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I know right! Theoretical partical physics is fascinating, but mathematically insane. At least with solid state devices you are working on something actually tangible with a defined use. I'm not sure that's where I'll end up, just an area that interests me; perhaps the math will scare me off; I dunno, I enjoy math until it gets purely theoretical, then I get a bit cross-eyed. Photonics is also facinating, but very physics based. Perhaps I'll go more the computer side; I do think I'd enjoy computer architecture. I spoke to a girl at LEAP last fall that is doing a combined electrical/systems combination and that seemed pretty crazy mathwise too, but a lot of linear algebra. I actually am pretty interested in BME, but more in devices which I'm told BU doesn't really focus on. If you are electrical, but getting your PhD in BME, what did you focus on if you don't mind my asking?

Haha, so me basically since I'm looking at doing electrcial and I'm interested in solid state and emag. potentially. Awww just email, Helaine is really nice and will let you know!

As I understand it you first qualify based on need, then you are ranked based on merit. I think this is probably where the real competition is. The CC classes are a great idea; I retook my Calc 1 at a CC before applying. I'm going to study calc 2 on my own (even though I took it in undergrad, that was a long time ago and I didn't do very well that semester), when I went to the open house last fall they said they've made arrangements before to test students out of things even though it's not an offical provision, so I'm hoping perhaps I can do that. Unfortunately, being overseas, I can't take any offical classes very easily :/.

I've applied for fall and if I get a really good scholarship offer I'll go then, but if not I might try to defer till next summer because I just started a good job that pays well. I'll have to do some number crunching and reflecting on what makes sense since there are a lot of considerations.

So I took a page out of StaNg72's book and emailed Helaine since I had just completed my FAFSA and I'm accepted . She said the offical letters should be going out this week with Financial aid offers in the next two (what I really want to know about), so everyone should know really soon!

Well that's very good to know!

I've actually seen these for other departments and it looks like BME admits more people than they do (certainly seems to be more women), but then again isn't it ranked 8th in the country? I think they count LEAP students once admitted into Phase II masters section, so no Phase I students are in there, but the others are. If you search the web they have the reports for the other departments as well; it makes for interesting reading.

Still waiting

It's not impossible, but potentially very difficult (see post above for link to Mass requirements, also check the state in which you'd want to work). There is an open house on the 13th that you can attend online and I plan on asking if people have done this. That said, I think PEs are mostly seen nowadays as only relevant if you want to do public sector work and what you build could cause lives (i.e. structural, civil whatnot). I spoke to a student when I visited and offhandedly mentioned the PE and she didn't know what it was, so I doubt it's highly emphasized.

Not yet, I am waiting anxiously!!! 1. The state requirements can be found here, I don't think it would be impossible, but it would be difficult because if you don't have a ABET accredited degree then it takes longer and ABET generally only accredits the bachelor degrees, not master degrees. I'm planning on asking this on the online open house on the 13th of February. I asked a student about it off hand when visiting and the didn't know what the PE was . You should go online for the open house if you are really interested in LEAP. PEs are only really strongly relevant if you are interested in public sector work. ETA: Regulations vary by state so it might be easier in a different state or potentially completely impossible, it all depends really . 2. No. This should be pretty obvious from reading the website, you need the hands on experience with engineering classes as you haven't had any before. This doesn't mean that some prereqs or less lab oriented courses might not be available online, but you can't do the whole program online and I think it'd probably be a waste if you could. 3. No, the reason is Civil really requires a PE because it's public sector based, if you want to do civil engineering you really need to go back and get a bachelor's degree first. 4. From the website : Awarding of LEAP scholarship is based on financial eligibility and merit. Students who wish to be considered for scholarship funding must fulfill the following requirements: Enroll at least half-time Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident Demonstrate need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov (code 002130) As part of the financial aid package, students eligible for the LEAP scholarship must also accept a Federal Stafford Direct Subsidized Loan of $8,500 per academic year. The amount of LEAP scholarship varies depending on the level of demonstrated need, merit, enrollment and availability of funds. Assistance is potentially available for up to seven semesters. International students are not eligible for financial aid for Phase I and must submit financial documentation with their application.

After I had submitted my online app and mailed in the supplemental materials I waited a few days and then called the program contact to see if my papers had arrived and to make sure nothing was missing or if it was that I would be notified. She very helpfully checked my application and pointed out one of my recommenders had not submitted a narrative recommendation. I can only see if they submitted, not what they submitted since I waved my rights. The recommender is not in academia and is not American so it doesn't surprise me that he only filled out the specific question section and didn't submit a narrative, but I was SO worried and emailed him the contact info to submit the narrative to. Luckily he is a very responsible individual and did so very quickly. There's also my other two advisers who were late with my recs One was late by 2.5 weeks and the other by just under a month ! Good thing I built in extra time for just that reason!

I can only go based on others as I've not applied to a PhD, but from what I've seen many people seem to need to take some debt on for cost of living, though this is minimal compared to the full tuiton cost of a PhD, which I too would advise against ever taking on. This is of course dependent on the person, cost of living of the city, and size of stipend, but my main point was simply that graduate degrees that aren't fully funded can be worthwhile as long as you take that into consideration when making the choice and it's truly what you want to do in life. "and there's the plethora of scholarships that merely require that you write some things" What scholarships are those? If they are that easy to get, sign me up! Most I've seen are limited and pretty damn competitive, especially in the current economy.

I've gotten the "I'm sure you'll get it", but not somewhere, because, while this is the second time I'm looking at grad school (already have one masters), just like last time I only applied to one place so it's this or nothing. "Have you heard anything yet"....yes I just haven't mentioned it because I hate you ! "Are you sure, that's quite a change"...career change grad degree...that's kinda the POINT! "Oh, but it's really cold there, are you sure about that"....oh yes, silly me, I forgot to filter my school choices based on WEATHER, because that is of course the most pertinate issue. Also, most of these people already know that this is the only type of program like this ANYWHERE, so whether I like it or not (and I do), I don't have much of a choice. "You should apply to MIT" "You just like school" Well, I do, but that's hardly a reason I choose to go to school and take on potential debt. "Don't go into any debt..." This is mostly said to PhD candidates and usually if it's in humanities, but still, I think some debt is inevitable even when funded and not all advanced degrees take as long to see a ROI as others (I'm applying to engineering masters so definitely not the case). Not really said directly, but implied is 'But you already have a masters in [completely unrelated field that can still be of use when combined with other masters]' Yeah, so? 'You already had debt from previous degree...' right, which I completely paid off and is now done and dusted.....?

Holiday function