trammy

To be honest, I know very little about materials science. I actually did my undergrad degree in physics/biophysics. I decided to go back to school, because I want to teach (maybe not university level though, maybe community college). My choice to do materials science is partially due to what I currently do for work, and partially because I thought a PhD in physics would take far too long (and, plus, I'll be honest, I didn't feel like studying for the physics GRE). I figured, though, with my physics training, I could do a fair amount of stuff in optics (what I do now) and a fair amount of stuff in E&M. And whatever I didn't know, I could learn (can't be much harder than physics, right?)

I wish I knew more about the MAE department at UCSD. The only professor I know of there is Dr. Vlado Lubarda, who happens to be my friend's father. I just had a quick note regarding TAship. There may be none in your department, but that doesn't mean you can't TA in another department. They'll tell you it's competitive, blah blah blah, but it's not impossible to get. From talking to people, I'm assuming this is basically how it works: - You either get promised an RAship or a TAship. For the latter, you'll get a letter of support. When you apply for TAship, you present your letter, and you're pushed to the top of the list, as far as TA selection goes. - If you don't have a letter (like you and I) you can apply still. You're just at the bottom of the list. You can also TA for other departments. It's been a few years since I've been at UCSD, but I TAed for 3 of the 4 years I was there (yes, that means I started TAing as a sophomore). That tells me that TAship can't be *terribly* competitive if they let me do it as an undergrad. This, of course, was not under the engineering dept. I plan on applying for a TA position in the physics and chemistry dept, not engineering. Anyway, as my boyfriend (in the physics dept) put it, very rarely do you NOT get funding at all. Being promised no funding is different that not having any funding. Oh yeah, and I learned this week that you can put your name on the graduate housing list NOW, if you've already sent UCSD your acceptance. This might be worthwhile, as you have a chance of getting housing in a few years. Otherwise, you'll be paying an arm and a leg to live in La Jolla and be in walking distance, or you'll live a bit farther away and drive to school (like me).

UCSD. Got some better offers, but I'd like to stay near home (and my bf).

Hey baravi, I'm in the same boat as you, different dept. Of course, I was offered full funding UW, so my reasoning for going to UCSD is a bit different (born and raised in SD, went to UCSD as an undergrad, and now I don't want to leave my bf, though UW tempted me so greatly). I would call the admissions committee head of your dept, not the graduate committee head (Kim Barrett, more or less, has no say on things). San Diego IS very expensive, and though graduate housing is an option, it takes about an average of 3 years to get in (I know, it took my bf that long). You're also welcome to send me a message anytime (I'm doing Mat Sci, so there may be a possibility we'd have some classes together).