Ryggy

@Allons-yDarling Hi! I'm also starting at Temple in the Fall, I currently live the suburbs so I am fairly familiar with the area. Any neighborhood along the Broad Street Line (BSL) is fairly easy to commute to Temple as you can simply get off at the Cecil B. Moore stop and be right on campus. The BSL opens up any area a walk-able distance to Broad Street from Center City to South Philly. Other areas which I have heard people commuting from are Manayunk (technically in the city limits but with a more suburban feel) utilizing the Manayunk/Norristown Line and Northern Liberties/Fishtown to the east. I am unsure of the transit from the east, cycling and bus routes are probably an option. I would advise trying Trulia.com and Hotpads.com they always seem to have listings available.

Hi all! I am in the fortunate position of choosing between two of my top choices of PhD programs. I honestly feel I cannot go wrong with either program, but am hoping for some outside perspective. As the April 15th deadline approaches, I have been forced to detach myself from my initial glee and now consider the pros and cons of each program. The two programs I am considering are the University of Georgia - PhD in Plant Biology and Temple University - PhD in Biology. I suppose the best way to organize this post is to list factors that ultimately most important to me in descending order and comment on each institution within that subheading. 1) Adviser/Lab/Research Interests Both Temple and UGA have advisers with research interests that strongly align with my own interest in plant evolutionary ecology/reproductive biology. The POI at UGA is established. Multiple individuals have graduated and currently hold positions as professors, post-docs, and PhD candidates in other labs. There are no post-docs, but three PhD students are at varying points in their degrees. Many undergraduates. Open to developing my own research system. The POI at Temple is new, having only been at the institution for no more than two years. I would be the first student in the lab; a post doc was hired last year. Handful of undergraduates. Open to developing my own research system. Potential to collaborate with post-doc researcher at onset of program. 2) Program/Research Facilities The Plant Biology program at UGA has a very good reputation (top 15-20?) nationally. Larger program/facilities/faculty, 6 green houses (shared), collaboration between other departments (Ecology, Genetics, Agricultural Sciences, etc.), and field sites adjacent to campus. Minimal advanced placement options for those coming in with a Master's. I am unaware how Temple's program ranks but lower than UGA. Smaller program but has grown rapidly in the last 5 years. Less specialization in plant biology, climate controlled growth room (only access for members of POI lab), strong interdisciplinary focus within department (newly established Center for Computational Genetics and Genomics, Institute for Computational Molecular Science, and Center for Biodiversity), travel to field sites variable. Advanced placement typically grants 9-12 credits based on Master's courses, so incoming students may focus more on research rather than courses. 3) Funding I am ineligible 2016 GRFP as I am completing a Master's. UGA - Guaranteed 4 year support through RA/TA. Tuition remission. Health insurance monthly premiums taken from stipend. Temple - Annual contractual support through RA/TA. I asked specially about this, all graduate students are supported annually. Tuition remission and health insurance remission. 4) Location UGA would require a move to part of the country I am completely unfamiliar. Temple is right in my hometown, and would most likely require a move of less than a half hour. Thanks for any input anyone provides!!

Anybody in this thread have any information regarding the Pitt Ecology and Evolution Department? I went on a visitation weekend early February, but have yet to be notified of a decision.

I applied to seven, and have a total of four visits scheduled. I have yet to here from the remaining three and am undecided if I would accept additional invitations. To address the second part of your question, I am currently completing a M.S.

Also stuck inside. Here are a few of the things I've been watching recently. Movies: Django Unchained, The Babadook, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. TV Shows: Parks and Recreation, Making a Murderer, Arrested Development, Daredevil. Stand Up: Tony Hinchcliffe: One Shot (not great), John Mulaney: New in Town

I will be attending the Plant Bio Recruitment Weekend at UGA as well.

Thank you! I received the official conformation today. Domestic travel expenses and associated costs will be reimbursed. Lodging is with a current student. Thanks again, I was a little impatient.

Hey all, Earlier today I received conformation from a POI that I have been invited to a recruitment weekend at the end of January. I will receive an official invitation in the next few days from someone else in the department, which may address some of the following concerns. I felt it inappropriate to immediately ask if I would be reimbursed in any way. Do programs typically offer reimbursements for flights/lodging during recruitment weekends or will I be expected to foot the bill? Thanks!

Being from PA I am pretty familiar with Center City/West Philly/South Philly, but less so with North Philly. I applied to Temple during this years application cycle and have a few questions regarding the surrounding area. If accepted I'd prefer to avoid living in other parts of the city/taking the BSL, and live adjacent to campus if possible. I'd also prefer not to live in Fishtown/Northern Liberties. I am not particularly worried about living in North Philadelphia, and I have heard that the general rule of thumb for "safe" boundaries are: East/West 10th-18th and South of Cecil B. Moore. Please correct me if my assumptions are incorrect. I do have a lingering concern that no one has been able to answer sufficiently. I am an avid runner, and avoid the treadmill at all costs. I'd love to be able to run the Schuylkill River Trail which is a bit away from campus. Would running from Temple to the Schuylkill RiverTrail be unwise? I am unsure of the neighborhoods between the two. Which route/routes would generally be considered "safe"?

I find myself in a situation very much like your own. Master's thesis going well, one publication, another in the works, good grades/LOR, continued correspondence with potential POIs, etc. Despite this I also feel a great deal of anxiety regarding the possibility of receiving all rejections. I tend to focus more on the negative aspects of my applications; my GRE scores are nothing spectacular. My adviser has always been supportive, and has mitigated much of the irrational stress that I have been experiencing during the application process. While I agree luck is certainly an aspect of acceptance into a specific program, it is not the end all be all. You have already taken steps to minimize luck playing a significant role in upcoming decisions. POIs informing you to apply to their program means you have found a potential adviser who believes you are a good fit for their program. I'd venture to say those who have encouraged you to apply are likely to vouch for your acceptance. If your adviser isn't willing to provide any support, I would suggest try finding it in from someone else in academia who knows you well. Try speaking with those who provided LOR, or friends within your current program. A little support goes a long way in settling the mind (though I must admit I do continually check my email).