Katia_chan

I would definitely talk to University B--find out what things would look like funding-wise if you got in, and, perhaps, get some information from that POI. At the very least, if you're polite and professional, which I know you are, you'll make a valuable contact. And if the funding situation looks really awful or something, you can know that A was maybe the right choice. But open communication with everybody seems like a good plan. Make it clear to Uni A that you love their program, are so grateful for their acceptance, but this other school works out for some other personal reasons (or insert reason here), and what would be the policy if you had to wait. Good luck!

Shortstack, I am out of upvotes, but this post is one. Even if there is disagreement about the job market etc etc, the idea that it's top 10 or bust is kind of an idea that I thought was slowly dying. No one but those Harvard grads is getting work? No one else is graduating with a PHD and getting a job? And THIS to the stipend comments--yes, 30K a year is great--wonderful, quantifiably more money than the 18K I'll be making. But how far do you think it'll take you in Boston? It's not like you're going to be able to save up that money for after you graduate. You will be in the same position as someone living in a cheaper city with a smaller stipend. And I do the equivalent of Starbucks in the academic world--I adjunct...teaching exactly 1 course. I make well under 10K a year doing that. I should keep doing that, rather than doubling my income and studying something I love under faculty I'm beginning to adore? This post is coming off more snarky and less productive than I meant it to. I just get tired of being undermined as an academic because I'm going to a not-ivy. We 30-ranked and under are in the same freaking boat as everyone else. The one thing I'll give you is that someone should think very, very carefully about taking out loans for a MA. Does it mean it's always the wrong decision? Absolutely not. But it's something they should consider very carefully before doing. But that is the only inch I'll give here. Okay I'm done.

So, I need some opinions... I have an acceptance, 7 rejections, one wait list, and one unknown-but-implied-rejection. I'm...97% sure I want to take my acceptance, but then there's the looming wait list, and the unknown. I think I'd rather go where I'm already accepted...how dumb would it be to just accept the offer, before I know for sure about the two impending schools? Program-wise, they all have their high points. But location-wise, my acceptance is much more in my "areas I want to live" camp. And I just...want to have a decision made. I feel pretty certain about St. Louis, but have this nervous fear of committing before I've heard everything. ....I haven't really slept. But if you can make sense out of all that, I'd love thoughts.

Stayed up until 5 A.M to finish a paper, and woke up to my Fordham rejection, and to find out that Georgia sent out acceptances yesterday. I'm excited because it means I can probably make my decision (sorry Georgia I don't want to move to you), but it sucked because...3 hours of sleep and horrible day. Sleep now.

You could share a curry recipe too...that would be awesome. Last time I tried to make it I accidentally burned the curry powder and basically maced everybody in my kitchen. (remember what I said about being shit at cooking?) Also, Des, once I find it I'll post a blog here that I was sent--healthy ways to cook. Blackbean chocolate cake, avocado brownies... Not necessarily low calorie, but also not stuff that's awful for you. And some of it sounds incredible. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I just got invited out for wood-fire pizza. Healthy, what?...

I tried being strict. And I just got cranky with myself and gave up. So making sure to forgive yourself, while still being dedicated and firm, works really well. Also, IMO it's harder to take off those tiny bits of weight than it is bigger amounts. We'll both get there! She swears by the "sun butter". Says it's even better with just a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on it--not much, just for flavor, since it's not sweetened. And you must post results of this pizza dough! I haven't done much with quinoa, and I'm...very very curious. It sounds too good to be true.

I hope you have heard or hear good news from UMD. I did my MA there, though in a different field, and really liked it. Also in love with the city. I see you're at least local on the state-level, but if you need any info about Duluth, please feel free to PM.

I had a lot of luck with calorie counting, especially last year--managed to take off almost 30 lbs (very, very slowly). A good way, for me, to avoid the stress and binge-eating was to be pretty easy on myself. If I screwed up one day, big deal. I didn't have to make up for it by eating less the next day, so I never got on the evil catch-up cycle, I just said "alright, today was a bust. Tomorrow can be better." It kept off the hating factor, and made counting easier. I need to get back to it... I haven't put on a *ton* during app season, and honestly, for me it's been more about the sub0 winter we've been having up here. Not so much stress eating as wanting-to-be-warm eating. As my friend put it "I just want to lay in my bed and eat bagels until April." So I'm hoping the carb cravings will lessen as the temps climb back into sane person range. I also have an awful metabolism, so this isn't helping. Was on a lot of sterroids for a transplant when I was a teenager, and it just kind of effed my metabolism. But with spring, and a little more effort, hopefully I can dodge the weight bullet--I'm so close to a weight I'm happy with; want to get there. I have a big problem eating plants as well. I don't drink much pop--one or two a month, when the coke craving overtakes me, and I drink a lot of tea with just the occasional coffee. But there aren't a lot of veggies I like. There are many I tolerate, but never have I wanted a salad more than a sandwich, or a cucumber more than crackers. And I'm shit in the kitchen, so I put off cooking whenever possible, and when I do try to prep my own vegetables, half the time they are kinda gross. I tried doing stuff like adding grains and such, and do a lot with whole-wheat bread. Quinoa does sound awesome though, and I intend to pick some of that up soonest. As for any workout ideas...I'm very lazy and hate doing it. But I've started doing Yoga, which is bloody fantastic for my brain, and also downloaded the Zombies, Run app for my phone. It's like reading a post-apocalyptic novel while I sit on my stationary bike (see above about frigid winter). Anyway... I guess this was just posting to share in the misery/suggestions. Love the peanut butter idea. My friend also uses butter made from sunflower seeds. The concept blows my mind, but she says it's good, and it's got lots of magnisium and such. And lastly, Shortstack, my friend has a similar problem with needing to put on weight, and she uses the ensure shakes--there are some that are meant to pack on the calories. She just eats them *and* her normal daily food.

All the upvotes.

We don't have either of those here... But Dunkin is apparently opening stuff. Also side note we just got a Panera and I am still weeping with happiness 4 days after it opened.

Right? I mean, shavings are one thing. If you wanna dust the top of my drink with chocolate shavings or cinnamon or unicorn tears, go for it. But no weird syrup--this is not doing me any favors. And yep. It's mostly in the midwest--MN and Wisconsin for sure, not sure how far out it goes. I won't miss it too much though--a lot of people like it better than Starbucks, but me not so much. See issues with syrup. Also ack Fordham wait list posted.... I thought I was done anxiously watching my Email. I just want to be able to commit to my decision... Come on, Fordham and Georgia. Just do your thing and let me move on with my life.

Amen to this. Doesn't happen as often with SB, but Caribou coffee (oh midwest...) likes to leave hidden syrup pockets in everything. I'm pretty sure they've made my mouth bleed.

I'm so happy for you!!!!!!!! That is so freaking amazing!!! Congrats!!!!! Go buy the biggest piece of cake you can find--one more hurrah of eating feelings, and this time they are good feelings!

Congratulations!!!!!! I know wait lists are a whole new fresh hell, but I am sending every bit of luck possible your way!!! <33333

Hang in there! It's the weekend--very easy to think they'll spread it over a few days. *hugs and crosses fingers*

Thanks for the offer. I did have a few questions. First, I was wondering how early I should start apartment hunting? I know places like New York, there's no point in looking further out than a week or two, but there are also places where if you start looking in late June/July, you're kind of hosed and are scraping the bottom of the barrel. So I'd like to know when to be looking so I have a decent pick. And, beyond that, do you have any idea how hard it is to find a pet-friendly place? Some cities are worse than others, and I don't know if you have any clue, but it'd be helpful to know if you have any insight on that. Thanks again!

I'm not sure if I've missed anything--it's been a long week and I can't do the brain thing tonight, but a few questions... Does she have any desire to do a PHD? Is she definitely (or at least as definitely as we all can get) want to do publishing? If she wants to go into publishing after her MA, I don't *think* rankings should be that important. The deciding factor is going to be if it is a place where she can get any sort of internships or networking opportunities. A lot of English applicants want into that field, if they don't want into academia, so it's definitely good to build up contacts. Again, I'm just theorizing here, but I'd say if she's done with her BA, but hasn't had much experience, the MA will be well worth it. It will help her build networks and perhaps some credibility--more than she could maybe get elsewhere. On the other hand, if she has access to a lot of contacts already, or can find opportunities on her own, it might not be as necessary. ...I think I've waffled too much to actually be helpful, but if you can find something good in the waffle, I hope it works out. Best of luck to her.

I don't know what the norm is, but I assume it's customary for them to pay for as much as they can, whatever that may be. The visit I went on, everything was paid for. They kept costs low-ish by having me stay with another student, and asked if I'd be willing to fly out a day later to save the department some money. But other than those, they paid for all my transportation, and 98% of the food I ate while I was there too. I have no idea how typical this is. It felt...pretty awesome though.

Also a good idea to go because, if you get in off the wait list, then you've already seen the school and can make a faster decision. Especially important if admission comes close to the 15th.

Yeah, the apartment market looks really fascinating. Lots of great apartments, with really interesting buildings. Apparently in our department, there's a woman who knows a lot about the city. So if you're looking around and need an opinion on a place, I may be able to help you out if you PM me. But all those neighborhoods you mentioned look like great places, from what I've heard. I hope you get the opportunity to visit, but I can certainly understand the difficulty. I'm a short flight away, so it wasn't bad. But I really enjoyed the campus. There seem to be a lot of things to do--restaurants and cafes and such, and the library resources are fantastic. We didn't get an in-depth tour, but we did get to see the Vadican film library, which was absolutely amazing. I hope to be able to spend a lot of time there. I definitely hope we can connect in the fall--good luck finishing up your degree. It sounds exhausting--but the end is in sight.

Mine are over too--I offer you internet ice cream for our mutual consumption. The two bits that really sting about this though are that I made it onto the wait list last year, with a less good (grammar?) application, and I actually had to reset my bloody password to view the decision.

Haven't had much of a playlist this time around. But during my pre-exam six weeks of panic, I listened to Amanda Palmer's "Lonesome Organist Rapes Page Turner" on repeat. Gotta love Dresden Dolls for panic and desperation.

I haven't heard from Fordham either, but am also considering it an implied rejection, or a wait list at best (though at this point I'd almost rather dodge wait lists... I just want this mess done with). Also, is anyone still waiting for Rochester? I didn't get accepted, or get asked to reapply for the MA. So I'm thinking wait list from them too, or just flat-out "you weren't even good enough for our MA, kthxbye."

I didn't know other people did that... Soooo gooooood. I pour it into bowls when I'm sick and put my head over it under a towel. And boy do I look stupid... but it feels amazing. Now I want tea. Must go make.

I wish I had a non-gross apartment bathtub that I actually felt sanitary bathing in...