jerseyhoya wrote:The political discussion threads over at philliesphans are amazing.

Every three months or so I'll go back there and have a look. More than anything, I'm thankful that the folks who've migrated over here and participate in our threads seem to be the less absolutist, while the true whackadoos stay there and talk past each other.

Though it does suck for the more sensible/pleasant folks who have to endure that madness.

Bakestar doing nothing to hurt his reputation as a super genius on the heels of his double usage of indemnification earlier this week.

jerseyhoya wrote:Bakestar doing nothing to hurt his reputation as a super genius on the heels of his double usage of indemnification earlier this week.

How're your grad school apps coming? You too may be a super genius one day. But deadlines are for real.

dajafi wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:The political discussion threads over at philliesphans are amazing.

Every three months or so I'll go back there and have a look. More than anything, I'm thankful that the folks who've migrated over here and participate in our threads seem to be the less absolutist, while the true whackadoos stay there and talk past each other.

Though it does suck for the more sensible/pleasant folks who have to endure that madness.

No, no one has to endure that hell hole. Nothing actually happens on that board. There has never been one intelligent debate on that board since this board came up. Not one. Because there is either too much common ground "

"Gee, our Backup SS in Low A Lakewood went 3 for 10, where would you guys have him on your Top 50 prospects list".

or no common ground whatsoever

"By any means necessary"/"Enemy of the State".

That board is an abomination and run by the worst person lethal has ever had lunch with.

TenuredVulture wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:Bakestar doing nothing to hurt his reputation as a super genius on the heels of his double usage of indemnification earlier this week.

How're your grad school apps coming? You too may be a super genius one day. But deadlines are for real.

Don't I know it. I keep saying next week I'll start them. Hopefully I really will start next week doing the digging to see where I want to apply. I've run out of excuses on things to do like the apartment search which morphed into having to move, then unpacking and such.

It's pretty much a stone fact that a B+ application sent in early has a better chance of being accepted than an A- or even an A application.

I don't do anything early. I have a 2 hour project that's due at 5 tonight that I've had on my plate since 10 this morning, and I still have an hour of work to do on it.

Jeff is right--especially with regard to the all essential funding. You took the GRE, right?

Can we not talk about this till Monday?

Just drank one of those 5-Hour Energy jawns. I'll report back.

JH, really, if you're serious about going, you're past the point of procrastination. You will need 3 letters of recommendation, and while 1 could be from an employer, 2 should be from undergrad professors who really know something about your work and interests and say intelligent things about it, and even better would be willing to make a call or two on your behalf. They should be real professors--preferably associate or full--no TAs or adjuncts. These people aren't typically Johnny on the Spot types.

You also need a sample of academic work--around 30 pages usually--a senior thesis will usually do, but you very well may want to clean it up before you send it in.

TenuredVulture wrote:JH, really, if you're serious about going, you're past the point of procrastination. You will need 3 letters of recommendation, and while 1 could be from an employer, 2 should be from undergrad professors who really know something about your work and interests and say intelligent things about it, and even better would be willing to make a call or two on your behalf. They should be real professors--preferably associate or full--no TAs or adjuncts. These people aren't typically Johnny on the Spot types.

You also need a sample of academic work--around 30 pages usually--a senior thesis will usually do, but you very well may want to clean it up before you send it in.

I know. I've already talked to one undergrad professor. My current employer volunteered to write one for me. I'm getting there. I work at my own slow pace. I have a lot of crap still to do, of this I'm well aware. I'm awful with procrastinating, but I'm good at getting things done eventually. Usually. If I don't get in anywhere, that'll be fine too, and I'll try and get a real person job, and my stint living at home will serve to have put together a decent amount of savings for something other than trying to survive as a grad student.

Grotewold wrote:Just drank one of those 5-Hour Energy jawns. I'll report back.

you realize that's just cleverly marketed boner juice, right? "5 hour energy", wink wink

New couch!

oh mama

TenuredVulture wrote:JH, really, if you're serious about going, you're past the point of procrastination. You will need 3 letters of recommendation, and while 1 could be from an employer, 2 should be from undergrad professors who really know something about your work and interests and say intelligent things about it, and even better would be willing to make a call or two on your behalf. They should be real professors--preferably associate or full--no TAs or adjuncts. These people aren't typically Johnny on the Spot types.

You also need a sample of academic work--around 30 pages usually--a senior thesis will usually do, but you very well may want to clean it up before you send it in.

Well, I still like the Bloomingdale's executive training program for him.

what

jerseyhoya wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:JH, really, if you're serious about going, you're past the point of procrastination. You will need 3 letters of recommendation, and while 1 could be from an employer, 2 should be from undergrad professors who really know something about your work and interests and say intelligent things about it, and even better would be willing to make a call or two on your behalf. They should be real professors--preferably associate or full--no TAs or adjuncts. These people aren't typically Johnny on the Spot types.

You also need a sample of academic work--around 30 pages usually--a senior thesis will usually do, but you very well may want to clean it up before you send it in.

I know. I've already talked to one undergrad professor. My current employer volunteered to write one for me. I'm getting there. I work at my own slow pace. I have a lot of crap still to do, of this I'm well aware. I'm awful with procrastinating, but I'm good at getting things done eventually. Usually. If I don't get in anywhere, that'll be fine too, and I'll try and get a real person job, and my stint living at home will serve to have put together a decent amount of savings for something other than trying to survive as a grad student.

Here's your list of schools, assuming your record and everything is outstanding:

Columbia
Michigan
Harvard
Duke
UVA
Oregon (I really don't know anything about Oregon's program, just that the conservative guy who used to live on my block is getting his PhD there. And by conservative, I mean his mom had a picture of Barry Goldwater in her kitchen.

jerseyhoya wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:JH, really, if you're serious about going, you're past the point of procrastination. You will need 3 letters of recommendation, and while 1 could be from an employer, 2 should be from undergrad professors who really know something about your work and interests and say intelligent things about it, and even better would be willing to make a call or two on your behalf. They should be real professors--preferably associate or full--no TAs or adjuncts. These people aren't typically Johnny on the Spot types.

You also need a sample of academic work--around 30 pages usually--a senior thesis will usually do, but you very well may want to clean it up before you send it in.

I know. I've already talked to one undergrad professor. My current employer volunteered to write one for me. I'm getting there. I work at my own slow pace. I have a lot of crap still to do, of this I'm well aware. I'm awful with procrastinating, but I'm good at getting things done eventually. Usually. If I don't get in anywhere, that'll be fine too, and I'll try and get a real person job, and my stint living at home will serve to have put together a decent amount of savings for something other than trying to survive as a grad student.

You don't seem like you'd be bent out of shape if you aren't admitted to this or that particular school, so that's good.

But if you do wind up going, my advice is to set your expectations low. In terms of being enjoyable, grad school is to college what eating a Savory Tofu Slab is to enjoying the best steak at Peter Luger's.

dajafi wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:

TenuredVulture wrote:JH, really, if you're serious about going, you're past the point of procrastination. You will need 3 letters of recommendation, and while 1 could be from an employer, 2 should be from undergrad professors who really know something about your work and interests and say intelligent things about it, and even better would be willing to make a call or two on your behalf. They should be real professors--preferably associate or full--no TAs or adjuncts. These people aren't typically Johnny on the Spot types.

You also need a sample of academic work--around 30 pages usually--a senior thesis will usually do, but you very well may want to clean it up before you send it in.

I know. I've already talked to one undergrad professor. My current employer volunteered to write one for me. I'm getting there. I work at my own slow pace. I have a lot of crap still to do, of this I'm well aware. I'm awful with procrastinating, but I'm good at getting things done eventually. Usually. If I don't get in anywhere, that'll be fine too, and I'll try and get a real person job, and my stint living at home will serve to have put together a decent amount of savings for something other than trying to survive as a grad student.

You don't seem like you'd be bent out of shape if you aren't admitted to this or that particular school, so that's good.

But if you do wind up going, my advice is to set your expectations low. In terms of being enjoyable, grad school is to college what eating a Savory Tofu Slab is to enjoying the best steak at Peter Luger's.

C'mon. It's awesome. Having hardly any money, long hours reading and writing, participating in seminars with a bunch of pretentious assholes (the guy with the scarf or hat or other clothing affectation will be the biggest douche you'll ever meet) and sucking up to professors--what can top that?