lost-in-interpretation

Hey guys, I'm writing an engineering conference paper right now. Is it normal to cite the sensors you use? (Like I bought specific sensors and attached them to a robot.) If so, how do you cite it? (Website style? Patent style?) THANKS!!!! <3

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm just finishing up my declining e-mails to everyone. It feels like I'm breaking up with a million boyfriends or something. Sorry about the use of retarded, never been actually called out on it before. I essentially wanted to express "I'm being stupid" (like not functioning logically, etc), but I felt the word retarded just expressed my feelings more. I guess lots of things about language are politically gray and it's hard to walk the right line. I mean, totally toned down language can also be very lifeless and boring. I remember in middle school when we couldn't use the word "sucks". And words like dumb, lame, stupid, idiotic, ghetto, etc all make fun of some group of people. Actually I'm having trouble thinking of words you can use to diss something that don't come from something politically incorrect. But yeah, I guess I'll try to be more careful...

I noticed a lot of neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science people on these forums. Like a disproportional amount!! And then followed by engineering and bio people. So just wanted to say hi!! I'm a cognitive science person but didn't want to talk about it until I got into places and made my decision, cause it's all too awkward that we've been competing with each other. Well, I say this all and here I am with only like 7 posts total on this forum anyways. I noticed a lot of you guys mentioned interviews in your signatures that I went to too. Didn't look into who's who cause that would be just awkwwarrrddd. So I wonder if it's better to just keep it all hush-hush or see if any of our fellow classmates are here. :-) Or maybe share interview weekend stories, etc? Maybe we could collect helpful info for future neuro, psych, etc prospectives!

I just talked with a professor at an awesome awesome school (let's call it A) that I've decided I can't go to mainly because of location. Luckily I have another awesome awesome school with a good location that I'll be attending, but I felt really bad after talking with that first professor. I guess mainly cause I'm doubting if I made the right decision for the right reasons (the professor at school A is probably better than school B, and school A is ranked higher, though only marginally and depending on the ranking system). I know there's almost nothing that could make me change my current decision, but still. Anyone else feel really bummed about turning people down, even though you're happy with the school you're going to? I don't look forward to sending e-mails to the rest of the schools about not going, since every school had a professor who kept really in touch with me... :-( I dunno, this should be a time when I'm really happy about my future, but I just feel down about all this...

Thanks! Yeah, it's all good and it makes my decision easier since I had mixed feelings about the school (really really liked the program, but the location was really meh...). Also one of the schools I got into was after an interview so at least there's no deep, irreversible personality flaw. But still, let this be a lesson!! You can never be too sure after an interview, no matter how much they seem to be courting you...

Wahh, apparently does happen. Just got a rejection letter after I thought I aced my interviews at the school. I mean, they were working so hard to court us and one interview was just the professor being like "hey, I loved your personal statement and here are two projects at my lab that I think would be perfect for you!" The reason for rejection was that they had too few slots and they couldn't fit me in, but said there was nothing wrong with my application. Uh huh right. Man, and I thought I made such a good impression too, I guess there's something wrong with me when meeting me in real life or something... So I guess the moral of the story is that you can never be too sure? Or as much as you are trying to feign interest, they are also playing the same game... On the good side, already accepted to two schools and got four more interviews to go, so not too bad...

Good advice! I guess it's easy to think "mehh I can handle it" while I'm still all cozy and getting good sleep and not stressing about much. I stupidly planned a trip with my friends to a resort without knowing when these interviews would happen, and also applied to a conference. So my schedule is looking like 2-day resort trip -> 14 hour flight to America the next day-> visit 1,2,3,4,5 (stopping at home for a couple of days between each one) -> random conference in random European country for 4 days or so -> visit 6,7,8 -> next day 14-hour flight back to study abroad or something like that Whee funnnnn! I mean I guess it's inevitable I'll have to do the 2-3 day visits for my top schools, but I think I'll try to keep it to quick 1-day things with the others and sleep in my bed at home. Luckily all of these schools are within a 2-3 hour train ride / flight from me. Also I don't have anything to do when I'm just chilling at home anyways.

Thanks for the advice! Man, I'm so torn... the people at the "bottom" schools are being especially coaxing in their e-mails... :-/ And I don't wanna be all cocky and reject 2-3 schools and then suddenly not get into the ones I was aiming for. Aghhh so confuuuuussseeddd. I changed my mind in the past 10 minutes and might try to hit up everywhere... I mean I don't have anything better to do in my time (coming home from study abroad for a month just to do these interviews).

Hey guys! I'm at a complete loss of what to do! I ended up getting invited to more interviews than I expected (8), with some on the same day. Is it sensible to still try and visit every school or should I just flat out say no to the bottom couple of schools to save both them and me time? Of course, for the ones on the same day, I'll visit the school I want most for their official visit, and visit the other schools separately.