Bumblebee

I agree with @latte thunder. Grad school is vocational, not an easy way to avoid facing reality. I would also like to add that I waited 8 years since I graduated from college to go to Grad School and I think it was my best decision ever. During these 8 years I've worked in 4 different countries, I've matured, I've found out what my real passion in life was, etc. In other words: I've enjoyed life! When I graduated from college one of my professors advised me to pursue a PhD. At that time, I saw it as a really scary thing to do, something I couldn't handle. When I finally applied to grad school, I was very excited knowing that I had finally found what I really wanted to do in life and knowing that these 8 years had helped me be ready for an MA and a PhD. After enjoying traveling and meeting people all around the world, I'm finally ready to focus on my studies for the next 7 years. So, after this lengthy paragraph, this is my advice: graduate from college, travel, work, enjoy life, and think about what you really want to do in life. And then, if you feel you're ready, apply to Grad School.

I didn't mean it was your opinion (sorry if I led you to think that) . I know it is somebody else's opinion.

Wait! What? Going home to see your family makes you look immature? As we say in my country, from which tree did they fall??? I would go visit my family no matter what these people thought. My family always goes first.

Wow!!! That was fast!

I joined TGC last application season and this season I've been around, mostly reading, although I've posted a few times. I'm planning on being here for next application season in case I can share a little bit of my "wisdom".

I agree with HopeHope. Wait a few days and, if they don't answer, send them another e-mail. Last year, when I sent an e-mail accepting the offer I didn't get any reply from my DGS. I also sent a hard copy of it, to make it more official. A week passed and I hadn't heard from him (although I hard heard from other profs I had contacted to tell them I had accepted). I then decided to send the DGS another e-mail and he answered back apologizing and saying that he was convinced he had replied but for some reason hadn't and that I shouldn't worry because the spot was mine. In other words, maybe they're busy and don't have time to reply just yet, maybe they're busy and forgot to reply, or something else. You never know. Give them a few days and if you still don't have an answer, send them another e-mail. Good luck! And congrats on your great success with your applications.

I go twice a year: Christmas and summer. And my parents have come to visit me a couple of times during Spring Break. I know travel fare can be really expensive, but I cannot spend too much time away from my family (I have a biological need to go back to my family every 4-5 months). Thankfully, my parents help me a lot with the tickets, so it's not such a burden for me.

You're welcome!

You should contact the international services office (or equivalent) and let them know that you are being funded by the department. They should include this information in the I-20. You can forward them the e-mail where you received your financial offer or ask them to contact your department to verify it. Also, just to let you know, you should have posted this in IHOG: International House of Grads forum. It's specific for international students and there will be plenty of them that can help you with these issues.

I think it's pretty normal. I visited my school before I made my decision and now that I'm here, we have had some MA accepted students coming to visit. The school didn't pay for my visit, but I don't regret spending my money on it. What I did was contact the school saying that I wanted to visit the campus if possible before I could make any decision. They organized my schedule and set appointments with the DGS, some profs and some grad students. It was an intense visit, but it made my decision way easier to make.

Don't feel bad about it. I'm on the other side. I met one of the prospective students during his campus visit and few days later he said he had accepted an offer from a different school. I totally understood his decision. The other school was a much better fit for him and that's what matters. So don't worry, they should be understanding about it.

@Stansfield, my experience was not as good as I thought it was going to be. My landlady decided to bring more people and two dogs to the house (when it was specifically written in the contract that pets were not allowed in the house). But it was already the middle of the semester and I was too busy to look for another place (plus, since I don't have a car, moving around town apartment hunting was going to take me forever). Oh, and I actually didn't ask if I was going to be reimbursed when I came on a campus visit. I just assumed that I wouldn't (IU being a public school), plus I didn't feel comfortable mentioning it. @Yalzin, I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with those apartments, so I cannot offer you any advice. Sorry!

Oh, in that case, just go ahead an pray that the winter treats you well. I believe saving 15 grand is a good reason to want to drive. Traffic in the area is not bad (as far as I know), but people complain a lot about Hoosiers not knowing how to drive. And complains about parallel parking too (if you don't know how to parallel park, you're sc***d). But I don't think it's anything to worry about And yes, I'm from Spain!

I've been following the current application season and I remember how I felt last year while I was waiting for news from the programs. I was in panic mode. Couldn't sleep, constantly checked my e-mail, constantly checking the results page, eating what I shouldn't eat, drinking more alcohol than usual, etc. In other words, I remember it as hell. But, trust me, I don't regret anything at all. I wouldn't do it again (God, not again!!!), but I think it was completely worth it. I spend several really crappy weeks, but now I'm studying something I love in a wonderful program with wonderful people. So hang in there, keep coming to GradCafe (which helps TONS), and think that, with a little bit of luck, you'll be studying what you really love in a few months. All my good vibes to all of you. Good luck with your applications and throw a party when you're done, no matter the outcome! P.S. I leave you with this Chinese parable, which I like and think it's useful during an application process: http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2009/02/parable_of_a_chinese_farmer_ho.html

Talking about cell phone companies, even if you bring your unlocked cell phone with you (as I did in August) they will charge you for the deposit (in my case, they asked me for a $500 deposit in AT&T, which, of course, I refused to pay). Since then, I've been using prepaid, and I've realized that I made the right decision, since I spend way less that the minimum voice plan in a contract.

Hola, Mirabilis :-) Exactly, it is an hour away. I wouldn't personally do it, though. First, it's two hours of your time that you could spend doing coursework (I don't know about you, but I do need those), secondly, in the winter the weather might not be very nice to you (this past month, for example, classes were cancelled for a few hours due to an ice storm), and third, you'll need to buy a parking pass in order to park on campus, and I've heard those are expensive. But that's just my 2 cents. As we say in Spain, "each person is a world". If, after all your considerations, you decide that's the most convenient/desirable option for you, great!

OMG!!! That is soooooooo cute!!! Thanks for sharing! By the way, you can always print the e-mail out and rip it. :-) You might kill a tree, but maybe you feel slightly better.

I brought them some traditional Christmas candy from my home country when I returned from my winter break.

I agree with the previous posts. It's always nice to let them know. I sent all three of them an e-mail notifying them when I received my first admit because, the way I see it, I wouldn't have been accepted without their help. I even brought them some traditional candy from my country. I also let them know when I made my final decision.

I don't know Hillcrest apts (I don't think I know anybody who lives there), but here's a link to a couple of pages where you'll find information about all the dorms on campus. I think they specifically say which dorms admit grad student. http://www.rps.indiana.edu/map.cfml http://www.rps.indiana.edu/neighborhoods.cfml I'm moving to an apartment complex off campus, on 10th street (Fountain Park). http://www.apartmentsbloomington.com/apartments/building_details.asp?property_cd=fountainpark

Holly molly! Over 500 posts! newms, you need to do something with your life real quick!

I currently live with slightly under 15k/year, so it's do-able. Ok, no luxuries and no dining out everynight, but you won't starve, you will have enough to have a decent live. The average rent is in around 400/500 if you share and around 650-700 if you live on your own. I know share an apartment and the rent is lower, but I live in the south, far from campus, and the experience was not what I expected at all. In August I'm moving to an apartment complex where there are undergrads but also lots of grad students (I've heard really good things about this complex) and I'll pay around 500/month for a two bedroom/two bathroom apt including all bills (water, electric, cable tv and internet, etc.). But if you look around, you might be able to get something cheaper than that. @Kathiza: there are some dorms where grad students can live, but from what I've heard, dorms tend to me more expensive. And public transportation here is "free" (you pay a fee with your tuition and then you can ride buses without paying just by showing your student ID). If you want to live in a "community" you can look at the apartment complexes where many grad students concentrate: Fountain Park, Bradford Place, Brandon Court, Summer Point, to name a few.