1Q84

I'm an international student (from Toronto, Canada) currently in the English MA program at LMU. PM me if you'd like to talk!

Seconded. Never pay for a humanities Ph.D. Ever. I was accepted to Claremont as well a couple years ago but was very turned off by the lack of funding for students. 70%? What the heck is that all about? I did hear their creative writing program is really awesome, though.

Awesome. What session are you in? I was hoping this would be the case!

I'm excited to be be attending the RMMLA this year in October! Any thoughts on that one, proflorax or anyone else who has attended?

I would love to hear the answers to these questions as well!

I totally relate. One of my family members has mental health issues and relapsed shortly before I moved out to California (from the East coast) so the guilt tripping was massive for me (mostly in my own head, though). At least you're only two hours away... that's definitely close enough to make recurrent weekend trips! I was talking to one of my professors about this, who fled the mid-West and mostly refuses to go home for the holidays despite her mother's guilt trips, and she said that one way of looking at it is that I'm out here "doing me" so that I can eventually contribute back to the family. It's hard to take that longview, but it's true I think.

Just a quick update: the conference is next week and at the end of last week I still hadn't heard anything from them about my session or a followup with more information. Is this normal? I found it kind of unprofessional... Anyway, so I emailed last week to let them know I couldn't attend due to a scheduling conflict and I never received a reply back. I feel like I burned a bridge of sorts. Thoughts?

Hi all, Thanks for the great (and re-assuring) feedback. Just a few clarifications: - I did reply saying that I would attend but I have not heard any info back about scheduling or the program and it takes place in less than a month (is this normal?) - The keynotes are not exactly in my field and I am unsure as to how well-attended a regional grad conference would be by POI to me. (Unless, in general, many English faculty from that school end up going to their own school's grad conferences). - I have another regional grad conference lined up as well, so that's taking up my time. - The more prestigious regional MLA-type conference definitely will have more POI of interest and, as other people have said, would probably look better on my CV.

I'm curious as to what the etiquette is with this. I haven't actually been assigned a session or panel yet, but my paper was accepted. I would hate to be a jerk about it but it's a graduate conference and I was accepted to a larger MLA-type conference and I would rather re-direct my focus/energies there. Any opinions/experiences with this? Thanks!

Straight A's all around and an "A+" and "Best paper in the class" comment on a final paper feeling quite swell about that.

Yeah, isn't it half-price off after the first year, no exceptions? Agreed, still a sweet deal! There has only been one instance in which I found an item from Amazon cheaper on another site.

I did not know this. And I have just discovered this... and now I'm obsessed. My whole place is filling up with tiny (and huge) Amazon boxes. Ack! (Hope this is allowed, if not feel free to remove the link part) Not to be spammy, but if you're going to sign up, might as well help a broke guy out and do it from my referral link? http://www.amazon.com/gp/student/signup/info?ie=UTF8&refcust=K6IVMAAWPD46II6SWJ4FGG2MU4&ref_type=generic

I forgot to say, I'm really looking for something low-key, nothing too fancy. 50cc would probably do for me because I don't ever plan on going on the freeway with it (even if I had the horsepower, I would be deathly afraid). Does anyone have any recommendations of models/brands? I was really interested in this electric scooter but it seems to have gotten some crap reviews unfortunately. http://www.bravoelectricvehicles.com/Electric-Scooters/Bravo-EVT-168/

Wow thanks for all the great information. I'm guessing a moped would not suffice on LA streets, which is a shame because I don't really need anything with that much horsepower. I do not intend to take it on the highway at all, just to get to and from school and maybe pick up some groceries. My school is also situated on a gigantic hill. Do 50cc engines handle hills pretty decently?

I love my grad cohort... feel like I've known a few of them for many years

That's crazy. I didn't know scooters were allowed on the highway... and does she still like it? I hear lots of bad things about the cheap Chinese ones..

I've been trying to make do with taking the bus in LA but it's starting to really wear me down. I love having an hour to read and relax (when possible) but other times it can be an absolute nightmare depending on the time and occupants. More distressingly, it's limiting my engagement time since I basically have to dash for the bus right after class in order to get home before 11 PM. So I'm looking to pick up a moped of some kind. Anyone have one that they use for regular transport want to share some tips? Obviously the 50 cc ones are cheapest but I've read they can only max out at 35 mph, which seems... inadequate, especially for LA streets.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I didn't attend a professor's reading of her poetry this weekend so hopefully I won't be disparaged for that. Some others have never attended and they seem to be doing fine... I'm joined the departmental book club and the next meeting is tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to that!

I know this is the case but departmental politics and what not. I just learned today (ta da) about the schism in the department between two married couples who ALL work in this same department (involving lawsuits, etc.) Very awkward. And I know I'm pretty tone-deaf when it comes to wading through murky waters like that. Thanks for the feedback though. I know I should probably just relax a little bit

Let me first start by saying that I am extremely socially awkward. I can hold a conversation and all that but when it comes down to social mores and what to do in certain situations, I feel like a complete moron. My department holds a lot of events and I usually swing by at the beginning to check it out but I have to take the bus home and considering most of these events run until 8 or so, I usually get home pretty late. Several questions/concerns I have: - If a professor is promoting his or her work or his or her spouse's work in class (handing out fliers) and inviting all students to come, should one feel obligated to go? (I did). - If you attend said event and don't buy the book in question, do you think the professor will notice and if so would they take it out on you? (I didn't because I didn't have enough cash on me but am considering going by during office hours to make good on this practice). - If you swing by an event and are kinda of lassoed in by another professor (who is not instructing you this semester and probably won't in the future), should one feel obligated to stay? (I didn't and feel like I left a really negative impression by showing up and leaving right away). One of my colleagues told me that no one is going to notice or stop and say "hey where'd those two guys go!?" but I can't help but feel like I'm under the microscope every time I go to one of these things, especially because my program director told me that it's "good" to go to these events if important people in the department will be there. Help a socially awkward guy out!

I just updated mine to my .edu and I didn't get any extra space. Was it a limited time promotion?

Accomplishing tasks that are completely non-related to grad work whether that be unclogging the drain, doing a load of laundry or hacking my phone (guilty pleasure) makes me feel like I can still do things and gets my mind refocused!

I love my department chair. She's amazingly funny, warm and has an activist slant when it comes to approaching grad students, which I think is perfect! I also met with another professor who isn't my advisor or teacher this semester at all but just to talk about my goals and a conference paper I'm thinking of. He was also so kind and helpful and it was great to meet another Canuck (Ontarian, at that!) in a a far away place for me. Other than that, I've been busy as the dickens, mostly with bureaucratic nonsense. Forms upon forms upon forms... ack! Hoping that will all be over soon.

Maybe not the most responsible advice but honestly after my breakups I usually do the rebound/hookup thing for a weekend just to get it off my mind and out of my system. Not that I feel 100% afterwards but... 60%.

But so very wrinkly... At least that'd make me look like a brilliant eccentric though, right?