geographyrocks

^^^^^THAT! Start a file. Discontinue contact.

Unless you two are friendly, hands around the throat is not okay. If you're really concerned, report her for harassment. I think you are being a bit naive as what you have described is not a person who will "come around". Do any students have a healthy relationship with her? Is there anything she has done that makes you think she will change her behavior towards you? If not, you're really just wasting your energy. Maybe you should start looking for a new adviser.

Here's something to think about: If the "more prestigious" school is completely online, how will you connect with any professors enough that they will be able to write you an excellent LOR for your phd?

I think you answered your own question. If a friend asked you whether they should spend money on a program they don't want and that won't help them in the future, what would you tell them? And if I were you, I wouldn't throw around the 'old' word at 24. Chances are that you'll be one of the youngest grad students!

I think it would be easier to make suggestions if you listed your background. We know you have a BA in English and a BS in math. What, if any, geophysics courses have you taken? What was your gpa and GRE scores? Are you going for a masters or phd? How were your LORs? (a guess will do) did you clearly outline your future goals in your SOP? What exactly do you want to study? Getting into grad school requires so many hoops...lol

I have a friend who is stuck in the software sector with a BS in Land Use Planning...so you're not alone. If you want (and can afford) to take a job in the field you want, do it! The Southwest has a lot of energy sector jobs. You'll find geology is big in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Or maybe I misunderstood and you are actually looking to transfer within the company you're currently in? Either way, if it's available and out west is where you want to be, definitely do it. Here are some internships opportunities as well that may help your university of work applications in the future: http://www.geosociety.org/links/intrnshp.htm

Well, since you want a terminal masters, I'm guessing job placement is important. Look at the universities that feed into industry.

That is probably very program specific. For instance, I didn't run across any schools that would accept GRE scores that were unofficial (not sent by ETS) or older than 5 years.

If you want to save money, I recommend not taking the GRE several times as it runs around $180 each time you take it. Study your butt off and then take the test. If you don't like your scores, study more and then take it again. In other words, I agree with everything Gvh said.

You need to make sure that your school doesn't require you to obtain residency in that state. This is generally due to funding. I know if I don't establish residency in one year, I lose all funding. As for taxes, I can't really give anything but guesses which are useless so hopefully someone else has some insight.

I wouldn't. Visiting schools also changed my mind. One school looked great on paper, but the department secretary was exceptionally rude when I visited. She told me more than once that I probably wouldn't get in even though I never told her my credentials. Know me then reject me. Lol Department fit is a huge consideration. You don't want to end up surrounded by jerks.

I'm really curious how your research turned out since I would imagine trying to calculate PM levels with remote sensing is incredibly difficult due to cloud interference and such. Anyway, ditto what Geodude said. Your scores just aren't competitive especially for funding.

I've heard you can get a keyboard for the ipad for under $30 on Amazon. If I start taking notes on ths thing, that's probably what I'll do.

I've already seen the place. I somehow lucked out since I'm only sharing with one other grad student. I think most of the other incoming students are in a room partitioned into eight spaces. My side of the office has a full-sized desk and a full-sized bookshelf. I just bought a file cabinet so I'll have that in there too. I'll probably just start with a few books and journals and all of the stuff I used to have on my desk at my last job. I'm just not sure if I'll spend more time working at home or at school.

I was on display like an animal at the zoo once...it was nothing like having my picture taken! Lol If you plan on being any good at what you do, I'm sure your picture will be requested. If you become a professor, your picture will be requested. When you die, your picture will definitely be requested. I'd advise you to really think about why your photo being on display bothers you. The worst anyone can say is holy crap, that person is smart enough to go to grad school! But if you are really set on this, do what others have suggested. Do not miss orientation just because of a photo!

I just got on this thread to bitch about my newfound medical condition! Of course, I have no idea what mine is because I saw a PA today instead of a doctor who thought it was completely normal that I'm suddenly getting rashes and abdominal pain. She also rolled her eyes at me when I was explaining a health problem. I get to see a real doctor next week. The only thing that seems to fit is histamine intolerance which isn't even medically recognized for the most part. I guess this is the penalty for having two outrageously stressful years. I know grad school will be stressful, but I'm betting it's not going to be "living under a crack dealer while working three jobs, taking a full course load, applying to grad schools, finishing my thesis" stressful. But back to my main rant: doctors need to stop calling me a liar! Arrrrrrggggg! I seriously have better things to do than make up a medical condition! *grumble grumble*

I don't really have anything useful to add. I just wanted to say that some of the responders at CHE really were total jerks. Also, this has convinced me to work my ass off and try for a NSF fellowship. Grad school is hard enough without worrying constantly about finances!

Or you get to your new city and decide that you hate all of your clothes...

So...whatever you decide to do, make sure you have free shipping. Walmart offers it and if you sign up for the Student Amazon prime, you can get free shipping for a year from Amazon. The membership is also free for a year. I would recommend that you get a sturdy frame which is why I go for metal over wood. Low cost wood frames generally aren't very well made.

I saved around $5000. It's alarming how quickly it disappears. You might also want to budget for applying to grad school. I see you have about 13 prospective schools? That's $405 in GRE fees alone. The average application fee is $50 so based on that number, you'll have $650 in app fees. And you may get charged for transcripts. My UG charged $7 per transcript.

If you really want those top tier programs, you generally need >160 on both verbal and quantitative. It's not that the GRE even means that much, but the top programs tend to have higher cutoffs mostly because so many top candidates apply. I would advise you to look for professors whose research matches your own interests over the reputation of the school. If you have to stretch to make their research fit with yours, it's unlikely you will get an acceptance. I've reached this conclusion from the many (too many) hours I've spent on gradcafe.

I meant to prepare...but then I realized that I won't have a truly free summer possibly ever again. So I read articles every once in a while. My adviser gave me a paper that I need to do something with. He gave me the option of now or later. lol So I guess that's like an assignment except I'm not quite sure what to do with it. He basically said: Here's something I wrote. It's not great. Make it better. So I'm slowly going through and editing it along with writing out ideas for elaborating on his research. I feel like I should be doing more. Off topic: Your start date is October?!? Orientation at my school starts in 2 1/2 weeks! I think I'm a little jealous...lol

You have got to be kidding me. I swear I almost wore out the search button looking for past threads! Thanks for the link!

I found out that I'll be in a two person office. I will have my own desk and bookcase. So I've been thinking about what I should take. Apart from the standard office supplies (which is a given), what do you have in your office? How did you choose what books to take? Do you have academic awards that you've won on display? I scoured past threads and didn't see any similar topics so I thought ithis would be a fun (and informative) discussion.