Louiselab

I was having a similar problem... and then one of my professors for the fall sent out a syllabus with a note that read, "it would be wise for you to pick your topics now and start working on the final project since I'm planning a really intensive semester. Let me know by Friday and have preliminary bibliographies for my review as well. Oh, and two books plus articles are due for the first class. Enjoy the rest of the summer vacation!" I think I've died and gone to heaven!

Did anyone sign up for the all-university orientation at the end of August? I'm debating whether or not to go since my department is already doing something...

Living with parents is cost effective. I'm a compulsive saver, and did my master's living at home and it's just ming boggling how much I've been able to save through undergrad to now, especially since my parents charge very reasonable rates. My commute then was 30 minutes as an undergrad and 40 as a grad. I am moving for a PhD out of state, though, and just got my own place. I had to get a place on the busline (can't drive) and clocked it at 20-30 minutes with a transfer. I like easy library access, and being able to go in and meet with people if I need to but also putting enough distance between myself and the undergraduate population as possible. In the immediate 1-2 block radius I have two supermarkets, public library, bookstore, bus stop, some decent restaurants if I'm feeling spendy and an excellent discount record store. Normally I try to avoid transfers like the plague, since they can kill your time, but I loved the neighborhood so much I couldn't pass it up.

I would agree. I'm in 5 grad classes plus three part time jobs during the semester, and at 11:00pm I make time for Murder She Wrote. It doesn't take that long to do the work, and I'm actually looking forward to all the spare time I'll have since I'll have fewer classes and none of the outside part time jobs. I have friends who work 7-6 mon-friday and if they have time to watch tv, I think I will too. [plus those people who insist they don't need it are usually the first to knock on your door saying, "so _____ is on tonight and I REALLY need to watch it..." It's entirely personal choice though.

I know, no one needs TV. When I visited and we were at grad students' houses, I couldn't help but notice there was something missing... a television. I cannot imagine living without one. Although, having said that, I know a few people who can plug their laptops into their tvs and watch shows that way, or you rent it from netflix... Personally, I need tv and I'm not ashamed to say it. But my rent include TV and internet 'cause my landlord had the building wired for it and he gets satellite tv and the old tenants left their box. I'll be living alone, so I like having the TV sound in the background or when I have dinner. Although the new news anchors will perhaps be a little jarring... I should get a land line 'cause I've lost 4 cell phones in five years, but... eh.

I would recommend telling the programs what you intend to do and asking how many of their students end up going on for a doctorate and where. NYU, for example, often thinks its MA students aren't good enough for their doctoral program, so you might want to take that into account. I'm sure they keep this information on what their graduates do after, and advisers should be willing to share it with you.

As a new jersey native moving to Minnesota, I can say we don't have freezing cold winters. Usually a little snow in January/February, 1-3" is normal, and around the 30s is as cold as it gets. Since everyone in NJ drives everywhere, though, it's almost a complete non-issue since you spend so little time actually outside. If the Russell Apartments are the ones I'm thinking of... Are they the ones that overlook the smokestacks? Somerset isn't too bad. Princeton township/borough is a little pricey, but it's a nice area.

does anyone know anything about either cable or internet providers? the only one I can find is comcast, and i certainly cannot afford that, especially for internet. The grad students i met, well, they apparently go TV-less and I'm just not ready for that kind of living.

Do you happen to know of any good companies to rent from? I've been looking around and saw a few but I have no idea what kind of place they keep..

The history one was in the social sciences building, the shorter fatter of the two tall west bank buildings. We went through Carlson to see the the Starbucks! Apparently this is a major draw for the graduate students. I liked the east bank a lot more, and did you see one of the older libraries over there? it was beautiful!

Is anyone else getting the feeling that Rutgers like, I don't know, waitlisted everyone they didn't accept? I'm getting that feeling very, very distinctly and they're being super vague about the nature of this "waitlist."

I haven't signed yet, but it looks like I shall be a gopher at University of Minnesota.

so I visited... and honestly, I don't think the city looks that bad. I'm from NY, which I refer to as "The City" because I always assumed there are no others, but Minneapolis looked so nice. Not bad at all. I've heard a lot about people turning it down because they refuse to live in MN, but it seemed pretty fun and funky for all intents and purposes. I was leaning towards uptown because I lack driving skills and a license, plus I am usually not a lake person but it looked really nice.

I had my visit this weekend and wow... I totally love the school!! It was the best visit I've ever had, and I left with a warm fuzzy feeling even though it was snowing...

That's because Rutgers offices run from 830-430