hejduk

If you're willing to do freelance work, and can work in a "virtual office", then you might wanna try the following: www.odesk.com www.elance.com www.guru.com I'm on Odesk, and have had luck in the last week selling my services, which helps me make some cash this summer, as well as keep my practical skills sharp. Guru is where you list your profile, and contactors contact you, whereas Odesk and Elance is where contactors can contact freelancers, and vice-versa. Also, make sure to check Craigslist. It takes some work, but there jobs listed everyday (obviously be careful of scams, as they're frequent). Admin assistant jobs and other clerical jobs are pretty prevalent.

I can't speak for the service, but the company as a whole just completely sucks. They recently acquired a major stake in NBC, and have some pretty unethical internet policies going on.

It is possible, but it really depends on where you live; each state handles the above situation differently. I'd look for jobs, as UI doesn't pay crap as it is anyways.

I'm still trying to figure that out myself...

I'm in the social sciences, so I'm guessing it's more along the line of what's describe above: "happens in classes & conversations..."

Just wondering people's thoughts, experience, or inside information on this. Do professors "size-up" the incoming doctoral students, or does this maybe already start during campus visits? Or is the "sizing-up" mostly by the already attending students?

I was reading through my grad handbook and stumbled upon the line, "All students are required to have taken a statistics course...". I emailed my program to ask what to do, and was told that I could take it during the summer (I'm guessing next summer). My program inquired whether or not I had taken one (which obviously I have not!), so now I'm worried about having a target on my back, or being at some disadvantage. Have I stuck myself in a bad position with inquiring about the class? Also, anyone have any good books to polish up on this? I'd like to not be seen as a slacker or unable to do research due not having taken the course, and am definitely willing to read-up and do whatever I can to be prepared for my program this fall.

I've found the commentary, help, and advice to be quite invaluable. Honestly, I attribute my success in being admitted to a doctoral program to being a member of this forum. And yes, I wholeheartedly believe this! I continue to post, and will check the forum on a daily basis.

In making my criteria for a good advisor, I was going on what I've been told and read! What I wanted, and what you all did, was obviously prove me wrong. Continue on scholars!

If you've starting this fall, you're freaking out trying to schedule classes and navigate the nightmare of moving, etc. If you're already attending, then you're enjoying your summer, and probably have a trusted advisor already. What are your tips for learning how to find the perfect advisor? I'm guessing a great advisor should be a full-professor, be quite established in your research field, and have proven success in graduating scholars? Definitely correct me here, and let me know your insights.

There have a few threads about this lately, but I think work, save money, and "enjoy your last bit of freedom" (as a faculty member put it to me).

All hail mighty wikipedia! Insightful ready actually.

Sweet! So my mom was wrong all along!

$16,524 for 9-months of work teaching 1 class per semester9 hours of tuition fees waived (but have to pay other fees and books)$600/semester towards mandatory health insurance planHousing not included (nor would I want to live in university housing anyways!)

I thought "Ps and Qs" was "pleases and questions"??

Just don't wish away your summer! I'm excited about the fall too, but if you keep anticipating the fall, it'll be the semester and you'll be wishing it was break again! I'm already planning vaca for Xmas break, as I know my wife and I will need it.

I think they're applicable in any discipline. I"m in COMM too, and I see them all the time.

You're here because you want to better your life and have opportunities that only an MA or PhD will present. You are good enough, smart enough, and worthwhile; just do it! Everyone here doubts themselves at some point (to an extent, it's healthy), so it's normal. If someone makes it seem like their fully confident being in a PhD program, then they are obviously lying! Grad school is some pretty heavy stuff, but worthwhile things require A LOT of work.

While I'm starting my PhD this fall, and in no way done, I do feel it's been worth it. My debt is high as I had to take out a lot of $ due to health issues in undergrad. Academia is the only "industry" that will accommodate someone like myself with health issues. Flexible schedule, high yet bearable workload, and tons of time off: yes please! I tried the corporate world, and absolutely hated it. I've been an adjunct now for three semesters, and have been involved in research a lot lately too, and this choice is so much better than the "real world".

I think you also need to refer to your TA contract. I know that mine, along with friends of mine, are not allowed to work in addition to their TAship, as the contract literally states "no additional jobs". I know some "secretly" work wkend jobs, but be careful of how that might affect your school productivity, as well as breaking those rules.

While it sounds like a good idea, I'd avoid it personally. You want to keep those people at arm's length until you find your place within the program. Nothing wrong with making friends with your cohort (which you probably should), but don't get too close!

You'll be able to pay it off! Just make sure to get on the Income-contigent repayment plan. It's over 30-years, and then full forgiveness, and the monthly payment is only 15% of your income (which is a lot I know, but still much more affordable than other options).

We're paying a bit for the convenience of walking, but being able to go home quickly for a break or lunch is a huge plus for me. It'll be my first year, so it's probably really important that I'm a constant face in my dept as well. If the situation arises that we can afford to live further from campus, and need a more private housing situation (we'll be living in the basement apartment of a house), then we'll consider it year-by-year. I think biking or walking to campus just has too many pluses to pass-up.

Great! I will definitely do this as needed, without being a tattle-tale. You all rock; keep it up! And to Awvish, no issues! We're on the same page!

I think the point I was trying to make is that the Moderators need allow a way to report "snarky" users and block their IP. There is no way to report a user, that I'm aware of, but I would gladly do so that others do not feel afraid to post because they'll potentially get "jumped" by someone else.