GreenEyedTrombonist

Landed an interview with UMD - College Park. So glad to finally have a response from them!

We enjoyed getting to meet you too, @GreenEyedTrombonist! I really hope you end up going - I'm pretty sure I'll go as well!

Back home from Madison! The visit was awesome and I really liked getting the chance to chill with the other prospectives in my track.  

Back home from Madison! The visit was awesome and I really liked getting the chance to chill with the other prospectives in my track.  

Congratulations @surprise_quiche! 

I'm visiting Madison this week and will hopefully be able to make my choice after that point (though I may end up visiting Boston at the start of April-not sure yet).

I just finished reading through all 20 pages, haha. 
 
I've been wanting a good desktop setup for a while, so I plan to build one once I have the parts and just depend on my old laptop until then. I'm also a fan of handwriting my notes to start. 
A lot for me is deciding what to take with and what to buy there. Also, I'm most likely moving somewhere with a real winter, so I'm trying to figure out what I need to survive, haha.
As for that article that was posted for women on what to wear, I disagree with some of what the author was saying ("hooker-wear"-really?). Specifically, do not judge a makeup item by its brand name. The Wet n' Wild liquid catsuit line is a great liquid to matte that lasts and they have many professional colors (my favorite for interviews are Berry Recognize and Rebel Rose, but I've basically bought the entire regular line by now). Elf is pretty much known as the cheapest of the cheap, but they've got some amazing highlighters and a great pot gel liner that I swear by. In short, makeup doesn't need to be expensive or belong to a specific brand in order to be good. All brands have great (and horrible) products. The problem is finding them (and youtube helps a lot with that). 
I am going to be a TA (most likely) and I am interested in sprucing up my wardrobe a bit, but I hope I won't need to be business professional every day. I'd like to pair a fitted jacket or cardigan with either a nice knee-length dress or a nice shirt (or nicer tank top) and either slacks or yoga pants. As for shoes, my feet are pretty sensitive, so I'm hoping to get away most days with a black sneaker, my snow boots, or find a flat or something that is actually comfortable. What do you guys think about this plan?
My hope is that I can find somewhere to live close enough to campus that I can bike or that's along a bus route. I'd rather not get a car unless absolutely necessary. I also plan to research local grocery stores as well as grocery delivery services. I can't eat processed food or breads/grains for health reasons, and I hate cooking meat, so I assume I'll be making a lot of crockpot meals and bean-based soups, haha (luckily, a friend is giving me her crockpot).
What are some lesser-known things I might want to buy or prepare for? I'm planning to wait on the bookcase, desk, chair, printer, and filing cabinet until after I get there and see what's provided by the department.

@sprklinthe I get that this can be a sore subject, but that's actually why this thread was made. I didn't get in anywhere last year and it hurt. Luckily, there are multiple places to discuss that (and the worry when waiting) on this forum. This thread was specifically created so that there would be a place for those with admissions to let off stress without making those still waiting feel bad. 

Best of luck with your programs! Hopefully, you'll be joining us in worrying over the decision process soon enough! <3 

Got my rejection from Davis today. Actually glad since I've determined since applying it isn't the best culture fit for me (but it's the closest to my family). Only 1 decision outstanding still and it's probably a rejection. Next up, making the choice. x]

@Bayesian1701 I'm struggling. Just started a new job today, got another acceptance, and another interview request. I know these are all good things (the acceptance included a TAship and an additional fellowship and I'm up for a fellowship at at least one other program), but I can't help but feel like I've tricked these people into thinking I'm awesome when I'm really not. x]

@synapticcat I'm still waiting on decisions, but I plan to accept in March. I should have enough information by the end of the month to make a choice and that leaves time for the schools I turn down to get someone off the waitlist before April 15th. Still doing my due diligence to make sure I choose the best program for me, but if you know where you want to go, why wait?

Ugh, trying to make a decision sucks. So, I only applied to one program for undergrad, only applied to one (the same school) for grad, and now I'm faced with having to make a decision that's going to take me far away from my family for the first time. I'm freaking out about housing, living costs, feeding myself, coursework, and making sure I'll be doing research and TAing from the start. 
On the plus side, I get to ogle some pretty houses (that I won't be able to afford). x] 

Fellowships usually are funding without strings (other than maintaining good GPA/the qualities that got you the fellowship). Assistantships either require you to work as a TA, RA, or something similar in exchange for the funding. These often include a stipend as well as tuition waiver (in my experience, fellowships rarely include a tuition waiver).
Each assistantship and fellowship is different at each school. Most schools I've seen say you'll be working an average of 20 hours a week as a TA/RA, but, if you're a TA, this is often less most of the time and much more right around the due date of a major assignment (students wanting help before and all the papers you need to grade after). Some fellowships may offer enough for you to live on while others are small. Fellowships and other funding sources (like grants) are great to have on your CV so you can show universities you can attract money (when it's time to land a TT position).

@sprklinthe I get that this can be a sore subject, but that's actually why this thread was made. I didn't get in anywhere last year and it hurt. Luckily, there are multiple places to discuss that (and the worry when waiting) on this forum. This thread was specifically created so that there would be a place for those with admissions to let off stress without making those still waiting feel bad. 

Best of luck with your programs! Hopefully, you'll be joining us in worrying over the decision process soon enough! <3 

@sprklinthe I get that this can be a sore subject, but that's actually why this thread was made. I didn't get in anywhere last year and it hurt. Luckily, there are multiple places to discuss that (and the worry when waiting) on this forum. This thread was specifically created so that there would be a place for those with admissions to let off stress without making those still waiting feel bad. 

Best of luck with your programs! Hopefully, you'll be joining us in worrying over the decision process soon enough! <3 

Thanks @galosh ! I'm pretty sure my two outstanding apps are rejections so I'm moving on to the decision phase of my cycle.
How tf do I make a decision? haha

@Shay825 thank you about Indiana! I'll let you know if I hear anything about Maryland. 
 
Also on the Indiana front: The program has recommended me as a fully funded candidate and now I am just waiting upon the overall grad school to hopefully confirm me!!! 

Fellowships usually are funding without strings (other than maintaining good GPA/the qualities that got you the fellowship). Assistantships either require you to work as a TA, RA, or something similar in exchange for the funding. These often include a stipend as well as tuition waiver (in my experience, fellowships rarely include a tuition waiver).
Each assistantship and fellowship is different at each school. Most schools I've seen say you'll be working an average of 20 hours a week as a TA/RA, but, if you're a TA, this is often less most of the time and much more right around the due date of a major assignment (students wanting help before and all the papers you need to grade after). Some fellowships may offer enough for you to live on while others are small. Fellowships and other funding sources (like grants) are great to have on your CV so you can show universities you can attract money (when it's time to land a TT position).

@sprklinthe I get that this can be a sore subject, but that's actually why this thread was made. I didn't get in anywhere last year and it hurt. Luckily, there are multiple places to discuss that (and the worry when waiting) on this forum. This thread was specifically created so that there would be a place for those with admissions to let off stress without making those still waiting feel bad. 

Best of luck with your programs! Hopefully, you'll be joining us in worrying over the decision process soon enough! <3 

@E-P I plan on submitting so, if I get accepted, I'll have to go. I want to go anyways because it'll be my first comm conference. A few of my programs offer travel funds for national and international conferences, so there's a good chance it'll be paid for. That's one of the things I'm considering when it's time to choose a program.  

Thanks @galosh ! I'm pretty sure my two outstanding apps are rejections so I'm moving on to the decision phase of my cycle.
How tf do I make a decision? haha

Yes, this is probably different in every department, but in general could mean:

1. Progression in courses aligned with their internal timetable (if you're a full-time student, taking a full-time load of classes that progress you in your degree)
2. Conference Attendance and Presentations
3. Publications
4. Passing the comprehensive exams
5. Sticking to your timeline (with room for variability) for your dissertation so you are defending on time
6. Some mix of these and other factors (including grades, for instance)

Also, just looked back and saw this is a rant, so if you don't want this information, feel free to ignore. I decided to post anyways in case anyone else stumbled across the post and did want it.  

@Bayesian1701 I'm struggling. Just started a new job today, got another acceptance, and another interview request. I know these are all good things (the acceptance included a TAship and an additional fellowship and I'm up for a fellowship at at least one other program), but I can't help but feel like I've tricked these people into thinking I'm awesome when I'm really not. x]

Y'all! I just got into WFU. Funding to come in a few days. Still, it's my first "yes" and not a waitlist. Congrats to the good news everyone has received and positive vibes to those who are still waiting on good news. 

@sprklinthe I get that this can be a sore subject, but that's actually why this thread was made. I didn't get in anywhere last year and it hurt. Luckily, there are multiple places to discuss that (and the worry when waiting) on this forum. This thread was specifically created so that there would be a place for those with admissions to let off stress without making those still waiting feel bad. 

Best of luck with your programs! Hopefully, you'll be joining us in worrying over the decision process soon enough! <3 

So I had orientation for my new job today (also first shift right after) and on the way to orientation I got an email from Temple requesting an interview and at the start of my shift got an email from WSU with my acceptance. In short, it's been a good day.