MarineBluePsy

So if both of those students accept the funding offers does that mean there is no funding for you? Would you attend without funding? I would definitely reach out to the DGS again and hope they have an answer because its really hard for you to plan anything without clear info from them.

I think you should take it one step at a time. The job itself is good experience regardless of what direction you ultimately end up in and the interview is good practice too. During the interview you're expected to ask questions so ask what the plans are for the position beyond the summer. If they are open to less hours and/or are willing to work around a school schedule they will tell you.

The job you're describing would be considered clinical experience and would provide you with a lot of general knowledge if you decide you want to work with youth. Have you already applied for the job and been offered the position? If not then that would be your first step. If you're selected for an interview then make it clear that you're a student that is committed to their studies and find out their expectations. Perhaps they have students work full time in the summer and part time the rest of the year, perhaps its part time all year, perhaps its only a summer job, etc. If you're not selected for an interview then it won't matter.

My research interests don't perfectly align with my advisors and during my application cycle we discussed this. Essentially we're both interested in the same broad population, lets suppose that's adolescents. Their specific focus is therapeutic interventions for adolescents (mostly anxiety and depression) in the community, whereas I am interested in adolescents with severe mental illnesses (mostly assessment and quality of life). I also made it clear in my application materials and during interviews that I didn't want to just focus on my own thing, but wanted to contribute to their studies as well as those of other lab members and have broad adolescent knowledge and experience as well. My advisor has successfully mentored a variety of students in the past with adolescent interests that were not a perfect match to theirs and assured me that I could be supported as well. That has been so far from the truth that my research experience has been miserable. So ultimately there is no guarantee that everything will end up great regardless of how much fit is discussed.

There is no pleasing people like that and in my experience it is better to direct your attention elsewhere. Every group needs allies and every group needs to be studied. The more willing everyone is to learn about those who are different the more inclusive our world will become. Idealistic I know....but a girl can dream.....

Well every students circumstances are going to be different so accruing debt could be due to a high cost of living city, unexpected medical expenses, child care, a spouse being unemployed, a roommate that leaves you high and dry, travel home, unfunded summer semesters, car repairs, etc. The debt could come from student loans, credit cards, or private loans.

I think this is a good idea if this is all you will be doing over the summer. If you also have to work to support yourself, need to take a class or two, or have other family/personal commitments then I would say factor the time and energy those will take into your decision. Yes you want to diversify your training and accrue enough experience to create really good graduate program applications, but you don't want to overwork yourself and burnout either.

Congrats on your acceptance! The experience of moving alone and then living alone will be whatever you make of it. I decided it would be an adventure and so far it still is. For the actual move I would say safety first. Do not have your car packed to the brim as you drive and stop to gas up or for the night. I packed my trunk before I left and didn't open it again until I arrived at my final destination and kept the interior of my car empty. Everything I could possible need for the trip fit into my large purse or I just went without it. I only stopped for gas/food at well lit places with lots of foot traffic and overnight stays were in well known cities (nothing off the beaten path) and in busy neighborhoods. I strongly suggest a separate navigation system because some parts of our country still don't have great cell reception and you won't know that until you're there. Satellites don't seem to have that problem. Also have music, road trip snacks, and wear compression socks. I have enjoyed living alone because my space is how I want it at all times. I don't have to bother with anyone else's mood, stuff, or irritating habits. I work from home most days, can easily unwind here, and if I don't feel like cleaning up (I'm not a slob or anything lol) then no one is here to complain about it. I am very outgoing so I just go out to socialize regularly. It is really easy to get overwhelmed by all of the school stuff there is to do and feel like there isn't time to have fun, but when you combine that with spending a ton of time home alone its a recipe for disaster. I have found it really helpful to plan social outings in advance. For example I'll buy a ticket to an event 3 months away or book a trip for spring break months in advance. This way every month there is something fun happening and even if day of I'm tired and have a zillion things to do I'm going because I committed and can't stand to waste money.

I'm not surprised that applicants and current students that happen to be minorities have experienced this. When I applied I declined to talk about my personal life because it was no ones business and had nothing to do with the work I am pursuing. Instead I focused on my research interests, what led me to them, current experience, and my career plans. I had one sentence that explained the time between undergrad and grad school was spent working full time in industry and being older made me a nontraditional student. I did not discuss my ethnic background, any hardships, or traumas. Thinking back I didn't do that when I applied to undergrad either. I just didn't want to be admitted because the committee was moved by my struggles. Regarding your experience of people asking why you don't research your own community, this too is unfortunate. There are so many understudied groups and not nearly enough researchers addressing them. There are plenty of benefits to studying one's own community, but there are also a lot of benefits to studying different communities.

If you buy used furniture I recommend paying to have it steam cleaned. Around holidays stores always have sales on large items and generally have payment plans (credit requirements will vary) so keep your eyes peeled for those. Sites like freecycle are also good ways to find items, but you need to pick them up. Also there's no shame in telling loved ones that you need things and are on a tight budget. They may not be able to do much, but even a small thing would be helpful.

I'm not sure which PhD program you're looking at, but once you get to that level you might be allowed to expand your dissertation committee to include one or more persons from other disciplines. There is plenty of overlap in Social Work and several other fields so it seems odd that your current advisor is pretty much saying go elsewhere. It will be very important for you to make sure you choose a PhD program (whether its Social Work or something else) and advisor that fully understands that you intend to pursue an interest that is interdisciplinary and gain their assurance that they support that.

I'm not sure I can offer any advice, but just wanted to say you're not alone. I'm still at the master's thesis stage in my program, but I too have an unsupportive advisor and it isn't getting better. I've gotten advice for several others and unfortunately I'm just stuck. Perhaps because you're so close to the end your department will be more willing to assist you. I also think you can take some solace in that this is almost over. I know that's easier said than done, but its still true.

If you go with Option B and end up not liking the city it is possible to deal with that and still finish your program. I wound up in that exact situation and transferring just isn't an option. So I make the most of the few things I do enjoy here and go out of town as much as I can. I'm also very very motivated to finish my program on time and get the hell out of here lol.

I meditate, exercise (sometimes that's just walking outside), get mani/pedi's, go to the hair salon, get a massage, cook, go to a fun event, get out of town (doesn't have to be far), take a hot bath, binge watch shows or movies, do some retail therapy, have a cup of tea, diffuse essential oils, or anything else that sounds good.

I also echo the suggestion of taking your social life off campus. I'm also an ethnic minority in a department and town that lack diversity. Campus life isn't my thing so I do things off campus all the time. Meetup, going to the gym, scouring local event sites and papers, and volunteering have all been helpful. I don't have a tight crew, but there are people who notice if they haven't heard from me in awhile, will reach out if there's a blizzard, and are up for the occasional outing. If you want to go on a trip, then go. I have done more solo travel since starting my program than I ever did before and I've learned I really enjoy it. I wind up going wherever I want, staying within my budget, and doing whatever interests me on whatever timetable I desire.

I'm sure you'll get a variety of answers as each program is different. I'm in my 2nd year and a typical week is something like....... research: 4-10 hours, practicum: 16-20 hours, TAing: 3 hours, classes/homework: 5-10hrs , and meetings/miscellaneous tasks: 0-2hrs. I do a good job of lumping up my days so I do most things back to back rather than have several random gaps in my day. Some weeks I choose to devote more time to a particular task so that might add an extra 4-5 hours, but its still manageable.

Here are my commutes throughout school: Community College - 10 minute non freeway drive. I would have preferred to take the bus, but I had to be to work across town immediately after class and wouldn't have made it. University - 10 minute non freeway drive + 10 minute walk or 5 minute walk + 15 minute bus ride. On days I had to work I drove, parked far so that was free, and then walked to class. On days I didn't have to work I took the bus (also free) which stopped a couple blocks from my house and went right to campus. Master's - 2 hr freeway drive one way. Commuting was much cheaper than moving so I made the best of it. PhD 1st year - 10 minute walk + 5 minute bus ride or 20 minute walk. If I had to be on campus late I preferred walking the well lit route and catching the bus, but on early days if the weather was nice walking the whole way was fine. The bus is free so that helps. PhD 2nd year - 5 minute walk + 10 minute bus ride. I moved to a nicer place that is farther and am on campus later so taking the bus is easier. If the weather is bad I still take the bus.

I googled "grad school advice" and found this forum and a few others. This one was more appealing so I signed up.

Do be friendly, yet professional and polite. Don't do or say anything that you wouldn't want getting back to your POI. Every field, department, and advisor will value lab input differently but expect them to be asked their opinion of applicants. The POI has the final say, but if the lab is in agreement that a particular candidate isn't a good fit I bet that would make a difference in who is made an offer.

I agree that this is something to consider in your decision making because the happier and more comfortable you are the more energy you will have for your studies and research. I have to wonder if the programs you're considering would like to have more female students, but struggle to attract them because no one wants to be the only one? I've often heard of this situation with minority groups......programs want to diversify but no one wants to be the only *insert whatever racial/ethic group* that is expected to trailblaze, represent, and has to succeed otherwise everyone looks bad. I agree that talking to female faculty at these programs would help, but also women in the field that may have survived this experience. My guess is if this is an issue now it will be an issue when you're seeking employment as well, so the sooner you figure out how you're going to deal with it the better. I also think it would benefit you to be open to seeking out social contacts outside of your department. Stats isn't the only male dominated field, so there might be other women that can relate to that feeling and you can all support each other. Also you'll get tired of your work at times and want to turn your brain off. Being around women (and men too) that want to talk about anything else can do wonders for your wellbeing.

I love working at home and have set up a home office so there's a dedicated work space that I can ignore when I want to relax. I do have a campus office, but its a shared space and just isn't set up in a way that works for me. What do I do best at home? Writing papers/clinical reports Emails Reading articles/textbooks Grading assignments Data entry/analysis Mapping out ideas for research, papers, etc Making presentations Prepping for clients Reviewing/Scoring assessments Working at home also makes my on campus work more productive because I know exactly what materials I need to get from the library or my advisor if any, I know what questions to bring up in supervision, I know what is remaining on group projects, and I'm ready to delegate tasks if needed.

In addition to the great advice above senior students have told me to learn to say no and don't feel bad about saying it as often as you need to. There are always more things you can be doing in grad school, but there aren't enough hours in the day. Once you decide what your priority is then decide if its worth your time to take an extra elective class, be part of an academic committee, add a community service project, or insert whatever other field specific thing comes your way. All of those are great experiences that could look good on your CV and lead to networking opportunities, but if you don't really have the time for those things and whatever your priority is then you have to start saying no. Sometimes this will mean telling your advisor no, but with solid reasoning they should be willing to support you.

I'm in agreement that we should all ask people what they prefer to be called and then honor that request. I am American and have an ethnic name and the quickest way to get on my nerves is to shorten it or create a nickname without asking me. When I was younger teachers forced a nickname that I didn't ask for or like and it stuck clear until high school graduation when I could disappear into college and use any name I wanted. I have no problem correcting people repeatedly when they get my name wrong, especially if I can tell they're trying. But it is so offensive to not even try or ask for help and assume its ok to shorten my name or nickname me.

OP, in addition to what everyone else has said unless you are the accountants for your classmates you really don't know what their finances are like. They could be running up thousands of dollars in credit card debt or their parents might be on their behalf. I also think its important to point out that you're choosing to live solely on your stipend even though it is extremely difficult. I don't know your financial situation, but student loans could be an option for you and could be worth considering if they would improve your standard of living enough to prevent suffering (which it sounds you are from what you've said). I'm not saying use them irresponsibly by getting a luxury car or vacationing in Europe. However, there is nothing wrong with borrowing enough to make sure you have clothing, food, housing, and transportation. Yes you have to pay them back, we all do, but that is all the more reason to handle them wisely. As far as I know there aren't any awards for lived most frugally in grad school and if there is an option for you to improve your standard of living that you are refusing to consider then it is unfair to blame your classmates for having different circumstances and choosing not to live as frugally.

Roommates only save you money if you find one that values saving the same way you do. If you are the type to turn off lights when not in a room, unplug appliances, close off rooms that don't need to be heated, minimize the ac, etc and your roommate isn't then you won't save money and there will be a lot of tense discussions or passive aggressive behavior. I will pay any price to live alone and not be bothered by anyone else's lifestyle choices. This also means when I'm stressed and overwhelmed my home is always a peaceful oasis, never chaotic. That is truly priceless.