hippyscientist

Okay those words you just used are very commonly used to describe me too. I mean admittedly my hobbies are scarier - martial arts and powerlifting. But I also am one of the world's biggest hippy people, think projecting love is important (although I do have resting bitch face - I'm sorry!), can't sleep without my cuddly toys, and love disney too. In fact I might even cry at a few disney movies. Socialising is great, and I love it in small doses. I'm pretty good at schmoozing, but I hate small talk. Meeting people is a lot of fun, but then I need to go home and recharge and veg out. Also you're right that academia seems to correlate with introversion. I look at my current department and hope upon hope I keep a little bit of my personality in tact and don't end up as odd as them!

Are we all anti-social dislikers of people? Maybe it's a grad school thing! I like my space, just had a friend stay for 3 days and I'm exhausted now.

Agh venting time. My 3-year old iPhone needed to last 3 more months until I moved to the US and it just totally died this morning. Instead of spending any sort of money on a replacement I've got an old school text and talk thing. 12 year old me would be thrilled!

You know what? Those methods may work for her. We're all different! We all make friends differently. For me, I have about 3-4 close friends, and even they are a struggle at times. I like being a hermit. It's not detrimental to my health - I get social interaction at work and through sport. But I need space. I don't like people either and the ones I like tend to fit in with my outlook, specific interests etc. I get diversity in interactions with others, but they're not friends. Who cares? There's only an issue if YOU feel there's an issue. Screw what someone else says, even if they've done research on the topic, they haven't done research with you. So whatever. Do what works for you (as long as it's not hurting anyone that is)

@Neist that's interesting to know about Lyme disease. Not one I would have thought of so thank you. @rhombusbombus YAY powerlifting It's happening, don't fight it!

I WANT ONE!

I'll be gymming a lot, and want to hike and explore the area. I also want to push and build my CV to make me super competitive come job hunts following the PhD so I'll sit down with my advisor shortly after arriving and come up with a game plan to get to the end goal. I want to figure out which conferences I want to be presenting in, who I should be schmoozing, whether there's opportunities to lead, figure out how to actually run a lab & how to be a PI (obviously not initially but) and all that sort of stuff. But I will have my 3 courses, plus TA assignment (got a questionnaire via email yesterday about suitability for different courses which was interesting) so little research occurring in my first semester. I should be taking my first set of exams by the end of Spring '17 and then start smashing diss. I want to have a life out of uni too - join some things in town so when all the undergrads go there's still a core group of people around outside my dept. It's way important to me to have balance. Okay that's enough ramblings. Total and utter sidetrack - Big Hero 6 is amazing and I want a Baymax to get me through grad school.

This is awesome! I just got a questionnaire about TA duties through basically a list of classes I'd have to TA and which ones I might be best suited to. There's 2 that are appropriate and another 2 that are questionable but now I'm researching the previous syllabi of those courses to see what I might be required to know! So freaking exciting. Also (sorry I know this was FB) 9 credits for sure! Don't overload yourself first semester, we're gunna have enough else on our plates. @sjoh197 your cats are cute, and that's coming from someone who's really not a cat person!

wow I can't believe you're starting this soon! I mean it may be totally different disciplines but I just find 80 hrs a week crazy. I've been pulling 75 hr weeks in my masters for 4-5 months (it's finally easing off) but I've been told by multiple sources (including one who's been through the PhD I will be going to) that it eases up the intensity. Like the work's still challenging, but if you're doing more than 50 hr weeks something isn't right. Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm ranting at you, I'm ranting at the expectation that 80hrs a week is okay regularly (even if it is just for first years). I really hope that you're not doing 80 hrs a week so you can play with your (hypothetical) cat!

@Neist that book sale sounds incredible! @Pink Fuzzy Bunny right okay. 80 hours a week. Nope. Not happening (well maybe towards deadlines but otherwise no). When I was visiting schools (before I'd even applied) I told them my work-life balance was important. That I'd do the work, but I wasn't going to be in the lab all hours, and at least one day a week anything related to university work was going to ignored. My new advisor actually respected me for it. This PhD is a job. I refuse to let it take over my life. Yep I'm very excited about starting, and about learning and researching and getting involved, but equally I know I need a bit of me time each week to function at my best. So you won't catch me pulling 80 hrs here - it's unsustainable in the long haul, and I'm in this for the long haul. It's all about time management and priorities. Also, I have never pulled an all-nighter and I don't plan to start. Organization, and preparation are the key. Also yes, moving - disgustingly expensive.

Haha there's not many things I'm stereotypically British about, but tea and crumpets is one. @Danger_Zone travelling is great. I would recommend it to anyone who can justify the time. Some of my best experiences have come from it and it's definitely shaped who I am now. I feel more self-assure and ready to start my career now that I've had wanderlust sated for the time being (let's face it, it never really goes away). I'm hoping to be able to take 6 months once tenured (so a long way away) to research and write in South America. I think that would be amazing.

Nope you're pretty much spot on. English muffins are great with hollondaise sauce, eggs - things with runny bits to soften them up a bit! The sour can complement other flavours but on their own they're pretty naff. Crumpets are delicate and melt in your mouth but aren't sweet unless you put sweet toppings on them. I'll happily have a cup of tea and a marmite crumpet about 4pm but you wouldn't catch me doing that with english muffins lol.

NO!!! English muffins are totally different. They're denser and not as tasty (in my opinion). And you'd eat them with different things. So I googled and this is the difference: "Crumpets are always made with milk, but English muffins never do. (Though there are a few recipes that beg to differ.) • Crumpet batter is just that: a loose batter. English muffins are made from a more firm dough. (Sometimes.) • Crumpets are made only using baking soda, where as English muffins are made with yeast or sourdough (and occasionally a little baking soda to help things along). • Crumpets are cooked only on one side, so the bottom is flat and toasted while the top is speckled with holes (delicious, butter-absorbing holes...). English muffins are more bread-like and are toasted on both sides. (This one is actually a definite!) • Crumpets are served whole with the jam and butter are spread right on top. English muffins are split before serving. (Unless you happen to like your crumpets split.)"

Glitchmob are awesome!! They were the soundtrack to a large portion of my cross-country drive. @Danger_Zone nope not from the US but I've spent a decent amount of time there. I worked at camp for 3 months in Maine, have helped set up apartments for my ex in both NYC and San Diego, I've driven across it, my dad's family used to live in Florida...yeah, so while not American, I am familiar a lot with American life! And yes PB&J crumpets are incredible. I still prefer my marmite though. The specialist shops are great for a craving but they never do justice to the stuff from home. As August approaches, I'm trying to run around and see my favourite places, eat my favourite foods and just remind myself of the things I like about the UK (it's not a long list haha). I've got cornish pasties, clotted cream fudge, my mums roast beef & yorkshire puddings and my local curryhouse. That's pretty much it haha. @Neist english muffins are only acceptable when accompanied by eggs benedict. There is no other time I eat them. I much prefer irish farls.

Haha crumpets are amazing. They're like really light, holey bread and you have them with melted butter and are just delicious -even better if you put some marmite on there. Man now I'll have to add crumpets to my list of food to get people to bring me!

Definitely give it a go! That's amazing they offer classes for free! It's helped me so much. Plus the hour it takes out of my day is an hour away from the screen, away from distractions, just focusing on how I feel and the present. It's amazing how much that recharges you.

All that just sounds like hell. I don't think I've taken more than 3 exams at any one time in the past 3 years. You have my sympathies The trick is - go to yoga class and then go straight to friends house for mexican food afterwards! Friday night rituals are hard to beat lol

I don't actually have finals. I have one open book stats exam and my research project and that's it. The end is in sight (admittedly 3 months left to go on the research project). Haha yep I do a lot of my yoga at home, but sometimes I like the guided classes. The one on a Friday at 5pm is so good. She destresses us so we can enjoy the weekend. I always leave that class on cloud 9, just don't get the same feeling doing yoga in my undies at home haha!

TakeruK has thoroughly answered a lot of your questions but I wanted to add a few more things. The baggage limit will be on your ticket from the airline. It's normally ~23kg per bag for international flights and you can pay extra for more bags if you need it (but you will have to keep each bag under the weight limit). Things that you will need to pack will depend on circumstances but generally: clothes, shoes & toiletries that you want to bring with you. If the climate you're moving to is drastically different it might be more effective to buy this stuff on arrival but if you have good things you want to bring, bring them! You'll also want things for school - a laptop if you use one, phone etc. Remember a plug converter if you need it! Also any sentimental things from home. That's all I will be packing for. In hand-luggage I keep my electronics (phone, laptop, camera, ipad & kindle), key papers (I20, passport, visa paperwork, apartment lease etc) and fresh undies and T-shirt (you never know if flights get delayed). I also bring a blanket on with me for long-haul flights as it just makes me a lot more comfortable but this is by no means necessary as the airline should provide one for you. Sim card - it also depends on what network your phone is on. For example, in the UK mobile phones are GSM, but the US commonly uses CDMA, so make sure your phone is able to use CDMA or you might need a new handset. Alternatively, places like T-mobile and AT&T offer GSM signal so this might be good to set up initially. I have a credit card which converts purchases using that day's exchange rate so you don't incur massive fees and that is what I will be using to purchase furniture. I'll then pay it off out of my UK account and transfer the rest of my money using TransferWise to my US account once it is open as this reduces the number of intl fees I'll have to pay. Might be worth looking into things like that from your country.

Um I'd email (can you call at all?) again and put my foot down. You don't want to be stressing about that!

@Danger_Zone man, I totally encourage everyone to give yoga a few chances. It all depends on finding the right style, teacher and studio for you. The first few times I went I just didn't gel with the experience, but when I moved for my masters I tried again and just fell in love with it. If I don't practice for a few days it feels funny! You can get the judgey people that @Cat_Robutt obviously experienced in LA (ugh I hate yoga in LA), or you can get the really really supportive people who don't care if you can't touch your feet. It's all about what feels good for you. Most of the classes we spend with our eyes closed, listening to our bodies. You'll be surprised at what you can do. It's a great mind-quietner too. Sure, it's not for some people, but I'm a firm believer that's more because they haven't found the style that suits them. Also, Cat Robutt - dude I am so down for tea and cookies. At any and all times.

I took a year off between finishing high school and starting college, and another 2 years between finishing undergrad and starting my masters. I will be transitioning straight from my masters to the PhD. I definitely feel older and more with it than a lot of my current cohort, but at my PhD program, they tend to take most people with a few years experience. I'm looking forward to being treated as an adult again! My long-term relationship ended during the application process so now I'm going to have to figure out the dating thing. I've never actually dated so that's going to be a big change for me. But I am looking forward to having my own place, and being able to settle and put down roots. Despite being an international student, this PhD will be the longest I've been in one place since I was 16 so I'm looking forward to buying furniture and getting a dog and starting my life. I feel like the manic-ness of the past 8 years has prevented me from settling and so, while mature in outlook, I don't have the things associated with "adulthood". As for making friends, I've always had a group of people who have a diverse age range (~12 - 50 years old) so I'm not so concerned with straight from undergrad students or those who've taken time out. We each have things to learn from each other. Younger students will challenge me to go out and party every now and then, older students will be able to pass on wisdom that they've learnt. It's all just exciting. I honestly have no nerves about moving, or starting or the PhD itself or any of it. Just excitement!

I'll PM you with a few more details when I've written this but long story short, yes I've experienced similar. I found that making sure I had a "safe space" to retreat to, and someone to confide in really helped. My bedroom in my apartment is mine, and mine only. No one is allowed to come in it at all, and when the world is feeling too much I know that I have my space that I can go and do some meditation and breathing exercises in. Yoga has helped so much I want to make everyone who's every had any self-doubt, body dysmorphia, eating issues, depression, anxiety ANYTHING like that to give it a go with a supportive and encouraging teacher. Something like hatha where the focus is on the breath, your own practice and self-acceptance. I honestly cannot tell you how much it's helped me start to feel okay again. Find a councillor, and go see them before you start having flair-ups. Build that relationship before you're in a vulnerable state so if you do have a relapse, there is someone there who is trained and can help you. I also have friends, who although they know about my past, don't know that it's still an issue at times. If I feel the common signs I will go to my friends house, sit with her with a cup of tea and a teddy bear and just vent about anything, nothing, everything. I'm not sure if you have a friend like that but it helps having someone who is totally non-judgemental. She doesn't counsel me about anything, just is there. Other advice I can give very much depends on you, and your experiences so I'm not going to suggest it. Some people will take it well, for others it makes their symptoms worse. Totally switching tracks now, @rhombusbombus I will happily do doggie walks This can very much be arranged. We will need to do a grad cafe meet up where we can finally meet each other in person come August. There seems to be loads of us going to PSU on here!

@sjoh197 maybe drop them an email and ask? If you have an idea of classes you want to take, any outstanding questions etc you can use those as an excuse for getting in touch. Heck, even a "I was just wondering if there was anything further I need to do before starting" email does the trick. @Danger_Zone I agree that the entire grad school acceptance process is designed to test patience to extreme levels. If it wasn't for yoga and meditation I'm not sure I'd have been quite so collected this whole time (and yes that includes the daily freak outs on this forum!).

@Need Coffee in an IV ahh I am a sucker for a leather chesterfield sofa. But I'd throw some soft snuggly blankets over it and some bright patterned cushions and...I'm going to stop now haha. I can't paint the walls in my new apartment so I'm stuck with plain white walls and carpeted floors. I want to throw lots of colour in with soft furnishings, fairy lights and accessories but I have expensive taste. A lot of my shopping will be thrift stores I reckon. Agree with the artistic antler stuff!