writingmachine

Lots of little things irking me right now, but no one in person who understands. I'm moving after starting classes and it's been stressful. I've resorted to throwing everything into bins and zip-lock vacuum packs. I wanted to purge before moving, but overdid things this summer working 65-70 hours a week and left myself very little free time, so the purge will happen after the move. My adviser gave me my two year plan for my courses. She wants me to take a course that I'm at an extreme disadvantage to because I don't have the background yet as opposed to others taking the course. I expressed my concerns about the course, but she confident I will do well despite the fact that it will be "challenging." I really hope I'm not set up for failure here. Also before this I had my courses and schedule figured out. I was originally told that I would not get any grad credit for undergrad courses I took and planned my schedule accordingly. Then was told I would be getting credit for at least 3 out of the 4 courses after all. Which is great, but my whole schedule had to be reworked and I just gave my boss at my side job the original schedule last week. Now I have to go back and change things again. Very frustrating.

A month ago I finally found an apartment for a decent price in the area and jumped on it. The only downside is that the move in date is in three weeks and I start classes and my grad assistant work on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. I'm still living with my parents right now, but finding the time to pack has been stressful. I ended my summer job last week, so I finally had time to breathe and focus on packing. Being so crunched for time I've resorted to putting everything into bins and zip-lock vacuum bags. I wish I had time to purge, but I'm going to have to take care of that after the move. I've made sure I'm free all weekend of the move, but I'm afraid I'll have a lot of reading to catch up on. I did this to myself unfortunately, but I didn't realize I'd be this stressed!

I've done it all basically, but renting has almost always been the most cost effective and cheapest option. I've kept a few novels by choice, but I still have a couple of purchased textbooks around that weren't worth selling back. I really just like sending the books back at the end of the semester so I don't end up with clutter/unwanted books that can't be sold back (loose leaf editions for example).

Found an apartment. It's not in prime location like I would prefer, but the location is nice and quiet and the drive to work and the university is less than 15 minutes.

I have been having the worst time apartment hunting and I start classes a little over a month and a half now. Even with the benefit of moving about a half hour away I'm dealing with a very competitive renting market, apartments can be listed and rented within a few hours of the original posting, and I'm completely frustrated. I've tried all the usual sites apartments.com, padmapper, craiglist, etc. There is little medium between sketchy apartments and luxury way out of my budget apartments. I've tried e-mailing and calling complexes and realtors, but they either do not return my calls or have nothing available. I checked out graduate housing as well but I don't qualify. I did find one apartment complex that might work, but the move in date isn't until the second week of September. I'm just worried about the added stress of moving on top of starting classes and work would be too much to handle. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

I applied to 3 different programs this application season (a post-bacc and two master's programs) and heard back from both the post-bacc and my second choice master's program at a state university (actually my alma mater). My first choice program runs on a later schedule than the typical deadlines, but I hadn't heard anything from them so I wrote it off as an implied rejection and went with my second choice which I was perfectly fine with accepting. Then to my surprise my first choice program contacted me at the end of May and invited me to interview two weeks ago. They offered me a spot this past Wednesday and I couldn't turn it down. First choice: Nationally ranked. Has offered me a fully funded master's, stipend, and benefits which I sorely needed (was just kicked off my family's dental insurance after turning 26 last month). Second choice: My alma mater. Decent school with good reputation in the area, but an unfunded offer with no stipend, and no benefits. I was fully prepared to foot the bill by working full-time even though it would be tough. Now I realize I'm faced with an ethical dilemma and I completely understand the potential consequences of declining an already accepted offer. I'm not sure if asking for release applies to me in this circumstance. The only paperwork I signed for my second choice was a half-page pdf where you either checked off that you accepted the offer of admission or were declining and if applicable where you would attend instead. My app fee was waved due to being an alum and I don't owe, according to my student portal, a deposit of any kind. I was to be billed in August and was going to set up a payment plan for the year. On Monday I plan to e-mail the grad admissions office and be upfront and honest. Then I plan to e-mail my adviser and be upfront as well and thank them for their time. How exactly should I word an e-mail of this nature to both parties?