beanbagchairs

If taking a *productive* gap year is doable for you, I'd take that. I am not sure if it is a good idea to fund your way through PhD. Earning the degree is hard enough. Dont complicate things further by going into debt/worrying about money. If you dont want to take a gap year, I think going to Northwestern is a good option for you: (1)you'll get an MS after 1 year from a very good program, which puts you as a better candidate should you need to reapply for PhD programs (2)you may get promoted to their PhD program, which is awesome. If that is not the case, you can always reapply to other PhD programs.

I dont know how he does it (passing those many classes in DIFFERENT programs simultaneously)? He is taking them simultaneously, right? Does he even sleep?

Give them a call!

OMG mojingly!!! You are very talented!!! I think I need to learn how to play an ukulele. I can play piano. Does that help? You look very cool!!!

Ahh ok. I'll check that out. Thanks

Hahahahah the guy got some nerves to send that in! I'll probably freak out

Sorry FingersCrossedX for copying your title! I really like FingersCrossedX thread on the "Applications" sub-forum, where he/she asked about dos and donts in preparing one's applications. I'd like to ask current graduate students if you have advice on first-year graduate students, such that we can avoid to make the same mistakes. I have read the following document and found it to be useful: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~azuma/azuma_guides.html It's written for CS grad students. I am not in CS, but I think it's useful I also tried to search for similar threads in this forum. I cant find it. Sorry if this question has been asked/posted before.

Whoa, I think previous posters have covered almost all aspects in preparing your applications. I'll just try to add some more in deciding where to go in the case of multiple acceptances: (1) Wait until you know all of your options (i.e., you have heard back from all of your schools) before making any decision. I realize sometimes it is not possible. Do not decide hastily! This is a big decision of your life. I ended up making my decision towards the end of April 15th. (2) Visit the schools, talk to current students, talk to professors in each school to get the vibe. (3) Figure out their placement records. Where do their graduates go. Are the current grads happy with their program? Current grads are usually honest about the current condition. (4) Try to talk to the current advisees of your PoIs. I did this and it revealed some "disturbing" facts about some of PoIs. In other cases, it confirmed my intention to work with said PoIs. (5) Follow the money! Go for funded offers, especially for PhDs! You'll work better if you dont have to worry about money. (6) Seek advices from your current recommenders about which offers to choose. (7) Figure out the research productivity of current advisees of your PoIs. (8) Only talk about your applications to those who understands the competitiveness/stress involved in graduate applications. This saves you a lot from feeling stupid for getting rejected or wanting to go mental towards everyone around you :-)

Ah.. that's how it works. Thanks LJK.

I read it on another thread in this forum (I think it was the Fullbright thread? sorry I cant reference it right now) that it is EXTREMELY hard to get the 2 year residency waived. As to the OP question, yes, you should be getting a J1 visa rather than an F1. I imagine you wont get an OPT too if you get a J1, right?

What I do: (1) Buy a gym membership. You'll feel bad for not using it (2) Avoid using elevators

There are two questions in this: (1)I only have a vague idea of how grants work. Is there any usual time line (yearly?) when professors know about the outcome of their grant proposals? I can imagine there are many grant schemes out there whose decision dates vary. I am just wondering if there is a certain time period where most grant granters release their decisions; similar to graduate school decisions that are, mostly, out by February-April. (2)If a professor's proposal is accepted this year, when will it actually get funded (this year or next year?) I am funded through an RAship + fellowship that is good for up to 6 years. I have no obligation for the first year; but, I need to find professors who have RA openings for subsequent years to supplement my fellowship. I am guaranteed an RA position; but, my choices are still limited to those who have RA openings, which depends on the outcome of their grant proposals.

I seconded Aaron's interpretation. That's a good deal . If I were you, I'd also try to call school choice #2 to explain the situation. They should not be annoyed since they do not offer you anything. It's not like you are sitting on top of someone's funding.

I dont think he has done any "advising" for you. Good supervisor wont tell you what to do, but he/she will at least give you direction. I dont think he has done any of that. If I were you, I'd switch professor and do another thesis with said professor. Dont take it out on the entire field because one bad experience with a professor. I've never met a CS person that does not wish he/she is stronger in math. You have an edge there. That being said, you need to graduate soon from that institution and choose another for further degree. Staying in that environment will hurt your confidence, motivation, etc.

I got into georgia tech (through CS dept), Boston U (bioinformatics), & USC (bioinformatics). I ended up choosing BU because of "fit" and benefits of collaborations with surrounding research institutions . I think BU is better at comp bio research than the rest of my options.

Choose school A. Getting a PhD is not forever. Although, it may seem like it once we're in graduate school. Therefore, there is an "end" to look forward to in your long-distance relationship. In my experience, it helps a lot when you know when you are going to be together again. Your career growth should also be a consideration for your SO and vice versa.

I just want to add that I'd choose UCSD too. There are tons of good bioinformatics research out there, particularly in their bioinformatics and system biology department. They have Prof Ideker, etc You can just work in those labs. I am pretty sure you can get into those labs through CS. Another school that came close is probably USC; but, I think UCSD is better at comp bio than USC. Great admits btw! Good luck!

This is somewhat unrelated. I couldnt buy a one-way ticket since my visa is not done yet. It's just the rules of many airlines here. So, I ended up buying a round-trip ticket. My return date is "open" and good for six months. A pain.

It looked to me that you want to go to CMU. Just follow your heart, you'll thrive there.

I understand all the anxiety. After all, this is a big step in your life. Since you have made your decision, I suggest to forgo other choices and concentrate to prep yourself for grad school. I have scrutinized every aspect of my offers before making my decision; I still have anxiety about it. That's normal. It's time to celebrate. You've got yourself into a grad school! cheers!

I am planning to go home twice a year. One during Christmas and another one, hopefully I can get two weeks off, during the summer. Yep, airplane tickets are expensive. I subscribe to various airlines websites and travel agencies for discount fares notifications. Sadly, most of their discounts are not during "peak seasons". I expect to get some timeoffs during those peak seasons.

I would go to UCSD for the following reaons: (1) They have tons of good research. (2) You can get into their bioinformatics lab through CS. Their bioinformatics/bioengineering/systems biology is indeed impressive. Hopefully, your professor does not need to be those that comes from computer science. There are a lot of good computational biologists in other departments. (3) I am not familiar with the MS level of comp bio in CMU. However, I am familiar with their PhD program in computational biology, which is housed in their computer science department. That being said, I get the feeling that their courses/research (in the PhD level) are geared towards applying/developing machine learning techniques in the biological domain problem. Therefore, your concern of "losing sight of the biological problems you are trying to solve" is a valid one. I think that's why their PhD level is jointly offered with Pitt; Pitt's medical program is stronger. So, you can get the best of both worlds . (4) I think UCSD is a great place to do high-tech biology. As for your concern about UCSD CS, I don think you have much options since you DID apply to their CS department. If you dont want their education, why did you apply? Just curious, why didnt you apply through the bioinformatics & systems biology department? Overall, I dont think you can go wrong with any of these admits. Congrats on the admits. Good luck choosing!

I would go to UCSD for the following reaons: (1) They have tons of good research. (2) You can get into their bioinformatics lab through CS. Their bioinformatics/bioengineering/systems biology is indeed impressive. Hopefully, your professor does not need to be those that comes from computer science. There are a lot of good computational biologists in other departments. (3) I am not familiar with the MS level of comp bio in CMU. However, I am familiar with their PhD program in computational biology, which is housed in their computer science department. That being said, I get the feeling that their courses/research (in the PhD level) are geared towards applying/developing machine learning techniques in the biological domain problem. Therefore, your concern of "losing sight of the biological problems you are trying to solve" is a valid one. I think that's why their PhD level is jointly offered with Pitt; Pitt's medical program is stronger. So, you can get the best of both worlds . (4) I think UCSD is a great place to do high-tech biology. As for your concern about UCSD CS, I don think you have much options since you DID apply to their CS department. If you dont want their education, why did you apply? Just curious, why didnt you apply through the bioinformatics & systems biology department? Overall, I dont think you can go wrong with any of these admits. Congrats on the admits. Good luck choosing!

I like East Knolls apartments, oakridge apartments, etc. Sorry, I forgot their names It's been awhile. I still remember the neighborhoods though. if you have a specific apartment complex in mind, I can let you know what I think about it (proximity to undergrad crowds, access to campus, etc) You can take a look at properties owned by dtn management. Some of their properties are very nice. http://www.dtnmgt.com/ Sorry I dont know the current rent in EL. Back in 2005, I paid around ~600 for a ***very*** spacious one bedroom on oakridge avenue, which came with a (shaded) one car parking spot.

You need to extract yourself from this predicament soon! I dont see how this can end in a good way. There are too many things on top of each other. First, if you are not happy with your husband, why do you stay? Second, if you are having a problem with your husband, you should be tending to that matter rather than to your professor. Third, once you are single, then you can look for possible mates. In that case, if both of you are still single and you are done taking his class, then you can pursue possibilities with him