MarineBluePsy

So everything worked out with the income then? I must say I'm amazed at those of you moving to a whole new country to further your studies. As much as I love other cultures and desire to travel the world I don't see myself staying somewhere more than a few weeks without coming home.

Wouldn't another option be to pursue the sociology degree and have Africana/ethnic/American studies be the focuses of your research? Seems like you'd have a variety of directions to take your career doing something like that. Geography, while interesting, doesn't seem flexible enough to incorporate those interests.

LOL I really thought about that, but then I remembered that my area of research is a close community and wherever I end up going those professors will know these ones. Just my luck they'd forward said passive-aggressive email like a chain letter and then my reputation would be ruined before the semester starts lol.

Seriously?! One of my top choice programs sent me a rejection via snail mail a few weeks ago and the sting was just starting to go away when I open my email and see another rejection from them. Did they think I wasn't able to comprehend the one they mailed me? Did they expect a response to the one they mailed me and decided to follow up via email? Were they just bored and thinking this would be hilarious?!

The GhostBed does look good and I like that its cheaper than Purple. The only thing that kinda bugs me is I can't find any mention of it being flame retardant. That's pretty important and I'd prefer they use a knit thing the way Purple does instead of chemicals.

@hippyscientist Many rentals in US have income requirements. 2.5x the income is the one I see most frequently, but I've seen places in wealthier areas ask for 3x or more and places in not so great areas ask for 1.5-2x. If your shortage is so minimal it doesn't hurt to call and talk to the leasing agent. Perhaps they will make an exception if your credit is good, you have additional references, or are willing to pay a larger deposit. @Pink Fuzzy Bunny Well thank goodness that square footage doesn't include the bathroom, otherwise you'd have a sanitation issue. @raaawr {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

Well where else would you kvetch? No need to apologize. Well if the other group member is on the fence then it may be best to tough it out and do what you can to avoid group projects with the problem person in the future. However if you are given an opportunity to evaluate each other then I'd suggest being honest about the problematic person.

200 square feet?! That is the size of one of my closets! Good heavens how is that even liveable? @Effloresce hehehe I know what you mean. I keep hearing my mother's voice in my head screaming at me to make sure I pack enough underwear. *sigh* as if there aren't stores that sell underwear all over the place lol.

Well does the rest of your group share your frustration with this person? If so then I don't see anything wrong with talking with the professors as a team. That way you don't look like one person just whining. Though it is entirely possible they will just listen and tell you to handle it yourselves.

@Need Coffee in an IV LMAO of course he thinks they're the same. I have enough black shoes to fill a large suitcase and of course a guy would say they're all the same. They just don't notice a half inch difference in height, a pump versus a wedge, patent leather versus non, etc lol. @rhombusbombus Sometimes grad students are eligible for SNAP benefits. When applying they take your income and family size into consideration, so it couldn't hurt to look into it if your stipend is on the low side.

@Need Coffee in an IV I too love picking out what to wear, when I have oodles of time to lay out different options....hate them all....start over....ponder buying something new....dig through my closet again......hit the stores and decide I hate everything.....and dramatically whine to everyone who'll listen that I have nothing to wear lol. Maybe I saw too many tv shows and movies featuring gals doing those endless clothing montages when I was younger lmao. What Not to Wear is an awesome show and I also like Trinny and Susannah's (they have a youtube channel) advice and body shape guide. How to Look Good Naked is also a good show.

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny No garbage disposal? What do you do with the disposal stuff then? I didn't realize places were built without them. I don't know if my new digs will have a washer and dryer in unit. That would certainly be nice since during busier times I do 5+ loads a week. It's the price I pay for needing so many clothes for so many different occasions. I have been pondering a capsule wardrobe for school though since I did something similar for work and have grown to love not thinking about what to wear each morning. I just haven't decided on the right look for a grad student yet.

LOL I'm glad I'm not the only one that is excited about possibly having a dishwasher on my next move. I don't mind handwashing dishes, but it is really time consuming since I take my lunch to work and cook regularly.

That is horrible and even though you were excited to possibly go there I think it's better you aren't. The school that just accepted you wanted you just a little bit more which is a good thing.

UCSD isn't guaranteeing you a spot in their PhD, you'd have to petition for it. That means they could say no. Given the solid reputation of both schools I think its kind of splitting hairs to say which is better. Both cities are outrageously expensive so you may find you need some loans regardless. The way I see it after reviewing all of your materials UCLA thinks you're worth investing in now while UCSD does not. A wise person once told me to always go where I'm wanted.

It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into what you want to do and why which is reasonable. You also aren't planning to leave them high and dry either. I would say if you're going to do this then go about it the way you would if this were any company and not your family. That means drafting a formal letter stating your availability and last day and having a meeting to break the news. Do whatever you need to do in order to mentally prepare yourself for them to react negatively or try to guilt you into changing your mind. If you know of someone who might make a good replacement then suggest them, but it is their responsibility to make sure their business needs are met without you. During your remaining time do your job well and let them know you've appreciated their support. They may not get your academic path or given you the support you wanted, but they certainly haven't been on the do nothing side of helping you become a fully functioning adult.

@beyondnervous it's good to hear from you! I'm sorry this application season didn't work out as you'd hoped, but yes there is life after rejection and you can and should try again. Landing that research job confirms that you are talented and have a place in the field and there will be a PhD program that will see that. Waiting until Fall 2017 to reapply is not the end of the world if that will allow you to finish this job (I'm guessing its a contract?) without burning any bridges and significantly improve your applications. My only suggestion would be with this heavy immersion in research don't neglect the clinical side of things. Even volunteering a few hours a week with a population you're passionate about or one that is completely out in left field for you will show that recognize the importance of clinical experience.

I knew a gal who taught English in China and she loved it. She saved a ton of money by staying with a host family and doing inexpensive things like hiking on the weekend. Of course she was stuck there longer than expected because of the SARS outbreak, but her host family was understanding and continued to let her stay with them. Regarding taking time off between undergrad and grad school, I think everyone should do it. When out of academia you learn a lot about yourself and really get a chance to figure out what you do and do not want to do. Many parts of the world are un/undereducated and learning to interact within it can be challenging if you're only accustomed to dealing with people as one well educated person to another.

I doubt fellowship money goes unused. My guess is that its reserved for "an incoming student" so if the top choice says no and the department goes down the waitlist, then whoever says yes gets that funding.

@wootar At least they're in touch with you! Clearly they value you as a candidate and there is still time for things to change.

Yikes that sounds awful. Is there a way to have the department address this? I get that we all need to take a break, but it isn't ok to bail on your classmates who are counting on you to contribute to a group assignment. Or are you allowed to kick people out of your group or work solo if they tell you to handle it on your own?

Having roommates isn't always cheaper especially when you're talking about 6 people total in the household. Sure $325 sounds like a bargain, but unless every single person in the household has the same idea on conserving energy (turning off lights, not blasting the ac/heat, etc) and not wasting shared household items (toilet paper, cleaning products, etc) then your costs go up. Also that many bodies in the home mean things like carpet cleaning need to be done more frequently and an increased likelihood of something getting broken or damaged. If its not a routine repair or maintenance your landlord is responsible for then those costs are divided among the roommates. I personally am not interested in having to deal with any of that stuff every again and am happy to live alone. If living alone is really unaffordable (or too isolating) then I would suggest looking for a place with 1-2 roommates. Since you're used to being in the working world I'd look for working professionals or grad/law/medical students as options.

I don't think this is bad news. It sounds like they think you have potential and want to give you the opportunity to demonstrate you're not only worth the investment of full funding, but you can do better in terms of grades and/or publishing. Those are both very good schools and they wouldn't waste their time on a candidate that didn't have something to offer.

If you do run into a restriction for on campus work then I would look into nearby campuses with writing centers. Also test prep companies are always in need of tutors and teachers and offer evening/weekend shifts.

I agree! I did this until more no contract plans came out on nationwide networks for low prices. Now I'm happy with my dumb phones unlimited talk/text (no internet) via Cricket (which is on AT&T's network) for $25 bucks a month.