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Ok, so I am currently being considered for two assistantships and I have one job offer on the table. I am finishing up an internship in ME, my husband is working in WY but is going to quit his job and come to wherever I go- he's already put in his notice. The job is in AK, grad schools are in DE and IL. AK job would have me being a groundfish observer on fishing boats that go out on the Bering Sea and such. Carries a slight chance of death, fair chance of injury, and I'd be working with a bunch of guys that probably don't want me there, the job itself sounds boring. Cons are definitely there, but they'll pay me well and I'll get good experience. Cons also include that moving will be a pain in the ass. They obviously would like an answer soon- but they interviewed me and talked to my references last week. Seriously, I'm used to waiting months, and they had a job offer in three days. Unreal.
Anyway, I figured that this job could give me experience that was unique, and allow me to potentially be more picky with what schools I want to pick. One because I would have this experience, and two because if I can't get a full assistantship I could afford to go to school anyway.
Anyway, before I had this offer I visited with the DE professor so that I could participate in one of the field sampling trips (eel biotelemetry). Things look promising, but it's only a partial assistantship. Once I was offered the job in AK, I decided that I should probably take that instead. I liked the research, but it isn't what I really want to do, so I decided that I would probably be better off because of the reasons listed above.
Then I was interviewed for this assistantship in IL. I'd get full tuition, $1500/month, and benefits. I'm not that interested in the subject of the study, but I wouldn't hate it, I don't think. From what I've heard I can jump species/environments, I won't lock myself into studying mussels and streams forever and EVAR. I want to do it because I want to get my MS, and it's a full assistantship. It's hard to turn down. I'm in a time crunch though- I need to say yes or no to this job soon and I haven't even formally applied to the school yet. :S The prof seems like he thinks I'm a good fit potentially, but I don't have a yes from him yet of course (I talked to him July 3rd).
I'm trying to decide which of these options is the best, and if it's even feasible for me to think that the school will be able to decide anything in any reasonable amount of time. I should accept the job in at least the next couple of weeks. I would start training Aug. 11th, I'd need to arrange moving, and my hubby needs to know in what state to start looking for a job, and we need to know what state to start looking for housing in! D:
So I'm all stressed out about this stuff. And I'm trying to figure out how to write a SOP in super-duper rush mode.
SOPs are generally 'hey, I want to apply to your program, this is why I'm shiny!', and I'm like 'yeah, I want to apply to your school so I can work with this professor doing _____, which I probably won't hate but thar be FUNDING!'. How does that work? x.x This would be the first SOP I've ever written, so I'm not even sure where to start. D:
x-posted to applyingtograd
Anyway, I figured that this job could give me experience that was unique, and allow me to potentially be more picky with what schools I want to pick. One because I would have this experience, and two because if I can't get a full assistantship I could afford to go to school anyway.
Anyway, before I had this offer I visited with the DE professor so that I could participate in one of the field sampling trips (eel biotelemetry). Things look promising, but it's only a partial assistantship. Once I was offered the job in AK, I decided that I should probably take that instead. I liked the research, but it isn't what I really want to do, so I decided that I would probably be better off because of the reasons listed above.
Then I was interviewed for this assistantship in IL. I'd get full tuition, $1500/month, and benefits. I'm not that interested in the subject of the study, but I wouldn't hate it, I don't think. From what I've heard I can jump species/environments, I won't lock myself into studying mussels and streams forever and EVAR. I want to do it because I want to get my MS, and it's a full assistantship. It's hard to turn down. I'm in a time crunch though- I need to say yes or no to this job soon and I haven't even formally applied to the school yet. :S The prof seems like he thinks I'm a good fit potentially, but I don't have a yes from him yet of course (I talked to him July 3rd).
I'm trying to decide which of these options is the best, and if it's even feasible for me to think that the school will be able to decide anything in any reasonable amount of time. I should accept the job in at least the next couple of weeks. I would start training Aug. 11th, I'd need to arrange moving, and my hubby needs to know in what state to start looking for a job, and we need to know what state to start looking for housing in! D:
So I'm all stressed out about this stuff. And I'm trying to figure out how to write a SOP in super-duper rush mode.
SOPs are generally 'hey, I want to apply to your program, this is why I'm shiny!', and I'm like 'yeah, I want to apply to your school so I can work with this professor doing _____, which I probably won't hate but thar be FUNDING!'. How does that work? x.x This would be the first SOP I've ever written, so I'm not even sure where to start. D:
x-posted to applyingtograd
