fauxtog

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

i don't recommend it. it's not any cheaper, in fact i think it's pretty over priced, considering the location and the amenities.

first of all, all the grad housing is embedded in what is referred to as "frat row." so you will be living next to frat houses. and if you know anything about USC greek life you will know that you don't want to live there.

i've only been inside one grad housing complex and it was kind of depressing. plus it's not like you will be living alone, you will get matched with 1 to 2 roommates, not of your choosing.

for the same amount of money you can get a decent one bedroom apartment in koreatown or a really nice house share in echo park or silverlake.

like i said, come early this summer, sublet for 1-2 months and feel it out.

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

i'm currently a grad student at USC so I thought i'd offer my two cents.

i've lived in LA for about 9 months now and I've already moved once. if you can swing it, i highly recommend moving to LA over the summer, subletting a place for like 1-3 months so that you can get a feel for the city, transportation, day to day life, neighborhoods. LA is huge and it can be a bit of a challenge to find your niche (at least in my experience).

most grad students i know (myself included) live in either koreatown, westlake/macarthur park, echo park/silverlake, or directly north and west of campus in the west adams area. i live on the cusp of koreatown and macarthur park. it's not the worst neighborhood to be in, but it definitely has some downsides. pros: easy commute to campus (i take the bus and it's 30 min or less depending on timing), grocery stores within walking distance, easy to get downtown, adjacent to silverlake, los feliz and echo park. cons: not much "life' around here. if you're looking for a neighborhood with cafes, bookstores, pedestrian friendly, this is not it (but silverlake and echo park and los feliz are close enough to bike or 10 min bus ride).

westlake/macarthur park is kind of a rough area. i wouldn't say that i feel unsafe, but you certainly have to be aware of your surroundings when walking at night (true for any big city, but especially so for macarthur park area).

i also know some people who live south of exposition and they really like it. but that has even less going on than koreatown/macarthur park, so you def need a car to go do anything.

if you're looking to live alone and have reasonable rent, koreatown is your best bet. you can find some reasonable studios in echo park/silverlake, but they're definitely pricier. i live comfortably in a one bedroom. i also don't have a car so i don't have the extra expenses and i chose this area b/c of the short commute.

what else....a know a few folks who commute from culver city/santa monica. but that sounds like a total drag b/c the 10 (freeway) is a nightmare. in fact, all LA freeways are a nightmare. makes me so glad i don't have a car. honestly, public transit is pretty good around here, and i say this as someone who was born and raised in boston and lived in san francisco for most of my adult life.

all tolled, if you're on a wicked tight budget your best bet is to live with roommates. you get more bang for your buck (nicer house, nicer neighborhood, cheaper rent), but then you also have to deal with roommates. i prefer to just do my own thing and i can afford to live alone, so i do. but i do sometimes wish i lived in echo park.

hope this helps. good luck out there.

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

unless you're speed balling, walking from 3rd st to the main campus would NOT take 45 minutes. it would take at least twice that long. it's 4-5 solid miles from point a to point b.

also, i hate to break it to you but you're seriously wrong about the safety of the dogpatch neighborhood. there have been numerous shootings, knifings and muggings on and around 3rd street, including in potrero hill (where cca is). the point is that you really have to be aware of your surroundings. my old roommate was mugged at gunpoint in potrero hill and a second roommate was caught in the cross fire of a shooting when he was just out walking his dog one evening (this was where potrero hill and dogpatch meet).

i didn't comment on the caliber of the school (faculty, classes). but i i do have serious criticisms about the facilities and the administration. as for renee green, i'll just say she wasn't very popular while i was attending.

in my opinion SFAI is riding a wave of it's past glory days.

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

if you haven't already bought this book, it is a very handy resource, from the application process through completion.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an MA or PhD

and now for something completely different...

TATTOOS. some of us have them, some of us don't. some of us want them and some of us want to get rid of them.

if you have them, how are you going to handle it in your program? or the job market? cover up? or let it all hang out?

anyone have experiences, positive or negative, that they'd like to share?

i'll start: i'm inked all effing over the place. i can always cover them up with long sleeves and pants. i'm also nervous about how i will be perceived, but at the same time they're very well done and i get nothing but positive feedback on them (except from mom, but hey, go figure).

and for those of you who are wondering: do i regret them? hell no.

or they're just super busy (most likely the case).

if you don't hear back after a total of 7 days ping them again (maybe call this time?)

i just found out i've been accepted off of the wait list at USC!

i'm dying of joy!

and now for something completely different...

TATTOOS. some of us have them, some of us don't. some of us want them and some of us want to get rid of them.

if you have them, how are you going to handle it in your program? or the job market? cover up? or let it all hang out?

anyone have experiences, positive or negative, that they'd like to share?

i'll start: i'm inked all effing over the place. i can always cover them up with long sleeves and pants. i'm also nervous about how i will be perceived, but at the same time they're very well done and i get nothing but positive feedback on them (except from mom, but hey, go figure).

and for those of you who are wondering: do i regret them? hell no.

Yeah, sorry dude -- masters decisions have already been made!

Where do people come up with this stuff?  Based on a search results of University of Denver Josef Korbel you'll see that all posts have been for masters, none have been for PhDs.  If you look elsewhere, you'll see what I've said before: schools and departments vary wildly.  "MA's don't usually hear till last week in Feb and the first two weeks in March" might be true somewhere, but it's certainly not true everywhere, and probably not most places.  Consider this: at most programs, admitting the masters class is the bread and butter, whereas the PhDs are an investment.  You take the revenue first, then you consider your delicate risks.  Also consider: more PhD positions will require interviews than will masters.  There are many reasons to think that (a) masters will be decided first or take less time to decide, or ( the order and processes of committees isn't really something that can just be posted to good ol' grad cafe.  The truth is, you don't know.




I say, if you haven't received notification, that is in itself a reason for hope.  Patently ridiculous blanket statements should be countered with more likely blanket statements, such as, "rejected students generally get notified."

on behalf of all the people out there who are in Wait Listlandia: please please pretty please, if you know for sure you wont be accepting an offer, tell the school. being in limbo sucks


thank you. that is all.

on behalf of all the people out there who are in Wait Listlandia: please please pretty please, if you know for sure you wont be accepting an offer, tell the school. being in limbo sucks


thank you. that is all.

on behalf of all the people out there who are in Wait Listlandia: please please pretty please, if you know for sure you wont be accepting an offer, tell the school. being in limbo sucks


thank you. that is all.

on behalf of all the people out there who are in Wait Listlandia: please please pretty please, if you know for sure you wont be accepting an offer, tell the school. being in limbo sucks


thank you. that is all.

on behalf of all the people out there who are in Wait Listlandia: please please pretty please, if you know for sure you wont be accepting an offer, tell the school. being in limbo sucks


thank you. that is all.

on behalf of all the people out there who are in Wait Listlandia: please please pretty please, if you know for sure you wont be accepting an offer, tell the school. being in limbo sucks


thank you. that is all.

on behalf of all the people out there who are in Wait Listlandia: please please pretty please, if you know for sure you wont be accepting an offer, tell the school. being in limbo sucks


thank you. that is all.