ahlatsiawa

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

Qasim, now that I've gone through the application process myself, I can probably share a few things from experience. Your scores are pretty good but it's almost impossible to predict how they will be interpreted. Having said that, if you can improve on your GRE Quantitative, that'll make you a stronger candidate. The response from ahlatsiawa is spot on: SOP and LOR's have greater weightage when one's application package is being assessed by the admission committee. But then again, it's not easy to predict how these admission committees work. They are an enigma, I tell you.
 
Another bit of advice: apply to at least 5 schools; more if you can manage. That'll give you a school to fall back on. Btw, are you sure that UIC has a civil engineering school? When I was applying last Spring, I was interested in applying there (since I have relatives in Chicago) but, if I remember correctly, it doesn't have a civil engineering faculty.
 
Anyways, best of luck as you begin this journey! I hope you achieve what you set out to do, Insha Allah.

TakeruK - I am guessing the OP is from India. Visa officers in India almost always ask why the person has chosen to go to the US for graduate studies and how they came to know about/chose a particular university. 
 
adeolu - Please post your question on Edulix forums (http://www.edulix.com/forum/index.php) or go through the 100 possible visa questions thread.

TakeruK - I am guessing the OP is from India. Visa officers in India almost always ask why the person has chosen to go to the US for graduate studies and how they came to know about/chose a particular university. 
 
adeolu - Please post your question on Edulix forums (http://www.edulix.com/forum/index.php) or go through the 100 possible visa questions thread.

TakeruK - I am guessing the OP is from India. Visa officers in India almost always ask why the person has chosen to go to the US for graduate studies and how they came to know about/chose a particular university. 
 
adeolu - Please post your question on Edulix forums (http://www.edulix.com/forum/index.php) or go through the 100 possible visa questions thread.

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

^ Gnome Chomsky in 3..2..1..

Such emails are just Spam...

danieleWrites - It is understandable that college students are lower down the list of potential tenants but that alone shouldn't make the manager completely ignore my emails. Especially after I have signaled a strong intention to rent by already submitting the application and application fee. There is little in terms of your other suggestions that I can do since I am unable to meet her in person. I will just have to trust her even if she does send me the pictures. Thank you for sharing the links. I have gone through all of them.

juilletmercredi - Right now I don't even care what lease period I get. And thank you for explaining about the short term leases. All other places I have inquired with also offer only a 12 month lease.

Little update: I got a response from the university's off-campus residents office. Although they did not offer to view the apartment for me, the nice lady did talk to the property manager (rude lady) and told me that they are working on getting the pictures for me and will get back shortly. So things are looking a little hopeful. Let's wait and see.

Looks like you got a little bit of Ron Burgundy in you.

Edit: Swanson, Ron Swanson. I got my Rons mixed up.

It would be hilarious if all his son got for that was a free pass to the Brown swimming center. If only karma existed.

As a Brazilian, I love soccer and I love to watch my team playing (and I do hope we'll win this year!).
 
But I've seen first hand the mess FIFA causes. For instance: in Brazil, selling beers in stadiums is forbiden. Guess what: FIFA made the Brazilian Congress change that law just for the World Cup. FIFA also made patent for words like "cup" and "pagode" (which is a musical style very popular in Brazil), so that if you use these words you may have to pay them royalties. Not to mention all the money our government spent in stadiums and other useless works. They built a huge bridge in my town that goes from nowhere to nowhere, just because it looks nice for the tourists.
 
Good thing is: this is the first time I see people worldwide talking about the problems with hosting a big event, such as the World Cup. The Olimpycs in London and the World Cup in South Africa also ripped-off the host countries, but nobody seemed to care. Now people are becoming more aware of the corruption, so hopefuly, things will change from now on! =S 

I say I am a panhandler, and then ask for money.

Buy him a shawarma and talk about your feelings. Or go halves on a shawarma. 

spectastic, I think you should know what you are talking about before commenting. You are perfectly fitting the ignorant American stereotype right now. 

Generally, when you get a deferral, you are making a good faith agreement that you do want to attend the school but cannot do so at the moment. It may not be illegal, but it would be a bad faith move for you to also use your deferral as a way to apply to more schools in the meantime. 
 
Obviously, it's up to you what you want to do and I don't think anyone will actually stop you from applying to other schools. I am just letting you know that I think many people will frown upon this action and it might have negative consequences for you!

Roll Right - In the country where I come from, having a degree is like having a key to a thousand doors. Everything from job offers to marriage proposals are based on a person having a "degree". That is why everyone is willing to do whatever's in their power to get their names on one. And, unsurprisingly, those with large pockets or access to other resources try to get them by unfair means. The situation is so bad that a few years ago when the supreme court ordered the national education commission to carry out an investigation into the submitted educational records of the country's parliament members, more than two-thirds of them were found to have forged or fake degrees. So what I'm trying to say is that in a society where so much emphasis is placed on getting your hands on a piece of paper that endorses your skills rather than spending the time and money on actually developing those abilities, things like this are bound to happen.

Jut an update, department assistant said this is fine and gas happened before. She was so helpful and understanding. Plan is happening!

Likewise, I've been in the same situation. Moved to a different state for undergrad, graduated and moved back home with my parents, couldn't stand their dysfunctional ways, moved out again for grad school. The first year of undergrad was the toughest since I had to learn how to use the laundry for the first time. I remember being so embarrassed to ask people how to operate the laundry that I neglected to wash my clothes for four months. Out of socks? Let's just buy a whole new pack from wal-mart. I'm not particularly proud of this. I've been working since I was in middle school though, so I've been paying my bills since.
 
I think I felt most like an adult when I decided to live off-campus. Had to go househunting, roommate searching, and inquired about foreign matters such as utilites and appliances, internet set-up, cost-splitting. When I finally signed the lease, I felt like such an adult. My schedule is now only dictated by class and work, and I can eat popcorn for dinner and drink wine like water with no reprimands

I feel like I'm saying this too much, but don't sweat a low GPA. Work on closing out well (Jr/Sr. GPA and Major GPA), and if you are doing a Masters first, I'm guessing that your BA GPA isn't even going to be considered by PhD programs. I applied with a 2.4 GPA (finished with a 2.85) and didn't get any pushback thanks to a 3.8 Major GPA. Just make sure to explain it in your SoP.
 
Now, poor writing samples could be a bigger problem. That's where you show what you are capable of producing as a student, so schools really do read them.