virtua

Hello forum, So I have been a PhD student for 2 academic terms and then my adviser terminated my position. The reason? The last thing my adviser told me was "I don`t feel your interest in the project". Anyway, some time later I asked my adviser to provide me with an official letter as a proof of termination of my position. I needed that letter to get released from my apartment leasing contract. And you know what she wrote in that letter? She wrote that the position was terminated due to insufficient funding! Surely, I`m happy that she did not blame it on me in that letter, but! Now, I`m going to apply to several universities and I am thinking what I should say when I`m asked why my adviser stopped working with me. Should I say exactly the same thing that was written in that official letter (I have scan of it so far but I`m trying to get the letter itself asap) or I should say that I was not interested in the project? Or maybe even something different? I really need as many opinions on this as it is possible, since I don`t want my chances to get admitted to be affected by this story. I appreciate any thoughts.

I guess there is a similar topic, but my case is other way round. So I will be coming back to my home country from the US and I want to bring my money with me. It is not very big amount, but it is also not so small to carry it in wallet, I mean it would not fit my wallet probably, also I`m concerned in terms of safety, I don`t want to carry much money with me. So I`m thinking of the ways how could I move my money from US to my country safely and with minimum losses (commissions and etc). Surely, I can bring all my money in my US bank card, the thing is I`m not sure about what percent they will subtract when I withdraw from ATM in my country. So what are the best ways? Any recommendations are welcomed

So, I`m done with finals, so is it possible now officially "not to be a student anymore"? I mean, can I somehow stop my student status, so my contract with uni apartments can be released?

Hello forum, 1) how do you find universities with funded graduate positions? 2) how do yo make sure that the university program you are applying to, has professors with funding? I mean, what if the university department you apply does not have funded positions? 3) Do you contact with professors before applying? But it takes a lot of time to email to each professor in the department. I mean, when I applied first time, I applied to 8 universities and had to pay probably about 500-600$ just for applications! And although I got admitted to 7 out of 8, but I got only 1 funded position offer. So I feel like I wasted a lot of money for nothing. So, in one word, how to optimize this applications submission process?

Hello forum, Is it possible to get hired for Graduate/Research Assistant position without submitting application to university? I`m asking because I`m sending emails to various professors at various universities asking them if they have opening, but I didn`t submit an application to university, simply because deadlines already passed. So does it make any sense to rush and send emails to professors? I mean, let`s say professor reads my email, decides to interview me, accepts me, can he hire me now even if I didn`t submit an application for the nearest academic term?

Thank you, TakeruK, you answered all my questions.

Has anyone ever succeeded in finding a job in the US as an alien? What kind of job do I have to look for so I could be sure that employer will sponsor my visa?

So, I think to withdraw from classes I`m currently taking (I`m taking 2 courses) since my contract with uni apartments won`t be released otherwise (they say I`m still a student). 1. First of all, I was wondering if I withdraw, what will happen? What will be written on my transcript? Would it affect anything anyhow? 2. Secondly, if I withdraw, how soon I have to leave the US? I mean, I can`t book a flight for the next day, I hope there should be some solution. 3. Can I enroll again if I withdraw in the same semester?

Hi, So I`m an international student and I plan to leave the apartment (I live in university apartments) before the lease period ends, because I was fired from my RA position, so as soon as I`m done with classes, I want to leave, as it would be pointless for me to stay here. University apartments manager doesn`t think that I can be granted contract release, since I`m still enrolled as a student, while I presented a letter from my (ex-)advisor that I will not be funded anymore after May, 13 as a proof that I`m being kind of expelled from university (or program, let`s say). 1) What should I do? I think it is unfair if I pay rental for 1 month (or even I would say 1.5 months), which I don`t plan to stay there. Should I try somehow push them to release my contract? Don`t I have a right to leave earlier in my case? 2) What if I don`t pay for 1 month? What might happen?

Hey, guys, do you think I can apply directly for some kind of job maybe even not related to my background? I mean, I am non US citizen, do I have any chances? I just want to find some job (does not matter what kind of) until I figure out what to do with my graduate education, maybe even I could stay at the job position I find if I`m paid enough.

I`m sorry, but I will try to answer those questions later, just does anyone know any university which is not late to apply for and not late to have a chance to get a position?

I have been working as RA and got fired today... I`m so broke that even struggle to type...I dont even know what should I do next...I dont know if I have to tell my parents now or wait... My adviser told me that she can write a reference letter if I apply to another uni and that`s all... Please, guys, help me...

Hi, guys, I need your advice, I`m in a critical situation, I may loose my position (RA)... of course, I will try to do my best to meet expectations and not to get fired, but still nothing is guaranteed and I think about "what if" questions. So what can I do, if I get fired? My thoughts: can I find a new professor to work with at the same uni? can my adviser help me to move to another position at some other (or the same) university? can he anyhow help me to find any graduate position? can I switch to master and find some scholarship or something? I need you to share your experience/thoughts

Hi, guys What do you think guys are the advantages/disadvantages of living alone or living with roommates? I have been living alone, but never lived with roommates, now I want to save money by living in a shared apt but still I`m not sure if I should do this, so I wonder if I can get used to living with roommates.

Hi, So I`m on assistantship and my country`s currency recently has been devaluated, can I get an increase in my salary? I guess, I read smth about it somewhere

Thank you! Your answer explains everything that I was wondering about!

Hey guys, those who work as RA or TA, I wanted to know: are you guys in your offices Mon-Fri from 9 to 5? Do you have like some strict rules on that? Because, I`m just thinking no one can demand from me to work more than 20hrs/week, because it would contradict the US law. Am I right? And I was also wondering if it is okay to come late let`s say at 11am and leave earlier at 4pm or smth? Or is it okay that sometimes I go for something and not being at my office for 1-2 hours?

Thank you!

Hi, guys, I`m on assistantship and I`ve recently obtained my SSN, but didn`t enter it into my university account. I got an email from university accountant saying that I have to bring it to office of registrar so they can fill the form and mail it to IRS or something like this (I don`t remember exactly), so I have brought my SSN card to the office of registrar and they took a copy of it and asked my student ID number. Although it is late to ask, but still I would like to know: is it okay? I mean can I get in trouble because they have a copy of my SSN card? Can they somehow use it in bad way? Please, guys help me, I`m a bit stressed.

Is it true that people with PhD considered as overqualified so they are not hired? Is it really difficult to find a job in the oil and gas industry for people with PhD in PetEng/ChemEng? Like, people with Master have more chances than those with PhD?

Hi, guys, I just wondering how things work in research assistantships. I mean, ok, I understand professor wins grant for some research and he/she hires a student for doing that research, right? Does the professor have some deadline for doing that research? Do all money from won grant belong to the professor? I mean he/she is not required to pay the university for something, right? He/she decides himself/herself how to spend this money, right? So, I just wondering, how this money is payed, to whom it is payed, how it is spent.

Which direction you chose and why? What are the differences, difficulties, advantages/disadvantages of each one?

http://www.immihelp.com/travel/united-states-admission-documents.html

bump

Guys, does anyone know what/which documents should F-1`s brother present at the port of entry? Is only passport sufficient?