hippyscientist

So I don't know how many of you are yoga people, but I just did a home practice for stress and anxiety but it really really really helped. Feeling a lot more able to tolerate the stress that's happening around me right now. Yoga with adriene was the name if anyone wanted to try it. (I'm not affiliated in any way but I just feel so chill right now I thought I'd share for anyone else who's freaking/stressing/anxious)

@med latte CONGRATULATIONS enjoy the champers and relax.

Everyone says that and then you get to the analysis and they all run away screaming haha.

I have the best job ever My research at the minute involves a LOT of watching NFL videos...so I get to curl up in bed with a huge mug of tea and browse the NFL website for injuries. YAY (well not for the injured players...)

Can we be friends? I like tequila...

See I like Dr. Patron! But that's just me, I have a thing for words that can be interpreted multiple ways. You have a very beautiful name btw. At the end of the day, you gotta do what's going to work for you, so if Elizabeth Viera is going to be the option you feel most comfortable with, go for it!

Ohh name changes are always fun! I changed mine at school because there were 2 of us with the same nickname (I have a relatively uncommon name). I then decided I didn't like it (a celebrity who shared the same name did some silly stuff) so I changed it at university, but now I've reverted back to the nickname I had at school because it's just more me! The only ones who may have a problem are those who've known you a long time. No one else is really going to care if you're just shifting to using your middle name. I was called Harmony for a year (like as far away from my actual name as possible). Just start telling people to call you Eliza/elizabeth. Also, get used to hearing it!!!

@thepinkdragon76 that sounds positive, but you never know until it's in your inbox! Good luck

In 12 and a bit hours I have an exam worth 50% of a module and I am in no way shape or form ready to take it. Just mentally not in the right space at all right now. While ranting to a friend I realise that my life is basically a country song currently: degree has ramped up something chronic (I have 4 pieces of coursework plus original research to get done in a month), 5 year relationship ended, still waiting on grad school admissions results, and my gran has terminal cancer. All I need is for my dog to die and it'd be complete, except I don't have a dog, which is almost as bad!!! Pity party is over. Today has been super productive in terms of research, I had a job interview and I swear half my problem is I haven't trained today or eaten in 12 hours.

The one reject I have heard came through at 11am GMT, or 3am in Los Angeles where the school was.

I've run out of heart thingies but congratulations!!! YAY

Yeah I've been on Gumtree, but am a little hesitant. I'd be more okay if I could visit in person but I quite want something I can sign up to. I was looking at 2/2, and would be happy to go into one if I knew the person I was sharing with (guy/girl it really doesn't matter) would be down for say a drink and a catch up once in a while, but I don't want them to be my best bud. Also, clean yes! I don't think I'm a bad housemate: I clean, I take trash out, I don't leave vomit in the toilet unflushed (yes my housemate did that yesterday), if I bake stuff I'll always leave something for roommates, I don't have people over, or if I do I run it by people first. It just bugs me that no one I seem to live with does the same. Thank you so much for the offer - if I get the funding I might be taking you up on that! Yeah I've been on Trulia and Zillow and PadMapper. As soon as I know funding, I'll be contacting places. Thanks for the info about start up for utilities - that's lower than I had anticipated so that's awesome news!

What did I just watch???? @Euler I'm with you. I was expecting to hear stuff around Jan time because that was the turnaround for my UK masters program. Turns out 5 months isn't long enough to make a decision and inform applicants of it. Even the school I'm unofficially accepted at (but may not attend - waiting on funding) still hasn't sent anything official. It's so frustrating! Everyone says: be patient, you'll find out soon enough, but I don't think they really understand it!

Good luck everyone waiting to hear back still. This week and next I think will be D-day for most programs. Fingers, toes and everything crossed for good news!!

@AnthroFilm no worries, it happens here! The Continuum looks quite nice but WAY out my price range unfortunately. I'm thinking max $700 a month (+ bills). I've been looking at places to live, got my eyes on a few. Just waiting on funding to confirm I'll be heading to Gainesville. If I arrive beginning of August will that be too late to sign a lease on an apartment? I'd really like to see a place before I sign anything but my masters doesn't finish until 2 days before I will move and I can't afford the flights. I'm not opposed to living with someone, but I've had some terrible experiences recently and so I know I'd be quite picky so a 1 bed would probably be easier. Also, any idea on getting utilities started up without a credit history? (I'm guessing it's going to be an expensive first month or two).

@easybreezy congratulations! @Neist oooohhh how exciting, fingers crossed for you. @gingin6789 I hope you're leaning towards Boulder - that professor sounds awesome and I wish there was a program there that was remotely close to what I want to do because it's one place I have a massive urge to live. @Pink Fuzzy Bunny oh yikes. Haha. It's a small world

Yes very true. I'm ranting to the internet as normal! I haven't seen one friend since July last year and the other one since September. It's just crazy. I'm determined to catch up with them both, even if it involves me working remotely for a week. But once we've moved Skype/FaceTime will definitely be the norm. Once again, I'm blown over by the awesomeness that is the supportiveness in this thread.

It's less about what the PI is publishing and more about what their current students are publishing under them. Research Gate is quite useful for that, as is just searching on PubMed or an equivalent to find papers each PI have published and see the other authors. Remember to take into account other factors like lab environment, location, cost of living, and the arbitrary "where do you think you'll be happier?" as well as productivity and reputation. Good luck

You raise some good points, I think last night I just needed a vent! My friends are awesome, but they are super busy too (one is getting ready to move to Australia and one is coming to terms with a miscarriage). We all have so much going on in our lives and none of us has the time or money to visit each other, which is frustrating as hell. I'm trying to get sufficient work done so I can take a few days to write, and travel and see them while I write the 10,000 words that need to be in soon. At least I'm busy enough to not be stressing too much about applications Silver linings. I got my model built today, and it actually works! I am so happy!! Hope the rest of you wining whiners have had a good weekend.

Instead of speculating, why not try to distract yourself and you will find out shortly. It reads positively though, but it doesn't mean anything until you have the official decision.

I respectfully disagree. I think many people go into grad school unaware of the demands and stresses. That is not to say they are not intelligent enough to get a PhD, but realise that they didn't fully appreciate what a PhD is and it's not the path they want to go down. I've seen this a lot in the UK so I may have a different take to US departments. I will agree that departments can have an intimidating aura, my current one certainly does, but by the time we're mid-20s or older, regardless of where you're working (academia, offices, labourer, etc etc) things aren't going to be easy, there will be people you don't like and sometimes you need that "thick skinned" attitude. Returning back to the original matter of this post, it seems to be a case in point of the OP maybe not being fully aware of the demands of a PhD before going. Now that's not to say that they will be unsuccessful, but there is a need to listen to the wake-up calls when they happen!

Right now I just want that little email to pop into my inbox telling me that I've got funding. I just want to start planning moving. There's going to be SO much to organise in such a little space of time. I've had to move my deadline for my research forward a month in order to move to the US early enough to find housing, get a drivers license, buy a car and get settled before classes start. As it is, I'll be handing in my research paper on one day and 2 days later moving countries. My friends are understandably pissed off that they're not going to be able to hang out with me before I go but I have zero time unless they can come visit me for an afternoon. Which is a lot to ask seeing as they're a 5 hour drive away and I can't put them up. Agh. Sorry venting time. I'm all ready to get going with finalising plans but I need that funding email!! If I don't get it...well job search it is!!!

And so another week ends. Still no freaking news. But it's friday night which means beer, tequila shots and friends this is my first night out since starting my masters degree. Looking forward to letting my hair down a bit!

clothes would be a good start. Rocking up in a dressing gown or a birthday suit would lead to a lasting impression, just maybe not the right one!

Stay please!! I'm starting to get a little sad at the thought of this thread ending. You guys have been so supportive over this incredibly stressful process and although we've never met, I have celebrated your acceptances and commiserated the disappointments. You all feel like friends