Lifesaver

Not for nothing, but what does your boyfriend think about all of this? Is he jumping on the bandwagon for you, or does he actually want to/has the means to travel internationally for an undergraduate degree where no one speaks his language? Sounds a little one sided to me.

Really, bro?

Paris. If your relationship is meant to be, you'll survive the 450 km. Especially since it's only a year. Also, you mention a potential PhD in the US in the future. Would she be coming with you then? Because that's a huge commitment on her end. So, if it's possible that you'll inevitably be split up by the Atlantic Ocean for a handful of years later down the road, why sacrifice your education for her now? Ya know?

Subaru has the best AWD system, hands down. I wouldn't buy a Honda if you're relying on it to get through snow. A Chevy, maybe. I love subies.

I am a firm believer that if you make it into a big deal, others will make it into a big deal. Even if it's not a commonality in your department, as someone above stated, you're probably not the first gay person they ever encountered. And, assuming they're all big boys and girls, I can't imagine it being an issue. I have worked with a handful of homosexuals, as well as a handful of religious southerners, all at the same time. While one group may not have necessarily agreed with the lifestyle choices of the other group (and certainly vice versa), everyone got along just fine. Everyone respected each other as professionals and as people. When we have functions outside of work where it is appropriate to bring spouses, everyone brings theirs, regardless of their sexuality. So, rock on, bring your partner. Don't make a big fuss. Introduce him like you would anyone else. I highly doubt any grown person is going to make a huge scene and start screaming, "OMGGGG YOU'RE GAAAAYYY?!?!?!?!" And if they do, please kick them in the shins for me.

Here's my back story. Undergrad was rough for me. I was sick like 50% of the time because I needed to have major surgery that would require me to leave school. I muscled through it and had surgery almost immediately following. Also, my boyfriend was deployed, which caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. I transferred schools twice, and I just wasn't in a good place and I was completely disinterested in my education at the time. Thus, my grades suffered. A lot. I came out of undergrad with a whopping 2.3 GPA. I can defend it til I'm blue in the face, but nobody really cares about my excuses. Here's what I did. I worked a really awesome job for eight years. While my friends were mixing drinks at a bar or folding shirts in a store, I was saving lives as an EMT. I have a pretty cool resume since I took every possible class offered to me, pertaining to my job. I also got great references from people that I worked with/for. I also did three years of volunteer work, played a college sport, speak a foreign language, and some other odds and ends that come up on my resume. Sounds like you've got all that covered. I knew I'd eventually have to go back to school to raise my GPA when I started applying for jobs and they wouldn't even give me the time of day due to my GPA. At the time, I was very passionate about law enforcement and being employed by a three letter agency, so I decided to go back to get my masters in criminal justice (no MSW program in the area). Even if I didn't get a job in the field, I would at least enjoy the subject matter. The only school in my local area that offered a CJ minor was a very small private university (virtually unheard of outside of SC), nothing like my huge undergrad public university. I had to stay local due to my medical issues, so I only had that one option. I went in and spoke to an admissions rep who told me that my GPA was too low (3.0 requirement), but if I scored high enough on the GRE/MAT, they'd admit me provisionally on academic probation. So, I took the MAT (I'm awful at math, GRE was out) and scored really well. They admitted me immediately, no questions asked. I spent my first semester on academic probation, but was removed and admitted to regular standing after I pulled off a 3.9 GPA that first semester. A few semesters later, I graduated with my masters and a lovely 3.83 GPA! When applying to MSW programs, I found that the majority of schools I was applying to asked their applicants to explain briefly any academic mishaps in their SOP. So, at the end of mine, I touched on my medical issues and stated that I could provide physician documentation, etc, blah blah blah. Use that SOP wisely! If you've got a good reason, tell 'em! As you can see in my signature, I made out pretty well when I applied for my MSW, regardless of my craptastic undergrad GPA. Only one school (NYU) decided to start me off on academic probation. I even got scholarships from two schools! One was a significant amount of money. And that's my story. Took a while for me to get here, but I'm here, and couldn't be happier with my options. I'm also very happy that I got my MSCJ first. I LOVED graduate school and everything about it. It was night and day from undergrad. Doing a first masters has also prepared me for my MSW. I did a lot of research, wrote a thesis, and made great contacts, all while beefing up my resume and GPA. What could be better? All in all, my advice is to find a school that will admit you via test scores. I know that there are a few out there that require applicants to take the GRE/MAT if their GPA is below a 3.0 - I'd lean towards applying to those schools, since many don't require and don't want test scores at all. Don't give up! Someone will give you a shot. It may not be your dream school, and it may not be immediately, but you'll get there. Good luck!

That would be HER Jeep. I thought my hair gave it away. Maybe not. My boyfriend has two pick-up trucks, along with a Jeep of his own. If you want to talk specifics, that'd be: - 2006 Ford F250 (diesel) (purchased used, in cash, in 2013) - 2011 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali Duramax diesel (purchased new, mostly in cash) - 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport (purchased used, in cash, in 2009) What were you wanting to know about the trucks? The imports you mentioned all hold their value fairly well. You'll be able to pick any of those vehicles up used for under $50,000, but probably not as cheap as you're hoping. Then again, I don't know how many miles you're comfortable with, and you may have luck finding a high mileage ride for cheaper. If you buy from a dealer, the vehicle will likely be eligible for some kind of used car warranty. I wouldn't buy a used car without one. Make sure you give the car a good look over. When I bought my first and only used car, it needed two have two tires replaced, a serpentine belt changed, and needed new brake pads on all four. If I hadn't said anything, they wouldn't have told me. Car places/dealers can be super sketchy. If you don't speak cars, bring a friend who does, or write into your agreement that the sale isn't final until you have a mechanic look at it. Most dealers will allow you to test drive a car overnight/over a weekend, which will give you time to have someone look at it and make sure it isn't beat to crap. In terms of haggling... If you're no good and want to skip that process entirely, go to Carmax. They give you their bottom line price immediately and do not haggle. Saves you some energy, but personally, I found them to be a bit overpriced. Personally, I'd go with a BMW. My mother drives a 335xi and my dad drives an x5 currently. We've had a few others over the years, and I've really enjoyed them. They ride well, hold up great, and their service departments seem to be pretty accommodating. The only downside is that parts can be harder to find/more expensive than American/Japanese parts. And that they only take premium gas. However, I believe that will be the case for an Acura and/or Infiniti as well.

As I said above, I bought two new cars in grad school. I don't have a spouse paying my bills, nor am I supported by my parents or any other outside source. Interest rates are much lower on new cars than used cars, and since I have good credit, I qualified for a 1.9% interest loan. I priced out new and used cars, and spending a whopping $10 less a month on a 3-4 year old vehicle (Jeeps hold their value) didn't make any sense to me. I wouldn't have much of a warranty and I could have inherited someone's neglect/issues.

Unless you know how to diagnose and fix a car on your own, stay away from the $500 craigslist specials. I bought two cars (well, SUVs) last year. In March of 2013 I bought a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport because my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee was having transmission issues and I didn't want to spend a couple of grand replacing a transmission in a 7 year old vehicle with 130,000 miles. In September of 2013, I decided I wanted something bigger that I originally couldn't afford because my trade wasn't worth a whole lot. So, I traded it in for a 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport and increased my monthly payments by only $20, without a down payment. I couldn't be happier. Unless of course someone offered to make my payments for me. It's got a 100,000 mile warranty, free oil changes for a year, roadside assistance, I can trailer with it, go offroad, make it a convertible, and it's just awesome.

Close your account. It's yours. You're entitled to do that. And yes, they're probably using it and messing up your credit. Happened to a good friend of mine. So, close it sooner rather than later.

Jeezy petes. Dont throw that stuff out! I have been asked for my high school diploma numerous times this year when applying for jobs. Granted, law enforcement jobs want to know every last detail, down to the last time you farted, but still, don't throw it out. It's a huge pain in the rear to get a copy. Keep it all in a folder together. Problem solved.

If you want to do psychotherapy and CBT, I think you're heading in the wrong direction. That's straight up psychology. And I don't think even NYU has a program that would fit your bill, despite the fact that they're heavily clinical. Why didn't the PsyD program work for you? Seems like it's way closer to what you're actually looking for since so much of the MSW program and role of a social worker is rooted in different principles.

Plenty of people go to graduate school with husbands and children. It's not impossible. In fact, at 25, I was the youngest graduate in my class for my first master's degree.

I'm not entirely sure where you're getting your numbers from. If we're talking strictly tuition (ie: living expenses, health insurance, etc, removed from the equation) NYU won't even put you at the $80,000 mark. Yes, it's close, but it's still under your projected range of $80k-$100k. Fordham is approximately $20,000 less. Hunter is obviously significantly less, as is any other state school. There are cheaper options out there, even ones that hold some prestige, though many argue that prestige is useless in the realm of MSWs. Personally, I'm hoping they're right, being that I turned it down (somewhat; Tulane is a great school, too) for the sake of cost and location. Regardless of anything, getting your MSW and working as an LCSW, or working as anything for that matter, should be about your drive to do it and not about the money. I guarantee you that there's not a single social worker in the world who is in it for the money. It's not a get rich quick scheme. But if you want to do it, and you feel like it will give your life purpose and meaning, and you truly want to help others, then do it. Yes, you'll have student loan debt - we all do. Most people who go to college/graduate school do. So what? You can't take your (or your husband's, in your case) money with you when you die. My suggestion? If you really want to do be a social worker, that is... Is to pay your own bill. That way it's your risk and you don't have to justify anything to anyone. You won't owe any explanations and you can move at your own pace without someone pressuring you to make a timely return on their investment.

If you've already notified your PI about his strange behavior, your PI is aware. Notify them of any new odd behavior/comments, but I would draw the line there. Most people who try to kill themselves and fail don't come bouncing into the lab and announce it to people. Especially those who are serious about it.

Color me harsh, but this isn't any of your business. Especially because you weren't friends to begin with. Do you even know whether your source is reliable? Would hate for everyone to act super awkward and ask really out-of-line- questions over a speculative rumor. Are there red flags, warning signs? Does he walk into the room saying he's got plans to kill himself again tonight? Until he displays a cry for help literally in front of you, there isn't much for you to do. If he's on medication, he is already being monitored by a professional. And if your PI is already aware of his funky behavior, what more is there to do?

Vistaprint.com I think it was like $5 for 500 business cards? Yeah, too many, but super cheap. I suggest them and suggest you having them. Never know who you might bump into.

You won't find a one bedroom in a safe neighborhood for $600-$700. Perhaps in a house, but certainly not a furnished apartment in BR.

Anyone else planning on being there? There doesn't appear to be anyone in my program (social work) on GC, but hopefully there are others in other programs around here! Look forward to hearing from you.

Make sure that research methods is a class you can actually test out of before you get all excited and buy books. A lot of schools put a lot of effort into their research classes (meaning they make you take more than one), and I can't imagine it being on the list of test-out classes. Especially since it doesn't come naturally to a lot of people and if you have a stickler for a professor, it's easy to do it very wrong.

RENT! I have ~$1,000 worth of textbooks from my first masters sitting and collecting dust in my house. The professors felt like they were doing us a service by not requiring the newest edition, however, when it comes time to sell an edition that's 2 or 3 behind, nobody wants to buy them, leaving you in my current position. I wised up and started renting anything that was going to cost me more than the rental price during the beginning of my second year. Not soon enough. I kept some from undergrad with the intention of using them as references in the future. Yeah, right.

Not sure what happened with your decision, but don't worry, you don't want to live in Columbia anyway.

Call your fieldwork advisor. If anyone knows the answer specific to your location, it will be them.