Amelorn

This reminds me of a few master's seminars in my day doing an international relations/poli sci MA (social science). I find it difficult to issue a wholesale condemnation of a programme. There are academics, students, and admins involved that all factor into the front-of-house product the student sees. You note that some of the students are "ignorant morons". You're probably right on at least few of them. I really hope that the number is 70%, but it could be. Admission qualifications are heavily influenced (read: dictated) by admin looking to increase enrolment. That leads to students from fluffy degrees/weak undergrad programmes sitting next to much stronger. A senior academic confessed to me that were it up to the academics, admission standards would be markedly higher. If the academics don't seem to mind, it's a mixture of being purely jaded and "the better ones will learn in time".

I was fortunate to have been drilled on the stock market by my grandfather from a very young age. Coupled with some intrinsic interest, I am not useless in picking. It helps that my discipline helps with giving me macro trends (ie, coal is rapidly losing favour, maybe I shouldn't buy coal stocks/bonds; so...China....maybe should get on that one). My holdings are split between sector ETFs and individual stocks: Alibaba - this will probably end up covering a lot of my grad school expenses, hehe ASHR - ETF of class A shares of Chinese stocks TAO - A Hong Kong real estate ETF EWA - An ETF of Australian stocks DFJ - Japan small cap ETF Blackstone - An 'alternative asset' company. Swings significantly, but grows over the long term + pays a 6% dividend.

I'm in a "neat" department (Politics/IR) in the main commercial city (Auckland) of a casual country (NZ). My wardrobe gets a disproportionate share of my discretionary spending (I'm gay, so it goes with the territory). The somewhat British town-and-country take on preppy I've developed seems to go over well in academia. It's presentable in the eyes of "important" people (department chair, admin), low maintenance (a few pieces per year dry cleaning at worst), I'm comfortable/at ease/confident with it, functional (cool is summer, snuggly in winter), and it isn't subject to the reverse snobbery heaped onto businesswear/suits. Yeah, I over-analyse.

Basically what alphazeta has said is correct. Earning a foreign PhD makes sense if you are comfortable with building a career wholly outside the US and have located potential supervisors that could boost your work/career. If your future plans include a career/life in the US, stay in the US for your doctorate. Stay away from ANU. The university's Politics and International Relations department is...a disaster. Several of the best quit in disgust due to a toxic work atmosphere negatively reinforced by the chain of command up to the very top. UQ or UMelb would be better options for overall ranking, while Griffiths has a strong Asia programme. I'd be hesitant to recommend SOAS based on the commentary of friends who did graduate work there. Disclaimer: I chose the "go abroad" route for Chinese foreign affairs.

For reference's sake, I'm a guy 18th birthday, high school: 220 pounds, size 44 trouser. HS graduation: 190, size 38 Beginning of freshman year: 180, size 34 Spring break, freshman year: 155: size 31 Mom dies, Sept 2011: 180 size 33 UG graduation: 190, size 35 July 2013, master's degree: 220, size 39 (worst relapse) Now (age 24)/beginning of PhD: 200, size 35. My body composition has been in tremendous flux, but I finally have a handle on diet/exercise. Basically, I can't have soda (made that mistake twice), and I need to lift weights for a long-term metabolism boost. My goal is to hit 180 with a 6 pack. Edit: I use trouser size as a crude proxy for bodyfat, because as you'll notice, even though I was 190 at my HS graduation, I had a larger trouser size/waist (more fat) at 190# than I do now at 200#.

"Clean eating" is "from scratch" re-branded for the upper-middle class. With less white carbs.

Sexy. But yeah, I can't imagine owning a bike with winter forcing it into storage 5 months a year. My PhD destination (Auckland, NZ) has the perfect temperature range of 50-55 during the winter and 75 in the summer. Not too hot or cold. Traffic is extremely light compared to other cities/metro areas I have lives or spent significant time in (NYC, LA, London, Frankfurt, Brisbane, and Hong Kong). And since we're posting bike porn, I plan to buy one of these bitchin' boys (Royal Enfield bullet) before Christmas:

10,000 gallons used over a 3 month period cost $40. At 4/10 of one cent per gallon, water is cheap.

I intend to work on getting a motorcycle within 6-8 weeks of my arrival. The climate suits year-round use, and the fun, lower purchase price/registration/insurance/fuel costs make it a slam-dunk.

This person is in their own private hell. Emphasis on "hell". Person A's illness may prove to be "terminal" mental illness. This person is under the care of mental health professionals. Since you are uncomfortable around this person (not unreasonably), talk with your PI about trying to keep as much distance between yourself and Person A as possible.

I would add that at the universities I've attended, the women have dressed better than the men (I'll alert the times). Many of the men in the grad programs dressed as if they were $75 from abject poverty: aging jeans, t-shirt, converse shoes about to sport a hole, and a beard. This also goes for the profs. Women fall into the appearance "trap" that faces most working women. Cue Jezebel magazine for an article that goes into greater detail.

That varies immensely. I would argue that it's inefficient for someone who is A. Under 60 B. Not intimidated by solo travel

I don't do denim, cargo anything, sandals, t-shirts, or sneakers (gym only, imo). That means that I am fit for most anything that doesn't require a tie.

Not having a car in LA will dramatically (negatively) impact your quality of life.

Given the shoestring nature of grad student stipends, a standard brokerage account with a firm such as fidelity, schwab, e-trade etc will offer full trading as well as the ability to liquidate quickly in case life throws a (financial) curveball. Further, if you have access to a firm's brick-and-mortar location, brokerage accounts with the firms I listed function like ordinary bank accounts: debit cards, credit cards, checking, bill-pay, etc. Incidentally, if you are planning on travel, these accounts' debit cards are superb for foreign currency cash withdrawals. The tax benefits of holding money in an IRA account just aren't substantial enough when you're earning practically no earned income anyway. The withdrawal penalties will sting if something goes wrong. Of course, if you have access to an unusual windfall (gifts, trust fund, inheritance), then my advice would be different. Disclaimer: I am a Fidelity customer and (US citizen) overseas grad student.