ANDS!

It may have been seven years ago, but I would feel a lot better about recommending him for admission if his GPA was on the cusp of a B/B- and not hanging on to a C/C+. I think that is the main issue. Now if there is cause to suspect that this person has improved their academic capability in the last couple of years I say go for it.

I would go with CMU. Yes it is Columbia; but as someone pointed out - they aren't really known for the ME program (though USNews has them listed 15 overall for engineering). I would get the research under my belt at CMU and then move on to bigger and better programs.

Well then by all means, craft personalized emails for these instructors you have had these substantive conversations with who I am quite sure will remember you in 5 or 10 years.

I doubt you're going to get any "fresh" takes on these because the consensus is the same: "Dear so-and-so, Thank you for reviewing my application; however I have accepted an offer from University X." There is no reason to over complicate it, and likely whomever is in charge of grad admissions is just going to check mark your name off and move on.

Once you're in, it generally takes a really poor performance to get that offer rescinded. If these were non-essential courses, I wouldn't worry about it - though it might affect your academic competitiveness for future merit based awards/placements. When in doubt though, just email the program. They will find out one way or another.

Grade inflation is not the same as fairly grading. I had an instructor who asked questions students really had no hope of answering fully; she had enough pedagogical experience to know exactly how to grade such problems. In reality though, I doubt your courses will be much different. Unless you plan to have a short academic career.

Not sure how much dissonance is going on in the previous posters scenario. I guess it sounded good though when hitting reply. . .

Don't teach. At least upper division (and definitely not graduate). I think you're slightly coping out; you say you have no problem giving a low grade, but was fearful of being called on it. If what you did was "right" - there shouldn't be any hesitation or fear. Probably not. They are a bit preachy though; no pun intended.

To me that would be an absolute blessing, because then you can legitimately base your decision on things that probably shouldn't matter (the vanity things). Buyers remorse in that situation shouldn't be a problem since all programs perform the same.

You wont hear anything after they make a decision; the actual Graduate Department will review their decision and let you know if you are in (usually a formality). I'd wager you'll hear something next week.

A couple of years ago I was whining about getting my BA at 30. This older woman, who was getting help from my advisor, came up and said: "Yanno, I'd rather be 50 with a PhD than not. . ."

NYU. Cultural and political center. No brainer really.

If I were teaching undergrads, I would maybe opt for jeans, a casual dress shirt and Timberlands. If I were lecturing graduate students, I'd opt for much of the same, with maybe a school t-shirt or other tee thrown in now and then. I've had some pretty poorly dressed instructors, and some pretty top notch (roll up in suit and tie, Rolex, shined shoes. . .whole nine-yards) - never did I stop to think "This guy knows/doesn't know" what he is talking about based on what they had on. Id wager it really all depends on the discipline.

Ha. Laughing at the "rep" on my previous post. Eh. Not about not being supportive. If one of the metrics is long-term success, then I would say the STEM programs have more than a leg up here. Yes I am pretty confident in my choice because there is an established history of success for folks in my program (and within the department I'll be joining). If the metric is "buyers remorse" - well that is just something that will happen in any program; quite impossible to really judge how well a fit a program is going to be until you are in the thick of it.

Storrs (UCONN) is much. . .less active I would say than Columbus. If you are looking at "Hey what is the better spot to live for the next 5 years. . ." Ohio State should win out (especially if the programs are similar).

That would be a pretty petty thing to lie about, especially since most people don't even use any semblance of a name. That being said there are some pretty strong profiles, but equally "mid grade" profiles as well.

No different than dating in the workplace. Has it's pros and cons. However if you are dating graduate students what complications could there really be other than awkwardness? Dating faculty is another story. . .

LMAO! EGS your post smacks of "academic entitlement". Sorry but graduate students are not going to be making any "top overworked profession" lists any time soon and as such aren't likely to be getting any tax sympathies. Yes, yes I'm sure the hours you spend pouring over ancient texts is grueling and seemingly Sisyphean in nature, but the great majority of the population isn't going to have much sympathy for you. Would it be nice for the amount on your stipend to be what you're actually getting - heck yes. But it's income. And income is taxable. As it should be (if you're into civic responsibility and all that).

Agreed. Stay out of it. Unless this "discussion" was salient to the underlying point of the course, and not just a tangent - you gain very little for exposing the instructors lack of facility in an area he probably isn't meant to know. There are no doubt a TON of things you know that this instructor (hell many of the instructors) don't know. . .thats what happens when one specializes.

Supply Side

Wow, no ifs ands or buts about it. The OP misrepresented themselves in the application process. Whereas he/she could have explained themselves in a Statement of Purpose, and how they are now in a position to complete a program, not they have dug themselves into a hole hoping in the next 5-years they aren't discovered. That's no way to live an academic life.

There are multiple transit options; a car would be my last choice to get in and out of Davis through I80. Specifically there is a (free) shuttle that goes from Davis straight to UCD Med Center. Also express buses operated by Yolobus that run fairly regularly.

Does your program have a doctoral track? If so, those TA'ships will be offered to them first.

Not sure why it would be "icky" (no different than sending out a letter if you have a kid); but in the FACEBOOK era is it really needed?

Mathematicsgre.com is a far better "source" for doctoral programs in Math.