ohh-holy-hell

I moved to the area (from out of state) to attend SBU as a doctoral student this year. There is a dearth of rental housing. There are some managed apartment complexes but none in SB proper and they're typically more expensive. A ton of illegal apartments (be wary--though it can be just fine; mine is illegal) and many in people's basements (no thanks). There *are* apartments where you don't have to share, often off the back/side of a house or above a garage. Even teeny, tiny cottages on the property of larger houses. This area is just barely suburban, crossing over from beachy/rural. Port Jefferson is the hub of...anything and it would be ideal to live in an apartment right in town, probably over the shops. I couldn't find anything there but I was told, after I got here, that you can find those listings in the village newspaper (don't remember the name). I found my place on Craigslist. Newsday online is good too but there are very often brokers' fees that are the equivalent of one month's rent (you've got to be kidding me--maybe in NYC, but out here?). The cost of living is below NYC but not by much, imo.

@EKPhrase--that is awfully kind of you. I appreciate it.

I've been waitlisted at Stony Brook and it's my first choice so I'm terribly interested in the cohort--and, let's be honest, whether anyone declines their acceptance!

jjm, as much as I'd like for you to decline your acceptance and throw a bone to those of us on the LUC waitlist , I believe all offers of admission to the PhD are funded. That's how it was framed for me in an email from the DGS. It's worth asking them.

My Columbia .pdf status is "COMPLETE ENO"--and it's cut off there. What? Did they accidentally type an extra e before my "NO"? Do they think I'm totally like Brian Eno? Does anyone else's say that?

Here's to the boot! *clink* That's odd. There have been a few USPS rejections from Brandeis over the last few weeks on the board. FWIW, I already have an MA. Maybe that makes a difference...

I got the boot from Brandeis today. USPS.

Update... I was waitlisted for Loyola today via USPS. To put it the way it really happened... I WAS WAITLISTED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After a series of rejections and losing hope for me/my husband/my effing mortgage to stay in Chicago, this is such a wonderful glimmer of hope, even if it doesn't pan out. Sweet, sweet, mercy, I hope people withdraw their names. No info on # of admits/waitlists/applications, but I'd love to know. I may email to ask. Good luck to all.

Ivy admits, Would you consider withdrawing your applications from all the non-Ivies, particularly those geographically near your future schools, to increase the chances of those of us still waiting? Ever in agony, ohh-holy-hell p.s. This is, of course, a joke. But, an applicant can dream.

Agreed. That was one of the most enjoyable results to read. Bravo!

That's really helpful. LUC is one of my top choices (if not the top, given the way the other Chicago schools have gone for me). I also got the mass email about still reviewing apps (though my heart skipped 3 beats when I got it)--I think I got it on Monday. That's certainly an interesting way of doing things. I wonder just how many apps they got...

There's a new ND acceptance today. Anyone to claim?

UIC has only received something like 7% of its state funding this year so there are broad cuts, forced furloughs--even for tenured faculty. I wouldn't be surprised if they cut the slots again this year. They're in a bit of a crisis mode.

Congratulations to the Maryland acceptance... Any chance you'd be willing to offer stats/any info? I'm particularly curious since they were only accepting PhD students with MAs in hand this year. Thanks in advance.

As of today, there's another Brandeis USPS rejection... any takers?

Your observations on the crime reports are spot on--basically, Hyde Park *is* a bit of the oasis they say it is because, to be candid, it has an unusally high concentration of white people on the south side aside from Bridgeport and Beverly. So, I think many times people (those who don't typically concern themselves with anything to the south, anyway) try to equate HP with neighborhoods on the north side with similar amenities, which simply doesn't work. So, the perception ranges from inaccurate links between non-white race and crime to more realistic gauges of the realities of the area. Generally, Hyde Park and a wide-ranging circle around it is pretty safe, relative to city-wide crime statistics (and safety is just a perception, isn't it?). As a woman walking alone after dark, I feel safer around Hyde Park than a north side "destination" neighborhood like Lincoln Park where crimes seem to be more targeted (especially random crimes against women, usually sexual) and where there is a higher concentration of young singles and bars, etc. That said, it is a large city and there are murders and rapes in every neighborhood. So, of course, you have to be smart no matter where you are. That said, HP had a 30-year crime low in '07 or '08 (can't remember). Overall, it's got most amenities one could want (it does lack a little in retail shopping but that will change in the next few years with a couple of huge development projects) and a range of cultural activities. Plus, it has a near-Utopian racial makeup and an absurdly high amount of people with graduate degrees (something like 44%, if I remember correctly from the Red Eye when they were compulsively profiling our neighborhood around the time of the presidential election) while still being pretty economically diverse. I feel comfortable riding my bike from HP all the way to downtown, through the neighborhoods. (But, like with any area of town, this is only after living here a while and getting to know each neighborhood--I don't feel comfortable riding through any part of town where I'm not familiar with the geography). But, we have the lakefront trail, which is wonderful--not to mention its beaches and parks and Promontory Point. I used to occasionally ride my bike to the north side to work and would take the lakefront because there aren't any cars to deal with, though it is a longer, more winding journey. For a leisurely ride during warm months, nothing beats it! If I were to commute every day on a bike, I'd go through the city. Chicago buses are bike-friendly, so if you did want to go to the north side more easily, you can throw your bike on the rack on the front of the bus and ride to downtown (the express buses--2, 6, and x28 are great) then ride your bike from there. But, Drexel Blvd. N from Hyde Park is a beautiful journey--old mansions and such--as is King Drive, which will take you from just W of HP pretty much all the way downtown. (You can switch over to State St. and ride right into the heart of the Loop or branch off into Chinatown and other SW-side neighborhoods before you hit the Loop.) So, there are several main arteries that run N-S to downtown from Hyde Park or immediately W of Hyde Park. You might be interested in reading http://www.hpherald.com, which comes out every Wednesday. Or http://hydeparkprogress.blogspot.com, which is a snarky but knowledgable report of goings-on in HP. I have lived here for 5 years (and own a condo) and neither my husband nor I are affiliated with the university. I love this neighborhood and think that it's near-perfect and a rather well-kept secret for much of Chicago. I hope this helps!

I live in Hyde Park, too, so I can add to that conversation if needed

I'm Renaissance and have often seen Early Modern/Renaissance used interchangably. Renaissance is more specific, but I would argue that it's definitely considered E.M.

There's one Brandeis rejection (via USPS) and one ND acceptance (via phone) but no others for these schools. Did anyone ever claim them? Or has anyone else heard from these two schools? Just wondering if they're legitimate...

I'll trade you Colbert for Paris.

I have literally just crossed over into obsession. I had resolved to stay breezy until March and was surprisingly unconcerned through January, but as of today I'm checking this website and my email over and over and over. I can't stop! A few decisions are up for some of my schools now, which I think triggered this, and now I'm agonizing over what it means that I haven't heard yet, etc., etc.!! At least we can all commiserate

The same thing just happened to me! My Verbal (the most important for my program) stayed the same, so I'm not that worried. My AWA went up 2% and Quant went down 1%. I just reported them as-is since that seems to be the most updated info. I would stick with the original if they hadn't sent them to me on the regular, offical score report. I'd rather go with the most recent info from ETS (and luckily it will benefit me, for the most part). Otherwise, I'm not worrying too much about it.