katerific

Don't worry about it if a professor doesn't recognize you. Professors can be really bad with names/faces. REAAALLY bad. My hair is pretty recognizable, and plenty of professors (and grad students!) don't remember me! There's this one professor who I swear I've run into like 10 times over the course of the past year, and I bet he STILL doesn't remember my name. I can see how it'd be pretty meh if you don't know anyone... and considering how big it is, it can be daunting trying to meet new people. It'll definitely be a different experience in grad school. (I just know people because I've been a geologist for a while now.) Friday afternoon is a pretty bad time, yeah. I forgot that a lot of people jet out by then... but other than that, it went well, I hope?

Let's see. I'm applying to 7 places, and out of those 7, I've submitted 2 apps already (since my first deadline was the 14th). My next deadline is January 1st, and the rest are due up until the 15th. Overall, it hasn't been nearly as stressful as I thought it was going to be. I think it's because I started early this fall, though. I had a first draft of my SOP written in August (I mean, it was pretty bad, and it in no way resembles what I have now, but it was WRITTEN, by golly!), took the GRE before school started, and asked my letter writers back in September. So at this point I'm mainly just tweaking my statement for each school. Starting early also gave me a chance to meet all my potential advisors in person, so I could run into them at conferences/talks. I've met 6/7 (although one of those I already knew, so I only really met 5/6), and they all have wickedly different personalities....! So yeah, it was a good idea to spread out the stress, I think. Based on what I keep hearing from profs, I should hear decisions by early Feb. For others, they do interviews in Feb, and then acceptances/rejections. Man, January's going to be rough.

Yup, send a thank you note in each situation. It's not like there's any disadvantage to sending one, anyway. Also, you'll definitely see these people around (as noted already). It's definitely good to be polite and make a good impression, especially since you might even apply for post doc positions with them in the future.

ooooooh. I.... couldn't tell it was a bird. Way to go, self. OH jeez.

Oh man, these are pretty cool. I'm debating whether or not to post mine--I seem to have a lot of buzzwords that are a bit too distinguishing. But I might eventually post it.... maybe. edit: also, for uploading pictures, you can use tinypic.com. You don't have to sign up or nothin' (that has its advantages and disadvantages, I guess).

Okay, so I've noticed we have some pretty cool avatars going on, but I'm curious about them. Some of them are straightforward (strangefox has a fox, for example,) but I honestly have no idea what I'm looking at for others (this means you, bhikhaari ). And I assume there's a story behind usernames, too--so what's yours? katerific is a portmanteau of my name and "terrific." And as for my avatar... it's hard to tell, but it's a pic of a foram--basically, a little protist that floats around in the ocean. Forams are really important to my field. Your turn!

Okay, here's some highlights: - Out of the 7 (primary) professors I'm applying to work with, 5 were there, and I spoke with two. Only one of the five I hadn't already met in person, but he was one that I spoke to. Score! - I ended up missing all the keynote lectures, argh! And I heard the Emiliani lecture was fantastic, and I reaaaally wanted to see it (I overslept). Fortunately, it'll be online... phew. Note: All the plenaries are online, so go watch them! - I got to see some old friends from a few summers ago, and that was great! And I met so many new people, too. - The biogeoscience reception. was. ridiculous. - Tuesday and Wednesday had so many great posters/talks!! - I love going to conferences and seeing big name celebrity scientists just walking around or hanging out and drinking beer. What I love even more is meeting someone and talking with them for an hour, and then seeing their full name on their tag and realizing they write all the papers you read. - All the free minute maid on the street corners was getting pretty excessive by Friday. Overall, a good week indeed.

Well, that was a lot of fun. I'm exhausted. Anyone have any good stories/experiences to share? I'll come back and list my highlights of the week after I take a nap.

I've browsed to get a sense of the price range of apts & housing in each city, and where grad students live, and where the cool places are to hang out (and so forth). So I don't think what you're doing is TOO odd I've also thought about "what should I wear to each interview or visit," but I think that's mainly an excuse for me to waste time doing online window shopping.

I'll be 22.Still a whippersnapper.

congrats melchior! My fear is that they'll be like this upon seeing the transcript: "Wait a minute. WAIT. WHAT HAPPENED. THESE GRADES ARE TERRIBLE. DID WE REALLY ADMIT THIS STUDENT?" And the subsequent email I receive: "Uh, hey, we saw your fall semester transcript, and uh, they were pretty bad, so uuuuh jk about the whole admission thing. But uh, good luck with everything...?"

I'm essentially done with all of my degree requirements, except for a senior thesis (I got everything out of the way as soon as possible). In the spring I'll be taking a mix of BS classes and upper division classes that aren't required but are certainly pertinent to my studies (including a grad class). All of these fall under the "fun" category for me I'm also taking advantage of the fact that I have a really flexible semester to take an art class and a cinema class. Overall, I've enjoyed the classes I've taken as an undergraduate, but I'm really, really stoked about moving on to the next level.

So basically.... people with high GPAs get into really good programs, but people with high GPAs also don't get into really good programs. Cool stuff! Perhaps you could expand this by doing also doing average rejected GPAs for top schools, and average accepted GPAs for toughest schools, since only 3 of the top and toughest schools overlap.

I've been living in a place with a pretty warm climate year round (doesn't drop below 50) for the past few years. So when I first started thinking of schools, I was thinking, "oh no! I can't deal with cold!" and almost ruled out every school in the NE (despite all the fantastic programs there). But it's these sort of sentiments that helped to change my mind: I also really love thunderstorms, but we never get them out here. It'd also be nice to go somewhere where I could enjoy that occasionally.

On that note (HA), I would like to add that Hans Zimmer (PotC composer) is EXCELLENT, so anything by him is awesome. (some other great things he's done: Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, THE LION KING, and.... Muppet Treasure Island!) And I would also recommend Carmina Burana for high-drama situations, such as during a duel between you and a vicious, ruthless take-home final or essay. some more (really random) additions: if you're longing for the good old days of the 1990s: Third Eye Blind - 90s alt rock/post grunge - How's it Going to be (http://www.youtube.c...h?v=vuAGVr-O-3E) ninguem gosta da musica portugues? Flor-de-lis - portuguese folk/acoustic - Valsa da Noite ( ) and since we're approaching the Christmas season, here's my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE christmas song ever:

Presenting: business casual, I'd recommend, although one of my former labmates (now a postdoc) gave his talk last year in ripped-up jeans and a button-up shirt. Receptions: samesies. a little nicer than usual. Walking around and going to talks/posters: jeans and leather jacket would be fine, although if you're tracking down someone, maybe sharpen up. Honestly, considering the group, it's not that hard to look somewhat dressy compared to everyone else. Seriously, you will never see so many khaki shorts, hiking boots, and shoulder-length hair in your life. I'm pretty sure I've also witnessed socks and sandals. No suits allowed, ever! (Okay, some people do wear suits, but most don't...)

So glad to see that people like this thread. Good to know that we're not alone in these things! and thanks, sesqui, I feel much better with proper punctuation In new news, I am so terrified about my GPA for this fall semester--I think it might be my worst one yet. I hope grad schools don't totally hate me for it...

I totally agree with modernity. Also, did she tell you that going for the MA program was a bad idea, or that doing what she suggested was just the better option? Perhaps it's just the latter, but it's just coming across as the former. If she really doesn't think you're doing the right thing, I would think she would try and keep that between you and her, not her and the admissions committee. She should still say really great things about you, regardless of what you're doing. And as for me, one of my letter writers didn't seem really enthused about my plans, but didn't say anything. But I think that has more to do with the way the field I'm interested in is evolving.

Things I do: - I catch up on reading I've been meaning to do. (meaning.... articles related to my research. ) - Drawing, painting, or doing anything creative really helps me relax. - I like to spend time on netflix rating movings and building a sick queue. It makes me feel accomplished, too! - Smoke hookah with friends, but I don't recommend this because it's not healthy. I don't do it often, personally. - Skype with my mom's dog, who is all the way across the country. Yes, you read the correctly. I skype with a dog. - Play video games. That's also my nerd outlet. - Post on TGCF. Yeah, so these are more fun/relaxing, not like, mani-pedi-massage relaxing, but they're still ways I cope with my anxiety.

Aaaahahaha. I'm totally showing this to my friends. They'll love it. Thanks for sharing!!

I have to agree that Columbia's is my favorite. Although I wish I could have chosen my own username instead of using the PIN they give us...

A lot of my grad student friends wear stuff from our school. There's a big football culture here, though, and a lot of them are football fans. But the non-football-loving grad students also wear their school's gear, too!

you GUUUUUUUYS, this is supposed to be a wallowing thread, not a "let's be realistic yet positive about this" thread. But in all seriousness, I do appreciate the fresh perspectives. I definitely see your points. Oh, what would I do without thegradcafe? I mean, other than study more for my finals edit: I seemed to have left out a period in my original post, and it's driving me insane. But I can't edit it! Oh, my troubles just keep growing and growing.

Man, sometimes I look at the profiles of current students at my top-choice program(s) and I just feel like they're totally out of my league This leads to self-doubt (about my ability to actually get in to these schools).... which leads to a crippling anxiety... which leads to me wasting too much time on this forum. You know, posting about my woes and whatnot. Maybe I'm just having a rough week with finals and deadlines. Is anyone else in the same boat? Let's commiserate.

Okay, cool. I had a feeling my simple questions had simple answers Thanks!