singlecell

I love this thread. I am glad you guys are not "no TV" snobs Most of my faves were already mentioned. I won't have cable when I move to school, but I will keep my Netflix and binge on series. Unlimited streaming is amazing. Ok, almost time for Project Runway.

We have a nice data set going on this poll! I am surprised at the percentage of folks who live more than 10 miles away. Not too surprised the majority live within 3 miles. I ended up taking an apartment 2 miles from my campus, so I am in the majority as well.

I've been thinking about this too, and noticed that Justme gets downvoted not because of the content of her posts, but because of her reputation. Or maybe her reputation makes folks look harder for something to downvote. I agree that we all have the right to express our opinions here, provided they are not hurting anyone. And people have a right to disagree and dislike posts. Downvoting Justme does not seem to deter her from posting.. in case any people were of a mind to use downvoting to encourage her to stop posting on TGC, I don't think that will work. The only thing I dislike about this discourse about Justme, which has surfaced in several threads, is that it generally distracts from the OP's topic, and that is unfair.

Whatever you enjoy is right. I think if bars are not your thing, don't even try to meet people in bars. You probably won't like hanging out with them in the long run. An idea off the top of my head is volunteering at an organization that resonates philosophically with you, the odds are you will meet other volunteers who are like-minded.

What I am wondering about is how your friend will act if you both get into the program and become colleagues there! Wonder if she will act like nothing happened with her behavior and return to normal, or more likely will keep trying to cut you down? Anyway, sorry this is happening and it sounds like you are dealing with it in a mature manner... you will be well prepared for this type of issue in the future.

I am excited to try Google+. I adore google products. By the way, Academia.edu has a nice feature. When someone googles me and clicks on my academia.edu profile, I get an email with the details of their search. It is nice to know when people are searching for you!

Nevermind, I see it now... I just didn't notice it changed positions.

I like the new look! Thanks, admins for your hard work. I am a bit sad that we don't see the "coffee" nicknames next to posts anymore. I notice I can still see it on my profile but no longer on the posts.

I switched to Open Office several months ago, and for most purposes it works really well. I like that it is similar in its design and functionality to MS Office, so there was basically zero learning curve after the switch. I have used the word processor (OO Writer) the most and as long as I am careful to save the files as the correct type, I haven't had problems with formatting when going back and forth with MS. My PI has a Mac and the formatting is preserved when she opens files I made in OO Writer. One complaint about the word processor is the automatic numbering/bullets behaves weird at times. I have played with the spreadsheet application a little and it seems fine, but I have not put it through paces yet. I have opened ppt files in OO Impress and everything looks as it should. I am still wary to create a poster in anything except MS Powerpoint. Old habits die hard! Long story short, I'm cheap, and Open Office works. If I get MS Office for free, I will likely switch back

Oh yeah.. I forgot to mention I got a UW Madison Credit Union checking and savings account. I am so tired of the crappy customer service from Chase so I am switching over completely.

That's pretty nice that your department is willing to accept packages for you! I will be U-Hauling it from Chicago and I am not bringing too much furniture... just a bed and a table. I found out our first paycheck is on Oct. 1, so September will be a tight month! The welcome check is very very welcome indeed.

I think I will bump this topic since I received my orientation packet today. I learned our Tier one health insurance payment is $18/mo for a single, and I think I will add on the vision plan for $5.24/month. I'm really happy to see how good the coverage is, even typical dental work is included. I'm curious, is anyone getting a signing bonus award? They are giving almost $700 to students in my program... for relocation expenses I suppose. We can use it however we want. That will be nice to take care of first month's rent.

Depending on where you live, try looking for a bike co-op in your town. There is one called Working Bikes in Chicago where they will let you choose a used bike (cost: ~$100), and then teach you to fix it using their tools. It keeps broken down bikes out of landfills and it's a great way to learn repair with guidance.

I use the french press most days. I grind beans fresh most of the time, except lately I have been buying pre-ground espresso roast. I also have something similar to this: https://shop.melitta.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=64+010&Cat= which is quite handy and makes a very good tasting single cup. The secret to both, I learned from a coffee buyer and roaster, is heating the water to 200 degrees Farenheit, not boiling. I think I will invest in one of those electric kettles soon.

I highly agree with undergrads starting out doing grunt work, paying their dues so to speak. I also believe the cream will rise to the top, and even doing menial tasks you can recognize those with the skill and motivation to take on more responsibility. I also agree with whoever mentioned in the sciences, we get a lot of people who just want to do research to pad their application to medical school/professional school. After a couple of weeks working around someone you can tell if they truly love the lab environment or if they're going through the motions as a means to an end. My frame of reference is that I have done 2 years undergrad research and became a full researching member of the lab. I even train other undergrads, one of whom also became a full lab member. I am eager to see how undergrads are dealt with in graduate school.

I recommend CarMax http://www.carmax.com/ (there is a store in Nashville). I bought my last used car from them. They have certified used cars under warranty and there is no negotiating on price. They also have a 1-month guarantee against any problems, so no buyer's remorse and you can't get stuck with a lemon. For someone who doesn't feel confident about cars or negotiating this is an excellent way to go. Good luck! PS: A used Volvo is bombproof and will last forever... and how academic will you look in an old Volvo station wagon with elbow patches sewn on your jacket?

Thanks. I am still wary of trying the skid but I will get there. I want to learn this too:

I'm still kicking myself for not taking a subject GRE that was "recommended" but not required for a certain program. I feel that perhaps they were subtly trying to separate out people who are not willing to go the extra mile. I didn't get an interview at that school, despite good quality of other application materials. Maybe this "GRE not required" is something similar, maybe not, but I though I should share my regrets.

This is what I have: http://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_stripper.htm with upgraded wheels and front brake only. Some assembly is required, but nothing outrageous. It comes in sizes 44cm-63cm so that covers just about anyone. I have the 47cm. The frame is drilled for a rack. I was hesitant because "Cycles Mercier" is not affiliated with the classic French Mercier of the past. After reading great things about this model on bike forums, I decided to go for it, and I am really happy with it.

I voted you up, hippie

I have been riding my new fixie for a couple of weeks now, and it is Amazing Very fun to ride.

I'd say list the same GPA on your CV that will be listed on your transcript as cumulative GPA. It will look best if these match. But definitely talk about how your GPA got better and better in the last 2 years in the SOP. Congrats on your awesome GRE scores! Very very impressive.

Your stats looks solid to me! The GPA is the obvious weakness but your good GRE scores and research experience should compensate for that. Purely my opinion, but I bet you would get into the "good but not elite" state schools with no problems with what you have now...assuming you interview well Adding a publication and good scores on subject GRE will put you over the top to get into the more prestigious programs.

I may have the opportunity to do an internship abroad as part of my fellowship. Most people in the program intern for biotech companies in the US but a handful of students have gone to Germany, Australia, and Switzerland for the summer. So, I think that yes it is possible as long as the trip relates to your research.