Katia_chan

No, it's not on the same scale as Minneapolis or other huge cities, but its bad areas are still pretty unpleasant, or at least they can be. Not a place you need to be "scared", but definitely still a place to be cautious. I wouldn't walk downtown alone after dark.

Glad to hear that the Tower area is as legit as it sounds. It's been a little nuts trying to get opinions on neighborhoods, since there are a million comments on every place, ranging from "it's amazing" to "you will get shanked on your doorstep." I looked at Soulard as well, but have heard that it's a bit more rowdy of a place, with more of a bar scene, and I lean more towards the quiet side. If I can have ice cream or any sort of Asian food within walking distance, I am in my own personal heaven. Do you have any thoughts on the Shaw neighborhood? I've heard it's not great, but also that it's not bad, and it also seems to have some cheap housing, and to be in the general area I'm looking at. Thanks for your help, and good luck on your waitlist!

Haha, glad someone shares my paranoia. I have friends who live downtown and have never had a problem, but there always seems to be weird crap going on down there, so it's not my chosen place to live. Ideally, I like the area between 15th ave and about 35th ave, but that's just a very general guideline. The areas around campus all seem to be really good. As for management, I don't know of too many *official* places. I've previously lived in the Edgewood apartment complex, and found that they were pretty good. Not the fastest at maintenance, but over-all not bad. It has on-street parking, but it's a private street just for the apartments, and does have parking lots. They are just sometimes full. And I've heard from people to avoid shiprock management. Apparently they are awful. What is your budget like? That'll also help me give you recommendations, as it can kind of get expensive up here, which you wouldn't really expect.

They are very very different schools. Pretty much the only thing Duluth shares with the twin cities is moodle administration. They're part of the same system, but not the same school--separate applications, offices, etc. And perhaps a bit of rivalry as well, but a fairly subtle one.

Hey, I dropped you a note in the Duluth thread as well, but I live up here, and can answer (most) questions about the area. As for places to live...heck, I have a place I'm vacating in August, ironically, to move to St. Louis. It's up nearish to the campuses. And can I trade Duluth housing advice for STL advice? I'm so lost...

I've so far been looking at Tower Grove. It seems to have some of the better direct transportation into the areas we need to go. But I'm overwhelmed by the sheer amount of location choices--I am not used to this. Also trying to figure out the best way to find a roommate without the creepiness of Craigslist. Sigh...

What sort of atmosphere are you looking for, and will you have a car? The areas near campus are pretty good. As a general rule, it's better to stay higher up on the avenues. From about 10th ave down, it can get a little sketchy. Now, I'm a woman who walks around a lot, so I have a higher fear of "sketch" than some people. And I know a lot of people who live in these areas. I'm just paranoid. If you don't have a car, the busses are pretty good, you just need to pay attention to routes when picking a place to live. If you have specific questions, go ahead and ask--I've lived in Duluth for almost 8 years, and love it here. It's the biggest small town you'll find.

I have no medievalists here to hug, so I send out internet hugs to all of you.

In support of the two year MA, I did an independent study the first semester of my second year, in another department, and it...kind of ended up steering me into a completely different boat. Still medieval, but it brought up other avenues of study. And according to the gist I got on my campus visit, it was that sub-interest that really caught their interest. Not to say that this can't happen in a year, but I do think having two years to explore is really helpful. See how much of the costs you could offset. Best of luck!

The only caution I would throw up is that you might want to check out the atmosphere at both campuses. I've met people who really liked a school, and then found that the atmosphere really was not good for them. If you have a good sense from the people you've talked to that you're going to like the culture/other students, then go ahead and ignore this. But it doesn't hurt, even if you're 99% sure where you want to go, to make sure that you will be happy living and working there. Also, if it's only an hour away, could you just do an unofficial visit for a day? That way you're not using their resources, but can maybe still sit in on a class or two, talk to some students and professors, etc.

Just got in off the waitlist at Texas Tech. Will be turning down the offer, as I already accepted somewhere else. I'm a medievalist. Hope this helps someone.

If you're in love with the program, or really can't wait another year, then I think you'll be okay. Just do as the above poster said and do as much volunteering as you can. However, if you can wait, I would actually advise it. Not that the MA isn't worth money, but it's money you might not *need* to spend if you wait another year. It isn't a piddly amount to shell out, so unless there is a super compelling reason to take this offer, I think waiting might really be beneficial. Just my opinion though. You must do what's right for your situation.

Coat and boots are a must. Also goes without saying, a good gloves/hat set. Also stock up on business-casual clothes for all temperatures. The summers can get pretty muggy, and winter and spring can be pretty damp and chilly. But that aside, it's great. The midwest is a lovely place with lovely people.

Congrats! I've never been to the school, but Chicago is pretty awesome. Weather's not as nice as CA, but it's a super interesting city. Hope you enjoy it.

Yeah, I was still waiting to see if a waitlist converted, and still technically had one school left to hear from. But the funding at the WL didn't look good, and the other school sent its acceptances out over 2 weeks ago, soooo... And then I decided that the likelihood of me choosing either school over the acceptance I had was pretty small, and that I just wanted to be able to plan my effing life further than six months in advance, and I took a chance. There's still the tiny "what-if" in my brain, but it is only about 2%, and is overruled by the other 98 that feels like we made a good call. When March is drawing to a close, the potential grad student must thrust herself into motion. Or...something. Basically, I just wanted to make a decision and I went for it.

I just accepted an offer. There is no emoticon for how weird that feels. 4 app seasons paying off, and I'm scared shitless, and ecstatic, and...yeah. Now, I share a video someone posted last year that sums up this whole stupid never-ending anxiety attack... ETA: then I cock up the code and decide to just post a link...

If he admitted it was a mistake, it's fine to just ask if he's going to change it. But not because it's a "bad" grade. Just because you shouldn't have that on your transcript if it was a clarical error. But I am going to give one bit of advice... calm down. As long as your numbers are above the "average" listed by the school, you're not going to have a problem. SoP and WS make up for just about anything if they're good enough. And if you start freaking out about getting a 169 on the GRE, or a 799 on your subject test, you are going to send yourself to the madhouse. I know being an overachiever is kind of part of the grad school applicant shtick, but do yourself a favor and relax, and know that it is hard for anything but a truly abysmal number to be "the kiss of death".

Ah, yes, let me amend my statement. Mostly I meant, in like February, after you've submitted stuff and it's long past the deadlines, don't look at it again, unless you are using it for something else. I can't count the number of times I've seen people post on here: "Just realized I sent in a SoP where I listed the wrong professor's name." Once it's past the point of possible resubmission....you just don't want to know.

Great thread idea. My biggest piece of advice, for procrastinators like myself... DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! Do everything early. Write your SoP, send your transcripts, take and send out your GRE. It all takes weeks longer than you think, even after it leaves your hands. Inevitably someone not-you will lose something you sent. Someone lost my MA transcripts, which were in the *same* document as my undergrad ones, and I didn't find this out until after the deadline. It didn't screw me over, but it made for multiple panic attacks and a lot of time spent on the phone. So do stuff early, and save yourself the aneurisms that come later. Otherwise, seconding the advice about getting over your insecurities and letting people read your SoP etc. It helps. Also on that note... once you submit to a school, just...don't read your SoP again. It is rare that you can resubmit it, and there's just no point tormenting yourself with the mistakes you inevitably made. In this case, better to live in happy ignorance. Best of luck! And if it's your second, or third, or even fourth time through, don't give up! Good things can happen when you're least expecting it, from where you're least expecting it. And you, whoever you are, rock.

God so many good English stories, though the kic-off one is absolutely fantastic, and not sure if I can top that one. ...I do medieval, so most of my stories are smut-centric. I had a Chaucer class where our professor just gloried in making everyone uncomfortable. One of my favorites though, was when we were discussing belle chose, and other euphhamisms for the female anatomy, and she, in her glory, turns to a kid and asks "so, first reactions, what do you thin of the vagina in the context of this story." He turned very, very red, and said that it was a "horrifying abyss." I'm pretty sure the rest of us almost wet our pants. To his credit, he spoke up in a class of 12 where he was the only other dude. Same class she told us that "you know that thing, where someone says they want to die by being stepped on by an elephant while having sex? That's how I want to go." ...I had the misfortune to have her husband teaching my theory class that same semester. Never was able to look at them the same way again.

I saw that no one had created a topic for SLU/Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) for this year, so thought I'd throw the net out there. Figured it was worth combining, since I think there is a lot of overlap between the schools (if desired), and we'll all still be existing in St. Louis. I'm still waiting for final word from one school, but chances are pretty good that I'll be heading down to Saint Louis University to start my PHD this fall. Anyone else heading that way?

Personally I think if the top is pretty nice, you should be fine. When I went to mine I wore a jean skirt one day and a casual dress the next, but I'm just a skirts and dresses kinda person. But I don't think jeans and a top would be an issue, as long as you just look put together. People can feel free to correct me, but honestly, you're trying to make a nice "I care about you school" impression, not "please hire me look I'm professional". This will be about them wooing you.

Well, best of luck. It's a neat school. also, by the time you get there, we should have both a Panera and a Chipotle, so things have significantly improved.

Some of the herbals have less of the "tea" taste, which helps some people. And as Bowties said, nothing wrong with adding a bit of milk and sugar. It's still better than pop or most juices, at least in the sugar department. Also, depending on what teas you've tried, check how long they've been steeped. I hated my mother's lipton tea, until I was an adult and realized that she let the stuff steep for about fifteen seconds. When I learned how to steep tea properly, things changed. Also, here is that blog I'd mentioned a few pages back. Not "health food" persay, but a lot of natural recipes with quality ingredients. There's a recipe for coconut lime turkey tacos that I've been told I must try. http://thenutritiouskitchen.com/

I can't preach tea highly enough--but I might have a minor addiction to it (someday I'll post a picture of my tea shelf). It's like a frightening hobby almost... If I'm craving something sweet, I'll do tea with some sugar, because the pinch of rock sugar I put in my tea is still less than what's in my coke. The Lacroy sparkling water is good too, if you have a bubble-craving. Consistency of pop, but no sugar. Carbonation has its own evils, but when nothing but fizz will do... ...on that note, I am so sad--I got off drinking pop for so long. And now I have a roommate who drinks it all the time and she's (unintentionally) rekindling my craving for it. So not cool...I avoided it for so long just by being cheap and not wanting to pay for it. I'm kind of hoping whoever I end up living with when I move is a health nut. I am, despite my efforts, a chameleon when it comes to my eating habits. What is there, I will eat. If someone I'm living with is a healthy person, I'm more likely to do it too. Not that my bad decisions are other people's fault, but this is just how it goes. It would be nice to live in a healthy environment where good choices weren't such a constant battle. One last thing, because I am all over the place today. Healthy snack/meal...asparagus. Just enough olive oil to very lightly cote it. Oven for like 10 minutes. I can stand there and eat that stuff out of the pan. Pair it with a little fish or chicken, and you're having a good day.