new_to_kin

Just be careful where you rent. The "student ghetto" is full of really awful accomodations surrounded by drunk undergrads. I live here, so if anyone needs advice about where to rent, let me know.

Lots of people here use those grocery boxes that you buy. Use wing nuts and two thin slats of wood with holes drilled to accommodate the wing nuts. The slat goes under the rack. You can also buy nice wooden slatted crates from etsy or use a wood wine box (heavy)

Don't get the clip on fenders. You should be able to get a decent pair for $30-40. It's worth the protection. Unless you like having a wet butt and a black stripe up your back. I vote either backpack or a pannier that converts to a messenger bag. That is what I have. I have a Carradice Bike Bureau and a Po Campo Loop Pannier (girly). That way your back stay sweat free and you don't look like a dork carrying a pannier around.

I met my now-husband at grad school. I was doing my masters and he was doing his PhD. We were in the same field, but with different specializations. Now I am going to start a PhD in a separate field entirely, mainly because I do not want to do what he does (no spousal hires in his faculty). My career has been seriously compromised by marrying him, which I knew it would be from the outset. I'm fine with that and would be happy to be an adjunct at OurU.

I moved to a different country for my Masters. I took 4 suitcases. It can totally be done. This included books, some linens, CDs (music student), music. I bought cheap furniture and household supplies once there - it was well worth it. I think it was a lot cheaper to do it this way even compared to a cross country move. Students sell of their stuff for $10 when they need to get out of town. Survive the 1st few months with nothing and then wait until people start movning around. The summer is not a good time to pick up deals, but as soon as semester starts you're good!

If it were me, and I was moving with a SO, then definity go for a place alone/without roommates. IMO it can create a funky dynamic, esp if the other party/ies are single. Plus, don't you want to be able to be free to hang out in your underwear while brewing coffee, etc?

I met my husband when we were both at grad school (him PhD, me Masters) and now he is a prof. I'm going back to do my PhD, but things will be pretty different this time as we have 2 kids now.

$800 is a LOT in this town for a single room. You can get a 2 bedroom apt for about the same amount. PM me if you want more info - I'm originally from Australia so I understand how it is to move overseas for grad school (did my Masters in the US).

I'm not technically an International student, but I'm from overseas and was intl in the US for my Masters. Where are you from?

Which site if you don't mind (don't need to link your profile, but interested in the site)

I'm 33 and will be starting a PhD in the fall. I've met most of the other students in my lab and they are all about 10 years younger than me. I'm also a bit anxious about this. However, all of them have a stronger background in our field than me and I really respect that. I know that I'll be asking them for a lot of help and advice. In fact I have a lot more in common with the prof (kids, married, etc) than the students, plus my husband is a prof at the same institution (different faculty) so I know that will be a funny one to negotiate. I am planning on being respectful to the other students. I make friends easily so I presume this isn't going to be an issue. I think the main thing is to avoid thinking of their age too much!

I am so sick of hearing this. I think a lot of it comes because I am changing fields. Plus a lot of musicians would love to get out of music and can't believe my luck. "What? They let YOU in? How?" "Well you do know you'll have to do anatomy and stuff!". Um yes. "How on earth do you think you'll do that?" "You'll have soooo much catching up to do". Yes. I know. "Do they know you only have a Masters in Music?" Yes. They know. I did not lie on my application. However, I did get straight As in my Masters.

Personally, the first program seems like a better fit. I am also in my 30s and have kids and a SO, so I can relate. Money is the #1 stressor in relationships. Even if other aspects of the university (location etc) aren't perfect, the money will go a long way to making it ok. Plus you will hopefully have the money to get out of there on occasion. The real alarm bell for me in your post is this: your SO wants to choose the next place you move to. If you want to go into academia this very well may not be possible, especially in this job market. You might be lucky to even get one job offer when you're done and it could be somewhere undesirable. I'm a faculty spouse and we faced this 5 years ago. Luckily it turned out well for us, but this isn't my first choice of places to live. I know many spouses who moved here with their SO and they loathe it here, yet they stay and bitch and moan about it constantly. IMO, that is no way to live. So I do think that a conversation with your SO might be in order. The reality for academics is that you go where the job is. And once you have tenure, you're certainly not going anywhere. There is a distinct chance that you might end up living some place neither of you like. Until retirement. In my SO's cohort, at one of the tip top schools in his field (before that financial crisis), there was only one student who was offered more than one position. The second offer was at a really terrible school and the first offer was at USC. Now there are grads from Yale (top level in his field) who have gone more than 3 years without a single offer. Not even one-years. So please think carefully on this and talk to your SO.

We have 2 of the Brother MFCs - they copy, scan and print. One is in my husband's office at the uni (he is a prof and uses it constantly) and one is here at home. We had a Brother laser before these that was great too - printed off several copies of DH's dissertation. Brother is 'cheap' but we have never had any problems with them - solid and the right price.

Bear in mind that the academic year has only just begun (mar) there so they are prob really busy. They are probably used to people starting in MArch, not Sept, so it is a different timetable. I'm an Aussie, so feel free to ask me anything. I went to grad school inthe US and now am going in Canada, so I am familiar with both styles of school.

Unfortunately, you're not technically a student this summer. So it could be a problem. Can you delay your graduation from the undergrad until the next convocation (October?) without messing up your grad school?

I bike all year round in a climate v similar to Chicago (cold, snowy, icy winters). My husband and I both use studded tires in the winter and they are amazing. Also fenders are a must on all your bikes. check out the blogs: lovely bicycle and lets go ride a bike for inspiration for riding in regular clothes. I prefer to ride in a skirt. I don't have to change at work unless I am goign to the gym. I intend to ride to grad school, though we will prob have a pass as well as we have kids.

Vintage. You'll be able to get something pretty good for $200-300. New in that range is not even worth bothering about.

I also did my undergrad in music, masters in music and am going to start a phd in Kinesiology. Also studying musicians' injuries. Go figure.

Anyone else going in the Fall?

If you're going for a tenure track job at the end of this then definitely go for the TAship. I wouldn't worry about being away from family. At least you're in the same continent. I moved literally halfway around the world for my masters... And stayed. It's doable. Teaching exp will carry you far

I would take choice #2. This happened to me with my masters (rejected from first choice) and I went to my second. It was the best thing that could have happened to me and turns out the other one would not have been a good fit. You can always try and transfer if you hate it.

Yay! Just got my offer from Western.

I got an email from my supervisor saying he and the grad chair had signed off on my app and now it just has to go to the Grad centre. Is there any chance they would block it if the dept is behind me?

Are we the same person, LOL? Also 33, also 2 kids and a mortgage and a cat. Been out of school 5 years.