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ANDS!

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Everything posted by ANDS!

  1. The Thinkpad W series is the performance workhorse if you don't care about weight and need a dedicated graphics card. Docking stations are about 300 bucks.
  2. Laptop. There are SEVERAL 4LB or less laptops out there that do not skimp on power. My recommendation would be the Thinkpad T430s (or if you want the newest T431s). Both come in at under 4LBS, and are a lot lighter than they look (and I believe the T431s is classified as an Ultrabook). I would also go for an SSD, but NOT manufacturer provided (ripoff). By stock, and then get the Samsung 840 (whichever one fits your price point) along with the NEWMODEUS Hard Drive Caddy (not sure if they provide one for the T431s yet. . .) This will allow you to take the stock HDD on your Thinkpad, slap it in the DVD/CD drive and use the SSD for everything computation related and leave the HDD for bulk storage. This process is about as easy as can be and is just a matter of swapping out some screws. If you go for a T430s, look in Lenovo's outlet for a returned model - you can often shave 200 or so bucks off. You can get them for as low as 700 bucks. And Windows 7. Come on now.
  3. I always skip articles like these for one reason: the attempt to generalize a process that is for the most part largely dependent on your program (and hell even the department itself). Not everyone has a "lab" they need to report to, or is jockeying for bunsen burners or saddled with 200 essays on 1850's British Literature to read. Equivalently, not everyone has flexibility in schedules or a hands-off-when-not-needed relationship with advisors.
  4. For actuarial sciences - no way. The MS option at Columbia only mentions calc, econ and linear algebra. I'd say go for it, emphasizing your performance in relevant coursework (it's what I did).
  5. Why are you trying to be a sole-author? I can't think of the last paper I read that had only one author on it. If the goal is to show potential programs that you have a desire and capacity to do research, being named a co-author on a paper isn't going to send the wrong message.
  6. Change it for what? A CV? If so, if you feel the job title is to general or vague, you can just describe your duties there w/o shining on about the actual title.
  7. Not only spam, but f***ing baseball spam! Are you crazy?!
  8. Another thread for the "Grad Student Problems" Tumblr that exists only in my head.
  9. As mentioned, consider simply selling off all of your gear and potentially taking out a student loan (all grads can get them) to replace what you need.
  10. Dear god. . . every time I see someone with a Windows 8 touchscreen laptop I wonder if they're someones kid or they're just busy waiting for their friend to finish. If you want a laptop that will last, you're best looking at Apple, Lenovo (T series) or perhaps Samsung (Series 9).
  11. If someone is an introvert, just putting them in grad housing (with a random room mate possibly) isn't going to magically make them an extrovert. That's not how that works. It's like just because you go to a bar doesn't mean you're going to pick up a chick or a duder. You still need the compulsion and incentive to initiate the next step. Realistically just having an outgoing room mate, that you get a long with, is the better path to social success, and that can happen anywhere (and cheaper than grad housing). Also, simply by virtue of graduate programs being destinations for non natives, you will make friends with fellow Sheamus's who will more than likely ask "Hey, are you up for exploring this fine new city." Also I second apartment/house renting because of the "Me-time. . ." factor. I live alone in a house far from most everyone else in my program (relatively speaking); there was no way in hell I was going to do apartment living - especially if I could afford not to. While the folks in my program are just darling, I need a spot that isn't bumping music 25/8 or heavily foot trafficked. . .which is not a requirement met by certain places popular with graduate students.
  12. R. So much more robust, and you'll seem (to others) smarter for it. If you want a GUI, get RStudio.
  13. If a university is so garbage as to centralize the admission process into the hands of a single NEWLY appointed individual. . .I say more power to the rejection. That assumes that - as someone mentioned - this isn't one big troll-experiment; which I am fairly sure it is.
  14. So long as the professional assistance isn't predicated on the personal interest - I don't see a problem. You don't work directly for him and you are volunteering. Of course the advice "Don't shit where you eat - " is always relevant, in the case that you do ever want to eat at this agency (should you pursue a romantic relationship with the guy).
  15. I do both. I purchase textbooks and find pdf's. I'm not big into lugging books around, and will slap a textbood on a tablet when I need to go mobile.
  16. If your only option is PDE's and Theory of Computing - I would go with the PDE. IF those two are your only option (because there are a ridiculous number of better courses to take if you're trying to get competitive).
  17. I'm not sure what waiting gains someone? They aren't going to renig on the offer (like any physical change it's up to the student to adapt), but no one likes surprises - especially one that can be communicated in like a single email, and followed up with some tips and maybe even referrals on daycare and other resources available.
  18. Yes. They work surprisingly well and have a discrete recorder if you're into that kind of thing. You do not need the paper that they sell, you can make your own (I only say this because I usually write on 26LB paper versus the usual 24LB - mental difference, but a difference).
  19. Is there some secret link on that page that shows me that the cheapest Air is not in fact 1000 bucks? And what makes Apple a "premium" product - because they say so? The OS, build quality, customer service? All of these merits can be argued to exist well in PC options. Indeed. I mean it's like I've ever seen an Apple Store in even the cheapest American mall, or a campus bookstore's tech section dominated by Apple ads. . .or even an Apple ad appealing to the 18-34 market (and they most certainly didn't use a scruffy, young looking Justin Long to communicate average hipness - not at all). Man. What the hell was I thinking? I have two SSD's in my laptop; the folders that contain anything of value are synced to both Drive and Dropbox. I walk into a WiFi and bam, it's synced long before I even realize to do it.
  20. Does Apple now make anything OTHER than the Pro? I don't think so. So yes, it is legitimate to "whine. . ." about the price point of Apples full featured laptop. The Air is certainly priced better (at least the model with the tiny screen), but it still tips the scales at 1000 bucks. All in my T430s was about 200 bucks less (and still managing to feel lighter than an older ultrabook I had) and certainly much cheaper than the comparable (in terms of specs) Macbook Pro. So yea. Apple products are a barrier to entry. This is not a new thing, and I can imagine complaints about it get tiresome - but pretending it's not a legitimate complaint is a bit silly.
  21. I think only grad. students would find trading 20 hours a week of grading low level assignments in exchange for a free post-graduate education "deceptive and unfair. . ."
  22. If there were a Tumblr called "Grad Student Problems. . ." this would be a prime candidate for entry.
  23. I'm not sure why you're taking the internets advice on something that probably has more subtle context than can be translated over a thread on TGC. If you want closure go for closure - not about him. It's about you.
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