leSpyFox

I really appreciate the answer. I tend to prefer suburbs or rural versus cities, so maybe it'll be a selling point for me Thanks!

Wow! Are all US campuses going to be like this? Ha ha. If anyone asks me, "Middle-Aged Boy Kylie, what do you think of controversial issue X?" I will be sure to maintain a blank expression and ask, "Hm, why don't you tell me what you think first, earnest young American" as I scan for the nearest emergency exit. Man.
 
Exponential Decay, you're starting to badger a bit. You seem to be willfully exaggerating or misunderstanding the points that some posters are trying to make, pretending that someone was equating the obese with serial killers, etc.
 
Anyway, I have to start packing things up for the big move across the Atlantic, so I would like to conclude with an anecdote. Yes, I know anecdotes have little probative value.
 
Let's say that we're in a pub near a uni in the UK: a member of staff is discussing his weight problem (massive beer belly, mostly) with an earnest American student. Of the rest of us at the table, I of course suspect he's trying to apologize in advance for planning to hit on her later, maybe seeing how she reacts. Cue concerned student face. Student explains that it's not his fault: maybe genetics? maybe lack of fresh food within walking distance of where he, um, grew up? The prof is black, by the way, and the student is white. English prof takes swig of ale and says, "Nonsense. It's because I generally eat too much of the wrong type of thing and don't get off my fat arse enough."
 
So my question is, to those who have been steadily downvoting anyone who suggests that obesity is a combination of environmental and personal causes, what would you do as the earnest young student in this case? Would you insist on your multifaceted explanations of the professor's weight problem, or would you accept an intelligent, self-aware person's assessment of his own situation? Would you be shocked, shocked that he was a bit rude and offhand about his condition, and perhaps think he wasn't a very nice person for being so direct about obese people... oh, wait, he is obese. So is that OK now?
 
I think a good feature of US education is probably its emphasis on sensitivity. An equally good feature of UK education is its emphasis on vigorous debate with occasionally shocking humor. This has been an eye-opening thread in many ways,,,
 
Best of luck to all as we start the new adventure in grad school!

UConn, from what I know, is perceived as a much better program.  But location may be an issue for some.  I had really considered applying to UConn, I really liked the people there, but in the end, my significant other nixed moving to CT (still a bit bummed about that one).

http://www.budgetbytes.com
 
Best. site. ever.

Well, millions of people do this kind of thing every year. Married people in the military (pretty much any military in the world) are told where they will live, usually without much input from them, and they can either leave their family behind or take the family with. Most bring the family along. Now, the military does help with moving expenses, and there's enough income from one salary for frugal people to do fine with (or more, depending on rank), so the problems the OP will face with family are different, at least economically.

There are some social issues that you may or may not have problems with. He gets all of these looks whenever he talks about how we moved here for me to get my PhD. Sure, he's proud of me (his buttons are busting), but people find it very weird that a man will just give up everything and follow a wife's ambitions. They always ask him what he does. She's getting a Phd, what does he do? The men I know that drag their wives along to grad programs, post-docs, or professorships? Their women don't have this. He's getting a Phd, but what does she do?

The moving with the SO thing is problematic, no matter who follows who or why anyone moves. Moving is stressful. Jobs, schools, daily life: all stressful. The key is to make sure the relationship stays healthy. I could tell you what my guy and I do to maintain a healthy relationship, but we're not the same people. Making time for each other, communicating clearly when there are issues, actually listening (thinking about what the other person is saying empathetically, rather than planning what to say), and so on are the obvious things. But what works for you? You know.

It can be done, and it can be done well with satisfaction for everyone in the relationship.

I don't agree with the "everyone gets an A" philosophy and I think we have tons of grade inflation in the States for sure.  The British system has its problems but at least getting a first there is a pretty high bar.  It means something.  The problem is, instead, with everyone getting an upper-second, I think.  But at least the top is a high bar.
 
However, I think an arbitrary "one A a semester" system is just as bad because, after all, it's arbitrary.  The French department at my undergrad pretty much subscribed to that theory and it made people ragey.  I don't think it made me a better student.  I think it just made me break into tears a lot in my dorm room freshman year and curse the arbitrary standards set out for A's on homework (which were pretty subjective as opposed to exams).  It was later told to me that year by an upper-division student in French that, yes, the reason for this was the limit of 1-2 students getting an A in the course.  So, grades were artificially low on homework.  I seriously just wanted to give up.  Why bother if you always get a B no matter how hard you work on the homework?  There's no incentive to try harder or to improve.  And it seems rather prejudicial for one student alone to be "singled out" because you'd really have to chose that student which seems all kinds of wrong to me.
 
So, long story short I don't think your having high standards is bad at all.  I think arbitrary grades are just no better.

Did your meds come in yet?

... You didn't have to address me. I do it for the same reason I'm sure you made that comment.. Because I FELT like it. at least I said good luck. People just deserve to have their parade rained on. That's life. Just as easily as you could have ignored it so could these other people.

.... Yeah ha good luck with that.

...Groucho Marx is a comedian. This thread is about a joke. Not about some psychological issues.
 
EDIT: Or at least, that's how I felt reading it. Am I wrong, OP?

Just to clarify, what you're saying is basically that you don't think you're good enough to get in, but now that you've gotten in you are too good to go there?

Ummm what kind of logic is this?

Yeah totally team immature:)

And always upvoting the posts I downvoted and downvoting the posts I upvoted. So mature.

Like I said team jealous Bitch over here and not caring! I actually would wish worse things on them but I don't want the bad karma

LittleDarlings, on 13 Mar 2014 - 6:45 PM, said:
Because she's jealous that she has a boyfriend. 

Ditto to the post above... I love 30 Rock, Parks and Rec and House of Cards is AMAZING. Good to see another PLL addict, too
 
I enjoy Archer (I don't usually go for those adult cartoon shows but this one actually has me laughing out loud sometimes) and started a show called The Returned (Les Revenants) last night. It's more of a thriller... SUPER creepy. I had to stop watching it last night and put on something funny just so I could fall asleep. It's incredible though. French with subtitles, if you're OK with that.
 
And it that's totally not your style... maybe Arrested Development?

I downvoted you so that you could upvote yourself back to 0, as usual. 

Ok people holding offers, the deadline for decisions is coming up.  If you are holding multiple offers, bully for you. Please, let schools know if you aren't going there that you aren't going there so they can pass your offer on to others (maybe me :-) ).  Consider this I/O peer pressure :-)

I agree with you for the most part, especially the part about it depending on the family. The vibe I'm getting from most of these posts, though, is that the announcements will mostly be sent to people with whom you do not have a close relationship with, such as a distant cousin you never see. To me, the implication here is that they will only send you money because they would feel guilty if they didn't since they are related to you. I think this could lead to resentment from certain people. Definitely not all, but some. When I graduated high school, I was amazed that many people I didn't even know nor send an announcement still gave me money (these people were friends of my parents, went to the same church, etc.). So some people are just very generous and will be happy to give you money.

If you are sending out annoucements that you are graduating college and not inviting them to a party (inviting them to graduation doesn't count), then you aren't really being subtle about it. IMO you're demanding money.

Ultimately I think my problem with college grad announcements is that they imply a sort of better me than you attitude. Why does anyone owe you money for graduating college? If you need money that bad, I think asking close friends/family directly while explaining your situation is a much more tactful way to handle the situation.

I definitely understand that most people have a different opinion than me on this, so take my thoughts for what they're worth.

I make a point not to fish for money by doing things like this. Sure you may get money, but when it is blatantly obvious that you just want money, people probably will resent you for it. IMO, it's not worth the loss of self-respect, unless you are just completely last dollar broke. Even then, I'd still try to avoid this.

This thread has been quiet the past few days.  How are all of you guys doing?  Thinking of you all!

Pancakes and scrambled eggs, quesadillas, salad

"What, are you addicted to school or something?"
 
YES

I don't talk to guys like this first of all, second you don't have to respond... I don't remember specifically asking for you help so thanks but no thanks. . And yes all of those things did happen, it isn't as if I can just make myself not feel down. I am so happy all that stuff happened but still.

Well for your info I have been in a long distance relationship and if actually went on for a while so I do know what I am talking about. Guess what?? It didn't last because most LDR don't... Just saying. If a relationship was important to some people I just couldn't see them willingly embarking on something so difficult that could ruin it. Simple as that.
BUT it's whatever it doesn't even remotely matter to me so good luck with whatever happens in your relationships or whatever.