awvish

I'd also be really interested to know which cell service providers work well in Ann Arbor (both in terms of coverage and having an accessible branch office in case a phone has an issue...). Anyone? Anyone? (Thanks!)

Actually, I didn't major in Biology, either. I had a Bio-related major and then changed to Chemistry (my mom, who studied wildlife Bio, said "So...no more life sciences now, huh?" I said, "Nope, just real science." And boy am I eating those words now. This is all by way of saying that I get what you're saying about choosing majors). I did a couple of summers of research in Ecology/Behavior, but that's nothing you can't replicate in a post-bac situation. I'm lucky in that my parents are pretty supportive...and we also stopped any 'let' rhetoric when I was in high school. As it is, they're happy I chose to do international volunteer work (they like to feel proud, and Peace Corps is just *full* of warmfuzzies), happy I've been completely safe so far (they are parents, after all), and really glad I'm coming home in the next two weeks. I'd say if you want to do Peace Corps, then there are plenty of considerate ways of getting around a worried parent--at the risk of sounding a little insensitive--it's your life, not your mom's, and so you should do with it what you want. That said, I'm not sure that 'life experience' is really what the Peace Corps is all about. It's an experience, and it will be relevant to me for the rest of my life, but it's only 'life experience' in the same way that every day is an experience of living no matter where you are and thus a life experience. Life won't become magical because you get your water out of a well and carry it on your head...it will just become annoying whenever you want to shower. But if it's magical already, well, then, you're all set either way...

I also figured out my next step in Peace Corps, although it wasn't so much a narrowing-down as it was a semi-accidental optimization curve. I was sitting on the floor of my hut one day and made a list of all the things I like to do. And then I made a list of all the things I wanted to have/be able to do in my life. And then I tried to think of things that would give me the most of both categories...I came up with several options (firefighter, extending as a Peace Corps Volunteer, high school teacher, engineer, something professor) and then after a while, I sort of just realized later that day that I really wanted to go to grad school. And that I wanted to do it in some branch of Biology or other. It took me by surprise, because I've always been the one in my group of friends who doesn't know what I'm doing next. I dunno if that helps. Good luck!

I doubt it--a Master's is an indication that you can do thinking and you can do research about your thinking. I don't think it needs to be from a ranked program, because your program's rank will probably play less of a role in most future jobs/admission decisions than what you do for the degree itself.

Maybe it's the way I write...but they always make these big smudgey clots of ink that get all over my hands and make my notes into a mess. I like the markers idea...

I'd say you're probably jumping at shadows, but I'm not your graduate institution. If you're really worried, you could try using your worst case scenario grade from that course and projected grades from your other courses to estimate the difference it would make in your overall GPA. If you're super duper really worried, why don't you contact your department and explain to them that although you're not in danger of failing (you aren't, right?) any imperative classes, you're worried about what impact a slightly lower GPA could have on your acceptance? I'm sure you could phrase it in a way that doesn't make it sound like "OH NO I AM FAILING WILL YOU HATE ME?" and more like "Hi I'm a reasonable and quite earnest person who could use a dab of reassurance" type thing. But I think you're fine.

Anything involving equations means I need a mechanical pencil and a white rubber eraser (not attached to pencil). I can't stand pens that (a) leak through notepaper ( clot up all the time (RSVP pens, I'm looking at you) or leak on stuff in my backpack. Also, I can't stand wide-ruled paper.

Agree in general (especially everygirl, comebackzinc, and newms). Relevant discussion in a different thread

Is anyone else planning to do the Summer Institute? I guess it's sort of silly, but it'd be fun to find other people who are planning to be there...

Thanks! I just realized that my post was worded strangely. By 'defer' I meant the word that is synonymous with 'postpone', rather than the technical NSF term. But either way, I now know that what I *need* to do is be on reserve for 2011-2012, so it's all good. Thanks again!

This might be a dumb question, but can someone tell me what 'reserve' means? Is it basically deferring it, but under a different name? I can't find it on the website, have to teach my first year as a program requirement, and don't want to choose the wrong option. Help?

I don't have any advice or anything new to contribute, just wanted to say hang in there and I'm pulling for you.

Hi xrsng, If you're looking for really cheap, shared housing, then you might check out the co-ops. I've had good experiences with them before (but during undergrad). I'm also doing a housing search from several thousand miles away, and co-ops are my bet because you know that nobody in the co-op has a vested interest in implying that the living situation is better than it is (which I've heard of happening when you're looking for apartments and stuff). In any case, hooray UM, and maybe I'll see you around (although I'll be on Central Campus most of the time).

Annnnd the server's down. Anyone who was able to download the excel file...would you care to risk posting it here? My Internet is *way* too slow/server down and although I'm pretty sure I got it from the login thing, I'd like to be able to see my name on the list with my own eyes....

Behavioral Ecology. I definitely wigged out a little bit until I read the post mentioning that we could all share what fields we're in. Adrenaline is GOOD for you!

Wait so...if the server is down for six hours (11pm-5am ET), does that mean the list won't be posted until it comes back online? And e-mails will come out even later? Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks, and good luck everyone!

I've been thinking about going to the ESA in Austin this August, but am not really sure if it's a productive thing to do (I'll be a first-year grad student this fall). I know I'd have a blast, but because I haven't matriculated yet, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to get funding to help with registration fees and lodging. Is anyone else in this situation? Would it be too weird to ask my advisor if she's going and if I can tag along? Or does anyone know of housing cheaper than a hotel?

Won't miss: 1. Tsetse flies. Not at all. Not even a little bit, no matter what. 2. Feeling like a bit of a freak for liking to think about things/read a lot. 3. Feeling bored/unproductive because I'm not learning very much or accomplishing very much. 4. Tropical climate. Will miss: 1. The whimsical language that is Pulaar. 2. Getting to count a day in which I go on a long biking trip through bush trails and/or swimming under a waterfall as a work day (because I've done a training or otherwise been borderline useful). Think I won't miss but will probably miss a lot, at least occasionally: 1. Having neither a timeline nor many enforceable expectations.

Hi! This is a tangent, but I couldn't really think of anywhere else to post it, so here goes. I'm going to be starting at UM this fall, and will not have time (because I'll be moving back from 2 years in Africa and want to spend time with my family in distant-from-Michigan-locales) to visit and find somewhere to live beforehand. disucussed potentially rooming with other TGC members as a good alternative to Craigslist or departmentally facilitated introductions. Other than the arriving-in-mid-August thing, I'm a good house/roommate. So, if anyone's even slightly interested, pm me? I didn't want to start a new forum just for this, but if other people are interested too, maybe we should make one?

Sorry, but I've gotta report in as a minority: silverfish (on Google Images) sort of look...too...easy to pop? for my taste. But they are sorta pretty. I think the house centipedes are cuter. All those legs... /contrarianism

I would, and was actually thinking of where it would make sense to start a forum. I guess in City Guide, although it seems sorta space-waste-y. TGC isn't better than having mutual friends/acquaintances vet future roommates, but I bet it's less likely to have a scammer than Craigslist.

I don't have an answer, but wanted to express approval at your use of that emoticon. <insert emoticon: 'philosophical confusion'> Ha.

I think it's usually fieldwork, although a friend of mine has worked as an environmental policy consultant in DC for the last several years. Other friends have gone the fieldwork route.

Just sent the official e-mail--I'm Michigan-bound! Anyone else? Anyone else in the EEB department? Hooray!