brightorangesocks

Oh my god thank you for sharing this. I had no idea, and that would be just about the greatest thing ever, aside from getting in to the program in the first place!

I totally understand the feeling. I feel kind of awful that I'll be leaving my team down a person, but my department is mid-restructure so I'm afraid if I give notice too early I'll be out of a job entirely... which isn't an option for me right now. And regardless of when I give notice I have no idea if or when they'll be allowed to replace me, let alone actually find a candidate. I did take about 2 months between my undergrad and starting this job, and as long as you can make it work logistically and financially I highly recommend it. It's a great way to clear your head and relax before starting the next big thing. With what you've suggested you could give notice once you have an acceptance (hopefully soon!) with an end date of late spring/early summer, and give your boss plenty of time to find someone. You might even be able to help train the new person, which can be a huge help to your team.

Undergrad Institution: RPI - Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteMajor(s): Electrical EngineeringMinor(s): N/AGPA in Major: Not calculatedOverall GPA: 3.08Position in Class: Probably middle thirdType of Student: DomesticGRE Scores:Q:166, V:165, W:4.5Research Experience: No Publications, one conference presentation in my current field. Some research work as an intern but on large capacitors, so also unrelated (but really cool!!). Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Girl Scout Gold Award, Tuition grant in undergradPertinent Activities or Jobs: 5 years professional experience at a test and measurement company, CoCoRHaS observer, some FIRST Robotics volunteeringAny Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Private Pilot license, Scrum (type of project management) certification, LabVIEW developer certificationAny Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Decent programming background, prototyping skills, some teaching experience (from industry, not academia), solid work experience, just not in the field I'm applying for. My research interests line up really well with a few Rutgers professors so I'm hopeful that will be a good fit. Applying to Where: Rutgers - PhD Atmospheric Science (unofficial acceptance from PI last week, funding TBD. visit scheduled for March) University of Wisconsin - Madison - MS Atmospheric Science UMass Lowell - MS Environmental Studies, Atmospheric Science Option The long story short is I've been out of school for a few years and want to make a career change. I've had the opportunity to get some good work experience under my belt and am highly self motivated, so I'm thinking I bring some good non-academic experience to the table. I'm super excited to go back to school as an adult and I'm thrilled to get to study the atmosphere and climate. Anyone else planning to go to Rutgers?

Starting a thread on general advice for staying focused on whatever you have going on in the present. I'll be changing fields for grad school, and leaving a full time job as well. It's *hard* to stay focused while I'm waiting for a decision. So far the best things I've come up with are using the pomodoro method for managing my time during the workday, and using the break times to check my email and admissions sites. That sort of keeps it to a reasonable frequency. And I'm spending my lunch breaks reading research articles related to the areas I want to research over the next few years. Any other tips on staying focused while you wait?

I'm working full time (finished my undergrad a few years ago). I'm in touch with a couple of potential advisors at my top choice school, so I've had a few emails/calls back and forth with them about research while I wait to hear. Aside from that I've been reading relevant papers to build better study habits now, my husband and I have been trying to downsize so we're ready to move in a few months, and I'm watching a fair bit of netflix to distract myself the rest of the time. Focusing on my current job just feels impossible while I'm waiting. Although I suppose it won't get much better if I'm accepted? ?

Worries: I had a tough time with aspects of my undergrad, but for reasons that are resolved now. I've been out of school for about 5 years, and am switching fields entirely - from electrical engineering to atmospheric science. I feel really good about it, but it's still a big scary thing. And I'm worried about getting in to school at all because even though I have the math and general science skills for my new field, there are still some prerequisite courses I haven't taken yet. Also I'm going to be moving across the country - but not just me, also my spouse and cats. And we have to sell a house, I have to stay at my current job as long as I can, etc etc. It's slowly starting to fall in to place, but the logistics between now and the start of the fall semester are monumental. Excitement: I can't freaking wait for school to start. I'm reading papers, talking to professors at my top choice school, planning a visit in the spring... and it all feels so positive. Like I finally found the thing that I want to make a career in. I have a ton of support from my friends and family, and I feel more certain about school and research and all of that every day.

I haven't heard of anything outside of orientation. I'm planning to be moving across the country so at this point my summer looks like packing, moving, and getting settled wherever I end up!

I started figure skating just about a year ago now and it's definitely helped keep me sane. I also do a lot of netflix and knitting, which is nice because it's not weather dependent and I can do it any time. I'm hoping to keep doing both in grad school, and my top choice actually has a figure skating club which would be fantastic.