8bitsushi

Hi all, I'm an international student who may be attending UCLA's Geography PhD program; pretty excited! Like other posters, though, I'm rather concerned about rent and the cost of living -- my department will be offering a first-year fellowship of 20k and guaranteed funding (in the form of TA employment) for the subsequent three years. This adds up to 20k per year. I'm still wondering if I should accept given that I have another offer at UBC, which includes a far more attractive funding package (four-year fellowship with no teaching commitments and reasonable stipend). @ilovelab, I too would love to hear your opinions on affordable and safe places near UCLA to rent, if you have the time to share! I don't think I'll have enough money for a car over there, so I'm leaning towards places within cycling distance of UCLA...

for those who applied to UCLA, heard from POI that most admissions are expected to be finalized on Monday.

I'd just woken up (international student, so different time zone)... checked my email and saw an unfamiliar name above the word "Congratulations...!" in the email preview, and my heart started racing. Read the offer letter and was pretty delighted to find details of full funding, from one of my two top choices. A nice email from my POI quickly followed. This came unexpectedly early, and at a splendid time during a rather crappy month where I didn't know where my life was heading -- but now there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it seems. A point in life I'll never forget. Needless to say I didn't get any work done for the next couple of days

massive congrats @geographyumd!

I'll pm you!