new_to_kin

I'd like to resurrect this thread! I'd like to add that what I did for my Masters and will probably do for my PhD is to get a large spiral bound notebook which has punched and perforated pages. It is also divided into sections with a pocket at the end of each section for putting handouts in. I then have a large binder for each course and i decant into that, chronologically. I also include copies of all the readings (for Music History courses this was a LOT). Decanting allows me to review my notes casually. Though I love Moleskine things, I don't think I could ever use a bound notebook for a subject (maybe because I've always done degree with a lot of handouts?). It always reminds me of that scene in Legally Blond where she takes out her heart shaped notepad in her first lecture....

Do you know of an online guide to writing scientific style papers or essays in the Nth American style? Essays are written in a different style where I am from and I did poorly on papers in my (US) Masters. Luckily I did well enough in exams to end up getting a good grade, but I know I need help!

Firstly, are you even sure that they would accept you for a mid-year entry? The academic year begins in March in the Sthn Hemisphere. When I looked into a PhD there it wasn't possible as there were some compulsory seminars that only took place t the beginning of the year. UWA is a good uni, but it is in Perth - a nice place but inconveniently located. It will depend on your field which uni is better, but I would normally rank USyd over UNSW. Here's the deal with ADFA. All of hte undergrads will be cadets. Hence the fact that is the Defence Force Academy. It would be like going to West Point. Everyone will be in uniform and they march around campus. Yes, you get a degree from UNSW, but it is not the same institution. Just like if you go to the Australian Institute of Sport you also get a UNSW degree. I didn't even know that there was a PhD offered by ADFA. You cannot rank ADFA because it is not an institution that you can just apply to - it's only for the armed forces. That is why I would be VERY wary of going there. I know tuition and living will be an issue as typically there are only a few scholarhips for international students (local students do not pay tuition for research degrees). It is also not standard to provide a stipend or a TAship as local students can get Austudy - a govt living allowance. It's just not inbuilt into the system as it is in nth America. If I had to compare UWA to an American uni....maybe something like UCSB or Illinois Champaign-Urbana. A second tier school in a regional location. I would compare USyd and UNSW to top schools - Columbia etc. We don't have any schools that are high and above the others like Ivy Leagues, but USyd, UNSW and UniMelb are probably as close as you'd get to the most prestigious. If you're into engineering then I would look at: UNSW, UTS, USyd, UniMelb, UAdelaide, Monash, UQld.

Actually one of my good friends paid her way though college as a "rub and tug" girl. Good pay ($60+ and hour). Don't knock it, LOL.

Could you work in the library? I know it's bad money, but if you can do something with a bit more skill - related to your field, it could be ok. I worked in the music library listening to vinyls. Yes. When we had double copies I would literally listen to them to see which was better preserved. LOL. $6 per hour, but better than nothing. I got this job by asking one of the librarians. These jobs weren't advertised or offered to work-study students. You just had to ask (and the guy had to like you). Anyway, what I am saying is that you can get some crappy-ass job which will pay you enough to feed you. Plus if you're not an international student, there are all sorts of crappy jobs available off campus. You could also ask in the admin office of your dept/faculty if they need any clerical assistance. Can your adviser fund you any more even if just for this semester? Sucks, but sounds like you don't have too many other options.

I'm going into my PhD with 2 kids (3 and 1). Luckily my husband has a good job (he's a prof actually! LOL) so daycare costs aren't an issue as we are already paying them now. In fact it will be better my my oldest will be in school come Sept. My plan is to work at least 9-5 during the week, as though it were a job and keep weekends free for family time. I'd rather pull long days (possibly later than 5) to keep the weekends sacred. This is what my husband currently does, getting up at 4am to do his research. This worked quite well for me in my Masters (no kids then, but I liked to have time to myself on weekends).

True, though this is getting harder and harder. The uni has to really, really want one of them. A lot of faculties *won't* do faculty spousal hires (in case something happens to the relationship). With most spousal hires I know, the spouse has some sort of lesser contract than the main prof (i.e. not tenure track)

My best advice - avoid it! Honestly, if you're going to go into academia, you'll have to move wherever you can get a job. That is the reality, especially if you want tenure track at some point. Your partner is going to have to move with you and possibly sacrifice their career in order to do this unless they work in a field that is easily transferrable. My husband's a prof. My career isn't really great where we live which is why I am going back to grad school

I'm an Aussie living in Canada. Canberra is an easy city to live in, though it would be handy to have a car (transit not good). ADFA is the defence forces uni, everyone must march around campus (literally) and salute profs if they are ranked. My Dad has done some guest teaching there. Personally, i wouldn't go to ADFA. Most people there are enlisted and have to do training etc. If you're not doing that you'll be in the minority. UWA. Perth will prob be on par with Canberra is terms of cost of living, but the public transport is good. Better climate, better beaches. BUT it's a long way from anything else in Aus so if you want to travel for fun, it's a long way and expensive to go anywhere. It's like living in Alaska except warm (in terms of isolation). Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more specific questions. Is there a reason you didn't apply to the more highly regarded places? USyd, UNSW, Uni Adelaide, Monash, UniMelb?

Thanks! This has really put my mind at ease!!! Seems like kin students tend to be traditional students, but other students in the faculty of health sciences in say, Audiology, tend to be a bit older.

Great replies above. Also don't go into the store and say that you want to spend under $400 because you will look like a noob. Figure on spending $500-700 for something reliable and well made.

Loving this thread! I'm going to: Get a babysitter and go out to dinner with husband at a great restaurant (or maybe lunch if we can't get a babysitter) Get a Mission Workshop Backpack (already have leather messenger - it's overrated, trust me) Buy shiny new components (Velo Orange for those who care) and a new wheelset for one of my vintage bikes and totally rebuild it for the commute

Thanks for that. Seems like it probably depends on the dept and indeed the lab. We don't have any post docs in this lab and everyone definitely looks under 25 and definitely childless. His kids are older than mine, so hopefully he can also help me figure out what to do once they hit teenage-dom!

Has it happened yet? Probably. ESM Theory organizes for interviewees to stay with current ESM theorists, so don't worry about somewhere to stay. Most people wear dress pants/shirt/tie. No suits. It's very selective - about 1/3 - 1/2 interviewees get in. DH is an ESM theory alum, I am an ESM PRL alum

Thanks. It's more the faculty spouse thing, plus kids rather than age itself. I just feel as though I will have little in common with the other students. Esp. the kids thing. I do not know my supervisor socially, but when we've met it came out that he and my husband will be up for tenure at the same time (next year). So that is kind of weird. There is an excellent chance that someone on my committee will be one of my husband's direct colleagues (within his dept) as I am moving from his field to a new one (with interdisciplinary stuff). That one might be a bit awkward.

2 out of my 3 recommenders haven't completed their LOR online. Initially when they asked how long they had I said until the end of March because I was just so damn happy they agreed to do it, esp after 5 years' break from study. My work's deadline for renewal unexpectedly came up early this year and it was due March 1. I have asked for an extension, but do not want to take a years' leave until my uni is in the bag. I've had unofficial confirmation from my supervisor that it is a go ("If you apply, I will accept you") with full funding. It's been over 2 weeks that the letter writers have had the login codes - at what point should I prod them? It's still within the original window that I gave them, but now something has come up. Would it be reasonable to ask them if they could please do it sooner rather than later now that circumstances have changed?

Be aware that your first paycheck will probably not come in until the end of sept. You might have moved at the beginning of august. You'll need to pay rental deposits, rent, etc. I was in upstate Ny for my masters and it was impossible to only spend $50 a week on groceries. I ate mostly at home and spent about $70 a week on good, whole foods - lots of veg, fruit and quality protein. I do know others who lived on ramen, but they got very unhealthy. Also, be aware that you'll have to pay a deposit for utilities in some places. Especially for phone. I would say $4k would be minimum. As an international student, I had to take my entire living expenses for 2 years with me, so I had the cash.

My answers in bold

Honestly, I would go with Vanderbilt. It will open all sorts of doors for you, plus I cannot believe how amazing US private schools are. My masters was at a private school and wow. We had so many more resources than state schools. The networking is also great. That said, how much would you have to go in debt? Are you anticipating doing a PhD? If it's the end of the line, then maybe choose the stae school, but if you're going to continue, then go with Vanderbilt (you'll get a full ride for phd hopefully).

Funding should be mentioned in your offer letter. If you're super keen, then I would contact the Graduate Program coordinator of your dept. They should have hte answers. For example, in my program, there is standard funding for everyone, unless you have a large external grant (like CIHR or NSERC). When I was at grad school in the US, it was negotiated on an individual basis (a private school).

I think that the personal relationship is more important than research area, as long as the supervisor can guide you. My Masters advisor was really different to me. For instance he is an Evangelical Christian and I am an Atheist. I don't mind what religion you are, but this put a huge wedge between us and he clearly favoured students that went to his church. He helped their careers (even though he wasn't their advisor) over mine. I'll be going into my PhD this fall and my new supervisor (different school, different discipline) has little knowledge about my subject area, but he is a great guy, willing to learn, and has the skills to teach me what I need to know. He also uses the same techniques that I will use. I can tell already that this will be a much better fit than the last guy. So def go wtith the person you like. They will help you in more ways than you can know. My husband's PhD advisor recently co-authored a paper with him (uncommon in his field) - he basically wrote the thing and then got H to check it over and add stuff. What a great help to a pre-tenured prof.

I'm going to be starting my PhD in Sept (app in but have had verbal confirmation), in a field entirely unrelated to my undergrad and masters work. I'm surprised/amazed/pleased that my supervisor has accepted me and I will have a great funding package. Before i applied, I met with the current students in the lab and they are all really nice, but typical age grad students. I am 33, have two kids and....I'm married to a professor. He's in a different faculty, but I'm still a faculty spouse. So it's funny because up until now, I've considered all faculty to be my husband's colleagues. Plus I feel as though I know what they go through. The students mentioned how nice he was because he invites them over for the holidays etc. We do the same for my husband's students. Do you think this will be an awkward situation? I'm in such a different life stage, plus I know a lot less than them in this field. I don't feel at all superior to them - the opposite, in fact. Does anyone have any advice?