Jump to content

booksnlooks

Members
  • Posts

    112
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by booksnlooks

  1. I do this too! It's really helped me to save money and stay healthy. My favourite places to find recipes are Pinterest and Budget Bytes. I also do a lot of cooking in bulk and freezing individual portions. They're great to have on hand for particularly busy days.
  2. I'm a big fan of Samsung's Galaxy line, particularly my Galaxy Nexus. It's a Google phone and has been fantastic over the past year. My boyfriend has an iPhone and he loves it, so you can't go wrong with either one. One recommendation - since you'll be biking around and you want a durable phone, you may want to get a heavy duty case like an Otter Box. I got one for the boyfriend because he's into extreme sports and the outdoors and that thing is unbeatable.
  3. When I applied, I kept everything digital (and backed up) to make sure I didn't misplace anything. One folder for each program containing all application files as well as a simple Word doc with all the relevant info about the program and application. I also had a separate folder with everything I needed to give my referees. All of my applications were online, save for one that required me to mail my transcripts, so having everything already on my computer helped. Good luck with your applications!
  4. First off, congrats on your acceptance! As for your concerns, have you contacted the department to ask about how they help to prepare you for the job market? Finding relevant employment after you graduate may not be a huge concern because it's a professional degree so it's geared towards giving you the skills you'll need. Plus, having a different background may give you a competitive edge if you're applying for HR positions at companies related to your background. Beyond that, you could also try asking the department for the contact info of current students so you could ask them some questions. Good luck with your decision!
  5. Totally agree with MissMoneyJenny! Macleans is biased for rankings. Their descriptions of each school, however, are really useful if you want to get a sense of campus life. Seeking - Queen's may not be well-represented because it's a pretty small school to begin with, both in terms of grads and undergrads. I looked up the number of grad students for the top schools, just out of curiosity, and Queen's has roughly 1/3 to 1/4 of the grad student population at McGill, UBC, and U of T.
  6. Agreed, it's definitely nice to hear. So true with so many aspects of grad school and yet so easy to forget sometimes.
  7. You're not alone! My dept is similar, especially for the PhD students. In terms of navigating course requirements, etc, I did three things. First, I did as much research as I could on the websites for both my dept and the faculty of grad studies. There may be some useful documents hidden away somewhere. Second, I set up a meeting with my program coordinator and brought a list of questions with me. He/she is in charge of the program and should either know the information you seek or how to find it. Third, I talked to upper year students. I went to as many dept events as possible and joined the dept student executive, so I could easily chat with students who've already been in my shoes. Hope this helps!
  8. I'm in the same situation! I'm starting a PhD in the fall, which I'm so excited about, and currently in my final exams of my MA. It's been particularly hard to motivate myself because overall I'm not happy in my MA dept - just not a good fit for me. I'm motivating myself in two ways. First, I've created a reward system. If I productively study for X many hours today, or completely Y tasks from my to do list, then I'll treat myself. All little things like yoga, playing guitar, going for a walk, whatever. Second, I'm using this as practice for my PhD. I'm sure there will be a million times during my PhD when I won't feel like working, so using this time to build up my self-discipline will pay off. Good luck everyone
  9. Step one: take a breath. You are going to be ok. Have you tried talking to the prof in either of the courses you're in? For the group work one, it may be worth meeting with the prof to discuss your concerns. Maybe ask to meet with the prof to discuss the project to make sure you're on the right path then mention your concerns with your group members, so it doesn't come off as tattling or anything. For the brutal course, meet with the prof to discuss feedback to ensure you're on the right path, find ways to improve, and figure out how to get your project to work better. Also note - you got an 86 on an overly hard project, so I'm sure you're doing better than you think! As for your supervisor - you said yourself he already agreed and signed the paperwork. There's no point in worrying what he thinks of your grades right now because (1) you have time to improve on this semester's grades, and (2) last semester's grades were good.
  10. So many nice bags! I'd love to upgrade from a backpack but I'm worried about the effect a messenger bag will have on my back. Anyone care to share their experiences with this?
  11. FINALLY made a decision. Excited and a bit nervous!

    Read more  
    1. mogki81526

      mogki81526

      Congratulations! I finally made a decision too and I feel exactly the same!

    2. katieliz456

      katieliz456

      Wahoo! It's so nice to finally have some certainty in our lives:)

  12. Just when I thought I had made my decision, I get an email that makes me rethink things...GAH

    Read more  
  13. Another great tumblr: http://allmyfriendsareacademics.tumblr.com/
  14. External hard drive to back up all your stuff! Seriously, back up your computer frequently. My laptop died on me last month but I had everything backed up on an external so I survived. Also: heating pad (helps a sore back after a long day of sitting), sturdy bag/backpack, and shelf paper for your kitchen cabinets.
  15. I think it's important to frame it by starting off saying that you're thrilled to receive an offer from them. Then move into discussing funding; Funding is an important issue affecting your decision to come to School ABC and you have received competitive offers from other schools. You are particularly interested in the XYZ program at ABC but financial constraints affect your decision. It's also important to ask not only if they are able to offer additional funding, but also if there is any additional funding to which you would be able to apply. This confirms your interest in them (beyond just asking for more money) and there may well be options for you to apply to. Good luck, and congrats on your offers!
  16. Hi all! I was the one who posted the acceptance to NPSIA's PhD. I received a phone call from the PhD program coordinator and was told by the dept admin (via email, after I emailed her earlier that morning) that the official offer would be received by Wednesday at the latest. I'm thrilled to get an offer! Best of luck to everyone waiting to hear
  17. I'm in the same boat as zabius in that I've wanted to be a prof since I started high school, although I did consider other career paths throughout high school. I didn't really figure out what I wanted to teach until I got to university. Started in commerce, switched to economics for my BA and then MA, and now I'm applying for PhD programs in public policy and international affairs.
  18. Thought I knew where I wanted to go but now I'm not so sure...

    Read more  
    1. ak48

      ak48

      Visits help a lot. So does analyzing your goals.

    2. pears

      pears

      totally in the same boat!

  19. @AnonymousAcademic I found out on Feb 25th and it was the PhD Public Policy program. I also applied to International Affairs but haven't heard back about it yet.
  20. I received an offer of admission from a PhD program at Carleton (yay!!) and here is the sequence of statuses I saw: 1. Preliminary review required 2. Review in progress by department 3. Recommended for assessment 4. Undergoing assessment by department (or some similar wording - can't remember exactly) 5. Undergoing assessment by Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs 6. Decision made by Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs: application approved Application status may not always be kept up to date so don't lose hope. Also, heads up for anyone applying to Carleton, I didn't receive an email. I just saw the offer of admission under 'application details'. Good luck everyone!
  21. I think that this is a pretty familiar feeling to most graduate students. There is always more work to be done. All you can do is accept this fact and do your best. You mention that you are not very efficient - is there any way you can improve this? For example, with readings, I thoroughly read the abstract, intro, and conclusion while skimming the rest. Also agree with SPanda in terms of prioritizing readings - are there any 'not so important' tasks or readings you can cut out? Devoting some time to reviewing your work habits and goals may be quite beneficial to you.
  22. Great idea!! I just looked up the schools I applied to and it looks like I'll be hearing back throughout March. Of course, this doesn't mean I won't continue to check my online application status every day...
  23. Tea, yogurt, rice crackers, fruit, chopped up veggies, and (my weakness) dark chocolate covered peanuts!
  24. I agree with iphi, and would also like to add the following: no tech within the hour before bed, meditation, herbal tea, bubble baths, and whatever else gets you relaxed! It also helps it create a 'sleep ritual' before bed to get your mind and body ready to sleep.
  25. Hi all! Anyone interested in guest blogging? I'd like to do a 'Day in the Life' series and would love a bunch from different disciplines. Please let me know if you're interested by replying or DMing me
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use