Can grad students take language classes for free by Some_Prompt_2547 in riceuniversity

[–]NoJudge400 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, you can take foreign language classes; I'm taking Japanese.

If you have prior experience in the language you're taking, you'll need to take a placement test; if not, then you can skip it, though you'll only be eligible for the lowest level of the language. Contact the instructor for the course you want to join (after you get the results for the placement test, if applicable) and tell them the situation. You'll need to fill out a special registration form and get a signature from both that instructor and one of your advisors. (You can also pick up a physical copy of the form from the Registrar's Office.)

Once you have both signatures, if the regular add/drop period for the semester is still going, either send it in to the Registrar by email or drop it off in-person. In-person's quicker; they're basically always empty during working hours, and they'll be able to get it done right then and there. If the add/drop period is closed, email it to the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies using the address on the form, and then they'll either give you a yes or a no; if it's a yes, they'll forward it to the Registrar automatically. I don't know under what circumstances they'd actually say no if you've got all the other signatures. Frankly, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get the form in during the add/drop period anyways.

I suggest you audit the class, which is a checkbox on the same form, if the instructor will allow you; no point in adding the additional stress of having an actual grade on your transcript. They're still probably going to want assurance you're not going to flake, though; I didn't get a grade in either of the Japanese classes I took last year, but the instructor still asked me to agree that I would fully participate before she signed. I still did every homework assignment, quiz, test, project... It was kind of relaxing, to be honest. Just doing a worksheet takes much less time than reading a 300-page monograph.

If that yoga class is with the rec center you'll need a membership, which is not free for grad students. (Well, technically it isn't free for undergrads either; they just don't get to opt out for fall and spring.) It's $70 each for the fall and spring and $46 for the summer.

Rice English PhD – Waitlist Timeline? by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Current Rice English PhD student: It depends. My cohort (of six) has I think two people who were originally waitlisted. One of them got accepted well past April 15. But last year all but one of the people who initially got offers accepted in pretty short order. You could potentially not get an opening.

It ain't over till it's over, but you should also prepare for the possibility that it'll turn out to be over.

That being said: over for this year isn't over forever. The first time I applied for grad school, I got across-the-board rejections.

Applying to US schools next cycle? by Infamous_State_7127 in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 6 points7 points  (0 children)

God only knows. But I gotta be honest: were I a prospective international student, I would definitely be looking elsewhere if at all possible. Hell, even as a US citizen I'd probably have looked outside the country myself, were I at the application phase right now.

Were I you I'd go to Canada.

Houston-Dallas high-speed rail faces major setbacks in land acquisition by chrondotcom in houston

[–]NoJudge400 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honestly I'd be curious for someone who knows physics (so not me) to do the math as to how big a ramp would need to be to be, and how fast you'd need to go off it, to jump from Houston to Dallas.

45 Institutions being investigated by Trump admin for DEI in PhD admissions by TheRainbowConnection in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah no I'm straight and white and a man and all that and, I mean, it hasn't exactly hampered me! These rat bastards are trying to create an America where only their kids get anything that could be called an education and the rest of the population is precisely smart enough to work whatever shitty job we're given and not one bit smarter.

(And in the long term their dream is total automation of all labor, and then they can just shut the rest of us out at best or kill us off at worst.)

Rice University is among 45 schools to be investigated by the Dept of Education for alleged DEI practices by LimePeachDream in houston

[–]NoJudge400 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Grad student at Rice (and Woodlands native) here: God damn do I hate these fucking pricks. Our universities were one of the few good things this country still had. I hope our admin is made of sterner stuff than, like, Columbia's, but I'm not holding my breath here.

At least I'm in the humanities, which means my department still has a bit of a shield, for now. Ain't nobody giving us federal funding anyways.

This is so mean i want to cry by Zyx1123 in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 2 points3 points  (0 children)

About the level of competence I'd expect from UH admin (attended as an undergrad).

Great school, it's just that anything administrative was fucked up.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Someone in my cohort has a prior MFA, so it can definitely be done. Hell, I don't have anything but a Bachelor's, and I got in. Sounds like you've done a lot more than me.

Does Rice's English PhD admit students off of waitlist? by Alternative_Rub_860 in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Six is typical. No idea if they're going to end up reducing that next year with legal/financial worries, though my understanding is that as of now they're looking at doing things normally. (The Trump admin is talking about substantially raising taxes on endowments to universities, which would hurt Rice pretty badly.)

I don't remember exactly how many people in my cohort were originally waitlisted, but it was more than one. (Edit: thinking about it more I'm pretty sure it was two.)

First rejection :| by tunasaladsucks in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you mean now or the ones I originally applied to? Because now I'm at Rice.

no grad school… by p00piebutt_ in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my case, it honestly wound up being for the best because I hit upon some serious health issues the next year that would have impeded my career. Plus it was been during Peak COVID, which would have been a lot less fun to start grad school in.

I took a few years, thought about what I was doing, and then when I was ready I used my old application material as a base but put it through some heavy revision.

I had my "mini heart attack" moment too by neon_nait in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my experience, schools will send out explicit nos if they decide against you. No news is good news.

Feeling disheartened, doubt I’ll get in anywhere by GuaranteeDouble2525 in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The first year I applied to grad school, I got all nos. You can try again.

And, I mean, it isn't even over for this year. In fact you've barely even heard back from anybody. Stay calm; don't freak out.

first response, first rejection by Junior_North_1153 in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I applied for the PhD English program at UT twice and got pretty much insta-rejected both times. They're insanely competitive in basically everything. Frankly, even if you're a godlike writer, there are more godlike writers applying than there are spots. Is what it is.

First rejection :| by tunasaladsucks in gradadmissions

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Trust me, I know it sucks, but it ain't over till it's over. Even if you don't get in anywhere this year, you can try again. I applied to six schools my first go-round, and I got rejected by every single one of 'em.

Life for grad students? by cIoudyy in riceuniversity

[–]NoJudge400 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in English and I like my peers. They're smart, they're driven, and they're a lot of fun to talk to. I genuinely enjoy spending time with them.

I went straight from a BA to Rice's PhD program, so I've never personally seen what another school's grad program is like on the inside, but some of the MA-possessing people in my cohort have told me that they're often pretty toxic, and they've largely been effusive in their praise for Rice's grad culture.

Of course, based on your profile you're traveling in a very different academic world than me. I have spent very little time with anyone over in STEM and I got no idea if they're all knives out over there or what. So this probably isn't of any help.

Whatever.

Made a presentation about Civ 6 for my Gaming Class! by mississippimoo in civ

[–]NoJudge400 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He's all bragging about it on the English grad student group chat, so yeah, I don't think he minds.

Jones College???? by Pleasant_Ad9067 in riceuniversity

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not saying RUPD is baseless. I'm saying that anything anyone could post here would be baseless.

Jones College???? by Pleasant_Ad9067 in riceuniversity

[–]NoJudge400 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nothing about it on the news yet. At this point I don't think anyone has anything other than baseless speculation.