Sevi Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I was wondering what everyone was planning on doing before they start graduate school. With final decisions being made in March/April and classes not starting until late summer/early fall, that leaves some time in between. I keep hearing from current grad students and PIs that you should really take advantage of this time (since it'll probably be the last vacation you'll have in LONG time!). So what are you ideas? Since I've lived in Texas my whole life and will be doing a PhD here also, I'm hoping to live somewhere else for two months without school or work every day! At least I'll be able to escape the dreaded Texas summer heat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhyn Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 go home. i havent been home in 2 years and visit my friends who live in yet another country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lydibird Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I haven't decided yet. If I get really good funding I'll probably just work the same part time job I've had since high school (because it's really flexible) and run around doing whatever hits my fancy. Or stay in my college town and run around doing whatever hits my fancy with my best friend. Probably some traveling and vacationing and such. Work on getting a tan. I haven't had one since high school since I'm always inside doing research or school work or work work. Otherwise I'll have to defer a year and work to save up money to pay for grad school, in which case I won't be running around doing whatever hits my fancy. I'll probably become a lab rat and do PCR all year long. :/ I hope I get good funding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eklavya Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 go home. i haven't been home (another country) in 2 years either. after that, return, and hike all of western US till i wear out. then off to the midwest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandi88 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I graduated in December, so I'm hanging out working part time til August. I can't wait to go back to school! ha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jergensultrahealing Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Even part time jobs are hard to come by in my corner of America... Wishing for quicker progress in this economic recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jergensultrahealing Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Anyone thinking about buying a home? In my city, rent is marginally less than mortgage. With six years ahead, we are thinking about buying a place. Even if we lose a bit of money down the road when we sell, it would still be less financial loss than paying rent for all six years... Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasgirl Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm about to finish training and will be working as a flight attendant until classes start!! I'm super excited, especially since it's a very international airline and I'll get to visit lots of places I haven't seen (and some I already have!), so it's a very good use of my time until then Now that I have acceptances, too, I don't have to stress about "what if I get stuck in this job foreeeeeeever?!" and can just enjoy it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzene Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Assuming I get in somewhere, I will be slacking off, spending the money I will have saved just for summer, and being incredibly lazy. I am thinking of buying a rail pass and traveling California by train for a week or so. I also may take a summer course or two, an art class or auto shop. It would be nice to study something fun and not psychology related! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJingly Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Anyone thinking about buying a home? In my city, rent is marginally less than mortgage. With six years ahead, we are thinking about buying a place. Even if we lose a bit of money down the road when we sell, it would still be less financial loss than paying rent for all six years... Thoughts? I've thought a lot about this. For the first year, at least, i think I am going to rent. Homeownership takes a lot of work and I want to get my feet wet in grad school before making such a commitment (and also make sure that I AM going to be there for six years). I can potentially see a condo in my future (easier to maintain). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aucinema Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I still have undergraduate work to do until May. After that, I'm going to work part time, look for apartments, and hopefully take some trips. I really want to spend some time at my uncle's condo in the White Mountains this summer, too. We usually go for 2 or 3 days at a time, but I'm thinking that I'd like to spend a solid week or two up there this summer between the time when my job ends and school starts. Assuming I get in somewhere, of course ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrPepper-olic Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I've thought a lot about this. For the first year, at least, i think I am going to rent. Homeownership takes a lot of work and I want to get my feet wet in grad school before making such a commitment (and also make sure that I AM going to be there for six years). I can potentially see a condo in my future (easier to maintain). My husband and I are in a similar boat. We will wait, at the very least, until the end of the first semester, to buy. How else will we know where we want to live, and if we're getting a good price? I think I'd rather wait a year too, though, to make sure I can focus on the written comps that usually come during the first summer in my field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phusion Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm thinking a long trip into the canyons in SE Utah...but we'll see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevi Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm about to finish training and will be working as a flight attendant until classes start!! I'm super excited, especially since it's a very international airline and I'll get to visit lots of places I haven't seen (and some I already have!), so it's a very good use of my time until then Now that I have acceptances, too, I don't have to stress about "what if I get stuck in this job foreeeeeeever?!" and can just enjoy it That's such a fantastic and great idea!!! I'm sure you'll have tons of fun and LOADS of memories from it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevi Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Anyone thinking about buying a home? In my city, rent is marginally less than mortgage. With six years ahead, we are thinking about buying a place. Even if we lose a bit of money down the road when we sell, it would still be less financial loss than paying rent for all six years... Thoughts? I've thought about this a lot. My half-brother is really into buying property so he's encouraging me and would be there for advice. It makes sense to buy a place rather than waste money on rent for 5-7 years. And it especially makes sense if you are married or in a committed relationship. That's the only thing really keeping me from going for it. Not in a relationship. So my plan now is to rent for a year to make sure I really will be there for 5-7 years and make sure I like the area, then look for a place to buy. And maybe by then I'll be in a committed serious relationship Haha. I can dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaraDanielle Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 After I graduate in June, I am going to continue working part time at my job on campus, since former students are allowed to work one quarter after they graduate. Sometime in the end of June/beginning of July, my family is going on a cruise to celebrate my brother's high school graduation and my college graduation. Otherwise, hopefully I will get some time to relax, study languages at my leisure, and maybe enjoy life a little Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purled Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Anyone thinking about buying a home? In my city, rent is marginally less than mortgage. With six years ahead, we are thinking about buying a place. Even if we lose a bit of money down the road when we sell, it would still be less financial loss than paying rent for all six years... Thoughts? From a financial aid point of view, this is a good idea, especially if you're married and your spouse is not a student. Federal aid definitely hits married couples the hardest when only one of the couple is a student, and purchasing a house allows you to move more of your money into a mortgage, and therefore out of the government's equation for determining your expected financial contribution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eigen Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Do, however, remember to factor in the headaches and unforseen expenses of buying a house- as well as the really slow sellers market (although that may pick up in 6 years). I wanted to buy a house when I moved, but I decided to hold off until I knew the area well- and now I'm really glad I didn't. When you're putting in 70 hour weeks at school, the last thing you want to have to do is come home and work on the plumbing. Being able to just call the landlord is really nice in these situations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavenes Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm doing a cross-country road trip with two of my closest friends! A great break before starting grad school (and one of us finishing up grad school and starting a full time big girl job!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
was1984 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm trying to line up a summer position working for a company that has roots in the school I'm currently at. I'll probably take a couple of weeks of vacation but until then I'll be working my butt off trying to save up some money for my move and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostlytoasty Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) My boyfriend and I are planning on riding our bicycles across the United States before I start grad school (Western Express/TransAmerica route from SF to VA then to NY). If I don't get in anywhere we'll do it anyway... and I'll just be bitter. That'll be in June/July and I'm super excited! Oh yeah, and before that I'll also quit my job as a restaurant hostess. YES Edited February 18, 2011 by mostlytoasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diber Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 My boyfriend and I are planning on riding our bicycles across the United States before I start grad school (Western Express/TransAmerica route from SF to VA then to NY). If I don't get in anywhere we'll do it anyway... and I'll just be bitter. That'll be in June/July and I'm super excited! Oh yeah, and before that I'll also quit my job as a restaurant hostess. YES Cool!!! If we don't move, (two schools would require a move, two wouldn't), I'll plant a garden. Hoping to get in some good camping, this summer, too. And our annual pilgrimage to Maine. So love Maine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fsmn36 Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Provided I get in, I'll be editing my thesis for journal publication, editing a paper I wrote last year for a journal pub, and working retail. Come August, I'll move. If I don't get in, I'll still rework the thesis, work retail, and move. I'll just be adding "job-hunting" to the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surprisecake Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 I have less than a month between the end of my undergraduate program and orientation at grad school... in another country I don't know if that's even enough time to pack my clothes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matilda_Tone Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I plan to spend a few months blowing my savings in Ireland...seeing friends, travelling around, playing music and slowly killing my liver. In my field, I can also call this cultural research Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now