Jrock4real

Take heart. I'm going home in a few days and I haven't got my I-20 yet. I need to get F-1 this month, so we'll see. Just keep calling and calling and make sure you can get to someone who will listen to and understand your particular situation. In many cases, schools (especially large grad programs) have to process I-20s and there is usually a queue. If you don't alert them to the urgency of your situation, they may just take their time (anywhere from 3 - 6 weeks). So let someone at the OIS/OISSS/ISS know that your situation needs immediate attention. Let's know how it goes!

Have you checked/seen the listings page: https://housing6.res.jhu.edu/classifieds/Default.asp?

In my case, two of my recommenders were previous research advisors (one of whom became my thesis advisor). The third taught me for two semesters. By junior year, I had gotten to know them quite well. Senior year, I applied but didn't get in. They were all so encouraging and supportive. My thesis advisor took on the role of an advisor after graduation. Another recommender helped me in my job search. These professors went above and beyond and gave their time to help me out. Two of them wrote recommendations for my job applications. I kept in touch with them, and made every effort to see them each time I visited my alma mater. In my second year of teaching, I applied again, sticking with the same set of recommenders. My thesis advisor guided me again through the process, lending invaluable assistance. I wrote them constant (not too many) updates with each acceptance/rejection, then a final email after I'd made my decision. I am also thinking of small gifts which I will present when I see them in person in a couple months. I gave thank-you gifts to two of them after graduation, anyway. Besides my recommenders, other professors have also been there for me. And I did send a thank-you card to a chemistry prof updating her on my admissions decision (she also advised me through the process). A few weeks after mailing the card, I sent an email to which she replied within a few hours. So, I do agree that email is useful since it affords a means of prompt response. Cards are nice, but the recipient may not be able to respond, especially if they do not have your current email. Ultimately, it depends on the relationship. There are 3 or 4 professors that I would like to keep in touch with on a longterm basis, and I will do this through a combination of emails, letters and personal visits. Thank-you cards work great if you probably will not keep in close future contact with the recipient. And, no, while it is nice, I do not think buying and mailing a card is any indication of one's sincerity. An email could be just as heartfelt. The relationship is what really counts.

And there's no way I'll ever buy a 13" MBP. 15" is the sweet spot, and I have no issues with portability. The laptops of the 90s were bricks compared to what we have today. Sometimes, I don't even slip my MBP into its case before throwing it into my backpack, as I would any other textbook. It's that solid.

I've used my 15" MBP since 2006. It has proven to be extremely reliable and durable. While in college, I carried it in my backpack laptop pouch almost every day of the week. Came with Tiger, which I stuck with until last summer. Now runs Snow Leopard. I've been teaching for the past couple years now. I take my laptop to the office most days. At home, I dock it to a 22" monitor with a full size keyboard and trackpad. Three years ago, I upgraded the HD and swapped the broken Superdrive for another one (which is also now broken; I don't bother with it anymore). I have replaced the battery twice in 6 years. RAM is maxed out at 2GB, but I don't see myself getting a new laptop anytime soon. If the Mac Pro is updated, or a new line of MBPs are released, I might consider a new investment. For now, I'll stick with my old faithful. My graduate department is mac friendly, so I shouldn't have worries about getting work done once school begins in the fall.

Currently working and heading to grad school in the fall. Also hoping to bike to school as much as possible. I don't have to commute at the moment, as I'm on the residential faculty at the boarding school. However, I love to bike everywhere else, e.g. church, shopping, dentist's/doctor's, coffeeshop, etc. If you are up to it, one suggestion would be to pack your regular clothes in your backpack and ride with cycling clothes (vest and shorts for me). In these, you have no trouble if it rains (maybe a light jacket would do) and you won't have to worry about mud (fender or not) and dirt. Once you get to school, freshen up, change and you're set. (In fact, you could keep a change of clothes at school). Actually, I prefer riding in the rain, since you practically arrive all showered up! Again, like you said, the distance may not be significant enough to put on biking shorts, but the advantage here is you don't have to worry about getting wet and they're more comfy, even if it's only 4 miles one way. And if you enjoy riding in cold weather, spandex does a great job of keeping you warm For me, backpacks are fine and they give the extra workout. I can usually make a 2.5 mile bike trip (one way) with laptop, etc, or to get groceries. I'm not a pannier person (I like to keep the bike fast and clutter free). Plus you'd have to take off the pannier when you park, etc. I just love my backpack.

Also headed to JHU this fall! Campus felt awesome. The Charles Village area seemed quite interesting. I know there are concerns about safety, but I think this is overblown. And I think the TV shows have perpetuated this myth of Baltimore as the crime capital of the nation. Someone from the area may set me straight if I'm wrong, but I don't think Baltimore is any more dangerous than some parts of DC at night. I have relatives and friends in DC-Baltimore and have visited about three or four times a year since 2006. I'm also an international student, and I've certainly seen worse. I know my life is not in my own hands, anyway, so I'm super excited for whatever neighborhood I end up in. They seem quite charming (Hampden, etc).

Well, I majored in physics and music. Senior year, I applied to seven PhD programs in Civil Eng (after deciding that Architecture was not going to work). But I really had no idea what I was doing. Six rejections came swiftly. Weeks after April, the last program offered me a Master's admission (obviously no funding). Thus, my job search began after graduation. I landed in teaching (private boarding school). I am currently in my second year, teaching mathematics! During the first year, I applied to just one PhD program, but was denied again. So, at the beginning of the second year, I launched a full-scale process, applying to ten programs, this time for Master's (thesis-based). Well, now, thankfully, I'm excited to begin a PhD this fall (one of my apps got upgraded)! Many programs do appreciate the qualities students from nontraditional backgrounds bring to the table. But it think it's not as easy for physics majors to get into civil compared to mech/EE. By the way, I'm an international student.

I'm heading to grad school this fall, and I'm certainly not considering rooming with anyone. Before college, I had this crazy idea that living with anyone would always be awesome. Freshman year, didn't have a choice of roommate. Not too bad; got along well with roommate. Sophomore year, I forfeited the option of choosing my own housing and got into this double with someone I did not know—still an idealist. Not a great experience at all, for reasons I won't care to post! Junior and senior years, I had single rooms. Those were great years, but I barely spent anytime in those rooms. (The only thing I came home to do during the week was shower and get dressed. Most nights, I slept in the physics and music buildings!) I have been working as high school teacher for the past two years after graduation, and I wholly enjoy my 1BR apartment situation on campus. I certainly look forward to continuing the solo experience in grad school. Obviously, sharing a dorm room with one or two people is not the same as sharing an apartment with housemates. The major difference is you have your bedroom to yourself. But I'm the sort of person who would probably end up doing all the cleaning in a shared apartment. Schedules are great, but I believe cleaning should be spontaneous, arising from a natural inclination to keep surroundings healthy and tidy. And I'm not sure I'd like to share a kitchen at this point. When it comes to living, I am super minimalist—no unnecessary furniture, appliances, etc. I am not a TV-watcher, and would not really be thrilled with the constant noise of a blaring box. My idea of a living space would be one where I could eat comfortably, get serious work done (I love large workspaces), practice musical instruments, curl up with a book, etc. College and teaching have screwed up my sleeping habits for life, e.g. I'm the sort of person that would think nothing of picking up my guitar to practice at 2 a.m. I certainly love people and I'm not as nitpicky or as fastidious as my post may make me out to be. However, the idea of longterm solitary living excites me beyond belief. I like to hang out, etc, but it's great to go home to a place where there's nothing and no-one but yourself to deal with, where the only noise is that which you choose to produce, etc. So, I'll certainly be looking out for affordable 1BR or studio apartments for next fall, and hopefully the same situation for the next four years.

Very cool! Congrats!

I'd also go UIUC, if you've not visited either, yet. Sure Austin has its charms (academic and otherwise), but if you're into structures, UIUC's legacy is hard to beat.

I'm hopeful the next round would be better! This is also my "second" round in three years. First year (still college senior), applied to 7 PhDs (got into 1 MS). Second year, applied to 1 PhD and denied. Third year (this one), applied to 10 MS programs and going for PhD. So, I hope this gives you some encouragement. Best wishes.

@Crix: Good luck. Let us know how it goes. @mrhr0bin: I do hope you get off the JHU waitlist. Did you hear from Georgia Tech yet? I called last week and they said they had a ton of applications and were still in the review stage, and probably would not get back before April 15. (I guess I didn't make first cut.)

Well, i hope you hear from them soon enough. Stanford and UCB are both awesome choices. Are you going for MS or PhD?

Also, @hisushank, I know grad school apps are expensive, but you certainly want to apply to more in the future, if you can afford it. I applied to 10, and I only got 1 realistic option. But then, I guess MS is a different ball game. Deferring your admission is also an option, but you could also try your luck with other programs (grad school deferrals (MS) are usually not binding; you could confirm if this is the case for the Rice PhD, though). I guess they grant these on a case-by-case basis. I hope things works out.