ANDS!

I just read the thread (because I really didn't believe the thread title), and you folks saying "Just get over it. . ." - F-That. Espcially if there is a contract. I would rather be "slightly uncomfortable" than be robbed of my contribution to your field, and that is exactly what is occuring right now. No way in hell I would let someone screw me like that. Now maybe I have missed something but I haven't seen anything about where the OP actually addressed this with the advisor and if they have what the outcome was.

I thought the SOP was the most asinine point of the process; especially when there were instructions on what they wanted to specifically to see in your essay. While writing mine at some point I just thought, "you know - they really just want to know that I will be commited to this program, so let me just try and construct an essay that says that." Unless yours is uniquely bad, it's probably not going to be what gets you in.

A PhD is a research degree. The difference between a PhD and a Masters (in theory) is just that - a PhD has been trained to carry out independent research. If you have no interest in being the LEAD on research (nothing stops a masters student from being involved with research) then go for a masters. It's a professional degree and you can do quite a bit with it.

My formatting looks about the same as the default (on my monitor). Now I'm also on 19X12 resolution, so I'd imagine on a CRT things might be a bit out of whack. I am referring to federal loans. And if, in Takers case, they are boxed out - that is definitely something to consider. However, schools aren't likely to get in the habit of adjusting support per person and instead will continue to dole out dollars at a flat rate for general applicants. If 18K isn't enough (and in Takers situation, being from out of the country and having dependents) then this is one of those situations where hard choices have to be made. This would occur with or without a financial crisis in CA.

Some schools must do things differently. I received a nice funding package from my school, and applied for financial aid for the fall semester to have some startup cash for buying new things. I saw no adjustment on my overall aid package. And really why should there be - it's a loan, while the stipend is a "wage" in a sense (it is certainly taxed as one). As for the low level of support - 18,000 is a pretty average stipend level for most programs in the country. The hard sciences will always pay more, and the non-quantitative programs will generally pay less on average. And yes, California costs a bit - in some places. It all depends on where you live. Generally the further south you go (Bakersfield notwithstanding) the more you are going to pay. /shrug

Generalizations are not opinions. "All blacks are great at basketball" isn't an opinion, its a generalization. Surely as a graduate student you should know the difference. And the example I was asking for was public works projects that appeal to emotions and not sensibilities. The last "emotional" project that I saw a ballot measure for was the ridiculous high speed rail that was rightfully voted down.

This all depends on where you live. You can not just say that about all of California. Plus, California is huge. . .it is unreasonable to expect every piece of livable terrain to have it's own little forest/mountain range in it's backyard. For example? Something tells me you are generalizing your experiences to the entire state; which is just ridiculous. I will say, if you wanted to bump into woodland creatures everytime you go and walk the dog, then you probably shouldn't have come to California, where most of those locations are getaway spots, not centers of government and education. Being a large state, we can build like that. If your stipend isn't enough, you can always apply for financial aid as a graduate student.

I spent weeks looking for a job, but recently have decided "Screw it. . .I'm going to just veg out the next couple of months." Moving in with family, and will probably find a place to volunteer or maybe take a prepatory class.

This poster means CERTAIN education. Not all degree's are created equal.

I just want to say, if you look at the thread title from the front page it says: "my phd-advisor stole my man" I have nothing else to contribute to this conversation.

Is this for 12 months or 9 months? Your school might be operating under the assumption that you will seek/find summer employment or there may be summer funding available. I would check on this. Because 15000 for 9 months is pretty doable.

Indeed; they aren't going to give you a "You'll be admitted to our PhD program if you just apply" answer. Most schools wont. I feel you on the "I dont have a ton of cash. . ." bit - but who does? Sadly this is one of the breaks about applying to grad-school, reaching out to programs that may not accept you.

If you have no undergrad debt, taking out grad loans is a good option. FYI, everyone gets the 20K (I have yet to see someone who applied for FA and didn't get the full amount). If this is a masters, 20K for two years is a pretty good deal; of course this is all contingent on what kind of job market your degree has, but on the whole it's not a bad move.

Stanford or Berkeley? How about Lakers or Celtins? Kate Upton or Mila Kunis? 100 dollalrs now, or 100 dollars tomorrow. These are non-choices. The difference between both schools for your long term research and/or professional desires is pretty damn non-existent. They are both top schools. . .IN THE FUNKING WORLD. This has to be a joke thread, with the overemphasis on rankings.

I think you miss the point of his response. He was saying people aren't getting accepted based on a cursory look at GPA. Of course the GPA matters, but it is the ticket to Admission into Application Review. As to the OP, the strength of your GPA will all depend on what classes you've taken. No one on a grad committee s going to give two sh*ts about an Accounting class if you've over excelled in upper division math/stat courses.

The question I haven't seen answered: "Will you find a job quick enough that will allow you to pay off the 85K in debt?" Only you know the job market where you will end up with your degree, so only you know how well you are going to be able to start paying of the 85K (plus whatever else you've borrowed) which, if you want done fast, will be a sizeable chunk out of your paycheck each month.

And I would say if anyone believed it did has only their delusion to blame for their lot. No job is "[insert catastrophe] proof"; and no one who uses that phrase means it is 100% inoculation against bad tidings. Articles like this generate hits, that is their goal. A great minority of people have doctorates, and a great minority of them are on government aid (a number that is significantly - statistically and literally - lower than the general population); hardly reason to run to the hills. Some people just chose wrong.

These articles always look at the same people: those with majors where unemployment is highest and job placement is lowest. And thus they create this false sense that "Hey PhD's are worthless." What these articles need to start digging into is the job search/pre-major prep a lot of those being interviewed did. The woman says she always wanted to teach - well did she gauge the market in her area for a PhD History professor? Not likely. From the moment one steps on campus to the moment they leave, you should be on a constant evaluation of your long term job prospects, as well as what is needed to achieve the most success. Graduating with an expensive PhD in Medieval History and realizing that no one in AZ (something tells me she is locked into the state) will hire you tells me this woman didn't do that. I'm all for someone doing what they love, but there has to come the realization that not everyone is going to get PAID to do that.

Two FB profiles: one for Good friends, other for acquaintances. If you think that acquaintance is now ready to be moved to the good friends category go ahead. That's what I do. One FB for school relationships, other for the meat and potatoes folks.

No different than "workplace romances", and carries the same caveats - most people do it, and if you're going to do it, be smart about it. For people moving to new cities, I'm surprised it isn't just accepted as fact that it will happen - you're most likely to see these people more than anyone else.

You might want to investigate what the "First Year" requirements are of your department. The program I accepted there is no TA'ing your first year - you are simply there to pass your first year classes and subsequently first year exams. It's a great way (I think) to get students acclimated to the program and pace of grad school.

A bachelors is hardly useless. The great majority of working professionals have them. Just an aside to give some weight to that comment.

Probably not meant to do it on your own, but go to HR BLOCK (which often offers free preparation/filing) or something. There is also very often free tax preparing for certain types of filers; I'd keep an eye out for such services offered at a local career center.

Public domain? I know nothing about "The Classics". . .classic books? If so, just grab them off the internet. If we're talking textbooks, Amazon, Abebooks, Alibirs, etc. are good resources for used material. Inquire if previous editions (if there are multiple) are fine.

This is the dumbest statement so far in this thread; only a damn fool would willfully close themselves off to ALL avenues/resources in regards to future graduate work. "Ah, there's an ENTIRE forum of current, about to be, and hopeful graduate students. . .naw, probably no helpful hints/reminders lodged in there. I'll just stick with asking Professors 20 years removed from the graduate process what it is like." Dumb.