crater21

Great, thank you so much for the replies. This helps to clear it up. Cheers.

Hi everyone, I'm a Canadian grad student in New York. My program gives me a stipend (not an assistantship or a job, just a living stipend). I just received my funds for the new semester and noticed that the university has taken off 14% "Withholding tax". Anyone know what this is about? Also, more generally, does anyone know what the tax liabilities are for international students? Do we have to file federal taxes in the US? For the Canadians here - do we file income tax returns here or in Canada? Thanks, and happy new year all!

I agree with all of the above comments. Just one thing I would add is this: if you are certain that you want to apply this year, just start doing some language work, preferably in an institutional setting, even if it is one class a week or something. You are obviously not going to become fluent in a few months. But, you can mention it in your application, and it will signal to the adcomms that you are serious and have given scholarly work some thought. Languages can make a big difference, particularly at higher-ranked places, and you can put yourself at a disadvantage if you apply with no second language or prospect of acquiring one. Just my two cents.

I took the GRE last fall. I tried almost all of the practice tests. In my experience, the various tests in order of difficulty are: Manhattan GRE (most difficult) Kaplan Princeton Review ETS McGraw-Hill (easiest). My actual score was closest to somewhere between Kaplan / Princeton Review. Bear in mind that I was part of the first cohort of people taking the new test, so that may have skewed things, since there was still a lot of uncertainty about the test.

Hi all! Hoping the decisions page can offer some advice for my situation... I have an offer from a Canadian school and an American school. Both programs are a very good fit, and POIs at both have been very kind. For all sorts of family and personal reasons, it would be easier to be in Canada. But, on the flip side, the funding package offered by the American school is quite significantly larger. The difference is too big to be ignored. Also, I'm wondering what the job prospects are like with a Canadian PhD? Any thoughts? Are Canadian PhDs limited to the Canadian market? Ugh. The thought of saying no to either of these places, when they have been so nice to me, is already making me sick....

I have to fly a lot for work, and here is what helps me: - Wear shoes that can be put on and taken off easily - Travel light - don't have a lot of jewelry or accessories or things in your hands or pockets - Save yourself the security head ache and make sure to follow their rules for liquids / zip lock bags. - Chew gum to avoid that painful feeling in your ears at take off and landing. - Let yourself relax on the plane - have a nap or even just close your eyes. - If you can't fall asleep, listen to music or read something fluffy. Now's the time to dive into those People magazines And, above all, just relax. As Safferz said, flying is a lot safer than driving even! Enjoy your visit!

Ugh. Do not get me started. First off, they don't even deliver on Saturdays, unlike the USPS. And, if I had a dollar for every time they lost my mail, I'd be very rich.

Btw, Congrats on the funded MBA, SapperDaddy! That's amazing - funded MBAs are pretty rare, from what I hear.

lol, oseirus!

Haha, not to worry! I suspect by now it is in the hands of Canada Post, and they are not exactly speedy either.

Canada

Are Harvard rejections coming by email as well? (someone just posted an email rejection on the board).

Oh dear - looks like it was a brutal day here with both Harvard and Columbia rejections coming in! Sorry to hear about everyone who got disappointing news. I haven't received the Harvard rejection yet - I'm guessing it would take longer for mail to arrive at non-US addresses, so maybe it'll come in later this week. But, surprisingly, I'm totally okay with it. Didn't think I would be.

Congrats on the New School, uhohlemonster! And, congrats to anyone else I missed who received good news today!

Congrats on Cambridge lureynol! (The most beautiful university in the world, in my opinion, but I am biased! If you have any questions about the History faculty, the Colleges, or the town itself, feel free to PM me!

Simone, I think both you and Safferz are correct. It's just different ways of describing the same situation. You could describe it as $15,000 + tuition OR $23,000 and no tuition.

Thanks all! And, Congrats to doodle!!

Thanks Oseirus! And, my congrats as well to everyone who received good news today!

Thanks Sandy!

I posted the Toronto acceptance! Totally took me by surprise because I thought they were done long ago. Someone posted here last week that all the accepted people were contacted the previous Sunday or something. So, I thought it was all but over. But, I guess not... Ganymede: are you another Toronto acceptance?

Another Columbia rejection is up. My condolences to the person who received it! Why are Columbia rejections trickling out so irregularly? Is it because these are informal POI communications and official notification hasn't come yet? I think one of the accepted candidates on this thread said that the info for visiting days was recently sent to all accepted folks (34 in total, apparently). So, it does seem like it's a done deal. But, why is it taking such a while to get the rejections out?

Yes, please, would love some details about this, if possible. Was it from POI or the Graduate School? My condolences for the rejection.

Congrats to all the people who received acceptances today! AFB: Best of luck with everything!! I'm sure that you are going to return even stronger and end up at a fabulous program of your choice!

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the really, really useful advice about titles / first names this morning! I have just been going through it now, and I can't believe what a mine of useful info it is. I didn't know my question would spark such an interesting conversation. You guys totally rock! I feel like I need to bring all of my life's problems to this thread and have all of you weigh in because you are all so smart and insightful! My POI and I are chatting on the phone later this week. So, I guess I may find out what he prefers to be addressed as.

Darn, need a consensus answer here, guys! Just kidding - thanks so much for your input! I guess it would be worse to be corrected for calling someone by their first name than it would be for calling someone by their title. So, maybe I should continue as usual, unless asked otherwise. Though, I see your point, pudewen, that most faculty want their students to call them by first name. I just wonder if that extends to even before we've met. Anyway, thanks again! I'm probably over-thinking this...