geodrake

RH7, I believe you're absolutely right, even down to the reading books part. And talking to him only makes it worse. Now he's to the point where he just needs to get his thesis proposal accepted (version 4 ro 5 now). Instead, he's building model airplanes over break. Oy!

Too cool to pass up. I wonder if including the Wordle at the bottom of our apps would have counted towards the SoP page count or not . Too late for me, my apps are in. Ah well =)

As I've had many professors tell me, it's unusual to find a Geography professor who went straight Geography. Most have a mixed background in there somewhere. Our department has a number of grad students who have their undergrads in History, Biology, Philosophy, Anthropology, etc. I'm sure it differs by school, but usually it's a matter of taking the core undergrad classes to get "caught up". Given the vastness of integration with other disciplines, I'd say Geography tends to draw people from other disciplines who finally realize a spatial component matters in the equation

I know we inherently seem to have a need to quantify things. We like straight-forward numbers/ratings so we know where we rank. The truth is, it comes down to writing an awesome Broader Impact and Scientific Merit, showing that you're doing independent research that is "transformative", and being able to convey all of this is two pages. Of course, YMMV depending on the degree. I know my LoRs were stellar (I've read most of them), I had a publication & presentation at the time, and I'm in a grad program. But the reviewers were absolutely right in their assessment, I did not convey how expanding on my advisor's research was going to improve society. Could I word it differently now almost a year since I started working on my thesis? You bet. Could I write a proposal now that would increase my chances? Sure. But it would all come down to clearly and concisely explaining why this research is important and how it's going to help people, not just explaining what it is and how it's going to be done. Even then, I still wouldn't get the award because the reviewers just don't see developing standardized methodology and consistently implemented field verification to be transformative, and that's ok. So please don't think "if only my GPA had been 0.1 higher" or "if I'd only gotten a 1600 instead of 1590 on my GRE I would have won". It comes down to how well you expressed yourself, and who the other bastards were who explained themselves more convincingly than you Love to all who didn't get the award, and hi-5s to those who did =)

Congratulations to everyone who received an award or a HM! Hell, congratulations to everyone with 3 ratings sheets! (I didn't make it past the first round). You guys are great, and now the stress is done! BIG HUGS TO ALL!!!

Wouldn't that just be cruel if they changed the URL so that those of us who use a bookmark or the autocomplete in our address bar to go to the ratings sheets won't see the awards appear? Even crueller would be if somehow the redirect to "page not found" gets cached on our machines so we go to the evil Page of Taunting in perpetuity... glad I'm not their SysAdmin... might be tempting

Wouldn't it be nice if somehow you could work into an essay how waiting for NSF to post results has a negative impact on submittees' neurobiology?

It's been 404 for the last week confusedChicken. Geez, you'd think they'd like increasing traffic flow to their site. I mean, how many banner-ad revenue-generating websites would KILL to have as many clicks on their pages as we're giving NSF? And they go and 404 us... sheesh!

I try not to tell him when I get an opportunity, since he keeps getting upset (boggles the mind, one would think funding's a good thing). I actually made a point of not telling him about this one for a week or two. However, when I got confirmation of the interview time, I let him know that I wouldn't be able to have lunch with him between our classes because I needed to go to the interview, hence the response. I did bring it up today though, and after a bit of back and forth, he settled on "what I meant to say was what are the prerequisites for the award, since I think of leadership as Student Government". Fair enough, I'll go with the semantics, since I had the same thought when I read the title vs. the requirements (the reason I even looked at it in the first place was to pass it on to two other students I thought would be a good fit, but it turned out the award was for a full year and they're graduating next term). It's still irritating though. If he was getting awards or interviews or whatever I'd be thrilled for him! =/

Stupid question, but the situation is really irritating me. My hubby and I are both Masters students. I apply for all sorts of grants and scholarships in my "free time" while he reads "fun" books instead of working on assignments (to let his mind "rest"). I come up with side research projects while I'm waiting for field season to start up (because, well, I'm insane) and work on writing articles. He reads "fun" books (to let his mind "rest"). I take care of our daughter 90% of the time, and he usually grumbles if I ask him to take her to school. Whatever. Irritating, but I can deal because while he works at a slower pace, he tends to be more thoughtful and comprehensive in his schoolwork (when he cares about it). Different personalities, I get that. What bothers me is that when I inform him that I get received a scholarship, he grunts acknowledgement and maybe a half-hearted "that's nice". Now I'm a finalist for a leadership award and he had the audacity to ask me "what the hell kind of leadership experience do YOU have?!?". I pointed out all the organizations I'm an officer in/helped start, the lab coordinator responsibilities I have + TAing, conference presentations, publications, etc. and he actually said "that's not leadership, it doesn't count". *BLINK* I'm sorry? WHAT? Clearly it counts if I'm a finalist. Seriously, WTH? Why can't a guy be happy for a wife that's excelling? If I see something, I go for it (I'm not about to leave it up to chance that a professor might submit my name for something). He takes the attitude that it's not right to ask, or why bother, he has other things to work on. It's not like he's even trying for these things and I'm receiving the awards instead of him, I could understand that... is he being that unsupportive or is he jealous he's not getting awards/acknowledgments? I'd appreciate a guy's perspective, as I do NOT understand the male species at all... they make NO sense. Thanks!

I had paranoia about my transcripts getting their late and called ahead of time. The lady I spoke with said they're used to getting the transcripts late, up to a week, and to not worry about it. Same is true for GRE scores, since NSF is pulling them, not us sending them. Though, since I didn't try very hard on my GREs to get into a Masters program, I'm thinking I probably shouldn't have sent them =P

I'll go with April 1st because, well, it just seems appropriate

My hubby and I moved from one of the areas hardest hit by the housing market decline to attend Grad School, and have been renting our place out. The rent doesn't cover the whole mortgage (forget about the HOA fees) and went unrented for 4 months. Thankfully someone's back in there now. Even though we both TA, we're having to take out student loans (especially when the place wasn't rented out). All this after leaving a 6-figure job. But, it's better to do what you love then hate going to work so.... Renting is always an option. Hopefully you didn't buy at the top of the market as we did, and should be able to cover your mortgage amount. One thing to consider though is renter's rights. Where we live now, I've been told that the renter has more rights than the owner, so it's something to look in to -Anna

Just curious if any other GradCafe-ers will be attending the AAG meeting in Washington, D.C. this year...

Is it April yet? (patience is NOT one of my virtues )

I was using my ultralight backpacking backpack, until I realized the backpacking bp I got for my 4 year old for xmas (Deuter Junior, gotta love REI sales!) is the PERFECT size for a laptop, textbook (or 3), notepad, my bento box for lunch, and camelback water bottle. Sure, it may look tiny, but it holds a LOT!!! Now I'm worried that when we FINALLY get a chance to go camping I'll overload her by accident!

If you do Internet Only, and have an XBox or PS3, you can get PlayOn and watch Hulu through the device. Hulu blocks PS3 (bastards) but with PlayOn, it uses your computer (that Windows desktop finally has a purpose, stupid Vista) and then passes the signal through your networked PS3. It's AWESOME! Also have PlayOn passing in NetFlix so I don't have to keep putting that stupid red disk in. It's saving us TONS

Granted, I did my undergrad there in 2005, but since then SDSU's added even more GIS faculty, if that helps any. That, and sunny San Diego doesn't hurt any . There are also Masters of Applied Geography programs, if you want more of a GIS focus without all the theory (bah) stuff that goes along with it. So that's another option as well... (supposedly (who knows) they're supposed to equate to something like a BFA, but in Geography instead of Art, and more like an MS than an MA. Why it's not an MS is beyond me *shrug*)

In general, most people come into Geography "late". As a Tomm421 points out, most Geog profs have B* and M* is field other than Geog. In my Masters program, those of us with a B* in Geog and in the vast minority. Just keep in mind that, at their core, geographers are jacks of many trades, just putting a spatial spin on pretty much any "area". Having a degree in another field won't hurt, especially if you spin how it's completely relevant to your goals (if I can make genetics, web design, computer art, programming, and geography completely relevant AT THE SAME TIME, it's possible with anything )

You couldn't have failed THAT badly, you got in to Emory and USF! =D

*fingers crossed* I know how bad daycare can be with 1 kid and 2 of us as Grad students... I don't know how you do it with 2 kids and 1 of you!!! I'm very impressed!

No offense, but a 40 minute commute is nothing (this coming from someone who lived 25ish miles from work and the commute was 1.5 hours on a GOOD day). Most recently my hubby was commuting 45ish miles to work. Would it be possible to live in the middle and split the difference (20 minutes each?). Otherwise I say Option 1. If you ever plan on living somewhere with traffic, it'll be good practice I forgot to mention, one of the grads in my department commutes 2.5 hours one way to go to school (and TAing this semester too), so it could be worse. He's getting it done though!

No kidding Astonautka!!! I don't think these come close but... - 4.0 Graduate GPA - Graduated with distinction in my B.A. *edits out negative comment about the GPA though* - Sole author on publication in double-blind peer-reviewed journal -- Been invited to expand the article for inclusion in another peer-reviewed journal - Presented (above) paper at 2 conferences/symposiums - Will be presenting a different paper at a national conference next month - Professionally employed in a lateral field for 14-odd years (programming experience is relevant in GIS thank goodness!) As a side note, I took the GRE... 5? years ago. 1240 with a 6 in logic. If I'm applying next year for a PhD, should I/do I need to retake it? I didn't bother to study when I took it, and I'd rather not have to =P

Ya know, speaking as one, it's sad how many Geography majors are direction-impaired (we should do a study, come to think of it... oooo). What's sadder is I was completely with your buddy (it's not about making maps dammit!) until you pointed out how excited we get about making a really cool map *hangs head in shame*. We all do it and we don't even realize it! You got us, I guess it is about the maps *sigh*. But they're different honest! As for comments.. Me: I'm a geography major RP: Oh, geology's so fascinating Me: *grrrrr* Me: I'm a geography major RP: What's the GNP of Zimbabwe (sorry, I could care less. Where's Zimbabwe anyways? Africa, right?) Me: I'm a geography major RP: What's the capital of Morocco? Me: I have no idea, I suck at place names RP: And you call yourself a geographer?!?? Me: Hi, I'm a geography graduate student and I wanted to find out about the biology graduate minor Head of Biology: Geology you say? Me: geography HoB: Why would a geologist be interested in biology? Me: as a geography major I'm interested in biogeography and landscape ecology HoB: You're looking at soil creation? Me: no, I'm looking at the spatial relationship of various biota HoB: I didn't know geologists are interested in biota. Well, do you even know what biology is? Me: I was 3 classes away from a B.S. in Genetics from Texas A&M before I had to move HoB: Oh, you're practically a biologist anyways then. *pauses in thought* Did you say geography major? Oh, well then... Me: *silently smacking HoB upside the head on the ethereal plane* (NOW he heard me?!??)

I certainly hope not, given that some disciplines (ie: anthropology, geography) are categorized as social sciences but sub-disciplines can fall more towards the "science" and less to the "social"