psychgurl

red stripe

Very true. I am still using the same MacBook 3.5 years after my purchase. No problem yet. This would def not be the case with a PC!

If you don't need "cool" or "trendy" features, a PC would be much cheaper than a Mac. I have a Mac, and I love it. If you really don't care about the extra features, though, then I can't see how a Mac purchase would be justified.

I would consider fit with POI if both the programs in general seem like good fits. Is there one POI that you get along better with? Or one that has a better track record with including grad students on publications, helping students get placed in tenure-track positions, etc? Also, location! Where will you be happier at?! Exciting position for you to be in, with 2 great choices!

Just curious what the decision was...but I think it's fairly normal for them to make all the decisions in a day, especially if there aren't a ton of applicants who were interviewed. Did you get in?!?!

This seems like the logical moment to bring it up. If you think you are going to be obsessing over this detail after you divulge, though, I would just not share this info. I tend to over-analyze everything, so I would probably be paranoid about if I should have brought it up or not. In reality, I doubt it would have much sway on their decisions (good or bad), though...

inner beauty

For my PhD offer, it said to respond in writing to the grad admissions coordinator. I wrote the grad admissions coordinator an email stating my intention to accept the offer. I also forwarded this to my POI with a more personalized message. The grad admissions coordinator said I don't have anything to sign at this point, and my orientation & cohort information will be sent to me early summer.

amusement park

Ditto. It's been fine for my purposes (word processing, web browsing). I have a Timbuktu bag with a laptop compartment...so it's easy to carry around.

convection oven

bow out

helicopter mom

Dropping out of 2 PhD programs is NOT the same thing as a lapse in employment. Each of the 10 applications I filled out required me to list EVERY institution I attended (including transcripts from each). You also are required to digitally sign at the end of every application, stating that all of the information provided is COMPLETE and ACCURATE. I would personally decline the offer...someone else could have the spot that you will probably lose once your program finds out your past academic record.

Just curious, but you say that one person or the other usually has to sacrifice their career because you have to move where you get a job...what are you planning on doing with your husband? How do 2 academics make it work?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_Record_Examinations

bubble bath

time-warp.

As bwatkins said, decide carefully depending on what kind of person your boss is. Have other people left for grad school at your company? If so, how did they handle the news then? Some bosses are extremely flexible (e.g., my boss said if I wanted to take the summer off to "explore Europe" that's fine [ahem, with what money?!?!]...but it's also fine to stay up until classes start). Others...maybe not so much. I feel like 3 weeks is sufficient notice, depending on the nature of your work. Maybe you could do some behind-the-scenes prep to get your work in order so that it could easily be given to someone else?

Roman statue

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger ... oh, how I love mindless reading when I have time!

long jump

tuna salad

Can you go to HR? That sounds ridiculous. Congrats on your acceptance, though! I hope that one day you can rub that in your boss' face!

hot dog