Shiji E. Moji

@GreenEyedTrombonist I wouldn't worry too much about others willing to eat your food; for many people, free food is free food. Maybe make it a potluck, once a week or so, to reduce costs? I also think there are a lot of people discovering food allergies who would be very interested in new food options. Regarding your first post, I think your Sunday prep is a great idea! Especially if you think cooking is boring or tedious. Personally, I listen to podcasts or music when I cook. Or I'll call my folks and cook while talking to them, which has the added bonus of keeping me honest. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck! I think you'll do great wherever you go, especially with how far in advance you're tackling this issue.

@GreenEyedTrombonist No problem! Sounds like you've got a good handle on your habits and know where you might run into trouble. Now -- and this would depend a lot on finding or creating a group you like -- I'd consider planning meals with others. If eating more is the issue, having people there to encourage you or keep you on schedule might enable you to maintain good health, both mental and physical. Also, have you considered one of those "home chef" type of plans? Where they send the ingredients and instructions and you make the meals? Where you spend, say, $50 a week but with at least N days of good, nutritious dinners? I'm sure they have low-carb/dietary restriction options! It might be a slightly expensive, but good, alternative -- especially when you live alone!

To GreenEyed, I feel you -- truly. I think one of the hardest parts of moving someplace new (especially when alone, and especially the first time) is this: how you live, how you eat, etc is all a mystery. Some people are naturally okay with these things; they just don't think about and it isn't a big deal. But for many of us it can be an uphill battle to find a very general, healthy sweet spot. My suggestion would be to pretend you're living alone now. Figure out what things would really bother you or make you really happy (regular Skype calls with the folks? A fixed budget? Quiet/noisy neighborhoods? Regular exercise? The list goes on...) For me, regular exercise and a very fixed diet is essential. Also, I plan regular calls with my parents and try to find one friend with a dog (gosh I love dogs they are just so huggable seriouslyomg). When I go home, I try to keep the same habits. BUT, plan for the inevitable. When you're low, have a plan. Who will you talk to, how will you be kind to yourself, how will you pick yourself up,...? I think the decision to live farther away, especially alone, isn't simple. You don't have to travel far to get a really good education, but maybe the best program for you is far from home. Either way, make your decision for YOU. If you think your mental health will, when living alone, lead to self-destruction, maybe consider the program closer to family. If you work really hard at it, I think it's possible to live alone someplace far away. But you'll have to be kind to yourself and have healthy safety nets for the really low moments. TL;DR: Know your strengths and weaknesses and you can tackle anything!

I had a very good experience in my previous grad program with two roommates. We needed a lower rent and were very lucky to find affordable housing...when split 3 ways. However, I do want to say that I've had terrible experiences with roommates. My way around a terrible roommate is to 1) find people from your future uni or in your future program (facebook is actually very convenient for this) and 2) be upfront and honest about your ticks and preferences and ask about theirs. Don't be afraid to say you wouldn't make a good roommate for someone (even when it's really them!) and continue the search elsewhere. I can't emphasize enough that this is YOUR success and happiness on the line. Be selfish during this process but remain flexible where possible. Although... if you can get a place for yourself that meets your needs, why not?

Most schools are revising their admission selection criteria to more successfully judge the whole candidate, not just how well they test. I can't guarantee that this actually happens (besides my own experience; my first go-around, I never retook the GRE and got accepted into all of the programs to which I applied), but this is what's circulating around a lot of top-tier schools. What I can say is that my GRE scores are good except for my quant. My score there is just...utterly sad. And it doesn't reflect how well I do at math, either! Your resume, personal statement, and letters of rec are going to push you forward more than your GRE scores, imho. But it's a mean world out there, and the competition is fierce, isn't it? Good luck!

I don't have a background in Communication Disorders or SLP, so I'm taking several prereqs now at my local college, plus ASL. Which programs are you applying to? University of Arizona (UA) and Vanderbilt University Where are you from? Northern Nevada What are your biggest concerns about applications? Being considered for tuition remission waivers and/or scholarships. I'd like to say I'm not too worried about being accepted, but there's always that fear. Money toward schooling, though? That's an entirely separate animal. In any case, I've done everything I can to communicate with the universities, volunteer within my community, reach out to local SLPs, etc, but is it enough? Dunno. Good luck to everyone applying!

Woohoo and congrats!! Any idea what you'll be applying for for housing? Congratulations!

I was accepted into St Antony's College -- anyone else? (Super excited, btw. So many books near by!)

Well, then! Good luck to those of us who haven't heard a thing? [Edit: After rereading your last post, L13, it sounds like winners should be notified between now and the next week, and THEN there are interviews. Upon a successful interview, applicants are "officially" announced? Does this sound right? The whole thing sounds weird to me.]

As far as the program website says, Ertegun applicants are judged based on their application and supplemental information provided when they applied by the relevant Jan deadline. There is no mention of interviews. I would think, if interviews were a part of the selection process, it would be on their website. Anyway, if they do interview (without saying anything to applicants), I sincerely hope it's to determine between toss-up candidates, and not for the majority. Otherwise, I think that's an unfortunate bit of of information not provided to applicants. I could be wrong, but I don't think getting an interview or not means anything at this point.

I disagree, to a certain extent. I agree that not everyone needs college, however some people want college. As for myself, Japanese linguistics isn't inherently marketable or providing of a good stable income in the future -- as a fun hobby. But as a career which I study hard for, which takes up many hours of my days, I've made this interest a skill worth all the hardship. I would get into piles of debt for this, because I know my hard work will make it financially beneficial in the long run. Based on my hard work (and a good amount of socializing with the profs in my field), I can make a degree that appears "economically useless" a perfectly wonderful career. I say this, because I truly believe that hard work will get you everywhere. It may be initially thankless, but it's worth it.

Nothing burns me up more than, after getting accepted to a top-5 school, still being asked, "Oh, so you ARE going to go back to school for something useful after that, right?" Or even better, "So you'll, what, go work for Starbucks? Be a better international barista?" And then there's the ever useful, "What're you going to do with that, teach or something -- translate?" Like teaching or translating is bad or not worthwhile. Even though teaching isn't ultimately my goal, it's certainly going to be a huge part of my future career. So, like, BACK OFF. And, for the record, Japanese and Linguistics either together or separate are valuable areas of study. If you don't get it, don't bash it, but at least respect a person's interest! I LOVE my area of research, and I wouldn't give it up for all the approval nods society could offer. Good God, I need a G&T. Or maybe a violent video game.

Thank you! I certainly don't plan on getting designer/upscale luggage. I just want something that'll last and isn't too heavy before there are any clothes in it. "IT" brand seemed a good deal + quality, but many reviews say not to bother (it doesn't make it past the first trip). Which means the quality isn't nearly as good as I'd read. I've seen it in person, too, and it didn't impress me (all the materials looked great, but the stitching didn't look like it'd last). This certainly doesn't mean it isn't good, and some people have found success with the product, but I'm not sure I can put $100 dollars into luggage that I'll only potentially use once. Thanks again! Your post was really helpful!

I'm reviving this topic with the hope that someone out there has some amazing luggage -- which brand do you prefer? Best size luggage for the money? Luggage experience travelling abroad? To clarify, I'm a US resident off to the UK in the fall for a one year program. I plan on packing light (I'm not taking the whole wardrobe, and I'm trying not to take all of my books), two check-in suitcases/duffels at most. I'm no slouch when it comes to travel, but I'd like a piece (or two) of new luggage that will last me at least 5 years. That, and product reviews always come off sounding a bit fake to me. Any insight would be very much appreciated!

Congratulations! What's your area of interest? Have you studied at Oxford before?