jamesshaffer85

I always knew people are so similar in so many ways   
I've already heard nearly everything enlisted here.
My personal favorite is: "Everything will be ok even if you don't get anywhere." Thanks, it's exactly what I didn't want to think of.

I don't think there's such thing as too late when it comes to application. If you feel like this program can change your life for better, you definitely should go for it. I think that realization that you need to change soething is the best motivation possible. I think this informed choice might b your advantage over other applicants. Good luck with your study and the application process!

Yeah, I agree with TakeruK - I've been very frugal with conferences, but in the past I've had to pass on them because the least I've ever been able to spend has been $700 for a 3-day conference.  If flights are $300 and even if you can snag a room for $100/night and just spend 2 nights there, that's already $500.  Add the registration ($300), food (I think a frugal student can spend $40 a day, so $120) travel to and from the airport (could be anything from $10-60 depending on the availability of public transit) and that's already $1,000.  Even if you were able to find one student to share a room with and the room rate was around $100 a night, that only reduces the cost by $100.
 
The only way I've been able to save significant money is if the conference was close enough to take a bus to.