belevitt

Ouch, your feeling that you were snubbed is exactly right. Nearly every paper, particularly those published by graduate students, have a senior author. The only reason I can imagine that your PI would have acted this way was that she disagrees with the results, questions the data or it contradicts her other views. Your shot at getting this published is not going to be improved by this situation. If it were me, I would ask her to help in the revision and discussion portion, justifying her inclusion as an author. I would probably also make some effort to start my thesis in a different lab where I could have a working relationship with my PI.

If it were me, I wouldn't waste money on a masters or post-bacc. I would apply straight to the phd programs. Certainly your research experience and intense course load are convincing reasons for why you received a B average (btw does anybody else feel that gpa is subjective and depends on the school not the student?). I would guess that your dedication to research will shine through and compensate for your gpa, particularly if your undergrad school has a good reputation or your research advisor did. If things don't work out, get a lab tech job at a university and take full advantage of the free tuition to show that you can handle graduate level courses.

Hey Sashababie, the bus from Ann Arbor (or at least from Detroit) into Toronto is super convenient and short. Bad news about the worst case scenario plan you mentioned - I have never heard of a "fall recessional" and while they may exist in some places, the midwestern university I went to had no fall break or anything. Hope that wasn't too much of a downer.

Hey LizBlizz, Great to hear that you're moving to Denver. As it sounds like the decision is already final, I ll spare you my misgivings about the city. I grew up here and recently moved back from Wisconsin. It's a large city with sprawling suburbs of which Littleton/Englewood are two. Young professionals in the area tend to live either around DU or in Capitol Hill. This city has lousy public transit so if you don't have a car, be within walking distance of the school and buddy up with somebody who does have a car. Capitol Hill is where I currently live and its fairly chic, it has interesting bars, restaurants, pawn shops, bookstores, coffee shops and other things you might like. Groceries are spread out so keep that in mind. Also, Capitol Hill is close enough to downtown that you could (but I never do) walk to the great stuff that grad students can't afford like the two art museums, amazing symphony, performing arts center, sports venues etc. Traffic, particularly from Littleton, would be borderline unbearable but you needn't worry about driving in snow. Denver has over 300 days of sunshine a year and its summers, while less humid, are no less hot than Florida. There averages only three or so big snow storms but that only happens within a narrow window of time in the winter. If there is anything else that I can help you with, don't hesitate to post.

I lived in Madison four 6 years, 4 years as an undergrad and 2 years as a working professional. I loved Madison for its combination of small town appeal and mid sized city practicality. However, that wore off when my wife and I tried to stay there after we graduated. It's job market is always flooded with new graduates. Housing is also flooded by undergrads and is disproportionately expensive (yeah yeah, less than nyc or hong kong or something, but still more than its big 10 counterparts). For a one bedroom in the Willy St area (a mile and a half from the liberal arts end of campus) I was paying about 750 + utilities. The lakes that provide so much natural beauty and entertainment also keep the isthmus cluttered and isolated from the west and east towns of Madison. No groceries exist on the isthmus (aside from campus convenience stores). Traffic and pollution are non existent. The lakes and terrace provide absolutely wonderful and there is always a band playing on the terrace. The university rents canoes on the cheap. Walking trails abound in that area. If I were a graduate student in Madison and wanted to live like an adult, I would find a place in the close neighborhoods outside of the downtown area. Monroe street, Hilldale, Atwood st area are excellent options where your minimal stipend might buy you more. Buses are excellent for the downtown area.