thestranger009
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Posts posted by thestranger009
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iPad 1. Seemingly infinite battery life (well, like ten hours straight of use, or months and months in standby) which is amazing to me given that my laptops never last more than an hour ): Didn't want an iPad until I got one for graduation, didn't use it all summer, came to grad school and discovered iAnnotate PDF and GoodReader and then became an iPad missionary (two of my friends walked to the mall and bought iPads within 24 hours of trying mine out). I keep my entire technical library easily sorted in GoodReader, including papers, theses, everything. I just reviewed and annotated with comments a 50 page technical proposal on a two hour flight with it. I took notes on the pdf slidedecks my professors last sem provided, syncing with Dropbox minutes before class to get them each day. I cannot speak more highly of it as an eReader (please note, DID NOT WANT IT either.)
I'm so glad I came across this thread . . . great information. One question - I was wondering how easy it is to copy/paste text from the .pdf into a separate document? I've resisted experimenting with the iPad because I'm afraid I might just buy it without really having a use for it, so I don't know my way around one at all . . . this makes it sound worth the investment, though.
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Do not drive to campus. Let me repeat: under no circumstances would I ever drive to campus.
The bus system is excellent. Use it. It's comprehensive.
Seattle traffic sucks, all the time. It's easily a forty minute commute to go three or four miles; there's no good east-west route and the bridges bottleneck the traffic. That's why the bus: you get shit done while waiting in traffic.
Bikes are fast. It's the best way to go through the city a lot of the time.
I can't give you hard and fast rules; a lot depends on how close you are to a bus route, if you're going opposite traffic, etc. Just be zen: it's a big city built on an isthmus, split by a canal. The trip takes a long time. The city's worth it.
Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know. I would love to park my car and forget about it for most of the week. I was worried about spending a lot of time in transit, but It didn't even occur to me that I might be able to get stuff done if someone else is driving (which tells you how rarely I have had the opportunity to use public transportation). And I kind of figured anything within walking distance will be very expensive or very loud . . .
Now, I can be zen
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This is a question for the UW-admittees: For those of you without in-state status who are thinking about going, do you have any tricks for funding the first year?
There don't seem to be many options, and UW does not give out-of-state waivers - I asked. There is also the leave of absence option mentioned earlier in the thread, so at least you won't be facing more than one or two quarters of full tuition. You just have to figure out how to fill the spare time (hopefully with any kind of job!).
I decided to accept for two reasons, despite the funding problems. First, I already have a Master's, and UW will accept between 25-30 of those credits, which is nearly a year of study. Every other program I applied to only takes between 9-12 credits. Second, I already live in an incredibly expensive area - housing costs are very similar (an maybe even less) in Seattle, so after the initial moving expenses, it won't be a big change in my monthly bills. That's how I justify it, but I still wonder if I've made the right decision. If I didn't love Seattle, and if the department hadn't been so nice, I would never have committed. If none of that applies to you, it's an incredibly difficult choice.
If anyone else has ideas, please share. Making it through the first year is going to be tough.
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I've spent a few weeks browsing the Seattle housing scene to get some idea of the neighborhoods and price ranges around UW, and it feels like an almost impossible task to make a decision from the other side of the country . . . I need advice!
I'm mostly concerned about the commute time - there is nothing worse than fighting traffic and that panicked feeling I get when I think I might be late to class (especially if I'm teaching it!).
I'd like to keep my commute at a maximum of 30 minutes . . . how close should I try to live to the campus to make that a realistic goal? For example, one mile if I'm going to walk, three miles if I'm going to drive, or maybe four miles if I take the bus?
I don't bike, and I have never ridden a bus in my life (mass transit is a joke where I come from - I love it when I visit well-planned cities and can actually take the metro). And I don't know how much of a hassle it is to drive to UW campus (at my current campus, if you don't show at least 45 minutes early, you can forget finding a parking space unless it's on the grass and a mile away - no exaggeration).
I would be extremely grateful for any help
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Self-update:
I visited UW Wednesday-Friday. I was blown away by the environment...everything from the vibrant-yet-comfortable city to the breathtakingly beautiful campus (I'm being literal when I say breathtaking) to the profs. I met, whose compatibilities with my project and personality are almost eerie.
After this trip, I'm not sure that either Carnegie Mellon or Michigan State would be higher on my list if funding were guaranteed at UW, even given those two school's reps in this subfield. As it's not, I'd take a funded offer off the waitlist from them, but I'd be very happy to attend UW even without first-year funding if that doesn't happen. That's how incredible my visit was.
Great to hear . . . all of my correspondence with them has been really positive, and I visited the area last year on my way to Oregon, but it's hard not to be nervous about moving across the country to work with people I've never met in person. It sounds like they care about their students.
I've already committed to attend, and I can't wait . . . I check Seattle apartment listings almost every day!
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I still haven't heard anything from this school - I inquired a little over a week ago, and they told me my app was still under consideration. Anyone have better information? I had the general impression that they were only taking a few people, and there were a few posts on the results board a while ago . . .
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I see your SIGH and raise you an I CAN'T DO THIS.
I have just declined UW's offer after reviewing what my financial situation would be for a year. I'm a little embarrassed to have made plans to visit only to pull a 360 on them, but we all make mistakes.
I am now back to a more pure form of waitlist limbo as I wait to hear from Carnegie Mellon and Michigan State.
Sorry to see you go, but good luck with the other two! I'm still hovering on the funding wait list and holding out hope . . . and, of course, looking at Seattle housing costs and wondering if taking the bus everywhere will help . . .
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Would you contact them now if you were me RE funding? I was notified of acceptance (PhD) on Saturday.
I sent the DGS a note with some questions, and he replied quickly and was very nice. I wouldn't worry, if there are things you want to know, then just ask . . .they understand that we all have decisions to make. PM me if you have any other questions . . .
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Since someone asked . . .
My field is science fiction, and I work mostly with postmodern theory.
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Congratulations! I also received admittance letters yesterday - I'm beyond ecstatic. No mention of funding, though - I'm relieved to know that I wasn't the only one.
For those who are curious about how they made decisions, here's an interesting link the DGS's blog, which I didn't find until yesterday:
http://arcade.stanfo...w-narrow-enough
Good luck to everyone still waiting . . .
Just received acceptance materials from Univ. of Washington-Seattle. Cloud nine.
Key note: I received no information (one way or the other) RE funding.
Best of luck to all!
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Anyone willing to share their stats? I was hoping to make it into this program, but it looks like all the offers went out . . . it would be nice to know what the they valued there. Thanks, and congrats - it's great to see those few "admitted" results after then endless list of rejections . . .
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I don't know if there are any PhD programs still taking applications, and I don't think anyplace has funding this late. I was actually considering an alternate plan that involves getting a second Master's, so that probably isn't what you had in mind . . . I want to stay in school and continue teaching, so it would be worth a few more years. I already wish I had applied to more schools . . . nine *seemed* like a lot, but now I feel like I was being way too optimistic. Ah, well . . . it's not over quite yet.
Are there places later then Feb. 15th? I know some with rolling and no funding, but dang, that's really late . . . will have to check that out, too.
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Yeah, I've barely looked away from a screen (phone or computer) for over a month now . . . I did have the foresight to set up an entirely new email account just for applications, so I don't have a heart attack every time I get regular mail. Of course, every time my phone rings I turn into an adrenalized wreck, even though most of the schools I applied to don't notify by calling. I'm also worried that all my rejections will show up at once, and maybe even on a day that I teach. I don't want my students to see me collapse!
At this point I'm also thinking about looking for a few places with late deadlines . . . what else is there to do? I knew this wouldn't be easy, but wow, I had no idea I'd be such a mess . . .
Dude, preaching to the choir, my biggest/worst move was upgrading my phone. It now is able to tell me the instant that I get an e-mail. I thought this would be productive as I wouldn't have to be chained to the computer clicking refresh . . . but now i just sit and stare at my phone waiting for a ding. It's a losing battle.
Speaking of, just had a professor tell me he was rejected out right his first session (only to apply to a later deadline school and get in) . . . he got 5 rejections in the mail on the same day. I think I would crawl into a bottle for at least a year.
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Thank you! That was marvelously helpful. All this waiting and wondering is exhausting . . . any kind of answer to anything is welcome
Means this: A decision of "Pending - Manual Review Req" means that your file has been sent to your department and is awaiting a decision. The Office of Admissions and Records cannot give you any further information on a deferred application. You may contact your program for details about the departmental review process.
I just checked the website as mine is in a current state. Here's the source: http://www.uic.edu/d...d.html#checking
Also, in the same obsession boat.
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Does anyone know what "Manual Review Req" means? My status at UIC was updated with this message today. Anyone else? I haven't heard back from anywhere I've applied, so all I can do is obsess over tiny changes . . .
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Has anyone heard how many spots they have to offer this year? I'm watching the Results board constantly . . .
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That's good to hear - getting to work with someone who is both knowledgeable AND cool almost seems like too much to hope for.
If you get into UC Riverside, you'll dig it here. Rob Latham is very cool, and we have one of the largest Sci-Fi collections in the world.
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I contacted UW last week because my status had not been updated - they replied back almost immediately with a very polite email stating that they had everything in my file, and that most applicants could expect decisions in mid March. My status still hasn't changed, but I suppose they are super busy . . . I'm going to try not to think about it anymore until March!
Has the materials received/online status been updated for anyone?
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I think I'm concerned because there are so few universities that really acknowledge science fiction as a valuable area of research . . . it's never listed in the program descriptions (whereas many departments advertise their focus in areas like Early Modernism or Victorian Lit), and it's barely mentioned in most faculty bios . . . including the bios of professors that I know publish in the field, or who regularly teach courses in SF.
So, while I feel like what I'm doing is at least new, and perhaps interesting to some programs because it's unusual, I still worry. My thesis adviser always tells me I have to be twice as good because I work in SF . . . the challenge has made me a better writer, but as a result, I have some trouble gauging how my work will be received.
It's good to read all of these posts that believe the committees will be objective.
Why are you concerned that programs won't take your work seriously? I agree with tinapickles who said it's how you frame your work. I think that if you can establish the grounds and needs and find faculty that you want to work with then you've gotten over the hump. If you aren't sure how seriously faculty will take your work, you may want to contact those that you are particularly interested in closely working with to find out what their preferences are and how well you'd fit with them. It is just as much about your work and your fit as it is theirs. Besides, if you are a strong writer, which I suspect you are, then have confidence.
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The cyber-literati are some of my favorite people!
UCR does have good faculty for this. And as for not being taken seriously, it seems like departments are more interested in people branching into new fields these days anyway.
You might want to look into UCI. I went to meet with faculty there recently, and while waiting for Jonathan Alexander to finish up with a student, I noticed a poster for "A Counter Darkly," -- some kind of Philip K. Dick-fest organized by Alexander himself. He seems like the sci-fi sort and is quite well-respected among cyber-literary-digi-weenies.
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Thanks for the tip . . . I feel like I looked at every school in New York and came up with almost nothing. I'm from Florida . . . I wonder if the snow that far North would be the end of me?
On 12/25/2010 at 11:40 PM, skeletonkeys said:I'm not sure about this, but I think the U of Rochester has quite a few people doing work with science fiction. Definitely check them out, if their deadline hasn't passed.
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Thanks, I'm encouraged. Oregon is beautiful, I would love to live and study there.
Just to affirm one of your choices, Oregon has seemed pretty friendly to sci-fi. I'm not sure which professors are working and advising in the area, but I can think of at least three students off the top of my head who are working into scifi from varying directions. At least two women in my department are approaching different film/novel franchises in terms of fan culture and fanfic, and one of them was even on the panel of experienced grad students who shared their works in progress with the incoming class. It doesn't sound like that is your *exact* cup of tea, but I figure it shows that the atmosphere is pretty welcoming to supposedly non-traditional English research and dissertations.
In re: to liking both scifi and Milton, there is one faculty member who got hired as an Early Modern guy and is now really known for his work with comics. It seems flexible.
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I'm curious to see who (if anyone) is out there with a background or interest in studying science fiction . . .
I'm applying to PhD programs with an SoP and writing sample that are focused very specifically on the genre (with a strong framework of postmodern theory) . . . I'm concerned, of course, that many programs won't take my work seriously. I made sure to apply to places where at least one or two faculty members listed SF in their bios, but I suspect I'm going to spend the next few months worrying that I should have emphasized my secondary interest (that would be Milton).
Is there anyone going through the same thing? Or anyone who has successfully applied after being very clear that their dissertation would be about SF?
I applied to UC Riverside, U Oregon, U Chicago, UIC, U Kentucky, U Miami, U Florida, and WashU (the only place that does not appear to have SF faculty).
Are there any other programs that welcome SF that I might have missed?
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English PhD programs at:
UC Riverside
University of Oregon
University of Washington
University of Chicago
UIC
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Florida
University of Miami
concentration in science fiction and postmodernism, with a side of comics . . .
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Cool, that's a critical function for me - I often consult 20+ sources for a paper, and I like to consolidate all the useful information into a single document before I decide what I'll actually work with.
I think there is an iPad in my near future . . .many thanks!