mirandaw

Well, brokenrecord... You are in EXPOSURE science

I must say: bright leggings are a staple in my wardrobe, especially if it's the only splash of color in an otherwise muted palette.

Don't worry, icthere. I'm American and I've never watched an entire game of a professional sporting event, either. Every person is different and it's impossible to generalize or assume that each person with a shared overarching culture will have the same experiences, desires, interests, or otherwise. My best advice to you is have great conversations, be true to your interests, and be willing to try new things. Ask questions about things you don't know. If you have an interest in watching a basketball game and you come across someone who loves basketball, tell them you'd love to check out a game because you've never seen one. People love to share their interests with others.

I remember reading Nina Garcia's 100 items every stylish woman should own and adapting it for myself, but it's hard to get down with the dark neutrals as someone who loves her cat eye glasses, blue eyeliner, and red lipstick. I am going in to a professional program, so I'm trying to be aware of the image that I project as I prepare for networking. I suppose this means I shouldn't buy that leopard print dress from forever 21... Thankfully, I was never a sweats and ugg boots kind of person in undergrad. On my list of clothing to buy is a nice pair of jeans. I hate wearing jeans because the low cut style is not tailored to my body at ALL (I've finally admitted to myself I need a higher rise trouser, even if it feels "old"), but I need at least one nice pair.

This time last year, I was waiting for my immigration papers to arrive so I could land as a permanent resident in Canada, and suffering through the worst depression I'd had in years. Things are definitely looking up!

Landlords in college towns expect you to claim your student loan money as "income."

Oh my gaaaawd, all of the orange cats! Also, jeffster, your Misty is PRECIOUS!

Well considering TheFez isn't explicit whether or not they hold a PhD, I'm not sure their thoughts matter!

Regardless of his interest as "controlling partner," if the contract dictates co-authorship, he has no right to breach the contract without both parties revising the original stipulations, regardless of his standing as advisor. It is extremely unethical, not to mention illegal. The advisor should have known when the contract was drawn up that 50% co authorship on a published work implies that the second author (student) did the work and should not have agreed to the arrangement in the first place. Semantics aside, there should be a formal meeting with the department head and board of ethics at the very least. It SHOULD hurt this advisor's career - they should have known better. (which is not to say you shouldn't tread these waters carefully. You also have a lot to lose here.)

For a place to stay while you look, you could consider couchsurfing for a day or two. There is also apartment sharing. A friend in my building uses this website http://www.airbnb.com/

I've been desperate for a rabbit for ages now. I had an angora for a while but she passed. Theyre seriously the perfect mix of dogs and cats. (also, an aside: I had a dream I rescued three house rabbits that had been dumped outside. Then they all magically bonded and we lived happily ever after, the end)

What is your reasoning for continuing on to a PhD in policy? Have you worked in the field yet? Have you consulted with professors in your masters program regarding the necessity of a PhD?

This is Konstantine in the role Princess Pretty Paws

I can't believe I forgot about half.com. I bought the majority of my undergrad books there.

The basic "dont feed the trolls." You're admitting you're just trolling? Because obviously you're getting SOMEthing out of this forum or else you'd be long gone.

I second abebooks. I worked in a rare book collection during undergrad and we sourced a lot of our resource material from abebooks.

Sounds like you have a background in behavioral psych.

Also, UM has great transit. Better than most of the other cities in MI (I haven't lived in Ann Arbor, but I have lived in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, and transit wasn't the best). Plus its generally (and enjoyably) walkable. From what I've seen, it's also a pretty decent bike city. ETA: Car insurance premiums in MI suck because of how the insurance industry is set up. It's a weird state for that. Maybe you should file a few quotes online to determine what the insurance difference will be if you establish residency.

If you go carless and save that money through school, you'll have enough to put a downpayment on a much better car. Insurance prices + upkeep costs + gas + parking fees - transit fees will still bring you out on top.

You "plan on having" real life friends, which implies you currently have none. Not entirely surprised.

I didn't move for school, but I did move from Michigan to Vancouver, BC in 2010 when I got married (drove the distance by myself). I got rid of a lot of stuff (I had two tall bookshelves packed full and pared it down to only three shelves worth of books), packed only necessities I knew I would want. I bought an extended conversion van that had been converted to a camper for $1200 and hauled everything I decided to keep. A uhaul for the equivalent distance would have been more than $1500. Despite being a 1994 model, it made it the whole way, plus we used it for our honeymoon. Was definitely a worthwhile investment for all the use I got out of it before it failed and I sold it.

Also consider your prospects for work immediately after graduating, the possibility of networking, and potential future payscale in your decision. Is taking on debt worth it in your field if you weigh it against income in the future?

From my experience looking in to PhD programs at most places, they seem to fulfill two purposes: first, an interdisciplinary program to give professionals an edge in research and policy analysis (the approach I will eventually take), and second, a means to obtain an academic position. I don't recommend applying to PhD programs out of undergrad, especially if requirements dictate a master's first. A masters is more than sufficient to get into the field. It will give you a foundation for policy analysis that you will need for work or a PhD program. Professional programs aren't like academic programs, where skipping a masters or doing a masters+doctoral program is common practice.

Given your listed program, I'm going to assume class size will be much smaller than you experienced in undergrad. Similarly, you'll likely be working more closely with professors on research than you did in undergrad. Don't try to overextend yourself beyond your natural personality as it will seem false, but certainly put in extra effort to be a dedicated student. Depending on your program, if it's the norm to visit during office hours, then certainly do so. If there is a departmental lecture series, attend it. Allow your ideas to flourish both in class and on paper. You don't have to be hyper verbal in order to be noticed in grad school.

100% and 1 for 1.