geographyrocks

What I've learned from this thread: You can see who gives you up and down votes! I just did it. It was life changing! On a side note: maybe this thread has gone off-track?

Question time! Would you unofficially accept an unofficial offer? lol It sounds confusing, but I was offered admission by my POI in early Feb. A week later (or less) I received the department notification of my offer. Since then (over a month) I have been patiently waiting for the official graduate school offer which would include the concrete stipend amount and maybe other financial offers. I've been communicating with the admissions chair of the department and he just asked if he could "record for the time being that you will accept our offer (pending the official letter)" because the official grad school letters won't be out for another week or longer. Something about the graduate school getting a new system and being backlogged. Anyway, should I tell him yes or wait for the official letter to accept? I don't think there is any harm in "unofficially" accepting since I will definitely be going and funding is guaranteed, but I overlook things sometimes. Thanks in advance!

The department knows I don't have my official acceptance. The admissions chair of the department is the one who told me of the delay at the graduate school. And then he asked me if he could record that I would accept the offer. He also said that he asked the graduate school to expedite my application and they agreed to. I'm guessing he just wants it for his records. *shrug*

Question time! Would you unofficially accept an unofficial offer? lol It sounds confusing, but I was offered admission by my POI. A week later (or less) I received the department notification of my offer. Since then (over a month) I have been patiently waiting for the official graduate school offer which would include the concrete stipend amount and maybe other financial offers. I've been communicating with the admissions chair and he just asked if he could "record for the time being that you will accept our offer (pending the official letter)" because the official grad school letters won't be out for another week or longer. Something about a new system and being backlogged. Anyway, should I tell him yes or wait for the official letter to accept? I don't think there is any harm in "unofficially" accepting since I will definitely be going and funding is guaranteed, but I overlook things sometimes. Thanks in advance!

I didn't feel my undergraduate thesis was original or innovative at all. It was a suggestion by my mentor after my first research proposal failed due to inaccurate data (as in the last 10 years of data that has been collected in the city I'm in has been declared unusable by the EPA). I was pretty upset about it. I wanted to prove myself and how smart I was. After reading a metric ton of research papers, I realized that my proposal on HOW to study it was unique. And now my results are quite spectacular (at least my mentor and I think they are). It actually takes a lot of hard work to be original. You can't just sit around thinking of brilliant ideas. You really do have to read a metric ton of papers before holes and gaps start appearing. So start reading.

There is also this thread to consider: EDIT: Nevermind. I just noticed you posted on there. D'oh!

I want to reinterate this: REALLY pay attention to those pet fee deposits. Some are absolutely outrageous such as $300 non-refundable deposit along with a $300 refundable deposit and an extra $25 per month. And yes, that is a real example. Most places aren't like this so be sure to look around.

What are your interests?

Great minds!

I have absolutely no good news. I think the only options are private loans and credit cards. I'm also moving early (May or beginning of June at the latest). I've been saving up for a year and the cost of moving is seriously bumming me out. My only suggestion is that you take out loans through the university in August to pay off whatever private loans or credit cards that you may use for the move. Chances are that the rates of the loans from school are MUCH smaller than private loans or credit cards.

The school you're attending should have a cost estimator. They should also specify their fees. A lot of universities have mandatory health insurance that runs $1000-$2000 a year.

That's EXACTLY what I plan on doing. Here's hoping I have the discipline... And definitely fill out the FAFSA just in case.

Waking up and realizing you're Justin Beiber?

I'd say you should rule out those places only if you have no fit with the department or are interested in the schools solely because they're prestigious. The most dangerious part of Chicago, imo, are the taxi drivers. Those guys are crazy! The University of Chicago is situated in a very nice neighborhood and the transit system is awesome.

I'm confused. You don't want to start until Fall 2015, but you want to be admitted now? 3 months after the application deadline? Are you serious? Did you apply to other schools to start in Fall 2015? Does the NSF specify that you can wait a year? Are you basing this from the fact that you're a Fulbright finalist? What if you aren't chosen for a Fulbright? What if you aren't chosen for the NSF fellowship as well? Another thing, aren't NSF fellowship given to the school first and then you get paid a monthly stipend from that? I mean...that's how the grants that professors get works. Would it not cause serious complications to tell NSF you are admitted and attending one school and then change it at the last minute? Do the schools that you've applied to know you are deferring until 2015 or are you waiting until you see if you've recieved a Fulbright to tell them? Anyway, to answer the question, probably not. Although, it is hard to answer any question that has so many variables.

I just want to add that whatever you do, do not live in the "university approved" apartment complexes or the dorms. Both have complaint lists miles long. And the apartment complexes are way overpriced compared to all of the apartments in the surrounding neighborhoods. Also, take a hard look at the bus maps. There are only a few buses that actually travel by the campus. It's very easy to live within a mile of campus but have little access to buses. And while biking used to be a problem, it is light years better than where it was just 4 years ago and it will probably continue to improve.

While I've never lived in Denver, I've never had trouble getting around car free when I visit. To me, that's the biggest caveat to living in Denver. Just make sure that you read the light rail maps and know where the bus routes are. And check out Denver's Citydata page. There are a lot of good suggestions on there as well as break downs of the neighborhoods and where to live and where not to live.

I feel like I saw something about low funding at CSU this year so maybe that's why the long wait. I received an email today notifying me that I was awarded a Dean's Scholarship at DU. Of course, it's only a half-time tuition scholarship so I would end up having to pay $17,000 a year. I know they don't intend it to be funny, but I find it funny. I haven't heard anymore about the potential GA positions. Congrats on all of the acceptances!

I think one very important thing has not been mentioned about all of this: if this was a university wide fellowship (which it sounds like it was), that means the department really had to fight to get it. I agree that it doesn't seem right to ask for a commitment so early (dependent upon the field), but they also bust their asses to get funding from the university. I've watched my current department struggle and fight for the least little bit of money. I was lucky to be given a university TA, and I got that because my POI was willing to fight for me. I could always accept and then back out later, but that would make me a jerk. I guess the question is, OP, do you want to be a jerk?

I've lived in Louisville for, well, my entire life. So I'm available for questions as well.

I completely agree. I also want to point out that a lot of GRE words are commonly used incorrectly in media and texts. Vocab is also one of these easiest things to study. I don't know why anyone would try to argue against studying for it.

I had a lot of difficulty with requirements. Some schools want 2 semesters of chemistry. Some want 2 semesters of physics. Some want 2 semester of calc. Some want 4 semesters of calc. So on and so forth. I think Geography departments are so interdisciplinary that is really hard to have your qualifications from one school match with what others schools are looking for. I'm surprised that Remote Sensing departments are so hard to find. And Souri, did you by chance contact the department after receiving the rejection. There is always the slim chance that they mixed your records with someone elses.

THIS! I had this totally awesome idea for a quick research project. I started reading the literature, and it's been done to death. Not only did I save myself some time, I also saved myself from getting yelled at by my adviser. lol

Ditto here. I'm working on not being as intimidated (or at least acting like I'm not as intimidated) as I feel.

Make sure to contact the SUNY graduate director and ask if it is likely (or possible) to switch from the MA to the PhD track after a successful year of grad school.