hejduk

Thanks for reminding me about this? This move is getting crazy expensive. I wonder how often people get relocation assistance. Seems pretty uncommon in the social sciences; is it pretty common, or at least more prevalent in the hard sciences?

It's not the first time "Switch" has done it. Personally, I think he should be banned.

Calm down the dissing of others. Not cool at all.

Funded for my PhD, but it is a high COL place. I don't expect to go into nearly as much debt, but we'll have to take out loans to help subsidize moving and some new furniture costs. I'm hoping to go no more than 10K more in debt over the next 4 years.

Be careful with Dropbox or any other cloud-based service. Too many opportunities for getting compromised: http://news.cnet.com...OCmoreStories.0 "Handing your data over to someone is in a way comparable to handing goods over to a shipping company that promises to get it safely from one place to the other. Something bad can happen along the way, and often does. Trains derail, ships sink or get attacked by pirates. This is why the insurance industry exists. Yes, data is slightly different because it can be copied, but you get the idea."

About 80K after MA (mostly due to medical debt). Hope to put a damper on it, and not take out significantly as much during PhD. I've got dual income now (yay for marriage!), and will definitely be budgeting hardcore.

Just wanting to make myself fee either more comfortable (if you have more debt) or less comfortable (if you have less debt) about my own personal student debt. Always good to put in perspective. How much did you finish with, or expect to, after getting your PhD?

Definitely agree with taking vacations during semester breaks or summer. But cancel all leisure and wkend activities? How do you stay sane, and have something during the week to look forward to? I think studying is the main reason you're there, but I think people need to have social activities and "rewards" to look forward to!

I was told I'm paid at the end of each month, and that Aug and May (end of each semester) is only a 1/2 check. Sucks! So yes, definitely save up for that first month. The only thing I can add is probably an emergency fund (who knows what'll go wrong in the first semester), as well as deposits for utilities (which vary by company).

Right there with you. Gotta make some $$ for the move, apartment deposit, etc.

I think my biggest issue is that my back condition requires me to have a really good office chair, so I'll have to wheel that fancy thing into my campus office, while my fellow students stare and wonder, "Why does he get the great chair!??" The other thing is that I'll probably bring a small back support to classes, especially night classes. If the chairs are god awful (which they tend to be in classrooms), then the back support will be in tow. I can appreciate switch's advice, and I'm not purposefully publicizing my health issue, but just wondering how people have dealt with their own situations. Honestly, it's that kinda of attitude ("keep your issues to yourself") that really alienates a lot of people with health issues. If not safe in academia, where then? Grad school is taxing enough, and dealing with health issues, while maintaining some sense of "normalcy" can be a struggle in itself.

I currently have a back disorder (thank my parents!), and will be starting my PhD this fall. I'm interested in how these afflictions have affected your graduate studies (not hanging out as much, extra need for sleep, etc). I know that when I was in my MA, I needed mucho extra sleep just to keep up with social requirements. Due to my bad back, and the fact that my grad classes were all night classes, I'd have to get up and leave before break just to take a stretch. Anyone else dealing with chronic condition, or feel like it's hindering your studies in some way?

I would personally defer, but really everyone's financial situation is completely different. Do your budget, and if you can swing it, then do it. If you can't, then just defer them. Also remember to keep plugging away at savings and an emergency fund.

Whether you're attending or getting ready to attend, what do you attribute doctoral success to? Study habits? Networking? Competent brown-nosing?

My list of employment options: Best Buy Apple Store Car Max Wow, this summer will suck hardcore!

As the title implies, I feel quite let-down by the department that originally seemed "gung ho". I was given the impression that I'd have help finding my spouse a job, find an apartment, and just settle in to the town. Now that I've made my admission decision, and the department's replies haven't been so timely (or provided at all), I feel like they were trying to sell the program more. Frustrating! I am a proactive and independent guy, but man is it tough trying to find an apartment from several states over! If someone sets up the expectation of being able to help out, then they should do just that! I'm done venting now, well, at least until someone else chimes in!

Just interested in seeing how people are possibly killing time this summer. My adjunct teaching for the semester is almost over, and as you'd expect, no teaching opportunities for the summer. How are you all making $$ this summer? I've gotta move cross-country for the Phd program I start this fall, and that moving bill is gonna be pricey.

I did a terminal (at that time) MA program, and didn't do a thesis. While I have some experience in scoring surveys, conducting research, and presenting at conferences, I'm looking for some advice to help become a better writer. I am constantly told that academic writing is only successful if you practice, practice practice, but I don't know where to start! Any recommendations on how you became a good writer? Books or other sources?

Starting a PhD in Communication in the Fall. Anyone else starting this fall in this program or another?

Ditto to the working. $2700 for us to move (belongings and one car). Going to try and get some reading done too, so I can get a leg up on program-related theories, etc.

Best of luck to those still waiting decisions. Hopefully tomorrow is the end, and a good one at that!

Drinking heavily and reminiscing of times past? Reading ridiculously boring books? Just trying to pay the bills? Myself: no, no, yes.

Great idea! I'll try and contact one.

I'm attending a school in CO, and my wife will be joining me as we move out this summer. She is currently teaching early childhood in Ky, and is attempting to transfer her teaching license to CO. We've run into a lot of government bureaucracy, and having issues getting straight answers about how to apply, what are requirements, etc. Does anyone have a contact in CO, or knows the system enough to point us in the right direction? Much appreciation in advance. Feel free to PM me if that's more convenient.

Depending on where you're going, I'd look at Uhaul, Pods, or Broadway Express. Pods: They drop off the container, and you fill it. They drop it offer wherever, and you unpack it. Uhaul: no explanation here. Broadway Express (or ABF): driver shows up to door, and you pack stuff within X amount of hours. You have driver's cell phone and can contact driver anytime along the drive. You fly to wherever you are moving, driver shows up, and you unpack. I'm going the Broadway Express route, as I've got "old man back" (or so the wife calls it), and I"m sure as hell not moving cross-country in a Uhaul. Sure it's expensive, but I'm married, and will be there 4 years, so gotta do what fits best. I think that is the main key for each individual: do what fits your specific situation best.