Herbie

Well, they want you guys for a reason. (: Keep that in mind when a more "qualified" candidate inadvertently intimidates you.

I'm okay with a roommate. However, I'm also bringing along a cat, a dog, and perhaps a boyfriend so I'm gunna have to search for some really nice roomies.

So. . . . I've looked into apartments so far and it seems that for the majority of them, you will have to pay a broker fee. . . and if you don't pay a broker fee, the person offering rooms generally prices the rent higher. If anyone went through a broker, can you estimate the general cost for it? Say for instance I had low standards and just wanted a roof over my head, and running water. . . I'm attending BU this fall, and I've looked into Allston, Brighton, Brookline. . . and then I looked in Jamaica Plains. Then I stopped looking into Jamaica Plains when it seems rent starts at 1500+. Yea-no. I plan on visiting at the the last week of July into August to find a place and sign a lease. Someone in the financial aid office told me that's a perfect time though I have a feeling it's still cutting it real close. I may have a roommate when I move up, I may not. . but eventually. I'm just so excited and scared at the same time.

If you're going South into Atlanta during morning hours, there are many times where traffic is stopped. North from South gets congested, but not nearly as bad as people coming from GA-400. If anyone is interested in glancing into what Bohemian/Urban culture certain areas have, take a look at Creative Loafing Atlanta. That said, Cabbagetown is fairly overpriced, but there are houses for rent in case you don't want to be tied down by a mortgage payment. I also consider it one of Atlanta's few walking communities next to East Atlanta Village (a more artsy area). I feel like Druid Hills has a ton of enclaves, like an extremely large Ethiopian population, which is pretty dang cool. I have a few friends living in Decatur who love it, but like many areas in Atlanta: blocks will be nice, and welcoming and five minutes to your right is a rundown, pot-hole filled area. Virginia Highlands is a great area also, since it's located near many places like the Fernbank Museum, and you can access many other places via Ponce de Leon. It is the location of a highly publicized murder in 2010, but the crime rate has been steadily rising since then throughout all Atlanta. VH is one of the few neighborhoods where I see the people using public outlets to demand more from the APD. Kessith, I went to GSU for my undergrad. I wouldn't call Atlanta much of a "city" since the majority of people go through it or work in it during the day, and it can be very dead or eery at night unless you're near a bar block, etc. It is congested by too many corporation outlets, thus there's a lot of dying mom and pops, and more Targets, CVSs and the like popping up everywhere. The MARTA train is efficient, the bus line not much so depending on traffic. The metropolitan area of Atlanta has a significantly higher population, but if I were going to grad school in Atlanta, I'd try to minimize what traffic I do have to get by . . . TBH, I'd pick Cabbagetown, Virginia Highlands, East Atlanta Village or downtown Decatur (which is shaded very nicely with trees, people are nice, etc.) I blogged about ATL traffic: "If you’re headed anywhere inside the perimeter or towards I-75, the rush hour is 6-7AM, 8-11AM, 1-4PM, and 5-9PM. The rush hour is pretty much the entire day, and the non-rush hours are those rare instances from cosmic alignments where traffic isn’t stopped or stupidly congested (80% due to someone mulling away in the fast lane @ 55- MPH)." Edit* had to change color of quote.

I remember asking if the 15th was the official deadline, and it is the preferred date. However, if a student doesn't respond to this specific program's offer before roughly the end of the month, they presume the student has declined the offer. So, if indeed they are waiting on offers of funding to students, perhaps you have more leeway unless you're balancing another offer also.

You mean fully funding? Delaware is good about that. UIUC makes offers to MA students for funding. I get the impression that UNC doesn't typically fund their MA students, but they could depending on leftovers from continuing students.

I've heard. I think it's best to inquire if you want to attempt any financial planning.

Yes, I was notified about my funding situation in e-mail on 3/31. I was told the official notification is going out on Tuesday via snail mail (not sure about other applicants), as even my official admission offer still said "financial aid package pending."

UVA, Washington University, Pitt, BU.. congrats everyone. The calm begins. I've accepted admission to Boston University. I unofficially sent an e-mail, I officially followed the link instructions, but have yet to write the Director so he knows.

Well hey, a friend of mine is moving to NYC and we're stopping by sometime in July to look at apartments/real estate in Boston. If and around that time someone is looking, just PM me. It'd be pretty cool to tour in an unofficial group.

American/Contemporary, with a focus on critical/race theory. Yours?

Ah, I never thought of it that way. Apologies if this may violate board TOS. ]:

Just checking in. Art History for Fall 2011. [: Will now jump on the apt search bandwagon. I'm so thrilled that I can't even use an exclamation mark.

See you guys there. [:

via Blogspot, Wordpress, LIvejournal, whatever else is out there? Is it a public blog, and are you willing to link it in this thread? I think a blog ring composed from many users here would be a cool thing for e-networking. Mine is unhindu.blogspot.com ; the name comes from Unhinged fille, and I simply didn't like any other letter after unhind but u! I've been blogging erratically about the application season, but do plan on discussing more things. (: (Please delete this if there's another thread like it; I searched and did not find one immediately)

I also took the paper to a technical writing tutor @ my university. We only got through one page, but I would have never written it as clearly without the guidance. Also re-checked out my sources, found some more . . used some of those GRE words. . . I recommend taking a month off before working on your writing sample, so you can go back to it and wonder why you wrote certain things.

What's wrong with a CSU? My professor went to a CSU, and ended up getting a Ph.D from UCSB in Art History. You're not screwed. Plus, your advisor's pretty quirky, since I'd take that comment as an indirect burn to the school I'm getting a BA from. I find it unavoidable to not share my situation, since it's always best to get a relative sense of those who aren't idiot savants or the 4.0 from an Ivy/private institution with money to burn. You're getting the right experience. There's no specific formula to the perfect candidate. My story: state college in the South (a region stereotyped as dummy central, lackadaisical, slow progressing people) in a Humanities major where the school is known (almost solely) for its MBA program. Went there on the HOPE scholarship as I'm not in a financially sound household where I could freely go out-of-state. Family obligations. Less than stellar undergrad GPA (3.39), ~3.8 major GPA. No internships, no volunteering, no publications, no French minor - all because my entire household shared one car, so it was to school and back, and then walking to work. I don't believe I was nixed for not having an opportunity to do such. Plus, I didn't bring this up in my SOP. Why would I? Though, I did participate with what was in immediate reach - the Art History club, undergraduate conferences, faculty symposia, guest lectures -- even if I just sat there and wasn't part of the organizing group. Studied for the GRE, got an lolwat score. I worked on my writing sample after my study abroad trip (took out my only loan for that). Finished my writing sample some time in September; worked on my SOPs after that. They were apparently strong enough to give me the results in my signature. I applied to two MLS programs also (in case I wanted to get a paying job to save money if I didn't get funding at other colleges, etc and shoot for a Ph.D later). That's my success story. I was lucky to have a professor who helped guide me along the application process and give comments on my SOPs, though I collaborated with a Master's student in editing my writing sample. For me, the levels of important went -- Statement of Purpose -> Writing Sample -> E-mailing potential advisors -> Creating a professional CV -> Transcripts -> GREs

I think it is a great time to bump this thread. 14 more days. Oh man. ):

I have a W on my transcript. It's in.. Western Philosophy II, I believe. The course said it was open to non-Majors, but the professor thought otherwise. Are you an ART History major, or just a History major? If you're just a History major, I don't see the issue. W's can imply many things . . hardship, etc. It's the excessive W's that require explanations.

Sounds like you live with your mom. That situation needs to end soon. The more advantages you give Godzilla to control your opportunities, the more obligated you'll feel to stay in child-mode and not tell her to kiss rocks. I'd say that money you saved up should go to getting a new place to stay, with a roommate, significant other, family member . . someone who is not She. Edit* This is your life. Please do remember that. Sounds like your mother is coping through domination. Don't let her life's run slow you down and make you a bitter, bitter child of her's, and an adult.

I spoke to the Director concerning the cost of tuition, and he said that all Master's students take two courses a semester. I did not ask if this was full-time, though I'm assuming it is as 1 course a semester would lead to part-time (and thus, longer graduation time). It's a total of 8 credits to obtain a Master's at that institution, so 2*4 for a two year degree = 8. Part-time would be manageable. Also, look into jobs at the university as employees get tuition assistance/waivers.

As a child, I cherished what I believed held more value - white skin. However, I've grown to love my dark brown skin along with the issues and genetic benefits of having darker pigment. I neither care nor take interest in "colorism" today as I find it's inherently separatist, and I'm all for unity. To be honest, hard times definitely tries my faith, but I remind myself that negative experiences are more powerful deterrents in my happiness, and I should move on. I'm lucky to have attended a university that was diverse with the major "racial" (I don't like using this) groups in my city, which are also filled by many ethnicities. Though there's camaraderie between all groups, I see the brown people (including Asians) hang out with each other, whereas the non-Browns had one Brown speckled here or there. This doesn't mean anything to me anymore. I've grown to believe that people are people, and thankfully with this Depression, economical hardships allow more intermingling between the classes, and thus, ethnicities. This is framed specifically in my experience during college. With this is mind, I have not had a unique .. issue/experience/disadvantage/advantage during my studies. Of course, people are more brazen in vocal statements during class discussions about certain discussed groups, when they are not represented much in the student body (this includes women discussing men, vice versa). In the social realm, at times I feel I have to work harder to convince someone I'm not the "general" brown person they envision, known for crime, etc. etc., but that's the uncontrollable sycophant in me seeking social acceptance. Well wait, now that I think about it I have an issue. Many people (not of my ethnicity, and of my ethnicity) continually (facetiously? seriously? playfully?) try to de-validate my Browness because of my interests. You're not X because of the way you talk, your interests, blah blah. It used to grate my nerves, but I constantly remind myself that these people are vapid and ignorant, and I hope one day they don't say that to someone's face who will genuinely harm them in an attempt to prove their authenticity. As I'm writing this, it sounds kinda melodramatic. . . definitely not far-fetched! I've met people in my ethnicity and outside of it who believe that individuals are not obligated to fit within the strict perceptual constraints influenced heavily by mainstream TV culture, and have not had to deal with my aforementioned issue in a while. I don't believe I completely answered your question, but this is what I was thinking about.

I completely understand. In case you're on the fence, keep in mind Master's students take 2 courses a semester meaning the projected tuition costs is going to be around 10k+ cheaper than the expected cost of attendance (including tuition) on the graduate webpage.

Man that's so old (in internet years. . . wait, what? [: ) Don't let it lead to dementia!! Then you won't be able to apply again ]:

For UNC info, I e-mailed the DGS. I'm unsure if there is a correlation, but one of my POIs e-mailed me earlier today w/ a decision.