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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Old Fezziwig" data-source="post: 901257" data-attributes="member: 59">So, Shemeska, tell us how you really feel.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" />  My experiences here have been different, but no beef.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />  Just some thoughts and what not on my experiences with grad school and applying to it.  You can take this for what it's worth (I've tried to keep it as general as possible, but I'm an English person, so that's where I'm coming from).Make sure that, wherever you go, it's a place you can live and be happy.  If you do stay for your PhD, you'll be there for a while.  At the same time, don't feel tied down to a program just because you started it—if at any point you feel like it's not your bag, be big enough to admit it and walk away.Depending on how much funding is available in your department (I'm in the English dept. here and we have a lot of grad students—nowhere near enough money to fund all of them, even if there weren't budget issues in NC), be prepared to work a second job, take out significant loans, or to just scrape by for a bit (extra cheese, free food, free beer—these are all your friends).  I would, also, suggest carefully thinking about the packages you'll be offered for grad school—my recommendation is not to bother with a place that doesn't offer you funding.  That might be a little hardline, but my financial/work situation has been (at times) wicked rough and I've had funding.The other thing you may wish to consider—take at least a year or so off.  I didn't want to when I graduated in 2001, ended up doing it, and it was the best thing I did.  Some people will disagree, but some departments really feel that you aren't a serious student if you go straight through from undergrad (the line being "how can you be sure this is what you want to do? how do we know you're not doing this simply because you've been in school all your life and this seems like a good idea now?" or something like that).  I don't know you or your situation, but it's something that all my advisors mentioned to me when I applied and it's something I've heard about here, too.  You won't necessarily lose anything by taking time off, getting a job, making some money, and going back to school.  Just a thought.If your advisors/recommenders have thoughts or reactions to where you're applying (strong reactions, either positive or negative), ask why and then do some more research about the situation.  If you hear that departmental politics are vicious at a certain school, find out what the situation is.  If you hear bad things about the graduate students at a school, check it out.  When I told one professor I was applying to the University of X, her response was "why in the world would you want to apply there?"—that sort of reaction should be checked out, especially in cases where it's a good program (X has an excellent English dept. historically, but some folks feel like it's coasting on reputation right now).  I had other professors push me away from some other schools and their English departments.  Find out what the "word on the street" is and if there's any fire behind the smoke.  These are things that could really change your experience as a grad student in major ways and could effect the value of your degree when you get out and start looking for a job.  I can't emphasize this one enough, really.  If the environment's going to suck or hurt your job prospects, it isn't worth it.  I've been fortunate that the grad students here in my department have been really nice and helpful—there isn't a lot of sniping and backbiting between the students, which makes a huge amount of difference.Anyhow, just some thoughts.  Hope it helps and all  Good luck with your apps and what not, orbitalfreak. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Best,tKLEdit: Removed name of school.  No need to crack on other English departments.</blockquote>

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