brok

I have dealt with billing issues for the last three years. I am *not* confused on these numbers. It may be that you have a new version of the plan, or a different version or I don't know what. In fact, it seems clear as your vision is very different from my own. Mine gives me $70 every two years to spend how I like. It can be used on any glasses or contact lenses that I want. I had issues when I got a checkup from a doctor for the first time because having gone to a hospital, they considered the doctor who treated me as a doctor's visit rather than a hospital visit. When I finally got that sorted through, they refused to pay for the bloodwork done by my doctor, because they only approved of $60 for a checkup, and anything else like tests was up to me. I have fought and fought and fought with this nonsense insurance for years- do I truly sound like I am confused? I can understand you thinking that I am exaggerating, it does seem unbelievable. But you are clearly under a different plan than I am, or have much better luck than I do. Believe me when I say that I have studied the benefits book in order to argue my case with the companies again and again. As for people worried about the teaching load- it depends entirely on the school, the department, etc. And you will generally act as an adjunct, not a TA. Get used to it. At least it's more interesting than standing around and having to listen to some professor drone on about things that you already know and bore you.

The GC takes their sweet time in letting people know, believe me. As for tuition and fellowships and such- it varies depending on your department, including the number of hours required as a minimum, etc. Standard pay as a TA, as memory serves, is around $1,500 per semester. You may want to contact the PSC (our laughable excuse for a union, which most of us don't realize we even have) for more information. Every student is eligible for NYSHIP or a GHI HMO. The GHI insurance is better, but is ~$350/month per individual, as memory serves. On the other hand, when I had it and I went to the hospital, they refused to recognize that I was even a member. NYSHIP is more reliable, but really terrible. You get 70 dollars every two years to spend on vision. The "dental insurance" consists of covering a cleaning once every two years. Any other work that needs to be done, all they do is call up the doctor and ask him to please charge you less. I wish I was kidding. Regular medical? Well, you get $60 towards a doctor per year, no coverage for tests. The prescription benefits are pretty decent- I haven't seemed to run out of those yet, which is good from all the vicodin I've been prescribed to deal with the sh...abby medical service I've received. If you have a masters degree, can you start the first year? I don't understand the question. Are you asking if you will be admitted automatically, or if you come in with a masters, will you start as a Level 1 student? Again, my own experience was that the masters didn't automatically affect anything. But when you come in, you have the chance to take placement exams which may allow you to skip your Level 1 classes, and having the masters helps with that, certainly. What should you know? Maui Taco is a nice place to go for lunch. It's a block down and across the street. Get the chicken quesadilla. Tell them the really tall white guy with tiny chinese friend sent ya, they'll know me. The cafeteria is really expensive, but at least the one on the 8th floor actually (used to, anyway) have decent coffee. Don't get the coffee on the ground floor. Go into the library and be sure to set up your account, email address, and library access the very first day you get the chance- it takes a long time and you don't want to have to go through it again. Computer lab and account problems are on the lower level of the library. Wherever you are going, 99% of the time when you get off the elevators, you will want to head towards the computers at the end of the hallway. One side has computers, the other doesn't. Don't ask me why, it just somehow works out that way. Keep on top of your paychecks, because they will screw you over, and take a long time to fix it. A couple of years ago, my department decided that they would wait until the day before classes began before they would actually allow anyone to register. They seemed to have forgotten what doing that would do to everyone's financial aid. Let alone once you start teaching, if you get paid through the RF. They have one- ONE person who actually handles paycheck disbursement. And he's an idiot. And lazy. And a terrible liar. A few months ago when they screwed up my check (again) I was told that the "computer system went down on tuesday." WHich is fine, but they process my check on monday, so it is direct deposited on wednesday. When I pointed this out, his answer was "I honestly don't know what to say." How about that you're sorry, you'll make it up, and you apologize for being so stupid, but your parents were related, and you are too dumb to figure out the difference between your butt and a hole in the ground? The sad truth is that I suspect it is no better anywhere else, and possibly even worse. Can anyone confirm?

Chuck Norris doesn't need to learn Quantum Mechanics- he knows both the position and the velocity of an electron. Chuck Norris once found the catalyst necessary to add to a beaker of water so that it would convert sunlight to harvestable energy with 100% efficiency. He called it roundhouse kick. Chuck Norris is such a badass chemist, he doesn't bother to wash his hands before peeing. Kimwipes blow themselves on Chuck Norris' nose. Chuck Norris did his Thesis Committee presentation using Microsoft NorrisPoint. Sorry, I just did these off the top of my head.