lovewillcather

The website Lisa mentions is called Vade Mecum and is here: http://www.duke.edu/~tmw15/. I studied from this website primarily, using the published test prep book and a little wikipedia/masterplots to supplement for the three months before the test and scored in the 94th percentile (and my undergraduate and MA coverage was not at all what the Subject Test expects). Number2.com I think is mentioned elsewhere on this forum, but it's got a great vocab builder.

Can anyone offer me an idea of how much it costs to live in Davis or Sacramento? I've heard that it's cheaper to live in Sacramento and commute, but even beyond that, is living there doable on a $15,000 stipend? I've been looking at the cost of living indexes on city-data.com and Davis and Sacramento are both quite high. I currently live on a stipend a little smaller than the one Davis is offering me, and even though the cost of living in my city is much lower, I barely squeak by. Are the cost-of-living indexes skewed by house prices? Or do most people have to take out loans or get second jobs to get by?

Just to clarify, I did receive funding, it was just a very small amount (and presumably would have been better if I had gotten a fellowship). I spoke to one of my advisors, and she said Indiana has really been sent through the ringer by their state gov. as of late, which is a shame.

Johnian, I received the evite without official confirmation too, so I immediately phoned the graduate secretary (the phone number on the evite). It sounded like she thought the DGS had contacted everyone (even though the DGS hadn't) which was why she sent out the evite. I received an email from the DGS the next day. I didn't receive a fellowship, and, I have to say, for a program of their stature, their funding is not impressive at all. Anyway, don't hesitate to call--Bev Hankins was very helpful.

At my current program, we take 6 credits and teach 6 (I know, too much teaching). I'm surprised to hear so many people teaching on top of taking 9 credits. Even just teaching 3 credits would be a lot on top of 9, though maybe not as bad if you're TA-ing a class taught by a professor.

Unfortunately, probably not very realistic at all. Check out the cost of living indexes on city-data.com.

So maybe this is obvious to other people and I am asking a silly question here, but why would you talk to every person responsible for setting your reward amount? Wouldn't the DGS know what the program could offer?

Wonder Boys! I wish I had the balls to live on the edge like Professor Tripp!

Hi myzzm, I heard yes from the Grad. Director late Monday afternoon. I hadn't contacted the department since I submitted the app; he both called and sent me an email (since I was lucky enough not to embarass myself by picking up the phone and squealing in his ear). It's strange that you have not been accounted for--a polite email to the graduate secretary I'm sure wouldn't be out of order. Good luck!

Katanian, the fact that you haven't heard yet might be a good sign. I got an email from their admissions office this morning that contained a link back to my online app, where they posted a (sigh) rejection letter. Maybe you're on a waiting list.