Ms J

lemonade stand

I will be 29 when i start. A few months from 30

Just wondering how much notice you would want to give your current employer if you applied to graduate school, got accepted and have decided to attend? I am planning to leave my current employment of 4 years to enroll in a PhD program in another state. Initially i was planning to give a month's notice... bu i kinda feel bad about that. Should i tell them now?

@thekidd: Are you attending USC this fall? I just got accepted into the PhD prog in Epidemiology. I am from Ghana....

* First of all, as an international student you ought to have $$ or proof of $$$ to attend college or else you wont be issued an 1-20 to obtain the F1 visa to enter the US. Even after the 1-20 is issued, you will need bank records or statements (if you are being sponsored by a family member in the US) to show financial security before the student visa is issued. You must be able to proove that you have funds available for your first year or so. Most international students I know have paid for their first semester and then found an assistantship of some sort on campus that will give a tuition waiver OR have tried to get an assistantship through the school before coming to start their first semester. * As an international student you are only allowed to work 20 hrs per week ON CAMPUS. Depending on where you live, that income could help with paying for books or health insurance which is required *International students can open US bank accounts with your passport and an address and some $$$ ofcourse. Most US schools have orientation for IS students and at the orientation they will provide you with all the info you need to settle in etc.... * Getting a roomate and sharing an apartment can always help with cost of rent and utilities. * Living of a credit card is NEVER a good way

Anyone been here or lived here before?

I lived in Mississippi (Hattiesburg) for 2 years during my masters and moved to the midwest after that. I visited starkville, MS a couple of times. Starkville is a college town tucked away in a place with lots of farms and pinetrees. There really isnt much to do there; except football games/sports and outdoor stuff. The school is known as an agricultural college.... If you come from a big city in the midwest then it is going to be very very different in starkville. If you want a bit of city life you will have to drive to Jackson, MS which is about 2.5 hrs and is a bit decent. Weather wise... NO SNOW!! It is humid and HOT.

Hi, Newbie here. I Just found this forum through a google search. I wish i had found this earlier on when i was sending my applications. Reading all these posts is so helpful wow... I applied to 9 schools for a PhD in epidemiology and got accepted into 5. My interests is in international women's health..... Boston University-Rejected Arizona State-Rejected University of Texas- Rejected University of Alabama- Provisional acceptance (conditional that i find a faculty member who will agree to become my mentor-no luck yet ) University of Oklahoma- Accepted Ohio State university-Accepted University of Kentucky- Accepted University of South Carolina- Accepted with full scholarship and stipend University of Miami- No word University of Louisville- No word Decided to accept USC's offer and will be attending this Fall .....