Today turned out to be totally awesome!
I woke up this morning pondering what to do with my wide-open Saturday, and lo and behold, it turned out to be a pretty freaking awesome day. Actually, it was completely and amazingly awesome, to be perfectly honest. My face literally hurts from smiling so much.  I am a happy DD tonight!!!! : )
Awesome thing #1: My unofficial acceptance to grad school #1 is now OFFICIAL. Just received word from the professor this afternoon. And get this! My acceptance comes with a full university fellowship (awesome!), a spot in this professor’s exactly-the-type-of-work-I-want-to-do research group (awesome!), and an invitation to visit in March with all travel expenses taken care of (awesome!). I mean, seriously, how much more awesome can this possibly get????? I am FLOORED by this news and am so completely humbled to have been officially offered at spot in this professor’s group. I mean, damn, this is pure craziness. What’s next, winning lotto numbers?? : )
Awesome thing #2: Got an email from NYL earlier today asking me out to the movies. Aww, how cute. : ) I have to admit, I’m getting the warm-fuzzies for NYL all over again. He told me that after we hung out last weekend, he was walking around with a big smile on his face all day. I mean, hello? Cuteness, right??? Oh dear lord… somebody slap be back into reality!
Awesome thing #3: I had some killer sushi for dinner. No better way to end a great day than with some great food, right? YUM.Â
I’m off to continue my happy dance around my apartment! I already called my mom! We are all super excited! I can’t seem to adequately convey how exciting this, even by using a ton of exclamation points!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha.
That’s a wonderful day. Hope your Sunday keeps the cheer up!
February 7th, 2010 at 2:40 amAwesome #1 is the only way to go! (That sounds exactly the deal I had when I went for my Ph.D.)
Congratulations!!
February 7th, 2010 at 7:33 amhubman´s last blog ..Day 38- Black Box
DD, that’s awesome, like Hubman, I had the same experience in my PhD program as well. Can’t wait to hear about your grad school adventures.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:34 pmCongrats on your offer! More education will empower you even more, and you’ll be able to delete guys like NMP without a second thought
February 7th, 2010 at 3:28 pmHoney´s last blog ..How To Get A Totally Jacked Chest That Women Will Love
Thank you all so much for sharing in my excitement! I was really bouncing off the walls after receiving this news. In fact, I’m still pretty bouncy a few days later. : )
If I may — do any of you PhDs out there have any advice on choosing a school? I applied to four places, and it seems that the decision is going to be a tough one.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:29 pmThe Dateable Dork´s last blog ..Today turned out to be totally awesome!
I think you are looking for a place that has faculty whose research interests align with yours but also where there will be the opportunity for you to be exposed to additional research interests, so you’re not pigeonholed right away.
Also look at what the current grad students are doing at each place. They’re the future of the field, AND your future colleagues, so in lots of ways they’re as important, or more so, than the professors.
Since you’re visiting places, I’d also recommend trying to get a feel for the culture of the place. Lots of PhD programs are extremely competitive and cutthroat (like other students screwing you over to get an RA or something, or faculty stealing your research and publishing it as their own). My PhD program was very collaborative and supportive, but those places seem more rare.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:26 amHoney´s last blog ..How To Get A Totally Jacked Chest That Women Will Love
Oh – also ask about job placement rates (tenure track or industry depending on your interests) and time-to-degree. I’m imagining you’d get offered a multi-year financial package – what are the odds that you can finish within that time frame? Are there other opportunities for funding if your admission offer won’t carry through the entire degree?
February 9th, 2010 at 11:28 amHoney´s last blog ..How To Get A Totally Jacked Chest That Women Will Love
Since you asked about choosing schools…
I have no idea what field of study you’re pursuing, but my Ph.D. is in a biological science. I knew exactly what I wanted to study and with the help of some colleagues (I was working as a research assistant at a well-known and respected gov’t lab at the time) figured out who the top people in that field where. I had an idea who, but I wanted that affirmation from my colleagues. The point is, it’s not the school, it’s the mentor/adviser that matters most. Who’s research interests (and present funding) best match your own? Who has the best professional reputation?
E-mail me (hubman38 at gmail) if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help.
Again, congratulations!
February 9th, 2010 at 8:13 pmhubman´s last blog ..e[lust] #7
Honey and hubman – Thanks so much for the advice! I’m trying to trust my gut and get a feel for the professor/research group based on my interations with them so far, and especially on my upcoming campus visits. I’ve immediately ruled out some profs because they gave me a weird vibe, and I’m starting to fall in love with others that are friendly and down to earth. We’ll see how it goes… I still have a few months to decide.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:57 pmThe Dateable Dork´s last blog ..Warm revisited