latte thunder

Do you have undergraduate loans already? I would just call that lender and see what they can do for you. I'm assuming you don't have much credit established yet so they might be able to help you the most since you already have an account with them.

Don't let anyone on here worry you, you'll be fine. Yes, this does mean that they wanted you less then some of the other students. So what? That doesn't mean you aren't capable of the work, and it doesn't mean that they don't like you or want you there. Remember, plenty of people didn't get in at all! I'm assuming there were non financial reasons for your decision, like maybe this school is decently ranking or has decent job placement. If so, then worry about that! Worry about what YOU'LL get out of the school. Yes, you might be paying a little more for it than some other students, but that's not going to stop you from getting what you want! Of course, student loans are not to be ignored, but there are probably other ways you can alieviate some of the financial pressue. I would suggest you try to get funding in another department for the first year. I have no idea what school you're attending, but some of the larger schools will probably need GAs in departments you may not have thought of, like finanical aid, undergraduate advising, university development, ETC. Since you want to become a professor, you might be able to find some of this experience useful. Yes, TAing would be extremely valuable experience, but so would undergraduate advising. Perhaps there is even a part time position with the school that would give you a tuition reduction? Doing extra work might put a strain on your academics (depending of course on your time management skills) but it's only one year. You'll be fine.

This area should be fine. There are a ton of shops and grocery stores in this area (as well as a bus line, if you need it) so this is a pretty good place to start if you aren't familar with the city. Also, its decently north of campus, so you shouldn't get completely swamped with undergraduates either!

This may or may not help, but double check to make sure your employer doesn't offer education leave. Especially since its in your same field. Otherwise, what do you want to do after you graduate? If you want to stay in the same area and maybe get a promotion, then stay at the home school. If you want to do reasearch in your feild somewhere else, you also might be better off staying. You'll have your Phd and 6+ (plus however many years it takes you to finish) years of experience. Depending on your field, this may very well make up for the lower rank school. Yes, if you go this route but choose the other school you'll still have 6 years experience and your Phd, but the benefit of going to the better school may not be worth any hardship on your family. Especially without the extra work experience. Of course, if you want to teach or do something else where the school will actually matter, then go to the far away school.

Hahahut, Can you tell us where you will be studying in the US? Contrary to what Cndnrgl21 said, there is NO bank that is all over the US. I'm not an international student myself, but I've known internation students who have assumed BofA is national; however, despite the name, it is definately not. I think the closest one to me is like 400 miles. Also, if possible take into account any summer research positions you may have. Of course you may not know what/where these will be know, but if you do it would be in your best interest to find a bank that has branches in both locations. Generally, there is a penalty for closing an account in less than 6 months, just something to consider.

The only thing that concerns me is that students don't always have a choose in whether or not that go to an "easy school" There may be people who are smart enough to handle going to a notoriously hard school like say, Uchicago, but who can't afford anything more than community college. For example I know of plenty of people who have gotten into OSU, but can't afford it and go to Columbus state community college for a couple years instead. An entire year of CSCC cost less than one quarter of OSU, so if money is a concern it's an easy choice. Even when comparing state schools, not all state schools were created equally. I don't want to pick on any schools in particular, but we all know that not all state schools in our home state have equal educational value (and typically, the cheaper they are the worse they are, which again is a disadvantage to the poor). It penalizes them to get an A in math in a school where just about everyone can get an A. That doesn't mean they didn't try hard or aren't capable of more, the grading scale could have just been easy. What happens when two people apply to grad school and one has an A average from private school in classes where the average is a B and the other has an A average in a communityschool/lower tier state school where the Class average is an A? That second student may have also scored an A at the private school, but wasn't given the opportunity. Of course I'm not saying it's fair the other way around either. Kid 2 may have NOT been able to score as highly as Kid 1 in same enviroment, but this metric doesn't tell us that. However, this metric may inspire confidence that it does. It's a little scary to think it possible for a adcom to dismiss kid 2 because they think that this "schedule point average" has fixed this discrepancy.

Not really, unfortunately. MOST campus realtors are terrible. They charge ridiculous rent to live in housing that is often not quite up to code. They get away with it because most student's don't know any better. On the other hand, a lot of the properties are in disrepair because student's don't take good care of them! For good or for bad, there really isn't any way you can make sure you don't get screwed over by a Landlord. I would look for properties based on your preferences (location in this case) and based on what you can afford. Of course, try to avoid realtor's whose tenants have had to put the rent into escrow a bunch of times/eviction happy landlords (you can check this out on the clerk of courts website) but this doesn't mean you'll like your apartment. Worst case scenario, you move in a year. I would suggest that you try to find the nicest apartment in the nicest area you can afford. Hopefully, this will mean that the lanldlords care about their property and a landlord that cares about their property is really the best you can ask for. Perhaps you could focus on realtors that have campus property, but aren't exclusively campus based. These might not be as unscrupulous towards students.

Tough one. I say grad school in the Fall, but ONLY if your wife's job situation turns out as planned and that is enough for your famiyl to live off of. Somebody said something about Jobs fulfilling short term goals, but that edication is long term, and I think that's true. Of course, the situation is different with Kids, but even though your family might have to make some adjustments now, your kids will also benefit from your increased education (and probably increased financial security down the line). Especially if they're young now. It's much easier having broke parents when you're 1 then when you're 16. Again, this is only if you and your wife are truly in a place to care for them next year. I would work away happily at my current job while trying to make sure I set my family up for success for next year. Make sure you have substantial savings for a rainy day fund, make sure you all will have benefits next year, make sure you all will have food on the table, etc. Also, this isn't a subject that shows up often on theses boards, but don't be ashamed to look into public assistance if you need it. Those funds are there to allow people like yourself the opportunity to better themselves while still taking care of their family. You said that this is probably the best time for you to go back to school, so use the next year to really make it fesible.

No, I'll be in Planning. But this is information I got directly from the graduate school, not my department.

I feel you. I constantly fo through facebook to see where classmates are... I try to pretend like it's motivating me to be better, but it does make me feel like a failure sometimes! It's bad when you see someone else achieve their dreams but the worst is when someone is doing everything YOU want to do! I have a HS friend, who was two years younger but one grade below (and I was already a grade ahead, so this tells you how young she is!). She went to havard and has since started her own non-profit! A non profit thats dedicated to her traveling the world on a whim to "bring awareness." This year she's been all over the US, Jamaica, vietnam, laos and thailand. She JUST turned 22 last week. SO super jealous. All the time. I have a few classmates that have titles like "director" or "senior partner" ... am I supposed to be there at my age? I feel like I'm not only behind, but that I'm not even in the race! I don't even know where in the race I should be right now!

You can get a GA or RA position after you start there. This doesn't have to be in your department either, i think just about all departments hire them. The downside is that you have to wait for someone to quit, get fired, or graduate before they will post anything.

Hi, I asked my BF about this complex the other day (he did undergrad at OSU). He said it was full of undergrads, and is basically a 24 hour party. Downtown may be a good possibility? The City pushed for a ton of condos to be built in the downtown area but a good number are still vacant, so the prices have come down. You can difinitely find something under 200,000 and I did a quick search and found a one bedroom condo for 113,000. Downtown is a very easy drive to OSU about 10 - 15. This would double during evening rush hour, from about 5-6 PM but I've never had trouble getting around any other time of the day. Except game days of course, but then you'll even have trouble WALKING to OSU. Oh! you should also be able to take the bus from here. Big plus. Sawmill is another idea, it's kinda like a slightly older (people wise, newer buildings) extention of the bethel/henderson area, but your commute will be longer. I don't think I've ever made this drive so I can't say for certain, but during the weekday it would be atleast 20 min. Probably more like 30+ during rush hour. Anywhere else in Columbus and I think you'll really have to extend your commute. There may be stuff on the southwest side, around the frank road area but to be honest I'm not so familar with this side of town. I know they put up a bunch of housing right before the recession but before that this area was much more indrustrial. Still kinda smells weird, but you can get a house under 100,000. This area is a lot more working class/lower middle class and has a bit of sprawl, so may not be fun for a grad student.

Yes, really. Compared to other Ohio Cities, Cleveland is grimey. Again, if you are from an older major city it's no problem. But if you are from a nicer, newer area than it's something to take note of. Personally, I like Cleveland. But I'm sure you've heard stories from your Classmates like "OMG we tried to get on the bus and I was SOO scared" or 'OMG I can't walk across campus at night." Again, its not really dangerous if you stay on campus, but the LOOK of the campus can make some people uncomfortable. Also, Little italy and Cleveland heights are just as far off campus as East Cleveland! Not to mention student parking on E118th is about a block away from E Cleveland. Unless there has been a massive change in appearance since the last time i was in Cleveland (last month) there is quite a bit of urban grime in the area. You can pick and choose which suburbs you like to hang out in, but that doesn't deny the others' existence. Don't believe me? Walk over to the E120th RTA stop. Yeah, you can get off at the University Circle stop and walk a mile to your car if you want, but you can't really deny that this is part of the campus area.

I think these are questions that only those two departments can answer.

I think Morrill is the border between the two. I don't know what you're comfortable with, however I can't in good faith recommend you live there. It doesn't look like The wire, but that area is run down. Although It's getting gentrified and some of the houses are nicer it's not a street you'd want to walk down at night. It doesn't look that bad on google maps near highstreet... but this HAD to be taken on a sunday morning! That ugly warehouse on High St is a drive thru/liqour store, which always attracts some undesirables and once you get a few blocks down Morrill you'll see where the boarded up houses start. LOL, I feel like I sound like a spoiled rich girl here, but I actually checked out two places on this street the last time I moved (I bet I even know which listing you saw, because few of these houses have been fixed up) and you can find better places for the same rent a few blocks north. Beck st closer to Parson is a better option. Even though parsons itself can scare a lot of people you should be pretty safe here. South lane is a very ugly street but the streets inbetween and including Beck and Forest have some nice homes. Try to drive around this area first, and see if Parsons is something you could live this close to. Also, note that the area across Parsons ("swanson's addition" I think?) is extermely poor. Not working class, but poverty stricken poor. I promise I don't spend my weekends at the country club, lol. I actually spend quite a bit of time on Parsons and South High! I want to be as honest as possible because I know people have different comfort levels with this type of thing. You should be OK in italian Village. I recommend you stay west of 4th St however (and again, as close to High as possible). This area is very gentrified... however you may feel about that. Kinda rubs me the wrong way, but it does tend to make areas safer faster, and give some sense of community. I prefer areas with a REAL sense of history; not the kind you buy but the kind you live. If you like this neighborhood you might also like West, which is directly northwestish of Victorian Village. http://www.harrisonwest.org/