Roccoriel

My undergraduate was super casual, so a lot of people simply rolled out of bed and went to class in pjs and professors didn't care. I did this briefly, but honestly, it didn't feel right. In my current Master's program, most people dress in at least jeans and a decent top and sometimes business casual (we have some professional students, so they have work and such). I generally go with jean or cords and a blouse or nice sweater on a normal day, sometimes I wear dress pants or a skirt, depending on how I feel in the morning, and what I might be doing as far as my thesis (statistics alone in the office or big meeting?). I also wear make-up most days and occasionally heels since I'm not in a lab atm, but that's a personal preference on my part. For my PhD, I'll probably ditch a few pairs of older dress pants (keep my good ones in case) and invest in a few pairs of Khakis. I was thinking of buying myself a graduation present (for my Master's) of some really good Dansko shoes to wear, too. Overall, I don't think professors in undergraduate care per-say, but I think it gives a good impression not to look like you rolled out of bed. I also think grad professors generally expect a bit more, and even if they don't I think it's a good idea to dress reasonably well. These are likely people who you will need professionally when you graduate.

*cries* I love most insects but house centipedes scare me to death. Seriously. And the fact that they are the only bug I'm afraid of makes me really angry and hateful towards them. Too many legs!!!

I've been living with my French-speaking boyfriend for almost 3 years now, and so far, I can only order food, have basic "How are you?" "I'm good" convo, say a few simple sentences (including: "I don't understand anything", "I'm broke" and "I'm unemployed"...not the friendliest Phrase-A-Day calendar...) and say a few curse words LOL. But he speaks English with me, and I can understand a lot more French than I speak. I'll try some of the suggestions here. I also have used a program called Tell Me More. If I were diligent (and not working on finishing my Master's Thesis and classes), I'd probably do better at it. It's about half the price of Rosetta Stone and in a lot of cases higher rated. The only problem I have with it is my Boyfriend has to help me cheat, because when you are speaking to it, if you don't have perfect pronunciation, it doesn't understand you. I also have "Painless French" which is a book designed for middle schoolers*. They have a few other languages, too. *I'm a math and science person, not a language person

Thank you for the advice: I received the official announcement Sunday and have accepted it. As for the offer I'm not accepting. They require a notification in writing. Does this mean I snail mail them my decision? I think I prefer the method of the school I'm going to... check yes if you accept and no if you decline. Easy. I guess that even though I have to write a formal letter about my decision, I should still email the person I had most contact with a day or so after I send the letter to thank him for his help and let him know I accepted another offer?

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I feel like I am attacking the board with questions these days. Is there anyone you can ask, or do you just have to wait until they send you an official letter?

So, in looking at my letter of admissions, it is an official offer of financial support and my formal admission letter should arrive soon. It does not specifically mention an adviser, but the two professors I was most interest in working with were copied in the email. Several questions: 1. I fully intend to accept this offer. Should I accept the financial offer and then later, when I get it, accept the formal admissions? 2. In question one, I am assuming that if the formally offer me funding, they will absolutely formally offer me admissions. Is this a good assumption or a bad one? 3. Similarly, should I hold off on telling the other school that I am not going there, even after I accept funding at this school? Should I wait until I can officially accept the formal admission? 4. Should I contact everyone copied in the email with my acceptance of financial support at the same time? Just the person who sent it? Should I contact my potential advisers separately? Should I contact them at all or just wait until I see them in the fall? How much contact should I have with them over the summer, if at all? sorry I've been inundating various boards around here with questions lately...I am clearly losing my mind lol

I'm 25, but I am also finishing a Master's this spring before starting a PhD in the fall, so I'm already a grad who is going back for more.

So, I actually read the letter again, and it's pretty clear that funding is continued provided I am doing well. So never mind on that front, I'm good. As far as outside funding, I assume it would be for subsequent years, since if the deadlines are in the fall or next winter, they couldn't help me for this coming fall? And this isn't bank related, but in the acceptance letter, it said to commit to the acceptance, return a "signed copy of this memo" but the only thing was the acceptance letter itself. Do I just sign the letter and return it if I want to go? I am seriously the most confused person ever LOL I am looking forward to this process being complete so I can focus on finishing my Master's thesis and prepping for next fall!

Thank you all for your congratulations and advice! It is a PhD program, and from the website it looks like all of their PhD students are supported through the school, and I am checking with someone from the university that I know (albeit from a different department, but from the website, it may just be that the university itself supports PhD students for the most part). But I will confirm with the department as well. I will definitely look into addition means of support! Do these work instead of or in addition to any departmental support? Or does it depend on the source? Thanks! Edit to add additional question: How do I word my question about funding? I don't want to step on toes or anything. Is it okay simply to ask "After the first year, if I remain in good standing, what is the chance of support being continued?" after thanking them for their offer of admission/support or is this not proper? Is there a better way to word this?

I just *like an hour ago* found out i was admitted with funding to one of the schools I applied to. The funding is as a TA ship, but is listed as one year. it says after this, you must be a student in good standing for funding...my question is this: does this mean that after the first year, I will likely get funding if I have good grades, good research plans/work, etc, or does it mean I likely will have to fight for funding next year? I am definitely highly considering this admit, but I'm a little nervous that the TA-ship is a year. It looks to me on the school's website like all grad students are funded, so I guess there's a good chance for it to continue...? Graduate admissions letter translation please?

I recently had a similar experience with a different school and ended up getting in. I am not sure why they did this, but I don't think it's a bad or good sign. Just a sign that you're almost done waiting, which is also good! Good luck! This is the worst part and soon the wait is over.

I'll help with the girls stuff! As a girl, I'll say what I wore to my interviews (granted, they weren't official, and were pre-application, but first impressions are first impressions...). You can use it if you want, or not. I tend to overdress a bit, so take it with a grain of salt. To one school, I wore a knee length black skirt, a white blouse and a black cardigan. I also wore black heels, but flats are totally acceptable (and a lot more practical), but I usually wear heels and am for some strange reason, more comfortable in them. To the other, I wore grey wool dress pants, a blouse, and a fuchsia cardigan, and heels. I would say the second outfit was more practical, and equally as dressy. I imagine I over-dressed, but I also agree with the "looking professional leaves a positive impact" idea.

As my fb is friends only and I am not fb friends with anyone at either of the schools I applied to (well, one person from a totally different department who is my best friends boyfriend), I had no problem what-so-ever with posting that I was accepted to one school so far. I didn't mention which it was (though someone mentioned it further down, and I didn't give any indication at that point which I would want to go to), so I don't think it'll come back and bite me. Plus, a. I've worked super hard for this and I deserve to be excited, b. I don't know anyone applying in my subject or at my schools, and c. If I have to see 245763136521234889621 pictures of people's babies (I know 4 people who just had babies, so my news feed is overflowing with babies, which are cute, but numerous...) every single day, I can have one moment of OMG!!!!!!1111one. Edited for my b turning into a smiley with sunglasses O.o

I didn't apply to either of these schools (I hang on the edge of environmental science, biology and geology and applied to environmental and geology programs), but I just wanted to pop in and say best of luck that the applications are surprise admissions! If they aren't admissions, my best advice is to have a back-up plan thought out. And if you're still interested last year, I don't think there's a problem with re-applying, I certainly did it. I was actually universally rejected from PhD programs the last two times I applied (granted, I only applied to one program last year, I applied to like 7 the previous year). In between the first application round and now, I worked on a Master's and have done a fair amount of research for that and any other projects I can pick up, as well as volunteered with various environmental-type things. So far, this year is turning out better! Again, best of luck and don't give up hope until you get the letter, but start looking into your back-up plans, just in case. Never hurts to b prepared.

I'm currently finishing up Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett because everyone needs a laugh (especially while awaiting replies from PhD programs) and I enjoy picturing faculty at various universities like the wizards at Unseen University. lol This may be what I do next: join you in reading AGoT, in hopes that this will be the year. I am only glad that I put off reading it in the first place until last year so that I didn't have as many years of cliff-hanger-ness as some people have had. On the other hand, I just bought something like 15 books at a used book sale and have Le Morte d'Arthur out of the library, so I guess I'll make that decision when I finish Reaper Man.

I guess I'm lucky in that this is my third application season, so no one expects anything either way. The first two years were harsh, especially the second one as I applied to the school I was/am working on my master's in. It didn't help that the first year I didn't know what I was doing and so applied to a bunch of school willy-nilly without actually contacting PoIs... and the second year I wanted to work with someone affiliated with the school, but not actually part of the school (who is now my master's thesis adviser, incidentally). Depsite my inability to manage the application process, everyone was absolutely sure I'd get in and I didn't. So this year, I only have one friend who tells me over and over I'll get in. So far I have been accepted at one of the schools I've applied to, but no word on funding yet. My mom is super excited that I got accepted (she emailed the whole family), even if they don't fund me and I can't go after all LOL. At least my mom gets it!

Thank you! I'm super excited! I hope you have good luck with your schools, too!

I did! I was accepted, but they didn't mention funding of any kind, so I am kind of wondering if that sort of information is on it's way or if that just means I didn't get any. I guess I'm just supposed to wait and see. I am still waiting on another school, so I guess I can wait for more info from school 1 while waiting for any info from school 2. Thank you for asking! Gunlesswonder- any word from your schools?

My grandfather's DOCTOR once wrote him a note to "loose 40 pounds". He immediately jiggled his tummy and said "it can't get much more loose than that." I would like to say, however, that the way people write in places like boards and Facebook and whatnot is often different than how they would write in a formal setting. I go elliptical-crazy and forget to capitalize and use a billion exclamation points in emails to friends, but I am very careful and proper in emails to professors and in papers. Also, I can't spell (I think I learned how to spell "definitely" within the last couple of years) and English is my first language

Okay, will do that when I get home tonight/tomorrow morning when I am able to sit down and write out a proper e-mail for graduate secretary! Is it normal for the acceptance letter to make no mention of funding whatsoever or does this likely indicate that I didn't get any? It did mention that I am considered out-of-state for tuition, but it made no mention on anything beyond that... I am concerned that this is bad news hidden in the good news. LOL

So, it turns out I was accepted at one of the PhD programs I applied to (and probably won't be hearing from the other for a few weeks because they had a late deadline on their apps). Now what do I do? Should I contact them via phone/email and thank them and tell them that I would like to hold off on make a decision for a little while? Or do I wait for them to contact me directly to say anything (i.e. if my POI contacts me)? There was no offer of funding in the letter and no mention of it (not even saying whether I did or didn't get any). I did say in the app that I need funding to attend. Is it possible that more information about this is on it's way? Or would they have mentioned it somewhere if I was in the running for funding? This is my first acceptance ever where I had to wait on more information, so I'm sorry for questions that might be rather obvious. Both my undergrad and masters were situations where I only applied to one school and (as an undergrad) had good scholarships or (in the masters) was planning on going regardless...so I'm a bit unfamiliar with this whole part of the process.

Oh, man. That kind of makes me feel bad even complaining about my situation. Best of luck and I hope you hear soon!

Maybe your programs are different, but the application for one of the programs I applied for wasn't even due until last week, so I doubt I'll hear from them until at least mid March. Don't give up hope, some programs just take a little longer to respond! I think you probably still have a chance! Good luck.

I feel slowly and painfully tortured, but I'm better now. I hope it has something to do with a financial offer! That would be great! After flailing for a while, I have been able to get some constructive work done on my project. However, if I didn't obsessively color code things by categories, I wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to do it ;-) Organizing by taxa, not so much, organizing by color, that I can handle!

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