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GreenePony

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Everything posted by GreenePony

  1. Foggy Bottom is the neighborhood that GW is in (the metro stop is 'Foggy Bottom- GWU'). If you look at the Washington Post's website they have an apartment search engine that divides by neighborhoods. I was always told to stay out of NE/SE DC but I also have friends who are very happy in both, so it really just depends on the block. I'm not sure what you can find in a one bedroom under 1000 near Foggy Bottom but if you go north or west into Virginia you may luck out. I would see if your dept has a list-serv or fb group to try and room with people to lower your rent. Also, metro time can be relative since the time between train varies by time of day and it's not unheard of for trains to "malfunction" (don't ask me what that actually means beyond you being stuck for 15-45 mn with no explanation). I've had the 3? stop ride from Federal Triangle to Foggy Bottom take 15 mn and I've had it take 30 mn. I use the metro time to study so the commute doesn't bother me, I just build in an extra 15 mn to be safe.
  2. It really depends on what you consider affordable. <2000 is affordable for me because DH is working. <1500 is affordable for a friend because she's on her own. I'm happier outside of the district, out on the edge of Alexandria and Springfield but it means to Foggy Bottom my commute is ~30-40 minutes and it's a pain when I'm working further down the blue line (my commute to the Navy Yard is around an hour 20-30.) A lot of people live near Rosslyn and Crystal City stops, not sure what there is since I was limited to places that include pets. Something to keep in mind is that some of my peers lived in on campus housing to be essentially be kicked out when they needed room for undergrads (not sure the details of that).
  3. Now I actually have an EDC with grad school- with a small Ellington Lucia satchel Kindle Fire Earbuds Chapstick Wallet/Checkbook SmartTrip Card/SI ID (I know door access cards eat smarttrip cards but it's so convenient) Keys 1000ml waterbottle (I empty it in one class) Pens and pencils Business cards Cell phone Notebook
  4. If you're finding mass market shirts too tight in the bust- and depending on just how tight/ how much "strum"- look at more "specialty" shops like DDatelier (love everything I've gotten from them), and Biubiu. Carrissa Rose has button ups (or they may be hook and eye, I forget) and Campbell & Kate has white and french blue button ups but they're bot pricier (I snagged a fit sample from C&K for 1/3 the current price, and I love it). Thanks to the suggestion to look at past years' photos, I think I'm getting the idea that most people dress as they would in their "real" jobs, maybe a step dressier. Does that seem about right?
  5. 4- most people seemed to apply to the same number/ 3 are pretty much the same across all of my peers.
  6. What does everyone wear to conferences? I have my first professional conference next month and am trying to figure out what to pack. Business casual? Dressier but not quiet suits?
  7. My friend/section leader moved with me to the same program so we looked for options to keep playing and here's what we found: - Community Bands (I played with one near my hometown for 4-5 years) - University pep bands (they ended up requiring everyone to also be in a concert band which conflicted with our courses) - Church orchestras (not an option for everyone but it would have worked for us) - Small ensembles in the community (found though networking, Craigslist, list) - Pro Sport Bands (we seriously considered auditioning for the Redskins Marching Band but then everyone else wanted to march to watch RG3 and we had 4 years experience of that already) I would talk to local music/instrument repair shops to see what's in the area.
  8. I was in sort of the same place in undergrad. DH and I got engaged between my sophomore and junior year and while engagements are completely normal, the size of my stone was not (especially since I was in the humanities). In the end, I wore the ring when it was practical (studying in Guate, not so much) and didn't make a big deal of it. Once we got married between Junior and Senior year, I alternated between wearing both rings (which DH preferred, he is proud of the ring since he designed it) and just my band. Just because I think the ring is too much for my volunteering (I don't want to submerge diamond and sapphires in 97% ethyl and bone grease), I tend to wear my band more often. But even when I wear my e-ring, no one really comments. Regardless, make sure you have good insurance (my band is currently missing after making dinner tonight, so we might have to use ours )
  9. LOVE the flamingo comparison. On the metro the other week, a peer and I saw a women with a large suitcase and 4-5" stiletto booties. We marveled at how uncomfortable she looked.
  10. For those who work in a lab- what do you wear? I started part time in a wet lab, cleaning bones (500lb tank on coasters, 90% alcohol cleaning solution,etc). The only "rule" is closed toe shoes (last time I was there the lead was in a sweater and ropers and the permanent staffer was in flannel and work boots). The only lab experience I've had in the last 5 or so years was a very basic chem lab where we did things like remove tarnish from silver with foil and baking soda so I was fine with slippers really. Alcohol isn't that destructive (even if it smells horrific) so I'm not sure how secure I need to be- Western Boots/Ropers? Topsiders? LLBean's Rubber Mocs (I have the hunting boot but would want something slide on)? Loafers? *edit* DH hates loafers and topsiders, thinks they're sloppy/masculine. Thoughts?
  11. Hipmunk is good Also, see if there is a particular airline that fits your travel plans best (ie DH has to fly into the small regional airport for work regularly and of the two airlines that service there, only one flies out of our local airport here) and pay attention for special promotions. I am able to fly back and forth from Texas for a wedding, free (and first class, woo!) because American had a special double-your-miles deal over the holidays.
  12. Less than 4 weeks left in my first semester- hurray!

  13. Pretty much, as far as a college formal being like a wedding reception goes. DH was in a fraternity so I was dragged along to their formals and semis. It seems pretty standard between his dances and my friends in sororities that most of it really isn't dancing as much as socializing. There was one formal on campus that had formalized dancing (basic Ballroom- shaky waltz and foxtrot, and a little Latin) and that was only because the program prided itself on being “classical” (their translation: stuffy). Watch the first few songs (once people actually start getting out on the floor) for what people are doing as far as dancing goes. I think she would warn you if there were a certain style of dance she expected you to know. Oh, and as for people in the early 20s being expected to know any dances in general- I don't think anyone really expects your average 20-something to know anything beyond the sway-and-shuffle (see SeriousSillyPutty's response) and whatever you do during those fast/popular songs. I ran a dance organization on my campus and I can tell you the vast majority had no idea what they were doing without a top 40 song (to be fair, there were a number that could two-step and Texas two-step but we were *in* Texas.) It would be worthwhile to ask what's typical as far as suit goes but for our formals- it was a dark suit and tie with the girls in formal (not black tie) dresses.
  14. I think everyone so far has pretty much covered it- we looked into covering my husband as well as myself under a university health plan and while it was possible, it was very expensive. In the end we got a plan for myself elsewhere and he just has catastrophic (but with savings to cover the amount needed before it kicks in). At my undergrad they had fairly decent family housing, but it was cheaper to live off campus. Where I am now and other programs I considered abroad did not have married student housing. I found out information on lack of married student housing on most Campus Living sections of university websites, but I imagine admissions would likely be able to help as well. As far as family housing went at undergrad, I lived in a near identical apartment for two years with 1-3 other college-aged women- our residence director lived next door with her husband and two young sons while they were both in graduate studies. They fit but they found it necessary to find outside play areas or else it got cramped very quickly. It was similar for our resident chaplain who had his own small family in a connected complex.
  15. I wish I could use university official cards- but they only offer them for business school students - oh well, the new logo is awful. Guess this means I need to tidy up my linkedin account (the first time I'll need this we're working on CVs anyway so that won't be as important) I thought it was too much information to include
  16. I get that on professional business cards you need to include you basic contact info (email, phone, name) but how much program information do you really include (in the humanities)? I’m seeing a couple options for me that uses parts of the following information: Museum Studies Master’s Candidate [university name] [museum area focus, academic core department] Bachelor’s of Art in Anthropology (include minor in Museum Studies?) [undergrad University] Do you include graduation years/expected graduation? Most of the times I would be handing out cards would be at museum professional events so I would think I need to include my focus area but I’m not sure my academic core (not the same area as my undergrad degree) is relevant. Same for undergrad.
  17. If you want to Museum Management/Exhibit Design- you should be aware that there really isn't a place in the US to do a PhD in Museum Studies, but there are a number who do MAs (Cooperstown, GWU, Baylor, JFKU, Texas Tech, John Hopkins, etc). If you want to do art museum management, I would look into a program that would allow you to have some focus on that (as far as I'm aware Cooperstown focuses on History Museums, GWU allows for different academic focuses and opening a combined Textile/Art/Washingtonian museum in 2014, Baylor has an art museum that's across the street from the department which is in a history/children's museum). And certain programs have stronger exhibit design programs. I believe Leicester, in the UK on top of having museum studies, also has an exhibit design program. I'm not sure the path for conservation, I've heard the application process is incredibly tough but I never put more research into it. I do agree that volunteering/interning would be beneficial to narrow your plan.
  18. I was looking at a MA program in the UK, but intended on coming back to the US for work but because of my undergrad's alumni base I did get to hear both sides. Of the people who went on to the program (Leicester's Museum Studies) they said it was much easier to get a job in the UK but it was necessarily difficult to get a job here either. It just took more time (4-6 months seemed average). But I'm not sure what visa level they applied to, though.
  19. Public speaking... I am finding it appalling how many students have no idea how to present or even deliver an intelligible response to a question. Is it really that difficult to construct a statement without using "um" or "like" repeatedly? I did not even take a speech class in undergrad, just my freshman year of high school and I still benefit from it. I would like to also say a basic poli sci class but it was required at my undergrad (someone gave a lot of money to the university on the condition that all students take this class) and it did very little good.
  20. We live just outside the district and I commute in regularly so either way, I'm just pretty sick of commercials. When my friend and my entertainment on the metro is to compare campaign ads we saw the day before (the "Dear Daughter" one is still one of our favorites, reminded us of the "3am" one a bit), we know it's been too much. Frankly, I was more looking forward to the Stewart/O'Reilly debate yesterday than the Romney/Obama one.
  21. Sorry, nothing new- we use Skype for our international calls. My husband telecommutes and it found that the most reliable, most affordable option (some of his coworkers are in Israel, Australia, and Canada while we are in the US). My parents have Vonage and were not impressed by their service.
  22. I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Something to add is that some companies still source their jerky from China but can somehow label their products from the US- it seems most chicken jerky is like that. If people can't make their own, I would suggest avoiding chicken jerky for awhile longer- unless you know for sure it's source. We use baked sweet potato slices (1/4" thick, 250 for 3 hours) as an alternative.
  23. My break is roughly a month thanks to a lack of finals (well, there's one but it's online) but a good week of it is being eaten up by my inlaws' insistence that we visit them for Christmas I'm likely going to spend it continuing my volunteer work. It has a late start this semester since the volunteer coordinator got behind but I'm not sure how extensive the project will be so it may not even last the full semester. It doesn't directly relate to my research but it's a nice branch between my undergrad and grad classes. I'm putting off my internships until summer/fall because of this.
  24. Now that I have my first paper back I'm feeling pretty confident about my in-program classes. The problem is going to be my "core" since I've never actually taken a class in American Studies (just classes that were crosslisted). My first class in it is terrifying since the professors is used to teaching a totally different class/program/school/type of student and its in an area I know very little about. It's also far more academic than my in-program classes, which are more practical/professional, and this could be a challenge in the future. I'm finding for the required in-program classes, I'm pretty well prepared. It basically combines the classes I took in undergrad into two classes and very few of my peers have the same knowledge base. Although, there are a surprising number of people who have worked or are still working in the field already. I am not sure how that is going to affect the internship or job search since we'll be hunting at the same time. Overall, I'm not panicking yet. Maybe because I don't have to write a proper thesis for this program.
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