chuck_b

Hey, so I didn't even know this thread existed till now!! lol I'm happy I found it, because I too log into Fastlane every couple of days hoping something pops up either way. I just want the decision to be over with already. For some reason its even harder than waiting for college acceptances. I guess its because there is no "fixed" date to look forward to. Anyways, a quick question ... I unrealistically put down MIT as the school I'd like to attend (I dont know if you remember this question on the app but they asked you to put down a school). Now, I was rejected from MIT already ... do you think that this would play a factor in their decision? I always wondered if they waited this long so that they can see which schools the applicants got into or what kdilks said about them not wanting schools to factor it in ... I dunno. Also, I didn't take the GRE before November 30 - I took it a day after on Dec 1st, so I never submitted my scores. Do you think that this too would affect the decision somewhat? Thanks!

They sent me an email with subject: Graduate Studies Application Status and that had the application ID and the website I mentioned earlier. Mine still says "A decision has not yet been rendered" which was why I was asking if yours said something different. Anyways, congrats again! Good luck.

Hi twocosmicfish, Congrats on your acceptance to NW! Can you tell me if the following website: http://ask.mccormick.northwestern.edu/index.php has been updated with your status? Sometimes NW is a bit slow in getting the info online. Did they email you as well? Thanks! =)

So, in one or two places where I applied for the PhD program (i.e. U. Michigan), I received an acceptance to the MS program only. I know that in most PhD programs, you earn an MS on the way anyways. So, feeling confused, I called them up initially thinking they made a mistake and they were like "you were accepted into the program that the professors saw fit for you." I am not sure exactly WHY they thought I was fit for an MS only. I would think when I have a strong research background and I want to do research, they would see that an MS for me would mean just more coursework and less research. I really dont understand the concept behind this nicety of accepting you to half a program. I am not complaining about getting in - I know U. Mich is very tough to get into. I am just confused in general that all schools are doing this (I spoke with an advisor at another school who also said theyre probably going to only accept me to the MS program there). I am assuming that most schools would probably accept me into their PhD program in a year or so anyways, once I finished their MS program. Maybe this year schools just need the money ... but I'm just curious as to what you're thoughts are on this.

Rejected from Stanford ... not too upset because I was expecting it.

So, my dad currently lives in Austin and I'm sort of debating as to whether I should stay at home and commute (about 30mins drive) or just get grad housing the first year ... Any thoughts? Thanks!

yea, stanford is acting a bit weird. they seem to be randomly sending out an accept or two (for degrees ppl already have apparently lol) and also one or two rejects amidst it all. why not just send out all the rejects? i hate waiting till march 9th, the day before i have three midterms.

I am having a difficult time understanding how exactly I am going to fit into a particular department (my area is solid states). I have a primarily simulation based background and the research lab I am interested in is mostly experimental. I have just been so focused on my projects in the past that the time was never there for conducting any hands on research, aside of course from basic lab courses in EE. Will I be at a major disadvantage? Will I also be able to pick up on the experimental techniques and usage of various equipment? Also, am I expected to learn all this on my own or will doctoral and post-docs be kind enough to help me out (they obviously have their own research going on, so I would not want to bother them, but I dunno ....)? I am very confused. :?

Haha, I totally know what you mean by Oren's (although the coffee there is worlds better than the overly hyped Starbucks). I guess I'll miss NYC no matter what. But, if I'm not a clubber or partier, I don't think I'll miss much other than the usual random artsy stuff that it has to offer, as well as my childhood home since my parents are eventually moving to Austin. When I visited a while back, I did find that Austin people are so much nicer. And people just end up falling in love with the place. I think it can be a pretty nice place if you're pretty laid back and generally lost within the hustle and bustle of nyc life. I could be wrong though ... I'll find out soon enough! =)

I will actually be moving from NY,NY to Austin,TX. I've lived in NYC my whole life and I do love it. I think moving will be hard even if I love driving. Anyone else move from a big metro city to Austin?

Hey everyone, I was wondering like for undergrad in general, people recommend living in the student housing the first year at least ... is this also true for grad school, in specific UT Austin grad school? Do you think it would be more difficult to make friends outside of your lab/research area if you did not live in the grad housing? Also, what has your experience been with Brackenridge/Gateway/Colorado apartments? Are they bug-free (lol) ? Thanks! =)

Did you also receive any info regarding the weekend visits (March 5-7 and 19-22)?

Hi EE Applicant, If you do not mind, can you post your acceptance email from UT Austin (only the body)? I'm just curious as to what they're saying so far ... Thanks!

Yea, its never a bad idea to just stay formal unless THEY tell you to call them by their first name. Even if they sign their email as -John or something rather than Dr.Smith or Prof. Smith, I would say stay safe and address them with a title. I've had one professor who always said, call me by my first name lol and I never did because I found it sooo weird to do so. He ended up writing in a rec (not for grad school, for something else), that I am a very polite person haha =) Also, I'm working in a lab where all the grad students call the prof by his first name, but to me it still feels weird. I could never do it. I think its also how I was brought up, since in my culture respect to elders is pretty big ...

So, I am a EE major and I have applied for PhD programs, but I am having cold feet about the whole thing ... I am currently doing research and I am not always thrilled to be at lab, which should not and can not be the case in grad school. I guess I applied to grad school because getting a job this year is really very tough. Is grad school really going to be painful? And can I give up the next 5 years without any regrets?

Hi, So today I was notified that I was accepted to the UMich MSEE program. I actually only applied to their PhD program, so it was a bit weird ... but I am still happy about it. Now, in the email they say: It gives me great pleasure to inform you that we have recommended you for admission to the Electrical Engineering Graduate Program at the University of Michigan for the term and degree level listed below. Your application has been forwarded with or recommendation to the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, they will advise you officially regarding your admission status (in a few weeks when processing is complete). Does this mean I am still not OFFICIALLY accepted since Rackham hasn't accepted me yet, only the EE department has? Any insight on this would be helpful. Thanks!

I feel like the acceptances posted on the stats page are not very clear. I mean some explicitly say for comp arch. or CE. But, most don't say much, so we really don't know which subdivision in UT Austin, UCB or Stanford is sending out replies (rejects and acceptances). I guess that's why many of us are still waiting to hear from these places ... but I think our time will come in the next two weeks ....

Is it really possible to do this? Won't you end up getting on your prof/advisor's bad side?

Thanks for the replies. I totally understand what you're all saying about continuing research and keep pursuing different jobs. But, like finest_engineering said, its tough when you have no background in a lab and have to rely on the prof (who may or may not be paying you) or grad students to help you out. It becomes a frustrating situation. (As a side note, finest_engineering, on why I didn't apply to any safeties ... I just really liked the research in the places I applied to and their locations (NYC, Cali, Austin TX, Michigan, Chicago). But, yea, it was a dumb decision not to apply to at least one safety. Then again, are there really any real safeties for grad school?) And, was_1984 ... I know! How can I possibly have 2-5 years minimum experience when no one is willing to hire me? lol. Searching for a job is a pain. I am actually thinking of teaching myself a couple of programming languages. I think that knowing a few languages as well as HTML and Java Script are pretty useful pieces of knowledge to have no matter what engineering profession. I think I'll also try and build my own computer .. I would have the time to do it =) This time off from grad school/jobs might actually be beneficial in one aspect. Taking courses at smaller colleges might also be an option I guess. I was just getting a bit worried. After so much hard work and money, graduating without anything to really look forward to is a bit depressing.

Hey everyone, I am a EE major with a concentration in Solid States. I sort of applied to all top-notch schools without thinking about a safety at all. All the schools I applied to are pretty much "reaches" given my GRE performance. So, I applied to several jobs as well hoping to have an alternate route as well. But, given the current state of the economy, the probable low acceptance rate of PhD candidates in general, and the job market, I am wondering ... What do you do if you have no set plans after graduation? How can you reapply next Fall without something concrete to tell them about your year off? ... any thoughts?

Congrats to those who were accepted to MIT, UCB and Stanford! I was confused though if the acceptances that have thus far come in for these schools have been for specific subareas or has it been widespread? I feel MIT hasn't sent out replies for Area V yet but I could be wrong ...