Katanaji

lol I never thought of it as 'scandalous'... My field is between genetics and chemical engineering. My parents think stem cells, me murdering babies to create chimeras... and are mostly influenced by sci-fi film/documentaries

Hi! My situation is a bit different: I come from a poor region of Europe, my parents did not even start high school. My phd is in a field they are kind of morally against (and afraid of) and simply don't understand at all or ask about. BUT I am going to a famous ivy often represented in movies/TV, which has allowed them to realize it was a good place and help them ease the fears of my extended family (who thinks my parents are mad to let me go half-way around the world). And I get a 31K stipend (us dollars) which is already more than what both my parents earn together! I did have to promise to have a baby before I graduate though! It seems from various forums that 1 or 2 years before the end of your Phd is the best time anyway...

Personally I love working in cafes/busy places; the silence creeps me, and I NEED the snacks and hot drinks which are usually forbidden in libraries. I hope there are coffee places opened til late in Princeton...

Hello! My professor has asked me to start asap, probably August. I receive a fellowship for my first year, and the academic year starts in September. Does this mean that I will have to go through 2 months without any income? (the stipend is paid at the end of the month, not when we arrive).

Thanks everyone for your answers, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one! Good to know that there is no scary test on the first day UnlikelyGrad : Could you please advise me good chemistry and geology books please? I have not done any geology since High School....

Thanks for your answers. I don't have lab rotations, I start with an assigned group that I mentioned in my SoP. Can someone tell how they determine which remedial courses you need?

As the title says, what was your first week/month/year like? I am terrified at the idea to start, I truly feel I have been accepted way out of my league and I am paralysed when I read what the grad students of the group I am to join in September are doing. I am mostly a biologist, with a MS in environmental engineering from an 2/3 tier school. I am starting a Geoscience PhD with a lot of chemistry at an Ivy, and I don't know if I will be able to catch up. The website states: "Course work deficiencies should be remedied in the first year of course work after admittance to the program. When incoming graduate students meet with their advisory committees, the need for taking courses outside the Department is appraised, and additional courses in math, biology, chemistry, etc., may be advised". How do they do this? Do you have to take a test? Do you do research for your advisor in the first year? I have a fellowship, so I do not have to TA or RA in the 1st year. Sorry for the long confused post and the naive questions. I am so anxious that they will realise they made a mistake when they admitted me