alicejcw

What a REALLY cool area!!! I could see how use of texteese might end up attenuating certain elements of english. I've actually read a couple of papers that deal with this as an emerging language. Though, since languages are defined as systems of arbitrary symbols and rules with "U R 2 kool" having the same functional role as its english analog, I wonder if  having exponentially more opportunitis for communication experiences (remember the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis) with IM/Text/Etc might actually accelerate language development?  It's worth remembering that for a long time sign was thought to be a "lesser" form of communication. 

I've been doing lots of research on housing, and thought I'd share some of what I've found.

The graduate housing does look very reasonable, but I'd like to live somewhere with a little bit more character. Also, some of the apartments I'm looking at when I visit this weekend are closer to my program's building than the grad housing! I'm hesitant to look outside of Boulder proper because I'd like to avoid driving as much as possible. I'm used to being able to walk and bike everywhere I go, so I don't want to give that up. I've found some studios & 1-bedrooms in the $700-900 price range, so I think I'm going to try for one of those. I know it's more practical and cheaper to share, but I think I'll be a lot less stressed if I can come home to a place of my own every night. I may still change my mind though as I work out my budget for next year -- we should all be in touch in the next few months, maybe we can match up as roommates!

Aside from craigslist and padmapper, I've found a few rental companies with online property listings. Here are links to some websites for them (no idea what kind of reputation they have, though). I'd really like to use the "Ralphie's List" search (http://ralphieslist.colorado.edu/), but it won't let me log in yet.

http://www.bpmco.com/
http://www.accentrentals.com/index.htm
http://www.matrixrentals.com/fallavailablelist.htm
http://www.curent.com/
http://www.sunnysiderental.com/

One thing I've found with all of the realtors or property managers I've talked to so far is that they don't like to schedule showings for apartments more than a few days ahead of time. When I called a week in advance, multiple people have told me "call back the day before because it might be gone!" That makes it hard to plan ahead or make any decisions from out of state, so I'm really hoping my visit this weekend and being in Colorado for the summer will make my search easier.

Are all of your loans federal loans (from the US department of education) and not private? If so, you will be able to take advantage of the public service loan forgiveness and income-based repayment plan. However, this is contingent upon you finding a job in a public service field which is already getting heavily slashed from state and federal gov't budgets as is.

I think you also have to consider a few things. Firstly, how do you know for sure if you do take the time off and presumably get accepted into another program that you will be funded in that particular program? What if, for some reason it is not as highly ranked and will not give you as many opportunities as NYU will? The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior---if you did not get into any schools this cycle the probability that you will be accepted the next go around with no additional embellishments to your application is also nil. And for that time you could have stayed at NYU and finished---I'd stick it out.

But while you are there, don't be hesitant to ask your professors, advisors deans and even those in different but related departments about funding opportunities through TA/RAships, if it is a research-based program. Also, this is your time to network---and network hard while you still have the cushion and financially security with being in school. NYU is your base; you are not confined to the parameters of your own department. Interact with the business/law schools--attend a few open lectures and get to know the faculty. Speech path is such a fluid discipline with opportunities for advancement outside it's standard employment area, especially in business. Make the prestige of NYU count for you and the wallet will thank you!

As seen in an SLP's office:

Speech Pathologists:
We have ways of making you talk.

I waited until I had made my decision to send cards, and I got little presents for my letter writers while I was at the open house for my future program. I got them fancy tea from a little local tea shop and wrote them personal notes thanking them for everything they've done for me. They all emailed me to thank me for the gift, so I think they definitely appreciated that I showed my appreciation!

Decided to go to School 1, which is Brandeis. I spoke to the professor who I'll be working with, and we found a great project for me to get started on that will give me awesome experience, help me with my thesis, and is a great in-between for both of our interests. Turning down the other schools wasn't as horrible as I expected- it seems that I got all of my emotions out in the last few weeks, so by the time I had to make a decision, I already knew what the right choice was. No regrets or remaining worries at all- I'm extremely happy.
Additionally, the program will only take me two or three semesters, so in all likelihood, I will be applying to Ph.D. programs this fall anyway. And this way, I'll have some great experience under my belt for not too high a cost.

I feel the exact same way. I was between two schools that I absolutely loved and it is truly bittersweet to pick one. You really have to decide what you want for yourself first! Then I lined the schools up next to each other and looked at cost, how much a graduate assistant could earn, general program quality, quality of facilties. Unfortunately (or fortunately I guess, since I knew I couldn't pick a BAD school), my two schools lined up pretty equally. So I looked a little harder and asked myself:
1. Which faculty are doing research? What research are they doing in my area? How recent is the research? Are their papers interesting to you?
2. Where do alumni go after school? The same type of settings you want to end up in? Are some more schools versus medical settings?
3. What places are close to campus? Does the school have a really close connection with any facility nearby, such as hospitals or such?
4. Does the department have a relationship with any other graduate departments? Are those departments interesting to you? Will they address the same focus areas that you are interested in?

And finally, don't necessarily pick somewhere that feels super comfortable --you should feel comfortable and open, but remember that you are going to grad school to be challenged and go beyond your comfort zone. Go somewhere that is goin to challenge you and give you something to work for!

I hope that helps! Good luck with your decision!!

I hope that helped a little bit!

I've been doing lots of research on housing, and thought I'd share some of what I've found.

The graduate housing does look very reasonable, but I'd like to live somewhere with a little bit more character. Also, some of the apartments I'm looking at when I visit this weekend are closer to my program's building than the grad housing! I'm hesitant to look outside of Boulder proper because I'd like to avoid driving as much as possible. I'm used to being able to walk and bike everywhere I go, so I don't want to give that up. I've found some studios & 1-bedrooms in the $700-900 price range, so I think I'm going to try for one of those. I know it's more practical and cheaper to share, but I think I'll be a lot less stressed if I can come home to a place of my own every night. I may still change my mind though as I work out my budget for next year -- we should all be in touch in the next few months, maybe we can match up as roommates!

Aside from craigslist and padmapper, I've found a few rental companies with online property listings. Here are links to some websites for them (no idea what kind of reputation they have, though). I'd really like to use the "Ralphie's List" search (http://ralphieslist.colorado.edu/), but it won't let me log in yet.

http://www.bpmco.com/
http://www.accentrentals.com/index.htm
http://www.matrixrentals.com/fallavailablelist.htm
http://www.curent.com/
http://www.sunnysiderental.com/

One thing I've found with all of the realtors or property managers I've talked to so far is that they don't like to schedule showings for apartments more than a few days ahead of time. When I called a week in advance, multiple people have told me "call back the day before because it might be gone!" That makes it hard to plan ahead or make any decisions from out of state, so I'm really hoping my visit this weekend and being in Colorado for the summer will make my search easier.

Those feelings come and go for me too... they usually rear their head whenever I achieve something.

I haven't re-read this recently, but I remember liking this Nature article on the topic:

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2009/090521/full/nj7245-468a.html

That instructor is blowing smoke out of their ass and should be ashamed for having such a reaction. Theres no way they wouldn't get laughed out of the Presidents office if they even tried such a thing.

If the instructor says "no", just get a Livescribe pen, or find a spot where the instructor can not see.

Zyzz--
There was no attempt on my part at "psychoanalysis." I did not ask any questions about your personal life, your interpersonal matrix, your relationships with your parents, your gender, your socio-economic class, or any other diagnostic question unrelated to the information you provided. (The point here is that before using a term, maybe you should know what that term entails. Or, at least, use the search button to get a better sense of those with whom you're communicating.)

On the contrary, in my reading of your OP I did you the courtesy of assuming that you are articulate enough to say what you mean. If you're going to get snide because you don't like it when people pick up what you put down, then maybe you shouldn't come to an internet BB and expect people to agree with you because you are neither wise nor introspective enough to figure out ways to solve your issue.

Underneath your attempt at psychoanalysis was some good advice. I did not want to go in with guns blazing (emotion), hense the reason I have kept quiet up until this point and posted for advice on how to take action without negatively impacting my future. The adjunct professor abruptly "resigned" after a meeting with faculty. She had sent out an email at noon stating that she would be emailing a lecture outline that afternoon. Two hours later, we were informed by the director that the class would be meeting in a different location that evening and he would be presiding over the class. He announced to the class that she had resigned for reasons he would not be disclosing. He went on a five minute rant about how we are not to talk about this outside of the class and if it were made known that we had, he would "come after us" and make our lives a "living hell" among other strong words. I recorded the threats in case I need it in the future for whatever reason.

I'm curious as to what made faculty change their tone so quickly and force action. It was not even two days before that they had intended their intent to do nothing. I certainly didn't do anything outside of what I said in the original post. My classmates had not either as far as i know. Needless to say, I am relieved for obvious reasons.

Bluntly, I think that you need to take a look at your attitude and how it may impact the outcome of this process.

You are going to be discussing a very complicated and controversial issue with people who have power over you. I think it is in your best interest to take your emotions out of the equation. Among the emotions to control are your feelings of victimization, self-righteousness, and anger. It does not matter if you and your cohort are in the right and they are in the wrong. If you communicate with the tone you display in the OP you will not prevail.

If you decide to continue with this process,
Identify the issues you want to address.
Figure out the outcomes you'd prefer.
Figure out the outcomes that are possible.
And then figure out what you can do to close the gap between what you want and what you can get.
That is, manage your expectations. You may want heads on a platter but what may happen is that students will get nothing more than an opportunity to retake the class.



Do not say anything about the individuals you're dealing with either on line or to anyone else that you're not willing to say it directly to those people. If you need to vent, and I suggest you don't, do it with pen and pencil or in an encrypted file. Right now, your emotions are getting the better of you. If you have a talk with people higher up in the food chain with the tone you used in the OP, you are going to undermine your chances for a sustainable resolution to your issue. Do not, under any circumstances, make anything that sounds like a threat, especially if you do not have the power to carry out that threat. If you're set on tearing the temple down, then do it. But do not talk about it. (Make no mistake, I think that this would be an incredibly self destructive act on your part.)

Concurrently, please do take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror. Bluntly, some of what you say you did does not track with who you say you are. You need to figure out these inconsistences before you go into a meeting and say/do something that undermines your credibility and forfeits the high ground. For example, somewhere along the line, you made some pragmatic decisions. But now you're talking about principle. What prompted the transition?

And there are other questions you might consider. Why are you fighting this fight? (It is unclear if you got a poor mark in the second class.) Who are you trying to help? Did they ask you? Are you helping them the way they've asked you? Or are you imposing your solutions on their problems and thereby complicating an already difficult situation? Whose interests and what priorities are driving you right now? Do you want a sustainable solution or do you want revenge? What are you going to do if you can't get either?)

I understand that some of my comments may not be what you expected. You strike me as someone who has what I call a "crusader's mentality." IMO, that isn't such a bad trait to have. However, I urge you to understand the differences between giants and windmills before you grab a lance and charge down the hill. And also understand that being angry can get in the way of being effective. (FWIW, as a hot head, I often say to myself: [sigaba], do you want to be mad or do you want to get the problem solved--because you cannot do both? When I decide to get the problem solved, things tend to turn out a lot better for me.)

HTH.

I don't know where you got the impression that people in cold places have a limited social life

Congrats on your acceptance to Boulder! I've decided to be forever confused by that ridiculously pointless letter and just be happy with the acceptances I've received. Even if UCF doesn't pan out, then I'm still extremely happy with attending NAU.

I wouldn't worry too much about the rankings. If you read the methodology, rankings are based "solely on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools". Respondents are required to rate the academic quality of programs on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), and this is then averaged and ranked. The response rate was only 31% for the latest survey.

Yes, while that has some value, i.e. what some academics think, it really doesn't say that much about the program itself. And the differences in scores are so minor too. I would go to any accredited school that I've visited and liked, and heard good reviews about from students. After all, we're not talking about law school here. We're all going to graduate and find the same jobs regardless of the ranking of our schools. The only exception would be if you were interested in pursuing a PhD later.

Congrats to everyone who got good news from CU Boulder today. I did my undergrad in the SLHS dept. there, just graduated this past December so if anyone has any questions about the program, feel free to PM me

Got the letter from CU Boulder about an hour ago, I can't believe I got in! I had basically given up completely and was kicking myself for only applying to 3 (very, very competitive) programs, so I had a laughing/crying moment at work when I got the email. Now to decide if I can afford to fly out for the open house on April 6th... It's really silly, I was actually in Boulder on Friday for a few hours during a spring break road trip, and not letting myself think about the possibility that I might get to live there. So excited for Colorado!

Rush made a mistake... I'm in! Apparently they had two people with my last name. My eyes still burn from crying all day, but this is such a welcomed surprise!

Penny Welch responded to my email just half an hour after I sent it, and it was a really friendly response! I get such a good vibe from the Vanderbilt department

Anyway, she basically said that they have a new DGS directing the office (Dr. Ricketts), so decisions haven't been made yet. She's hoping to have decisions next week but can't be certain (sounds like they might go out later than we're expecting). She said I can email again next Thursday and she'll tell me if there's a decision for me. Phew, it's a relief just to hear SOMETHING, even though it's not a decision!

Exactly what I was thinking! Especially since I'll be leaving for spring break on Friday and will be traveling and camping all week, which means no mail and limited email access. I hope we hear soon!

Really excited for everyone though, we are clearly an awesome group of applicants!

Same here. I should probably stay off these boards because all they seem to do is make me depressed and paranoid.

Yeah, and they had an extra leap day this year too! Booo. We should all just breathe and do some yoga. And wine doesn't hurt. : )