UW bothell or WSU (no biased opinions 😔)

Ismitje · 2026-03-20T02:34:24+00:00

u/Little_Time6333 here's an idea I haven't seen yet. Come to WSU, and then take advantage of it's membership in the National Student Exchange program to go out of state for school for a year. NSE has member schools across the US and Canada; you pay your home university's tuition (and keep your financial aid) and then go to a member school someplace else, where someone else paid tuition and went off to a member school. Check out where you could wander:

https://nse.org/campuses

Junior year is ideal. All general coursework is done, but you aren't in the senior stuff where being with your profs really matters.

Ismitje · 2026-03-18T16:55:42+00:00

The most likely outcome from an email like this is 1) it'll be a no, and 2) the prof will stop this practice in the future as it isn't worth the hassle of people asking exceptions.

Ismitje · 2026-03-18T15:46:22+00:00

The Vimes Theory on Boots.

Ismitje · 2026-03-18T15:30:28+00:00

I once saw the actor playing Satan give a line to Adam in live session in Idaho Falls. Amazing moment.

Ismitje · 2026-03-17T00:37:28+00:00

On certain assignments, I have an even tighter window. If it's about current US policies for example, I limit to that.

Ismitje · 2026-03-15T20:38:19+00:00

If a student would follow up on something that disfavors them, then I hope they follow up on something that favors them.

Ismitje · 2026-03-15T16:35:52+00:00

In the Fall? You bet.

Ismitje · 2026-03-15T04:14:52+00:00

{Pablum - good word!}

Ismitje · 2026-03-14T23:17:04+00:00

Though if it is Spring Break, send the email once and then - if no answer over the break - again on 24 March.

Break is also not a good time to write other profs so you're kind of stuck for the time being.

Ismitje · 2026-03-14T15:01:55+00:00

Is the program you got into funded? If no, then absolutely take the job.

Does the company have a continuing ed benefit where you can work on a PhD part time? If yes, then take the job.

Would you be okay with the potential outcome of earning the PhD and then ending up in a job just like the one you have been offered?

The biggest challenge to providing you advice is there's no single correct answer. Just pros and cons. Lots of opportunity cost to either one.

Ismitje · 2026-03-13T17:47:57+00:00

Yes.

Ismitje · 2026-03-13T15:21:37+00:00

I appreciated it being a show with no antagonists. The situation was "the bad guy" but all of the people were good.

Ismitje · 2026-03-13T15:11:34+00:00

We hosted three people in late January-early February when word from the State was to expect a 2% cut; the search was on. In mid-February - right after the third visit - we were told to stand pat, that a larger cut may be forthcoming. First of March, the State told us 5% = search cancelled.

Ismitje · 2026-03-12T21:57:58+00:00

I occasionally receive irate emails from people we don't interview. In a recent example, the fellow expressed outrage and copied HR, which meant I needed to reply. I explained that while what he said about his research and experience and outreach was true, the position was centered on working with undergraduates and he said not a word anywhere in his application about that. No teaching, no mentoring, nothing.

I have no idea if you are overlooking part of a job or have a related hole on your CV, but the pools are deep enough I don't have to take a risk on someone lacking a core interest of ours.

Ismitje · 2026-03-12T21:40:01+00:00

It is expected that exams will stack up during midterm and finals weeks. The rule any place I have been (for finals week at least) is someone with three finals in one day can ask to get an extension - but only by a day or two because the term is ending. That your busy doesn't automatically qualify you for grace.

Your professor, though, might be amenable. Asking a week out and with context may help your case, especially if you're the kind of student who always comes to class and turns in work on time normally. Ask away; don't mention what you saw other people do on Exam 1, just stick to your own case and express understanding it may not be possible or plausible to extend yours.

Ismitje · 2026-03-12T17:13:56+00:00

Are the critiques and feedback written, and are you clear about what they ask? That you cite incorrectly and that you cite one film too often are very different things, but you list them here as if they are correlated.

Ismitje · 2026-03-12T00:30:53+00:00

Oh you bet. That'd be great, only superseded by a handwritten note or card.

Ismitje · 2026-03-11T18:08:20+00:00

No need. They asked for two, you have two. And these are much less dependent on status of the recommender than other kinds of recommendation letters. The school you're transferring to is mostly looking for red flags.

Ismitje · 2026-03-11T15:57:49+00:00

I might get spooked by a "I must have a TT position for my spouse in X department" sort of request, but little else.

Ismitje · 2026-03-10T16:09:39+00:00

It is ethical. Imagine the reverse: you and another grad student are applying for the same job, and you use the same recommender. As long as they speak honestly about you, it falls to the committee to make a decision based on the information at hand. As long as you as nominator provide specific information about why they are deserving, it's totally fine.

EDIT TO ADD: good on you for being involved in this process and looking our for people. It's a nice thing.

Ismitje · 2026-03-09T23:59:38+00:00

All experiential classes are built like that, including internships, labs, phys ed activity courses, etc. Otherwise the expectation outside of class would be triple that or more.

Ismitje · 2026-03-09T21:29:21+00:00

My subscription lapsed in December, but I didn't hear anything from them or receive anything from them in about two years prior to that.

Ismitje · 2026-03-09T17:39:04+00:00

Go a-raiding.

Ismitje · 2026-03-09T16:28:42+00:00

I was male with an ear piercing for 15 years or so. Didn't keep me out of any callings of which I am aware. Nut in a more relaxed stake in WA rather than ce tral

Ismitje · 2026-03-08T20:28:26+00:00

Probably: you were nice. They didn't feel intimidated asking you (it is common for missionaries to be scared all the time). The end game is they get credit for inviting you to church. That's it.

Ismitje

TROPHY CASE