was1984

That's because as far as the mainstream media is concerned those are the only 3 places you can go to college and be an engineer. How many movies have you seen where the genius programmer or astronaut went to somewhere other than those three schools? What do you think reality is?

I take that back about being more applicable to science/engineering people. Being a mediocre writer myself, I didn't realize that it took consistency to keep up a high level of writing. Maybe this is why I always got B's in the various history courses I took for fun. Sounds like a good excuse, anyway!

I've been out of school for two years now, and haven't studied the bulk of my subject matter for three. My job was in an area (manufacturing) that is far different from what I'm going to be studying (circuit design). I cracked a book about a week ago and realized how rusty I am! I've been reading through one of my old textbooks again, and it is coming back to me, but I've realized now I have a lot of work to do before I go back to school! Anyone else noticed this? This is probably more applicable to those of us in sciences and engineering.

The same thing is happening to me. The one thing I don't understand is how can these people expect to get top students if they are waiting until everyone has to make a decision at other schools. If anything, they are hurting themselves the most. I'm currently most excited about the school I've been accepted to, but I still would like to feel like I had a choice.

When I first started co-oping I loved that my job was so much easier than school, AND I was paid instead of paying. If I had to pinpoint one thing now that I didn't like about my job, it would be that it was far too easy. It is interesting how that works. One of my driving forces in going back to school is that it will be HARD, and I just can't wait!

I'm in the exact same boat, but my decision was made for me when I was laid off shortly after applying. I asked my manager for a recommendation, which was very very positive, but made his layoff decision easy. I am going back to school and trying not to worry about the $150k+ (or even close to half a million if I go on for Ph.D., holy crap). I look at it like I'd rather be poor than be bored. My job was starting to get pretty ho-hum after 2 years, so I couldn't imagine myself doing that in 15 years. My favorite courses in my undergrad were analog design courses, which as I'm sure you know require at least an M.S., so that's what I'm doing. I'd say go for it. I'm tired of testing other people's work too!

I contacted the coordinator as tactfully as I knew how, and was rewarded with an acceptance the following day. Or maybe it was just a coincidence...

So, I finally received my first admission for my M.S. (what a relief), but I don't yet know about funding. It is acceptable to contact professors after admission (but before acceptance) regarding RA opportunities? This is something I neglected before I applied. Or should I just sit on my hands? Also, I'm going to plan a visit. Would it be acceptable to ask the professor if I could meet with him? I was accepted with a non-thesis option but plan on trying to get a sponsor (hopefully the same prof) and converting to thesis-option.

Interest income on savings accounts has to cross a certain threshold before you have to worry about it being taxed. I don't recall exactly what that number is, but at the 0.000000001% interest rate my bank gives me, I've never seen it.

My budget in my undergrad was about $1000 a month, and I was able to get by. However, prices (especially rent) have gone up quite a bit since then. If you're like me and don't care about having cable tv, aren't big on spending $4-8 dollars a drink on 6th street, don't have a car payment, etc. you should be fine on $1500. I'm not aware of any $600 1 bedroom apartments around UT anymore, so I'd be careful and make sure you look at it before signing a lease. I'd budget more like $750-$800 to get a habitable 1 bedroom near campus.

Since so many people seem to be contacting departments, and my schools all have some clause somewhere asking me specifically not to do so, it leads me to the following question: Are those of you that are contacting departments doing so despite requests not to? Should I contact them anyway? I had a school that told me I should hear something in 7-10 days, and it has now been 13 days. Their website requests that we don't contact them, but I'm afraid if I don't contact them I may lose my marbles. Any suggestions?

Well, I'm not going to be much help there because I'm completely on the opposite side of the spectrum (IC design), though I did do my undergrad at Texas. Have you checked with the (separate) computer science department at UT? Your interest seems like it might fall more under their umbrella, but like I said, not my area.

Smells like a waitlist to me.

I wish. I had a program just email me on Thursday telling me it could be as late as the end of April before decisions are made.

I would, but: One school told me I'd get my acceptance status by today. Didn't happen. I may email them next week. The rest of my schools explicitly asked us not to email them regarding status, and that we would be notified by email as soon as a decision is made. The interesting thing here is that one of my schools has changed my status online to "decision made" without telling me what that decision is. This is since Wednesday. I'm assuming I've got a rejection packet in the mail from this one, despite their promise to email us.

The odds of someone not rejecting the school between now and April 15th are probably pretty slim. I'd feel pretty confident if I were you!

I still haven't gotten a single acceptance or rejection. Maybe that's better than having a bunch of rejections, but still the complete absence of knowledge is KILLING me. I'm an M.S. applicant in E.E. I know I would be later than most, but seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Anyone else in my boat?

Most of my schools have sent emails explicitly asking us not to bother them about status. I'd say if you didn't see anything like that, feel free to ask them. On the other hand, the emails say they will let us know as soon as they decide, and I have one school that has a "decision made" sort of status for a couple of days now, but I have no idea what that decision is, and they haven't told me. Seems like they aren't holding up their end of the bargain!

Do most professors leave town on spring break, or are we likely to get a flood of admissions this week? I'm still waiting for all four of my programs, and the results page has no status on my schools for acceptances that are applicable to me. One school has some rejections, no acceptances, and another has some Ph.D. acceptances while I'm applying for an M.S. and was specifically told M.S. acceptances would come later. Just looking for some encouragement

Ditto

I made you a map: http://lh4.ggpht.com/_fZgFZDdYrLg/SblEu ... campus.JPG Yes, I have too much free time.

Yes. West Campus is where the frat houses and many of uh...less studious...undergrads live. There are apartments way closer to the mechanical engineering building on north campus, which is a much more quiet area. Many of these are condos, though, so you may need to get a Realtor to help you find them. Usually they will do this at no cost to you. Also, many of these places will rent out 6 months in advance, so you could probably set something up with a Realtor during your visit and go ahead and get a place while you are there.

Jefferson 26 is very new. It wasn't there when I graduated a year and a half ago. I can tell you that the location is pretty good in terms of proximity to campus, but it is on West Campus, so you will probably want to find somewhere else to study.

Here is mine: Employed - I lost my job in a layoff because my manager knew I was going back to school. Productive - I spend my whole life at my computer now. Granted, I did the same thing at my job, but still... Empathetic - Ok, so I was never that empathetic (sorry, I wish I were!), but I'm even less so now! Living Alone - See employed. Now living with my parents again for the next 6 months. Sane - Just like everybody else... Oh, and I had a car wreck today...

Dear was1984, We appreciate your interest in our program, but we cannot offer you admissions fearing that your sheer awesomeness would intimidate your fellow students, and indeed the faculty. As a result, we have granted you an honorary degree and unlimited funds to pursue research in your area of choice. Best Regards, Adcom