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If the 2nd one fits your interests better, I'd focus on that when telling the 1st PI (but thank him for the help with the GRFP), so you don't have to get into any of the other dynamics that might have actually motivated you to switch.

I would say that is one of the more important things to ask a potential advisor.

If you're in EEB, nice jeans and a sweater should be fine. Nicer pants are fine too, but you'll be fine without a suit. Definitely pay attention to the weather forecast. Also, if you're unsure, ask someone at your program! If they tell you dressing informal is okay, it is -- no one is trying to trick you!

Unless they've changed it, yes.

You might also want to try looking in Lansing rather than East Lansing. I didn't pay for heat in my apartment complex (Westbay Club), and it sounded like this was the case at other places in Lansing as well, although I don't know how widespread this is.

Not sure how either of those are relevant to labwork.

Yeah, that makes for some nice winter utility bills.

It's the "Graduate Assistant" pass (if you're a TA you can request it online, otherwise you have to go into the office). It allows you to park anywhere south of the river (if you were there for Zoology, Nat Sci is north, BPS/conservatory is south). I usually try to park in the lot closest to the bridge across from Erickson, which is the closest lot to Giltner/Nat Sci south of the river. Usually if you get in before 10, you can definitely find a spot there, but I've always managed to find a spot in a parking lot somewhere in that general area even when I come in later (if you get in at certain times of the day, it requires a little more effort to find one, but I've always eventually been successful). The parking lots I tend to check (38, 40, 41, 56 on busier days) are like 5-10 minutes walking to Giltner/Nat Sci, depending on how quickly you walk, so it's not even taking you that far out of the way. I think there's a good portion of people who live pretty close to campus so driving isn't as necessary for them; I prefer driving since I'm not much of a biker and I believe the bus ride from my apartment is over 45 minutes. Feel free to PM me if you have more specific questions.

I live in Lansing and I like it fine. I'm even further west than Sparrow and I have a parking pass, so I can't really speak to the bus issue.

If you're unsure about what to wear, e-mail/call your potential advisor or someone affiliated with the program and ask. Some programs/fields expect you to be dressed up, and some don't mind casual (as long as clothes are clean, not torn up, etc.), but no one's trying to trick you.

I think it depends on what area of biology. You can absolutely be overdressed for a grad school interview in EEB.

You're right on target, anyone who shows up in a suit (or even a blazer) will NOT be the norm.

Even if EEB programs don't have traditional interviews, a lot seem to have recruiting weekends where they bring applicants out for a couple days to meet faculty and current students and let everyone get a feel for one another. At my school, some of the applicants brought out for the weekend have already been admitted (if they've been offered a university/college fellowship of some sort) and some haven't.

Doesn't the bit about not waiving your right only really apply once accepted? That is, you're waiving your right to see a copy of the letters as part of your file if you're accepted and attend the school. Almost everyone does waive it so they do still get taken more seriously if you do, but I think that's technically what the waiving applies to.

Your school ID probably won't have your birthday on it (neither my undergrad nor my current school does), so it won't do you any good at a bar.