123hardasABC

So much this. I lived in NYC for a year and a half and I had to get roommates to live comfortably. It was the worst thing in the world. If I were to do it again, I would sacrifice food and heating just to afford living in my own apartment. In case anyone asks why...aka I need to rant: Queens: was 110% comfortable with living with a cockroach infestation, brought home bedbugs and did not care (I left immediately) Brooklyn: did not do dishes (left them out until they developed their own ecosystem); never took out the trash (bred maggots); did not buy toilet paper (I had TP in my own room and tested to see how long they would last: 1 week); would leave food in the fridge until moldy, nothing was safe (there was a bag of carrots that turned into green/brown sludge, and mold started growing inside a Britta pitcher -- how??); left cooked food out on the stove because putting it in the fridge was too hard (left cooked pasta on the stove until mold, did this twice); wanted the apartment tropical in the winter so turned up the heat until 75-80 degrees ($300 gas bill) East Harlem: night owl screamed bloody murder from her room at 3am, legit screamed and cursed in the middle of the night

Yeah. I think they want to gauge what their chances are of recruiting you (i.e. if you're applying to more than one school in the area, you're more likely to live (semi) permanently there; if you're applying to schools outside of their ranking, they'll figure they're just the safety school; etc.) and what other schools they're competing against for cheap research slave labor....ahem, I mean graduate students. My titles were just "Thank you". I'm not very creative.

Keep it short and cordial. No one has time to read a lengthy email about you gushing over the school. My template was along the lines of "Thank you for taking the time to interview me at [X school]. It was a pleasure meeting you and getting to discuss [insert: general school stuff, specific research stuff, etc.]."

Yikes. This is why I created a new email specifically for applications. Do they offer alternate dates?

Yup. Definitely do this. Give each interviewer a short and simple "thank you for your time," and make sure each email is slightly personalized. If something memorable happened during the interview, bring it up. Like for one of mine, my boyfriend's father was his attending. Small world!

No, don't bother. The world will end at that point.

I just came back from my first interview last night. I don't know how I feel. I keep replaying moments in my head that I could have done better. Not sure if I'm overthinking or my premonitions are correct.

Oh my god. I love you.

You're one to talk.... O_O

I wish you did too. My interview is tomorrow and I don't know if I have a good answer to that.... WHO AM I?!?!

I love this attitude!

I just made the mistake of looking at the current students at the program I'm interviewing this Friday and counting how many students enter each year. The numbers are small. The nerves are beyond me now.

I love Serial! The theme song may or may not be my ringtone..... I've been following it since the beginning (big This American Life fan).

I just started Making a Murderer. My head is about to explode.

This resonates pretty true right now. I wanted a second serving of pasta for dinner even though I knew I was going to feel too full and regret it. (I did regret it, btw)

Good luck!

I just got a call from Columbia, MO. I thought it was Mizzou calling but it was just an automated telemarketer phone call telling me my credit card is not endangered but I should enter my card number just in case to verify. Here's a big ol' middle finger to the world!

Neither of my parents are educated. They came from poor, rural families in China, and were schoolchildren when Mao was still around. My mother is very (very, very, very) supportive. She recognizes that times have changed and hard work alone sometimes isn't enough nowadays. She's unconditionally supportive, both emotionally and financially. My dad...not so much. He's not the proudest father since I'm 25, have been in school for nearly 20 years, and still don't have a "real job." As for the popping out kids part, he disapproves that I live with my boyfriend (premarital, and such) so I ain't exactly Daddy's Little Girl right now.... :|

This fills me with so much glee.

Even though I'm pursuing a PhD in medical sciences, I get raised eyebrows. People question why I didn't just apply to medical school because MDs make X more than PhDs do. You just gotta do you. People are gonna put you down regardless of your choices.

Omg. Please share this typo. I went to Cal so I cherish every little Stanford failure I can find.

According to my Masters application, I went to "UC Berkekeley" for undergrad. :X

Hello, all. The interview season is creeping up on us. What are your post-interview plans? For me it's: If it goes poorly: cheap beer, pizza rolls, and Legally Blonde If it goes well: evening with the beau at a nice cocktail bar (I got a gift card there for Christmas; I'm too poor to splurge for real) Whatever the case, my interview is on a Friday so I'm getting drunk as soon as I get home.

I also only applied to 4. Most people in the biology thread applied to at least 7 or 8...so that's really terrifying. But I'm at that point in my life where, while I'm still not done with my education, I'm settling down. I'm getting old; I can't be chasing diplomas from coast to coast like I used to.

Congratulations! Now get off this forum and enjoy your big day!! I toast my morning coffee to you!