bucketsofrain

Sorry, let me clear up a few points: Amazon does have the books I need, but Thriftbooks doesn't. Sorry I was unclear there. Amazon is still a little pricey given how many books I need. The proxy server is a good idea. I'll just be home in a rural town for about two months before I move to my new campus and there isn't much access to the books I'll need there. Thanks for the tips!

Hi, everyone. I'm going to be starting a PhD program in the fall and I was told by my (probable) future advisor that I should be doing a lot of reading this summer to prepare. For various reasons (no access to library this summer, these books will probably be staples for me, etc.), I'd like to buy a lot of the books he suggested. Does anyone have any suggestions on the cheapest places to find books? There's always used books from Amazon and sometimes I use Thriftbooks, but they don't have the books I need. All the local bookstores I've checked out are way more expensive. Due to all the costs I'm going to incur this summer from moving and furnishing a new place, any savings I can get on books will be most welcome! Thanks!

I was just wondering how you prepared/are planning to prepare for the Greek and Latin reading exams. My PhD program is a bit unusual in that the reading list is shorter than it is at other schools, but I start taking the reading exams at the end of my first year and have to pass by the end of my second. Therefore, I really want to start preparing this summer and make the most of my time. I know how to manage smaller amounts of text for courses, but I've never had any experience with having to know so much text. Should I print out all the text and write on that? Actually write out all my translations? Thanks for any help; I want to be as prepared as possible going into my first year.

Does anyone have any experience having a pet (interested in cat specifically, but any info will help) in a studio/1-bedroom apartment? I really want to get a cat once I start grad school and I think having a cat would help keep my mood up, but I'm moving to a city that is really expensive and so will be in a small apartment. I'm mostly worried about the litter box situation and any potential grossness from that in such a small space. I've had cats my whole life, but in houses or bigger apartments.

Anyone going to Toronto? I am 95% sure I am going there (for Classics).

Did you email the head of graduate studies or your specific department? You might have better luck if you email a professor in the department. That is what I did (Classics), and they told me through email that I had been waitlisted and then, later, accepted. Best of luck!

Hey guys, just another story for this thread. My situation (a week ago!) was that I had gotten two acceptances, one funded and the other more unclear, and waitlisted at a really good match for me. I was really discouraged, because although my funded offer would have been all right (on paper it looks like a fine match), I really disliked it when I visited and my heart just wasn't in it. As soon as I got the notification that I was on the waitlist at the match school, I emailed back immediately expressing that I was still incredibly interested in the school. About a week later, I visited the school with dubious funding, and had a meeting with the DGS in which she basically said it was very unlikely for me to get funding. I left the meeting feeling really down and I happened to check my email. I had gotten in off the waitlist! I think emailing them reiterating my interest really helped. Within a few minutes, I had gotten further emails from my POI and a current graduate student and they were all very enthusiastic about my attending. So, keep your chins up! It can happen!

Columbia invited people to interview in New York a few weeks ago. I know they accepted some of these people, and they haven't contacted the rest (me...), so I assume we're on some sort of wait-list. Not sure about those not invited to interview, but the graduate director is incredibly nice, and I'm sure you could email him.

Oh, sorry -- misread your post. I didn't realize you were talking about your own status check. Sorry!

I'm not sure what's up with Austin's rejections/waitlists, but I've gotten in (along with like 8 other people, it seems), and the visit for prospective graduate students is tomorrow-Thursday. I can see if I can find out more information while I'm there.

Does anyone have any idea of what's going on with NYU? Or Toronto for that matter...