dowjonesindustrial

Not only have notifications been prompt, but I've found professors and administrators enormously helpful in fielding questions. It also helps to have heard great things from about 5 current students.

I'm almost certain I will be, as soon as they sort out the details with financial aid. What field are you in? (English)

I'm going to go with Dead Moon, via Pearl Jam "This is my life, this is my chance; This is my hope in an alleyway This is my choice, this is my voice; There may be no tomorrow, now It's okay, It's okaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy You don't have to run and hide away"

To the OP: Pearl Jam is always a good choice. Recently: Jaydiohead (Radiohead and Jay-z, in case you haven't heard 'the new grey album'...) Devotchka The Parlor Mob Wu-Tang Clan

Got into UC Davis today and am thrilled to start 1/1! One other poster evidently did as well... wonder if we might talk later on.

/\------ The Great American Novel I finished Naked Lunch, almost done One Hundred Years of Solitude, now onto Pale Fire and Underworld (Don's).

yes! I lean and loafe and YAWP in support of this thread!!!

16 PhD 1 MA (the net below the precipice...)

adaptation's got the right idea out of 16, i only need one i'd love 3 i'd kill for 5 no really. give me a name. 8)

Haha, yeah. I know zilch about their program in English, but I saw U of Sand and Sun on someone else's list and thought: "damn, why didn't I think of that?"

First off, I don't think you want to draw attention to your GPA in your statement. It's not that bad, and there are probably lots of kids who went through a similar experience. Also, I would expect most adcom members are savvy enough to notice WHY a GPA is low/high, and whether or not it's because of the relevant classes. I'm actually a little surprised that you say none of your schools are interested in major GPA; I've found that many/most of mine are, and I assume it's something any adcom would take a concerted interest in looking at relative to your overall. Lastly, and this is just for honesty's sake, if an adcom is going to toss all 3.3 overall GPA-ers, well there's not much point in you worrying - you don't have control over that. Avoid self-deprecation on your SOP.

Well I'm glad I could help. And if the city felt like putting together a little stimulus package... well....

Yes indeed; you can always wear layers here. And like you said, a little internal heating goes a long way, especially compared with the struggle of cooling down a summer in Cyprus. To be honest, the cold isn't what makes winters in the Northeast a hassle. Yes it will be Very Cold here, particularly in January and February (below 20, say). But again, you put on an extra scarf and walk through it. (now I bust out a graph: http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimat ... undeclared) What's a serious pain is the snow. It is unbelievably beautiful to have a winter wonderland here, but if you've never woken up 45 mins early to go shovel a driveway, three consecutive days... But again, for a grad student, this amounts to what? You buy some nice boots, a scarf, make sure the place you live has heat and ask about the plowing during the winter. You won't have to/want to drive all that much in Burlington, so unless you plan on being a home and car owner right off, then I doubt it's that big of a concern. The upshot is that it's very mild the rest of the year, perfectly gorgeous drives (even when there is a foot of snow on the ground, we get it off the roads quickly enough), and about one of three places in the US where you can find forest, mountains, and a lake all in one place. (wow, maybe I should work for the city....)

As a matter of fact, I live about 5 minutes from campus (and my sister attends). Burlington has been consistently ranked one of the best small towns, hippest art communities, healthiest (top 2?) spots in the US. It, in short, is a phenomenal place to be. UVM is part proper of the town, and although that does spread it into a little bit disproportionally large a campus, Burlington is safe, navigable by foot or by a decent public bus, and tons of fun. Although I don't know about Biophysics, the medschool, bio and even the vet program gets accolades in the Northeast. That said, the winters are (is, at present) lousy. Where are you from? I wouldn't imagine that the weather would be the biggest factor when deciding on a school, but if you've spent your whole live in Nevada, well, maybe you'd want to reconsider spending the next 5-? years in Vermont. I would, and do, however, praise the city of Burlington across the board. (and let me know any other questions; like I said, I drive by the school almost every day ) Edit: viz. our "mad props" : http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us/mayor/bu ... olades.php

This is already a more interesting thread than it was ten posts ago; salud to all 3 above posters for their thoughts and re/covering of the middle ground.