psycholinguist

To echo American in Beijing, I think the most helpful thing you can do when you're trying to deal with a foreign language is immerse yourself in it. The best option would be to take a language course in the country where that language is spoken. Not only the classes and homework but also doing everyday chores like shopping and traveling in that language are an enormous help. If you can't afford to do that, then the next best thing is an immersion camp. You can find many of those over the summer and even spending one month doing everything in that foreign language will advance you far beyond what even the most intensive university language course can hope to achieve. If you're studying a modern language, it's sometimes helpful to learn about its Proto-language; even random facts about the grammar and phonology both of the modern language and its historic predecessor can be useful to a translator and language researcher.

Having been a professional translator for several years, I also agree that memorizing everything you read is not a good way to go about learning a language. You need to be able to focus on the important words and structures in a text, not treat everything as equally important. Once you're familiar with more and more common words and structures, it should get increasingly easier to guess the meanings of words you don't know. I also find that, at least the way I learn new languages (and coincidentally, also how I study math), things take time to sink in. There is a period of time between learning something and being able to use it in which my mind is like a blank. I've learned not to force myself but rather to give myself time and sometimes even walk away from my work. Everything eventually surfaces even better than I had thought I knew; it just takes time. Again, a good dictionary will be a big help, and I like American in Beijing's suggestion of underlining the words you had to look up and have someone help you figure out which ones of those are important to know. I think it's important to keep in mind two things - first, that you can understand the meaning of a text and its relative importance to your research without understanding every word in it, and that once you decide a text is important, investing the time in deciphering every word and structure will get easier the more you do it. Practice makes perfect.

I am so sorry for you and your partner. That sounds horrible. Dealing with sick parents is always hard. My husband and I were living away from our families one year when both of our mothers developed debilitating chronic conditions. It was so difficult to not be there and offer them support in person.

That being said, I'm not sure it's an appropriate reason to defer. If it was your partner, absolutely, but maybe not your partner's parent? If it was me, I would still go, but work my ass off to be as supportive as possible. Can you make plans for ways to support your partner long distance? Having some projects in mind to surprise him/her with might help you feel better about going to school. Bottom line is that there will always be crises, some worse than others, and we all have to do our best to soldier on. You'll find reserves of strength within yourself to make this work. I hope that things get better for your family soon.

Public transport is excellent in Montreal. A monthly pass for subway and buses will set you back around 50$. Never been to Düsseldorf, but I'd rate the public transport system on par with Berlin or Stuttgart. You won't need a car and taxis are fairly cheap, though parking won't be much of an issue.

Language will not be too much of a problem though your partner really should make an effort to learn French. English is not the language of choice for most Monrealers even though everyone speaks excellent English (you'll find the odd person who flatly refuses to speak English though). It's accepted but not encouraged; and if your partner wants to immerse in Quebec culture then French is an absolute must.

sD.

I just found this looking up another city! Ottawa is a very politically correct bilingual. If you want to work in the public service, you must be bilingual. I work for the service. I'm bilingual, not fluent. I can talk to anyone, but my writing is adequate, at best.

All of the signs, in this part of Ontario, are bilingual. Drive across the river to Quebec, all the signs are French, no English, thanks to language laws. Language very sensitive issue, here. Ottawa probably 50/50. West Ottawa, more English. East Ottawa, more French.

Montreal is mixed English-French, but, of course, French trumps English. If you go towards east Quebec and Quebec City, it's mostly francophone. That area is primarily separatist, too. Lots of people who don't speak any English. If you go to Quebec City (Highly recommend) you'll find them quite snotty and kind of Parisian about their French. The city is gorgeous, very European, so worth putting up with them!

Public transit is very good in Montreal. I haven't been to that part of Germany, but I can say that most European cities I've been to the transit system is superior to anywhere in North America.

You can get a pass in Montreal, or pay per ride.

Montreal is also right on the border, as you know, so if you have or rent a car you can get to Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass, and NY in no time at all.

I was applying to Ph.D. programs, but I think it's still sound advice: save your money and attend the recruitment days, even if it means flying across the country, etc. You really need to do this. Really, really. Really.

Just how many paragraphs do you have in this "template?" I would avoid sending anything more than one modest paragraph in any initial contact with prospective advisors. Brief and to the point is best.

Maybe not, but it made me laugh...at a memory.

UnlikelyDad had a good friend in college with this same attitude. All he wanted was a dumb, easily-led girl with a big smile and big boobs. He was appalled when UnlikelyDad started dating me because I am not naturally sunny, and I'm not particularly well-endowed. When UnlikelyDad said he liked my brains his friend rolled his eyes.

Fast forward ten years. UnlikelyDad and his friend now lived at opposite ends of the country and hadn't seen each other for years when, out of the blue, this guy calls to talk because he is lonely. At some point UnlikelyDad asks if he has a steady girlfriend. Answer: no, he dates, but all the girls are too stupid to have a conversation (or a long-term relationship) with. To which UnlikelyDad replies: "That's why I snagged a smart one while I could."

So the poster may live to regret his rash words.

I agree with the previous poster that this program sounds serious. I think you won first place with your offer, not second place:)
I'd suggest that you talk with graduate students who are currently in the program. Ask them about the program's admissions policy and about the transition from MS to PhD. Grad students are usually very honest and don't have any reason to lie or omit facts, so you can count on what they tell you--especially if you hear it from several people. All you need to do is ask them how hard it is (or isn't) to move to the PhD program. As long as the program guarantees you funding for 5 years, provided you meet the academic requirements, I don't think you should be worried.

The fact that they're funding an MS makes me think that they're serious about having the students move on to a PhD. I would make sure that they continue to fund PhD students, and if it seems to be the case I would say go for it.

It's not as simple as Yes or No. You need to take a step back and ask yourself if you're willing to spend two years doing another undergrad degree and only then apply to grad school, and take into account that you may not succeed the first time or even the second time. What are your goals? You wrote your dream was to get into a top tier grad school--but what for? A degree is not a goal, it's a means to achieve a goal. So what is it, a career in CS? in research? in the private sector? in academia? Can you achieve your goals if you stay at your current tier-4 school? Could you find the middle ground and achieve them at a tier-2 university? Only you know the answers to these questions.

My point is this: I'm an optimist. I believe that with hard work and devotion, you can achieve your goals. Or, at least, you shouldn't give up on something you want badly enough without trying. But you have to want it badly enough, and be willing to sacrifice for your goals. It's entirely legitimate not to want to do the work that is associated with a goal, you just need to do some soul searching and decide. If you decide you do want to pursue your dream, then make a plan of how to do it--basically kick ass in class, impress profs and get research experience--and give it your best try. It is not easy, it'll take some time, but it's not impossible.


One thing is possible, though, is that you may have to revise your plans and goals according to the progress you make during that second undergrad degree. If the only thing that can ever satisfy you is getting into one of those top 3 schools you mentioned, that might not happen right away, or ever. But if you can be happy at school #10 or #15 on list and still get what you're after, then you should have a better chance of getting there. Again, you need to decide how flexible you want to be, and what you really need to do to go where you want to go.

No, it's not impossible. But it is going to be harder than usual.

There is nothing much you can do if some institution or other refuses to even look at your application because of your GPA, and as you say, that may happen on occasion. All that means, though, is that you'll have to apply to more diverse programs and to a larger number of them than a conventional applicant in order to get your foot in the door. If you're serious, you'll eventually get your break. The best way to get into a summer research program is to make connections with your professors during the school year and impressing them into hiring you, lower grades in your previous degree or no lower grades. You'll want to make those connections anyway in order to get the strong recommendations you'll need to get into tier1 universities.

You can't change your past, but you can change your future--and that's what you should be worrying about. If you have a clear game plan - get good grades, do some research, get to know the professors - you should be able to overcome your low GPA. Your application will show your dedication to your topic, and you'll have the higher grades and the research experience to back it up. As for applying after only 1.5 years at your new institution, my suggestion would be to see what happens when the time comes. If all goes according to plan you would have already made a good impression on faculty and have had some research experience. Apply and see what happens.. worst case scenario, you'll have to apply again after you graduate. For now, I think you should concentrate on getting your credentials in order, and not worry about things that are out of your control.

Totally agree with the urban exploration part. My favorite thing to do whenever I move to a new city is to try and get myself lost, so I find stuff getting back that I never would have otherwise. A good sense of direction makes this a challenging task, but it's a blast spending three hours walking around somewhere new and finding a couple small curio shops or bistros you wouldn't have otherwise.

I'm a heavy metal drummer (Devildriver's an inspiration for drums, and I'm trying my best to surpass his speed), but have an inordinate weakness for cute animals (note: I'm also a guy). One of the things I'm looking forward to about grad school is moving out of my current place and being able to have pets (i.e. a lionhead bunny).

I'm off-white (half Puerto Rican, quarter Italian, quarter Irish), but I have foot-long dreadlocks that I often use to hit the crash cymbal when I drum.

I have synesthesia. My particular version of it is that words have a physical shape and texture to me--'emerald', for example, has a soft, almost cotton-candy-like feel.

Same story for me! Actually, I came to undergrad with a printer, but it died sophomore year, just when I started to have a lot of papers to write...

I got myself a printer last winter. It was $120 for an HP color/b&w, print/copy/fax dealie, and it connects to all computers in my house via my wireless network! It's pretty sweet, and much less than I expected, since I hadn't bought much computer equipment in a few years.

One suggestion I would have for a printer is to find one where the color cartridges are separate (blue/magenta/yellow, as opposed to one big cartridge). Then you can replace individual colors as needed, and not waste blue ink just because you've run out of yellow. It'll cost an extra $10-$15, but you'll make it up by the second time you buy ink!

This. The school will know who its competition is, and is entirely aware that people usually apply to more than one school. Pick 3-4 names that are in the same category as the school you're interviewing for or slightly better. The idea is to seem consistent about where you think you'll fit, so mention schools where there are professors who can supervise your doing similar work to what you suggested for this school, with a similar methodology, etc. Maybe it's also a good idea to end that list with "but your school is my top choice."

I seriously considered going to the same school for all three, but ultimately decided not to. One major reason was that I had allready run out of courses to take by the time I finished my M Eng. More importantly though is that I wanted a new perspective on things and to get a chance to learn from a new group of people. The further I got into the process, the more I realized that what I wanted to study would be better to study at a different school. I dont think that "academic incest" is nearly as frowned upon now as it was in the past, but the reasons that it was frowned upon still exist; it is always good to broaden your horizons and avoid getting pigeonholed into your undergrad advisors interests.

Can you apply to PhD programs and see if you get better funding offers before deciding to do the MS or PhD at your current school?

Overall though, going to a different school may be best for you personally, but I really doubt it would make a difference in getting a govt job. I know that in industry people could care less if you have a masters or not, and I doubt anyone who hired me could tell you where mine is from. But it is always possible to change your mind and want to remain in academia.

Hi, I'm a fellow SLP student

UW is ranked 5, right? So it's not like it matters which one you go to if you want to get a PhD in the future. In this case, I would definitely choose Seattle.

Here's why: SLP jobs are always in high demand. You will most definitely be able to pay off your loans, without any problem. I strongly believe that location matters just as much to overall happiness as the funding they'll give you. Granted, it would be great if they could fund you fully (and you might try telling UW that they're your top choice, but Purdue is offering you much more and see what they can do- you never know!). But it's your dream school, in a location you love, with the specialization you're interested in (and it's hard to find schools that specialize in med SLP!).

I really think you should choose UW. The only pros you've listed for Purdue is the funding, whereas you've listed a lot of pros unrelated to funding for UW. Go to UW and be happy!

dream school! you want to feel excited about every part of the process. and who knows, you may be able to get more funding for the second year after getting into the mix a bit and building relationships there. i'm a firm believer in going where the heart directs (with occasional tempering by reason). and that amount of debt is really minimal.

good luck!

keondra.

I'll be 43, in the midst of my second career. It may seem old to those of you in your 20s and 30s who have your whole lives planned out , but you really don't know where your path will lead you.

This is the perfect age for me to go back to school because I've already proven to myself what I can do professionally, I've already had a child, and I am in a financially stable place.

Every apartment you look at in a region with real seasons will be adequately insulated. In my experience, landlords have always covered the heating bill, and the tenants pay gas/electric, so you don't have to worry about freezing. Also, keep in mind that when you leave for Thanksgiving/winter break, turn your thermostat down but not off. If you turn it all the way off, the water pipes will freeze and burst (not something to look for, just advice that seemed related). Air conditioning (if it exists) is almost always a plug-in window/wall unit (so you'd be paying for that), but you can get by with a box fan in an open window circulating air and as oscillating fan blowing air on you.

My application experience has proven that a school's brand name matters quite a bit. I went to a lowly ranked undergrad/MBA before applying to PhD. My resume would show that I'm a hard worker, I have very well written SOP's, fairly well thought out research ideas, glowing recommendations, and competitive test scores. I was not offered a single interview, much less admit, by any top 20 PhD program. After speaking with some of the faculty at these programs, it seemed like I passed all the initial screening rounds on paper, but none of the schools were willing to take a chance on me because of the signal that a poorly ranked undergraduate institution sends.

I was accepted by every school that offered an interview. At each of those interviews, the interviewer's first matter of concern was my academic pedigree. These questions usually started with, "you have great GMAT's, why did you attend xxxx?" Directly related to this concern were the concerns about the rigor of my academic preparation. In short, if you went to a school with a good brand name, you won't be subjected to these doubts during the admissions decision that can lead to cognitive biases, i.e. halo effect.

Georgetown does have a better-known linguistics-department than UW does, but really, I don't think you can go wrong either way. They both sound like really good bets (I know undergrad linguists at both places, and they've all been very happy with their departments), and DC and Seattle are both great cities. (Is climate an important factor for you? Seattle's lovely, but it gets six months of rain in the winter with hardly a single break; DC is also lovely, but its summers are hot and very humid.) Though since you don't know whether your interests might change, I'd be tempted to favour the cheaper option, as BKMD said; that way, you'll be able to put more money aside for a Ph.D. if you decide to go that route. Anyway, good luck!

f I were you, I'd make it clear that you need full funding to go to Penn. Otherwise, I'd stay at your school and do your PhD there. It might not be optimal or even exciting, but it seems to meet your financial needs - and your mom's.

What were your reasons for applying to such different areas? When you chose to apply and wrote out the SOP you must have tailored them for each, yes? Go back and look at what attracted you those schools and make a list of pros and cons and work from that.

It is probably for the best if you don't get too caught up in the whys of rejection and waitlisting. There are many factors involved that are totally out of your control. Apparently this year was particularly bad for many admissions committees in terms of rejecting qualified candidates. I had the opportunity to talk, in person, to one of the professors at a top institution that I was rejected from. It turns out that I was on a short list of qualified candidates, but they only had one spot to offer. Sometimes it's just a matter of luck.

That said, you can improve your chances by applying to more schools and finding professors that are actively looking for students and have slots to offer. Good luck!

Just like the school told you, I think a wait-list really means "here are some great people we want to accept, but unfortunately we don't have the funds to admit them right now." So on the one hand it definitely means the school wants you, which is very being from being flat out rejected. On the other hand I guess the question is what makes a school decide who goes on the wait list and who gets the admissions offer. I suspect, as you say, that many outside factors creep into the equation, not the least of which being luck. Other possible factors could be place with a specific advisor or subfield, a personal connection someone made with a professor, a more persuasive SOP, an unrelated outside factor you happened to mention somewhere on your application (=in my field, for example, you speak a language that a faculty member is interested in; you have an unusual background that some faculty is interested in using for some experiment/theory; you happen to work on a topic that someone is considering going into; you are a pastry chef; etc). For all these crazy reasons, I think that one important aspect of a good SOP is being focused and thoughtful about a specific topic/subfield but at the same time leaving as many options possible - for changing interests within the subfield, for working with different advisors, for thinking about different methodologies. The more attractive you look to more people, the higher your chances of being admitted. You could--and should--follow up with the schools, but my feeling is a lot of times it'll be impossible for them to give you a principled reason for the decision, in the end it's a crap shoot.