Need Coffee in an IV

I would have to say a lot of people feel the way you do, they just won't admit it! Why did you enter a Ph.D program? I think the masters thesis option would be a great idea. That way you have an "out". My boyfriend left grad school because he was unhappy with the research (he was in a geology program too). I feel like having a masters allows you to have a lot of options to work in the field. I just recently completed my undergrad in geology. But you have accomplished a great deal! You should be proud! And I know how you feelab out physics....

No idea, I refuse to torture myself ha. Its too late to change it now so I'll just ignore everything! I know that would be an amazing chapter to my self-help book So Help Me.

I lived in Virginia before moving for grad school. Yes be prepared for all the humidity! Also make sure you have an umbrella, it rains more. Overall, you don't have anything to worry about. My friends and I wore casual clothing. Not yoga pants but jeans, sweaters, jackets, etc. Also you don't have to get a lot of heavy duty winter clothes. Just get used to wearing layers.

No real advice but I hope everything works out for you guys!

Hopefully, they'll extend some funding offers! It's pure speculation on my behalf, but I imagine that a Ph.D. program comes with increased funding from the University. If that be the case, I'd assuming that some of the funding has to help support the increased study body of the program (because students will stick around longer).
Also, this has been me all weekend.

I'm not sure if I'm getting better at graduate school or better at focusing, but I think I got this semester down.

OMG I was accepted to a conference! Now I just have to do my project lol. But to make the universe balanced I accidentally disqualified myself from a fellowship. Whoops

CONGRATS coffee! And there's always opportunities for funding  

I did my undergrad at Radford so I also know the Radford/Christiansburg/Blacksburg well. I second @Herringk description! I would have to say that if you love cities then Georgia Tech will be better than VT. However, Roanoke, VA is only 40 mins away by car and it has all the city features. One thing is that prepare for snow if you aren't use to it, snow always happens during the winter months in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But if Georgia Tech is better suited for your interests then you should go there.
However, one thing you should keep in mind is the training you will get. Since you are somewhat undecided on your future plans its better to go to a school that offers both academic and industry connections. I think both schools do that. But you should look at the past students' placements. Did they all remain local, national, or international? Basically I don't have much advice sorry! But I don't think you can go wrong with either school.

@shadowclaw Ah well I hope it gets better between you too! My vent is that I'm still waiting on major grades in one of my classes. I know grades shouldn't matter but since I'm in a terminal masters, they do matter. I've submitted that work 4 weeks agooooooo. Also I'm super happy that my first ever project/research has been accepted to a conference!!!!!!!!! Now I'm scrambling to get the ball rolling on this, since theres so much paperwork. Also I'm a little annoyed because I almost messed myself up. My project needs a facualty member to supervise me but I didn't know that. So I had to be sheepish and ask one of my professors out of the blue. At least I caught it and my IRB request wasn't turned down

Woohoo congratulations on your conference acceptance!!! 

@shadowclaw Ah well I hope it gets better between you too! My vent is that I'm still waiting on major grades in one of my classes. I know grades shouldn't matter but since I'm in a terminal masters, they do matter. I've submitted that work 4 weeks agooooooo. Also I'm super happy that my first ever project/research has been accepted to a conference!!!!!!!!! Now I'm scrambling to get the ball rolling on this, since theres so much paperwork. Also I'm a little annoyed because I almost messed myself up. My project needs a facualty member to supervise me but I didn't know that. So I had to be sheepish and ask one of my professors out of the blue. At least I caught it and my IRB request wasn't turned down

I've gotta say, every time the announcements come out and people read their reviews out loud to me, I'm just convinced that some of the GRFP reviewers woke up on the wrong side of the damn bed. 

Shocked I received my formal acceptance email a few hours after the surprise phone interview. I was sure I had bombed and was no longer under consideration. 

I started my MA at 22 but I'm also one of the younger students. Most are a couple years older but we have someone in their 60s. 30 is young! You have all the time in the world

I also can't answer the Quebec question but I can try to help with the other question! I think the first step is to create a budget. Use an excel spreadsheet and watch youtube videos! That way you can actually see how much it would cost and if you can afford. Look at rent prices, grocery bills, etc.

Approach in-class lectures differently than student presentations, especially if you usually over-prepare to ease any public speaking anxiety. A good instructor and a high-achieving glossophobic student have different pragmatic goals, even if they cover the same content with identical slides/materials. Limit your focus on delivering a polished presentation which will likely magnify any minor mistakes and increase anxiety about how the audience is judging you. Otherwise, you'll just exhaust yourself with weekly lecture prep to try to improve a set of evaluations that isn’t really the point anymore. Instead, focus more on developing a lecturing style that fits you, your students, and course context. Allow yourself to mess up and learn to recover, explore different angles, etc.  
Be appropriately relational with your students - brief and informational heads-up and short discussions help avoid disengagement. Learn names when you can. Engage with students who aren’t doing well in class early on while staying firm with policies and expectations. Be aware of attribution biases - try to view a student's poor/mediocre performance as something situational/environmental instead of something lacking in either them or you. Similarly, let students know about your situational/environmental limitations within reason. If your workload is overwhelming during a particular semester, let them know that feedback/grades may be returned a little later than you would like at times. If you’re trying a new activity/assignment, let them know and get feedback.

I recommend everyone on this board read Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher. It's a hilarious satire of an cranky creative writing professor complaining about academic life, in epistolary form. One of the best books I've read in a while.

@Need Coffee in an IV no way! Seahawks fan here too  Nice job on remembering the bones!
I'm completely nerding out right now because I have a research symposium all day tomorrow with the medical school & I looked at the talks and ALL of them are exciting and interesting. I'm so excited and I really need to calm down so I can sleep. It feels like my Christmas present has come a little late. Plus my advisor wants me to talk with one of the presenters because he thinks he'd be a good collaborator. Eeeeeeee orthopedics really is my passion and I get to dedicate a whole day listening to interesting things YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY

@TakeruK, @Need Coffee in an IV, @fuzzylogician, and others who might be interested;
So my grades were all released today and it turns out I didn't do as badly as I thought. I actually managed an A in all my classes. I just saw my graduate director this morning as he asked me to come by after the grades were released and his conclusion was that I didn't do as badly as I thought I did. He looked like he was trying so hard not to laugh while he talked to me this morning.
I'm putting this here just in case somebody else is going to panic at the end of the year for similar reasons and wondered if there was going to be light at the end of the tunnel.
 

I'm sorry your degree didn't turn out as you hoped. As you said it is most likely too late to change supervisors. But I don't think its too late to gain experience, maybe volunteer with another professor? Maybe a different lab? I'm not sure what field you are in. Maybe try to get something in the works for a small journal? What do you hope to do after grad  school. PhD? Working in industry or elsewhere outside of academia?
Even if its unpaid experience or you don't get published you have something to focus on. In working environments outside of academia, in my experience I've noticed they don't look too closely at the find print. So maybe you don't publish anything, so instead focus on your coursework, soft skills, stuff like that. I'm not sure if this help but know you are not your situation and that it is not permanent. Good luck!

I CAN'T TELL ANYONE BUT YOU GUYS DON'T COUNT SINCE THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS INTERNET FORUM, I'M GONNA BE AN AUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely not.  I provide them with free labor and that is all the gift they need.

@MarineBluePsy See my dad did offer that but I said no lol. I refuse to be in a car with him by myself. He might kick me out of the car. He's kicked me out the house before. I've learned that I should always have the possibility to have options and not be stuck.
@Pink Fuzzy Bunny Yep! It was so much fun, the road trip of a life time. I highly recommend it!

@Neist Ah ok then!
I'm sad, my family dog passed away. He was 16, I had him since I was 7. I don't even really remember my life without him. I knew it was coming, I'm just happy he passed away peacefully. He wasn't in pain at all and only his eyesight was kinda bad. I wish I could have said goodbye in person. I was able to say it over the phone. My family said he wagged his tail and licked the phone. I'll be fine but man 2017 kinda sucks already ha.

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny and @hippyscientistThanks, that means a lot. He was/is family! Luckily I have a supportive bf who has been bringing me tissues and food all day. Its a part of life and I'm happy he was a part of mine for so long.