[Boston & Cambridge, MA]

16 hours ago, fantods said:

Hi there, I moved to Boston last year for grad school and did my apartment hunt entirely via internet. I started really early (like, in early March) looking through Craigslist and the MIT/Harvard Housing Group of Facebook for a place to move in August [EDIT: we were able to arrange for a subletter over the summer and I moved in in August]. Great news: it turned out perfectly for me - I love my roommate, apartment and neighborhood. We emailed back and forth and then had a long and very honest Skype session about pet peeves, living habits, house tour, etc. before deciding to move in together. I don't think that house-hunting online is necessarily a bad idea - but DEFINITELY take the time to make sure the place and people will work well for you. What's more, CL and the various university housing facebook groups WILL have options with no broker fees. And if you want to message me directly, I'm happy to chat about cost of living for a grad student in the Boston area. Good luck! 

Thank you! I'll message you. 

[Boston & Cambridge, MA]

Hi everyone, it's looking likely that I'll be going to Boston in the fall and need much advice!! I was really looking forward to having my own space, but a few days of scrolling in craigslist and zillow have popped this happy bubble and I'm just very anxious now.

I'm really worried about housing esp since I'm an international, and there's a high chance I'd have to do house-hunting via the internet. Is this a really bad idea? Should I just empty my savings account to pay for the overpriced Harvard housing studio for a year and then search for rooms in my second year?

Or, if it's not a terrible idea, should I try to find fee-free deals on craigslist, or for safety's sake pay the fee and work through a realtor? What are some good, reliable sites with a lot of listings?

Also, I have no idea how much my stipend is worth in Boston, i.e. what price range of houses I should be looking at. How much does cost of living for a single grad student minus rent amount to? 

I sound absolutely clueless, yeah.. sorry about that

Any advice is much appreciated!

[Northwestern Learning Science]

On 2/14/2018 at 2:13 AM, Applicant2018 said:

Hi there, just found this thread. I also applied to LS at Northwestern. Anyone heard from them for an interview? 

Really nervous since I saw someone got it yesterday.

Hi, I got an interview invite for the LS & CS program recently after all. It's much later than other students that got their interview requests in January, so the same situation may happen for the LS program.

Also, the professor I will be interviewing with mentioned that he has to get all the interviews done before 3/1, I don't know if this is the same for the LS program but if so, there's still some time left. Fingers crossed for you!

[HGSE 2018]

On 1/24/2018 at 3:48 AM, Blue94 said:

How have interviews been going for those of you who had them already? I think mine went well... I think I could have been more clear with some of my answers, but overall I think it went okay. How is everyone else feeling?

Hi, I personally think I did okay too. I was very nervous but the professors were so nice which put me at ease after a few minutes. 

Would you be open to DMing with me and comparing how your interview went with mine?

[Northwestern Learning Science]

36 minutes ago, balaenopter_a said:

I applied to CS but the people reaching out for interviews for me are in the CS/LS department and on the phone they said they'd probably extend offers in early to mid february according to their time line and visit days are early march.

Haha I love your 'not talking about it' label. I should adapt that. 

2 hours ago, Aromando said:

@cal03 Any updates on your end?

Nope. None. But I did get interviews from #1 and 2 in my list so I'm not stressing about NU (which ties at #2) as much. But I do realize by looking at balaenopter and your backgrounds that NU seems to be looking for a lot stronger tech background than what I have. I'm mostly education. We'll see!

 

[2018 Education Applicants]

2 minutes ago, t_ruth said:

Look at this professor's work. See what you can get enthusiastic about. During the conversation (if you have one), ask about current an upcoming projects and see where that conversation takes you. I wouldn't mention wanting to work more with the other professors at all. Don't lie, but, if you could see yourself working with this person, give the conversation a shot (and don't ask about why you didn't get your first choice).

Thank you! That sounds like solid advice. 

[2018 Education Applicants]

7 hours ago, t_ruth said:

There are lots of reasons this could happen. Professors 1 and 2 could not be taking students or could have preferred a different applicant. All could have shifts in their research focus that aren't yet apparent from their publications (there is a three-five year cycle between current interests and publication)--if this is the case, you might actually be a better match with the prof who wrote than with the other two.

Thank you so much t_ruth.

I do realize with your help that that there are a variety of possibilities... My pressing question now is, should I talk to this professor about how this happened? I'm afraid I'll come across as unenthusiastic. If I do talk to him about the topic of advisors,  how should I choose my words?

[2018 Education Applicants]

Hi, I just got an interview invite from a dream school but from a different professor that I had so fervently wished for. I am happy but confused!

Does anyone more knowledgeable than me on the admission process know why this kind of circumstance happens? Does this mean that professors #1 as well as #2 on my list did not want me? The email from this professor says "The faculty of the *** program met, we were impressed" "You could be a great match for my lab."

I can see that there are some overlapping research interests, but at the same time the last two paragraphs of my SOP to this school reads like a love letter to professor #1. 

Please help! So confused!

[Let’s just TALK about it...]

15 hours ago, Katiebird said:

My parents keep talking about how much they want me to get into my top school and it's driving me crazy! I'm pretty sure I'm receiving a rejection at this point so it's pretty frustrating. I managed to get 2 interviews from my other schools and they don't even seem to care...

I'm sorry to hear that. I can relate, mine too are a bit like that. I have two interviews, both two schools that I would really love attending - and they obsessively only care about the one that is (harder to get into) and more famous. They're talking about that school only and always, and it's getting on my nerves at an already stressful time. It's like I have one chance instead of two in their eyes, and I'd have failed if I don't get that one. 

Plus I also found out today that interviews are being sent out for another dream school..... and I didn't get the email. I think I need to wait it out a bit, but so much stress. So much. 

[Northwestern Learning Science]

Thanks libbyt, yeah it was the cs & ls program. What about you? Aromando, congrats! Did you by any chance send in your application early? Probably not the cause but....

I actually have had a (I thought nice) phone call with my POI in november. I'm now wondering if I had messed up. 

[Northwestern Learning Science]

Hi, I feel a bit too new to open a new topic, but here goes. I just checked on the status page that someone got an interview for cs & ls. Oh no. 

I am freaking out as this is the first or at least second school on my wishlist and also had thought as application deadlines were so late, that interview emails would come later this month. Plus I saw past posts that said the interviews were on feb!

Did anyone else get emails? Does NU send out interview emails over a longer period than just a day? I'm extremely anxious and completely unable to focus on anything else, HELP!