iamwhoiam

I know this is probably not relevant to the OP's post, but do people usually talk after the interview (besides the thank you note) through email? My POI said I was welcome to ask any further questions I might have, but I feel that I've gotten enough information and just want the decision.

Where should I live if I want to keep my car? I'm going to Columbia this fall for my MA and I know everyone says sell your car, but I bought a brand new car just a year ago and it's been really hard trying to sell it. I've already looked at Jersey City/Hoboken and it seems pretty pricey and the area doesn't seem as safe once you are further away from the PATH trains. Also parking there is quite pricey, most people told me I won't be able to street park in JC. Fort Lee looked promising but people keep telling me commuting across the GW bridge can get really bad, and don't recommend it. I already looked at Queens, not sure if street parking will work, seemed like a hassle to get to the other side of Manhattan, and desirable areas are also as expensive as Manhattan. I haven't looked into Brooklyn but it seemed like way too long of a commute since Columbia is on the upper side. How is the Bronx? Are there any neighborhoods you can recommend? Are there any places in NY where you can street park (somewhat) easily? I've already talked with OCHA and a bunch of realtors and the only thing they say is sell my car, which I've been trying to do for 3 months now. I don't need something really cheap in rent but if I add up the cost of things like garage parking I might as well just sell my car to a dealer at crappy trade in value and live in a nice apartment in Manhattan. I know the commute is a trade-off for having a car, which I don't mind too much, but it's difficult trying to weigh all the options when you're across the country. Sorry for the frustration, but I feel like trying to sell your car is harder than selling your soul.

What, no love for Far West? I'm sad. Here's my overview on Austin's student housing, based on my 4 years here. The rule of common sense does apply, as in don't leave your GPS in your car. Please take my crime stories with a grain of salt, I am just trying to make the point that Austin is not the safest place in the world, although it's safer than big cities like NYC. Just have common sense, travel in a group when going home late at night, and may good luck be with you. Also, I am bored and the stories are sticking out in my head. The crime happens VERY RARELY, think once a year, and to very different people in different neighborhoods in Austin. I have never had any car break-ins or anything in my 4 years here. Those with (*) means having a car will be very beneficial, in some cases. West Campus: + Pros: Don't need a car - you can just walk (under 10 min, depending on the building) to school and back! Of course, there's a shuttle too (WC).Very easy access to get to UT, 6th street (can take the e-bus) and the drag. Lots of restaurants on the drag. Seems pretty pet friendly. Big undergrad scene. There are quite a few new apartment complexes built recently, with pretty sweet amenities. You can take the bus downtown to Whole Foods. - Cons: There's no big supermarket (sorry, I like HEB). Of course the obvious: wild partying, loud undergrads, lots of frat and sorority houses. Pretty expensive just for location. If you are a deep sleeper, this might work. If not, sorry. There may be some petty crime (car break-ins, apartment break-ins etc.) but again, use common sense. I remember some friends really not liking some realty properties, but I'm not sure which ones. North Campus/Hyde Park: + Pros: I love this area. Many grad students I know live here, it's very quiet, pretty affordable (although costs keep going up each year) and easy to get to campus, just bike or take the IF bus. Pretty pet friendly. Safe neighborhood. - Cons: Again, no HEB (supermarket), can't get there unless you have a car. (*) There are a few little convenience stores around that are walkable, but I haven't been to any, so no knowledge on that. Don't get an apartment facing directly on Speedway, the traffic is loud because the walls can be paper thin. Apartments can be pretty old, and newer apartments are more expensive. Red River: I only know the region up to the HEB at 41st. The rest I don't know, sorry. + Pros: It has a 24 hour supermarket/HEB. AWESOME. It's on the shuttle route (RR) too, so you can do the whole get off at HEB, take shuttle home with groceries. Very close to the law school and music school. Very close to campus, you can bike there or even walk, especially to the law school. Pretty quiet neighborhood. Oh, just FYI, there is St. David's hospital nearby. I consider it a safe neighborhood. - Cons: Like many places near UT, you really do pay more for location. If you can find an affordable gem, that's great, but my personal experience was paying good money for a crappy place. I think many apartments are a bit more run-down compared to other places, but of course, YMMV. Far West: I love Far West. Of course, I'm biased, but who cares. + Pros: Getting to HEB is very walkable, especially if you live on the earlier stops on the shuttle (FW). I've seen people who get off at the 1st stop of the UT shuttle, go to HEB, and come back with bags to take the shuttle again all the way to their stop (near the end). Housing is actually pretty affordable, with studios starting at around $550 (my friend looked around for a new lease last month, that's how I know, but she said the cheaper they are, the tinier.)One bedrooms probably around 650-700, if you can haggle, great. If you have roommates, price goes down. Pet friendly, lots of dogs around. Very quiet neighborhood, very little partying, mostly grad students and families I think. Safe neighborhood for sure, unless you do stupid things like leaving valuables in your car (yes, my neighbor had his window smashed in so they could get his GPS and satellite radio). - Cons: Pretty far from UT campus, you can't go to school on weekends unless you have a car (Saturdays - no shuttle, Sunday - VERY infrequent shuttle), takes about 20-25 minutes by bus. Going downtown/6th and coming back (without a car) will be extremely hard unless you have friends who can drive you back or let you stay at their place. I think you also have to pick a good apartment complex. From what I've heard some of them are pretty awful (rats, bad management) and some are quite good at doing their job. Please PM me for specific complexes. I don't want to sound like an advertiser, and I really don't know too much about most of them except from word-of-mouth. Apartments are fairly old, but some have done renovations. Mopac is very bad during rush hour. Arboretum/North Austin: (*)! + Pros: I would say it's a yuppie neighborhood, there's a Whole Foods, the Gateway mall (where they have a movie theater, a Best Buy, a Container Store, etc.) There's a Bed Bath and Beyond, a Petco, a Costco, and Sam's Club in the area as well. Also a Barnes and Noble, a Saks, a Cheesecake Factory and other stores. I've found that prices were quite comparable for more decent apartments (newer, better quality, etc.) I think someone mentioned Riata - that's a pretty nice apartment complex, very new, although expensive if you're living alone. I heard they have an awesome, REAL gym in the complex. If you work in the JJ Pickle research center, this is great because it's really close. I think lots of families live here too. If you go up way, way north, to Metric and such (near ACC Stonehollow), I think you can find cheap and nice apartments, but of course, it's really far from campus. - Cons: There are no shuttles to campus, the only way is to take the 982 bus (or other Metro buses) which takes 40 min to an hour (I think, I'm not entirely sure) to UT campus. If you have a car, you could drive to places where they have a shuttle, park there, and then just take the shuttle. Again, it's really far from campus, so you would probably want a car to go places. Traffic is hell during rush hour on 183. Riverside: I personally do not recommend. + Pros: Cheap, lots of direct shuttles to campus (Shuttle routes are NR, CP, LS, WL), lots of UT students. Somewhat pet friendly. Shuttle does drop you off at a weird location (next to the stadium) and it takes a while. Especially during rush hour, it's crazy because I-35 sucks. - Cons: At times, it can be really loud with some parties going on during the weekend, which will leave your hallway scattered with drunk undergrads, red plastic cups, and loud bass blasting next to your wall. Also, there is some small crime (e.g., my friend got her side mirror broken torn off...not sure why.) Sometimes cops show up at night for some illegal activity and whatnot. I had a friend that heard a gunshot in the apartment below him (very rare). I think one time someone had their stuff stolen, but it was probably their fault for not locking the door properly while they were out, I think. Gated communities, pfft. The gates were almost always broken. HOWEVER, please take my experiences with a grain of salt, as I have not been here in a couple of years. I did stay over a number of times at friends' apartments and never felt like I was in grave danger. Usually the apartment complexes are quite safe. YMMV (*): Car is necessary only when you want to go to the supermarket (HEB) and don't want to walk a mile and back with heavy groceries. Most of my friends' roommates had cars, so they'd have to hitch a ride whenever they went. South Austin: I really don't know too much about South Austin, as I rarely go there and don't have many friends who live there. However, I think it has more of a yuppie feel to it in some places and there is a nice greenbelt, and of course, Barton Creek Mall and Zilker park. Apartment price ranges are all over, but again, I don't know this area too well. I did go to a friend's apartment in that area once and it was very nice and spacious. (*): Oh, I think a car would be necessary because I think only Metro buses come down there, no shuttle buses. Also, getting to South Austin during rush hour is hell. Especially if you have to take I-35. Mopac is just as bad. I don't know much about Manchaca or Slaughter, but I heard some students with families live there. Just a thought on some people talking about East Austin/Manor Road. If you can find a decently safe neighborhood there, then yes, it's affordable, good restaruants, close to campus! BUT, my friend got mugged there while walking home a few years back. He told me he moved out immediately. I also have a friend who lives in the same area (East Austin/Manor Road) and she has never gotten any trouble, loves the area, has her own house, walks her dog each evening and never gets in any trouble. Really, YMMV!! School Apartments (Gateway, Colorado, Brackenridge) + Pros: VERY affordable. There's a UT shuttle (LA). Lots of grad students and families live there, I don't know too many single people living there. Very safe neighborhood. - Cons: There's no guarantee you'll get a spot your first year, and you don't get to pick which apartment complex you go to. It's pretty competitive because it's so cheap. There's a Randalls nearby for grocery shopping. Final Thoughts: Please, this is just my perspective, I hope you don't find anything offensive. Grammar/spelling...I'm too lazy to think of that, it's 5 am and I can't sleep! I love Austin, I have been very happy these past 4 years, and all my friends loved living here as well. Safety is always a matter of common sense and luck. Also, traffic is ALWAYS bad anywhere during rush hour, but I always feel that I-35 is more jammed for longer periods of time. Housing costs will differ, but if you have roommates, it's always going to be cheaper than living alone. Hope this helps!

Are there any people who moved to NYC without using a realtor? I heard lots of scary stories about online scammers and how NY realtors are a big waste of money (for students), so I am unsure about how to find a place to live. Is it possible to visit 1-2 months earlier and lease an apartment after looking around, or are they all like "move in now!"? I have quite a bit of money saved up so I would really like to live in Manhattan (UWS, Hell's Kitchen, Morningside Heights, etc.) for a couple of years. Any grad students who live in NYC or who go to Columbia, input will be greatly appreciated!!!

Well, I'm not sure of the OP's current funds, but what if he doesn't have $3500 to lose? He did say he might not have the funds to move back to the US in August (but...um, wouldn't your current salary help cover it?) I would ask, first, if you CAN defer, with the fellowship (although I rather doubt they will let you keep the fellowship). I'm curious to know why it's impossible for you to move to the US in 6 days. I mean, sure, it's going to be EXTREMELY hard (I moved overseas from another country to the US for undergrad, so I know how it is), but aren't there any grad communities or maybe (if you're Korean?) Korean communities that can help out, like churches? You could look on craigslist for a furnished sublease for a month or two, and then find your own place. Can you start packing and doing stuff little by little before you actually move? This is under the assumption that you would attend UT Knoxville. However, it really sounds to me that you have "moved on" and you are not too thrilled with attending this school. If you feel that you would rather be somewhere else, not just for convenience's sake but for other reasons (research interests, location, etc.) I would say just go with your gut. Why not give a few days to think over the pros and cons of attending the school (and not just about the fellowship. What if you didn't have it? Would you still go?) and make your decision. Also, I imagine living in Knoxville would be dull compared to Seoul. I visited a few years back (OMG, that soju was awesome -- and CHEAP!) and I had a BLAST. One of the best cities in the world.

Face Off

Well, when I first got my invite, it said I would be meeting with a few different professors in the department, so I wasn't sure who to expect. I'll definitely ask the grad secretary.

I got invited to an interview to a school that works on the mentor-student system. I listed a couple of different POIs I wanted to work with in my SOP, and now that I'm going to interview, I have no idea who in particular wanted to interview me. The interview invite came from the department secretary and I'm trying to prepare for both professors, but it would be nice to know which prof. wanted me in his/her lab. Any help?

Anyone ever have a professor they've NEVER met before criticize them? I was looking for RA positions in my school, and I contacted a few professors. One professor seemed interested, and he asked to see my CV and writing samples, etc. We scheduled an interview to see how we would get along. On the day of the interview, I met with him in his office, sat down, and he began to ask me a few questions about myself. However, they were mostly, "Have you ever used this experimentation method?" (something only relevant to his lab) or "Are you familiar with coding with this software?" To be honest, I knew some students who used that particular software...in grad school. I've only heard of a few undergrads using it for their schoolwork. Basically, in the end, he told me how I was unqualified to work as his RA, and called me a liar because I had stated that I had "lots of experience" working in labs. I had worked in 3 different labs with different professors during my undergrad career. He asked me if I was considering graduate school, which I was, and told me outright that I basically had a slim chance with my current record. (My GPA was a 3.7, I hadn't taken the GREs yet, and I was preparing to write up an individual project). In his words, I had to get over 1300+ to be considered a "top applicant" and he doubted if anyone could do that well at my school. He told me I would have to sacrifice a lot of time with my individual study, like he did when he was a master's student - and told me he could not see me working as an RA in his lab because of that. Even after all these attacks, I still somehow managed to smile politely like the gentleman I was, thanked him for his advice and went my way. I was throughly shaken up inside after this though, but after a heart-to-heart meeting with some grad students in my lab (who reassured me I was doing the best I could do go to grad school), I decided to perservere. And now here I am! I ended up working as an RA in my current lab, helping with a publication while doing my individual study. P.S. Several details have been changed since I don't want to be identified somehow, but the major I am applying to is very, very competitive, which might explain that professor's incredulous attitude about students getting in.

School A never replied back to ANY of my emails or phone messages I left asking about my application. The interview invites were sent a couple of days ago, so I guess it's over for me at that school. Hopefully I didn't waste my app money sending in an application they never reviewed. Sigh.

Honestly, I would say scrap it. At first, I thought you got this from a textbook. I think professors and adcoms already know what civil engineering is, they want to know more about you! Maybe you should start with something that shows what you feel about civil engineering (using that passage as an inspiration - maybe somehow link it to yourself?) and what motivated you to continue studying it. But you know, what would I know...I'm just another applicant lurking on gradcafe. :-)Just my 2 cents.

Nope, it's not in Tennessee, it's a school on the east coast with one of those "applyyourself" websites, and that's the only way I know about my app status. I will keep my fingers crossed, thanks for all the encouragement! Now if only my last LOR would get uploaded for school B. Good luck to everyone else! I know we're all anxiously waiting for the decisions to begin...

I've sent off all my scores and transcripts to School A back in November. I know it got there, but my online status still says INCOMPLETE application because the scores and transcripts aren't updated! I've tried calling the grad coordinator, I've emailed, I've left a message, but still no word. When asked if there was anyone else I could talk to in the department, the answer is always no. I remember reading somewhere on their website that interview invites would be given out mid-January (around 1/18), late Jan. at the latest...and I'm getting pretty antsy here. Does anyone else have this problem? I'm giving them until Friday and then I'm going into panic mode.

I remember the NSF GRF asking for way too many details on proposed plan of research (ultimately, I couldn't finish it on time and could not submit), but how specifically did you write your research plans for your SOP? I only wrote something very vague, such as "would like to study the effects of drug addiction etc., and find treatments for it using etc." (this is not my area of interest, so I have no better details.) Did you write something more specific? I heard writing research interests that were too narrow were worse than too broad, but now I look back and think maybe it was too vague. Ah, post-application depression is sinking in. Happy Holidays everyone!

I wish I hadn't read these. I used the horrifying "putting a quotation in your SOP" rule, and I feel bad. I even managed work my entire essay around it. The only reason for keeping it was that everyone who read my SOP told me to use the quote. Oh well, it's too late now.