katiegud

I watched Horrible Bosses and took a nap. It was glorious!

I'm 1000 words behind where I was hoping to be today, and I'm incredibly unmotivated. I don't want to write, I don't want to read, I just want to go back to bed. 

I'm 1000 words behind where I was hoping to be today, and I'm incredibly unmotivated. I don't want to write, I don't want to read, I just want to go back to bed. 

I'm 1000 words behind where I was hoping to be today, and I'm incredibly unmotivated. I don't want to write, I don't want to read, I just want to go back to bed. 

I'm 1000 words behind where I was hoping to be today, and I'm incredibly unmotivated. I don't want to write, I don't want to read, I just want to go back to bed. 

I haven't talked to my supervisor since I got accepted. I feel kind of weird about this. Is it normal to wait until you actually start the program to talk to them? Or should I be contacting him now about what I need to do before fall? Since I have a big move ahead of me and I'm still working full time, I haven't had my mind on my PhD topic lately, so now I'm worried that I'll be behind everyone else when I arrive.

It went really well! She didn't fire me! We have to rearrange some projects now, so she was glad to get a few months notice. I can also talk about it openly now, and take a week off to find an apartment without having to make up an excuse. I did say that I was sad to leave, but couldn't turn down this opportunity. I think she understands. I'm just so glad it's over!

"BITCH I'M DONE!!!!111!!" *drop the mic, back away slowly*
 
In all seriousness, I told my boss immediately and am helping him find a replacement to train. Wrote a resignation letter with my last day on it and various "thanks for everything" notes (I just copied this from a google search...don't judge me!).

Off the waitlist! I officially have an academic home this fall!

Off the waitlist! I officially have an academic home this fall!

Off the waitlist! I officially have an academic home this fall!

Off the waitlist! I officially have an academic home this fall!

Off the waitlist! I officially have an academic home this fall!

Off the waitlist! I officially have an academic home this fall!

AHHH! My status on the scholarship website has been updated from "Reserve" (UK version of waitlist) to "Award." NO official email from the school. Does that mean I got it? I'm freaking out right now. This would be full funding for me, vs no funding at my other offers.

I just got an email rejection for a studentship I didn't apply for. They are now rejecting me from things I didn't even know I could get. 

I'll be 36 when I'm finally done (35 if I'm quick!), but I'm already married, so I don't have that one. My Mom does hint regularly that she'd like more grandchildren though. She said yesterday that she'd move to the UK to be my nanny if necessary!

I have a friend that will be heading to Ohio State next year, too, and she is really excited about it! Apparently Columbus is a great place to live and the university has a good atmosphere. Have you been able to visit it? I also don't think the prestige of the school will matter that much if you can get some work published while you're there. OSU is a well-known university, so if you are productive there I wouldn't see it as being strikingly negative. Obviously it's not Harvard, but it's not a small school that no one has heard of either. 

Second rejection today! No funding at my acceptances yet! Please someone give me some money...

I just got an email rejection for a studentship I didn't apply for. They are now rejecting me from things I didn't even know I could get. 

Maybe you need a career change? Something drastically different than what you are doing?
 
Personally I had a crisis like this during my first round of graduate school, and ended up dropping out of my doctoral program, but it was a great decision for me! I would have been miserable in that career. It took a few years of experimenting to find a career path that really interested me again, and I did feel like I was just floundering for awhile. You sound pretty depressed, so a major life change might be what you need to bring you back to "life."

...you go to interview at a school, you pull your hand out of your pocket to shake with an interviewer and it's covered in blood (because the air is so dry and your skin cracked and bled)!

My masters is technically a terminal degree (MPA) and I have still been accepted to PhD programs. If you have a strong research component to your MEng it might work the same way. Maybe you could ask the person that sent you the email. They would probably know your chances of moving on to a PhD with the MEng.

Part of it was the lack of application fees, part was that they don't require the GRE (took it for my masters, but my scores have expired because it was more than 5 years ago), part was that a PhD there is 3-4 years, and part was just that I wanted to move there! I spent a few months in Scotland after undergrad and loved it, so I've been hoping to go back at some point. 

My husband had veto power on where I applied, which actually took out 2 of my top choice universities. I have also applied to a couple where it would be harder for him to find a job, so that will be considered when I actually accept an offer. On Friday I have an interview with a professor that wanted me to apply to a specific program and I opted not to due to my family. It would have required me to move to other countries for long periods and I didn't think that would work well with my husband and daughter trying to settle in somewhere. As of right now he doesn't know why I declined, but it might come up in my interview, in which case I'll explain the personal situation. Honestly, if it bothers them that I make decisions with my family in mind, I probably don't want to attend anyway. 
 
I don't think it's unusual for grad students to have partners/families that influence location decisions. In your case it limits you to some pretty high profile programs, but that could work out well on your end! I don't think anyone will look down on you for it.