight schedule and stick to it, including studying. It might consume even more of your time, but getting in the studying every day is going to lower your stress levels over the looming exam. Also, you must have one person you feel comfortable enough with to go out and grab a beer. Even being in a lively, more relaxed and less lab-related environment can make you feel better because you will (unconsciously) realize that there's a life outside of the lab, even though that's what yours is focused on right now. Good luck in making your choice and hang in there. As we say where I'm from: het komt allemaal wel op z'n pootjes terecht. (Sadly there's no adequate translation, but it's something along the lines of 'It will land on its feet' - the way a cat does.)

Hannah Arendt - The Human Condition G. D. Roberts - Shantaram (For a lighter, yet educational read) Neil MacGregor - A History of the World in 100 objects Edward Said - Orientalism All great for very different reasons

First of all.. the worst reason ever I guess. Because I want to prove people wrong. I want to be on the same level as my dad, who always says "Shuh, my promotor was a nobel prize winner. Come and talk to me when you have YOUR Phd from Cambridge." Also, my high school physics teacher always told me to go into the social sciences or humanities, as I was too dumb and too female (!) to do mathematics or physics beyond high school level. Well, now I am starting my MSc in Climate Change/ Environmental Science at a highly ranked university and am on the right track towards a Phd - including Math and Physics. Second, I have a passion for ice and snow and I want to be useful - a Phd is my way of combining this. Nothing makes me happier than to be in the Alps or in Iceland. The process of climate change and the feedback cycles of 'climate change - glacial/permafrost melt - sea level rise' (Major issue here, I live 3 m. below sea level ) is so fascinating to me. I want to make a contribution to the quality of life of the next generation(s). Through research on glacial melt and climate change I might actually be useful. Also, my jobs for the past years have always been teaching, and I am good at it. At some point in life, I want to inspire students the way some of my professors inspired me to work hard and consciously consider my choices.

The positivity in this room reaches all across the Atlantic to the Netherlands. I have 2 offers from the UK, one of which I declined, but I am still frantically waiting to hear back from Switzerland. In terms of omens: only bad ones sadly.. A lot of back and forth with Switzerland about one stamp missing on a transcript, and very distant and uninterested e-mails. Still: not losing hope yet! But the waiting is absolutely terrible.. Also, Eager, I admire your positive spirit, please don't lose it! I hope it's going to work out for you.

Hi all, Dutch/German girl, going to UCL fall 2013 for an MSc Climate Change! I was wondering whether you would recommend the university accommodation. I would apply for the shared flats as I'd also like a home rather than a dorm. Living together, including a social life inside the house, is very important to me. I expect studies and sports will keep me so busy that finding friends outside of the house will be virtually impossible. So to avoid social isolation, I'm looking for a place I want to come home to after a day at the library. I realize you always have to be lucky to find good flatmates, but if you guys can say upfront "That's not the atmosphere at the UCL flats", I might not even apply for housing. So then, do you think looking for private housing would be worth the trouble? Thanks in advance (and yes I realize this post sounds naive or vague, but trust me.. that's just my fear of London talking. Country side girl you know)

Since the other topics on the ETHZ are a few years old, here's a new one. I applied for an MSc in Environmental Sciences. Waiting to hear from them - though they still have some time till the 20th of June. Anyone who already has an offer/rejection or is in the same boat and waiting for an answer?