LifeIsGood

I'm not in CS and was at Lehigh for part of my undergrad, so please take my input with a grain of salt. It's a nice campus in the middle of a small formerly-steel town. There are a couple of bars just off campus, but otherwise social life revolves around the fraternities (which are frequent and open to everyone for parties). My understanding is that the CS and Engineering programs are well-regarded and rigorous. I don't think you should hesitate to attend based on program strength or ranking, and if the research fit is better, it would be a good choice. Just be prepared to suffer through a social/city life that might not be ideal, and live far enough from campus that the drunk idiots won't puke your your front stoop every weekend.

I grew up there, actually. It's fine. It's got the same issues as any city, so just follow the same precautions. There are plenty of great new restaurants and things to do.

The only thing I know about being a TA in the first year is that when I spoke to a potential advisor, she said that, if I were admitted, I'd probably be assigned to teach in the first year because I'll be coming in with an MA. I inferred that people without an MA would be given grading duties or other grad assistantships.

Hmm, this may throw out my calculation, since your marks are not linear. Every mark given in the US (for every place I'm aware of, anyway) has equal weight based on the number of credit hours. You could probably generalize that each of your courses is worth the same amount (unless you have a bunch of laboratory or short seminar courses). If you go back and use your raw credit points to calculate an average that gives each subject equal weight, that should help. If there isn't a description of how your original marks are calculated somewhere in your application packet, you may want to send one as an addendum to your file.

I'm just waiting on UNC at this point. Waiting, and initiating Plan B.

One down, one to go.

I'd keep a couple of grand in a non-ATM or debit card savings account for emergencies, then would pay down the debt with the rest. It's nice to be completely out of debt, but better to have a contingency fund.

Oh jesus, there's another one.

I think it's funny that, last week there were usually one or two people looking at this thread, but today? Eight.

Oh, wow! Who is this? How'd you find out early? Details! We need details!

I'm applying to history programs, but my focus is on African American history (free people of color in the antebellum, in particular). I'm vaguely interested in Africa, but am intensely interested in the history of race in America. I'm applying to just two places, so we'll see how that turns out. :o/

Good teamwork, people! Let's get these questions answered! About your GPA, if we assume a linear scale, and if I'm reading you correctly that there are never any zeroes given, only 1s, this should be how to calculate your GPA. Your history GPA would be a 4.0. That one's easy Your cumulative GPA would be: (5.75-1)/(6-1) = X/4 If X is the GPA. So X = 3.6 Disclaimer: I'm just going on the logical math, not on any particular knowledge of the system.

I wouldn't worry too much about it; just take action to compensate for it. I flunked out of school during UG. Twice. And didn't have any history experience; not a single history class since junior year of high school. I got into a history MA program, am doing well (GPA, LORs, research experience, and GRE are all competitive), and am being encouraged to apply to high-level PhD programs, so my profs must think my UG performance won't kill me.

I do check them, mainly because I'd noticed several results postings that mentioned specifically that the application status had changed and they hadn't received other notification. And I only have two schools, so it's an easy thing to obsess about.

I've read the reverse. If you're staying in academia, the hiring committee will want to know who you've worked with and what you worked on. If you're working outside, they'll want to see a prestigious school. I have no personal experience either way. I would personally go by fit, but if you're flexible on topic, then you can have your cake and eat it too, right?

I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm sure someone else here does. Would you mind sharing which school it is?

I had assumed the OP meant s/he'd apply in Fall 2010, which would mean entrance to a program in Fall 2011. Is that right? [i can't help myself. You said "asses." ]

I'm also thinking Yale will deliver this week or next. I'm usually pretty mellow, but have become an emotional trainwreck over the last few weeks. I just want to KNOW and get on with the next thing. On the bright side, I'm so desperate for something to distract me that I'm ahead in my class reading and am making good progress on studying for MA comps. Last week, I was behind on everything and could barely get out of bed (she said, still wearing her PJs at 4pm).

Before results started coming in, I was anxiously waiting to see if I would get in. Now I'm anxiously waiting to see where I won't get in.

Here's an idea: Set up Facebook and MySpace accounts, with your (sober and intelligent-looking) face, or some other non-offensive image (if you're uncomfortable putting your face out there), and only put academic things on it. In FB, you can choose to show just minimal info, such as your interests or description, and keep the rest private. Then, if they search for you, they'll at least get two options: one skanky drunk chick, and the real you.

This was driving me crazy, until I realized you could narrow the search. I searched under this: history -art -religion -music (yale|"chapel hill") It only gave me real history results for my two schools. Then I bookmarked it, so I can go there first. Of course, it isn't very satisfying because there are few posts under that search, so I've removed the schools, and now I get all history results.

I could have sworn that I saw one of my schools specified that non-native English speakers would be counted as having a foreign language. I don't recall if the English or the native language would be listed as the foreign language, but it was in there somewhere.

Oh, awesome! This will give purpose to my obsessive results checking. Just what I needed.

Doh! Where did you read they needed transcripts through Fall 2009? I don't think I sent my final grades for last semester.

Under the False Hope category of events, I just got a call from the area code where one of my schools is located. I steeled myself, answered it in my best business voice, and it was a telemarketer. Bastards!