mentalyoga

Waiting tables (blech!) to gather my moving fund--I'm trying to move the first week of August. Also need to plan a trip to Boston to househunt, hopefully mid-July. Reading lots and lots and lots, essentially to catch up on a handful of classics that I've managed to avoid until now, as well as enjoying the books that had been sitting on my bookshelf, gathering dust, while I was too busy during the semester. I've got 40 texts on my summer reading list, which I'm hoping to get at least half through.

I've been out of the loop for a bit (busy end of the semester, and then started working immediately after graduation, to begin gathering money to actually *move* to Boston). Thought I would check in here and see how everyone's doing, what plans are for the summer, make sure the excitement level is still sufficiently high!

Anyone doing the Open House thing next weekend? Also, thanks for the advice on accommodations, traveling, etc--I think I've got the details of my visit all ironed out!

Yeah-I went ahead and asked, and was told that it's a liability issue. They apparently aren't allowed--at least officially--to organize this sort of arrangement. But everyone at Brandeis has been so honest and helpful through the process, so I'm definitely pleased with my interactions with them. I'm sure I'll figure something out--I might try a hostel (though I'm a bit scared to do that, as I've never stayed in one before and am traveling alone). My close friend knows people in Boston, too, so I might have him talk with them about possibly letting me crash at one of their places. Any case, still looking forward to it all-just worried that it's going to be a much larger dent in my pocket than originally expected.

I suppose what I mean to say is: if they don't offer outright, is it pompous for me to make the first move and ask? It would obviously alleviate some of my trouble with budgeting, but I also don't want to come off as presumptuous or have a bad experience while there because I'm forcing myself on someone who is too busy/too stressed/too offended-by-my-assumption to help me out.

Thanks for the help, cricket and 8in2009! By the by, another question: is it too forward/imposing to ask about being put up with a current student? I feel a bit strange about throwing myself on someone in that way, but my budget is super slim, and I'm not seeing much in the way of accommodations for my stay for under $350, even at really awful motels. I'm staying four days, but I would only want to stay with a student for the weekend (I think it'd be really cruel to expect someone to keep me for the days they're still going to class). Is this at all appropriate?

Happy to say I've confirmed my intention to enroll and now everything is in motion! I'm visiting the weekend/week of April 26th, and was wondering if anyone had suggestions or advice? Re: accommodations, transport (like, how I'm getting from the airport to my hotel to Brandeis itself, etc.), general advice on visiting a program, especially since this isn't a recruitment visit...? I have this strange inferiority complex--like I'm going to visit and they'll regret letting me in? It's silly, I know, but I've never really done this sort of thing before. I guess I'm approaching it like an interview when I should be thinking of it as a get-to-know-you, we're-happy-to-have-you conversational sort of thing. Anyhow-for those who have visited, what are your experiences or thoughts?

Obviously it worked out in the end (and I'm positively thrilled about the acceptance I did get), but I definitely expected to have gotten into more programs, as did the profs I've been working closely with. There were two rejections I was absolutely shocked about, and two that were more or less expected, but still hit hard. But after the cards fell, I realized it worked out in the best way possible for me. I'm heading to a program that's perfect for me, and I couldn't be more excited.

I'd be in, too! And thanks for the info-I wasn't really planning to live in the city anyhow (unless a good opportunity arises), so if Waltham is more affordable and convenient, that'll be my route. Anyone have an idea when I should begin apartment hunting? And when do people typically move up before beginning a program? As this all becomes more 'real,' I only feel increasingly excited about it!

Just got off the phone with a professor at Brandeis, and if a bit awkward (though, I can't imagine how these might otherwise go), I'm definitely planning to enroll in the program. Anyone know how realistic a $20k stipend is for living in the area? It sounds good to me, but I've never lived entirely on my own and certainly not in a "big" city, so perhaps I'm being a bit naive. Oh, and I'm planning on visiting during the grad fair in the last week of April--anyone else going to be there around that time? *edit* I should clarify to say that I mean awkward in the sense that there wasn't much to say just yet--I didn't have anything of note to mention beyond how excited I was, and the professor outlined my funding package.

I'm going into the English PhD program (and I respect the sciences too...I'm just awful at them!).

I'm giving my official word to Brandeis on Monday. Looks like I'll be there in the fall! I'm stoked.

I'm still waiting on one, which is funny, since there are people who have been rejected, accepted, and waitlisted. I'm actually wondering if my letter was lost in the mail or something. I'm going to contact them on Monday if there's still no word.

That was more my approach--I outlined my interests and framework to an extent that it would (hopefully) be quite clear which faculty would align with me. My only evidence is that in the one program I've had any success with, there were specific questions on the application concerning which faculty you'd be interested in. As we all have been reminded through this process, there's no way of knowing anything with absolute certainty--it's all dependent on context, you, the program, the adcom (of which you know almost nothing), funding, blahblahblah. I just figure if I end up having to reapply next year, I'll try some different things with my apps in the hope of a better outcome.

Well, thus my regret in taking that strain of advice. Like I said, if I had gone with my gut and been more proactive about 'namedropping' and showing off that I had a familiarity with the faculty I'd like to work with, I may have faced a different outcome in this round of apps. I could be wrong-there's no real way of knowing what happens in the adcom, so maybe it didn't have as much of an effect as I might think. In any case, if I end up reapplying next year, that'll be a main focus for me in making my apps stronger.