sunshine6

$788 over here... Not counting postage and envelopes and stuff like that.

What can I say? I am a list person... And recently I had a hard drive crash, so now some of my most important stuff is better kept in my good old fashioned paper notebook.

I am going to bump this because it is one of my top pics for schools.... I am cool with rock, tattoos and Southwestern food. What else goes on there? How are the neighborhoods and libraries? Is it a place you would want to spend a PhD at? Easy to get some part time work? Anyone love or hate this city? Why? Just want to get a feel for the attitude of the place...

Austin is a great city, I have lived here eight plus years. There are a lot of free/cheap activities, you can find most of these in the weekly alternative paper, the Chronicle. (also available in a limited capacity online, just google Austin Chronicle.) For example is First Thursday which happens on south Congress the first Thursday of most warm months. I would start there... Austin is green and pretty, although hot in the summer. But almost everyplace has central AC. Also there are great natural places for cooling off, like Barton Springs. There is a large emphasis on the "local" scene, local shops and restaurants are what makes Austin awesome. However in recent years condominium and other development has begun to choke some of these businesses out. (Even on the main campus "drag" Guadalupe st) Be aware that the locals will scoff at you for going to Wal-Mart or eating at Chili's. They are a bit snobby in this way, because not everyone can forgo the cheap prices at big block stores. The people are very accepting, get used to seeing people from all walks of life, tattooed, hippie, yuppie, preppy, we all live here in harmony somehow. It took me a while to get used to the standard greeting, the big hug. I wouldn't start with it, but you will find that is becomes pretty typical. Most older people avoid the ever popular sixth street, (nothing but bars for blocks) because it favors the undergrad crowd, although there are plenty of low key pub-like atmospheres where you can sit on a patio, and have intelligent conversation. Oh, and the people are above average intelligent, I have had the most interesting conversions with complete strangers. There is music everywhere, the biggest challenge is narrowing down which place to go to for which kind of music... and the Chronicle is no help. Just ask around. Continental club is home to rockabilly, and most bars on Red River are just rock, and there is a lot indie music everywhere. Campus is beautiful, and covered with sprawling live oak trees, a very inspirational place. Student jobs are relatively easy to come by... I have made very good money as a waitress my entire time here. Just be prepared to work nights, as you can tell I do based on my post time (also kind of an insomniac so it works.) The Campus bus system is fantastic, and the city system is reasonable, my only complaint being the lack of late night common routes. There is the negative element. Cars without alarms are frequently broken into for stereos, and bike theft is common. If you are wise about these things you will be ok, get an aftermarket car alarm and and insured bike lock... or drive stuff no one else would want, it has worked for me. I live in the Oltorf neighborhood, aforementioned as "rough." These areas are where the minorities, (and their hard working families) live. I have never had any problems. I have no fear walking to the store late at night, even as a woman, nor have had any theft issues commonly encountered on campus, take that as you will. I made an effort to get to know my neighbors and I think that is helpful. If there is anything else you would like to know I would be happy to help. I too am moving to a new place for grad school, (where yet I have no idea.) So I realize the intimidation that comes along with moving to a totally new city. I can help, I have lived in almost every part of town!

I will be happy if my first reply is an acceptance, funding or no. If the first one is a rejection or wait list, I think I may need to see a psychiatrist... and thanks to ridgey, I hadn't even thought of that.... now I need a new phone and service :roll:

I don't see any issue with calling them again... It is responsible to call an be sure all your materials are available to the department for their review. You are the only one that will make sure all that stuff is accounted for before the deadline. I kept a little list with deadline dates, transcript send dates, and other relevant stuff, like the department and college numbers so I could call each and mark off what they had received.

just putting this out there, but one of my schools lets you read your (submitted online and waived) letters AFTER you get accepted or rejected. That way, you are able to determine if one or more writers is less than enthusiastic. Me personally though I would only feel the need to read them if I had large majority of rejections I didn't anticipate, and then only if I planned to reject my acceptances and start over. I wouldn't worry, I am sure you are going to get in a bunch of places and then forget all about the letters

I am not from USC, but I would ask when the preview is... if it is a few weeks off, ie: close to the time when decisions are made in your department, you may want to see how difficult it would be for you to get there. If you have a good possibility of getting in, a visit would be good-but only for YOU... to get know the area/campus. A school won't turn you down because you can't travel overseas to get there for a visitors weekend. But face time can't hurt. If it seems unlikely that you can attend, you can make up for it by sending a very polite letter to your department, or professor you are most in contact with. Say that due to living so far, you regretfully cannot attend. Then spend two short sentences reiterating your interest in the program. If they are extra interested in what you have to offer, maybe they will offer you some assistance to offset the cost of travel. Probably not, but it is still nice to respond to the invitation. Also you could make a call to the department administrative assistant and ask if these invites are sent to all applicants, (which I'd bet they are...) just my two cents. Either way, don't stress about it

hey erudite, I applied at some of the same, good luck! Also, UT is my undergrad, let me know if you have any questions about Austin...

nice to sort of meet you both! Any news so far? None for me, yet. Starting to get a bit antsy...even though I know it will most likely be another month.

still though, it would be nice if the NRC rankings could come out more than once a decade. (and not, of course, immediately after I carefully chose my schools... )

that when applying to grad schools one has to depend on so many outside factors. I realize that it does me no good, to complain.... but I have to pay my junior college (ten bucks) to send transcripts that are already on my graduating school's transcripts, which I also pay for (twenty). I have to pay 20 bucks for each school that ETS sends a score in for. Plus the app fee of the school (45-80), and then count on my recommender's letters to arrive on time. Then after all that, the grad college has the documents but the department is still asking me for them. Yesterday, I got an email from one school's department missing transcripts I sent two months ago. I called the grad college office and they said they had everything, even though the online status check says I am missing one of my recommendations. I told the department that their own office had them, but they still request a copy. Which they could have mentioned, like, two months ago. Then after all that, I get to entrust the postal system which I must have angered somehow, because I haven't received any mail for over a week-not even circulars or bills! Am I the only one thinking this system could use some updating? One of the schools I applied to offers online app, online submission of the SOP, writing sample, and CV. Also recommending profs can upload their letters. But still their dept is missing one transcript, (already sent a while ago.) oy vey. This can't be just me!

Hey mira, I started a topic on the social sciences, anthro board. It's ok, you don't have to divulge any secrets! just nice to know some people in the field...

an anthro major?

I applied to 6. I don't think I could have afforded more! Hey Tonights, where are you applying? Nice to run into another anthro major....