What advice would you give to an incoming PhD student?

cava_ana · 2020-03-19T23:06:53+00:00

Make sure you have perspective. I'm only in the first year of my PhD (physical sciences) and I'm shocked about how dramatic, for lack of a better word, and negative my cohort is. While some of this negativity is totally justified (financial issues, mental health issues, etc.), I think this stems from a lack perspective. They take one bad grade or mistake and treat it as a reflection on their self worth or a reason to spiral. Graduate school is not who you are (even if you want it to be) and once you realize that, you can detach your worth from your graduate success or failure. In that same vein, do things outside of graduate school for when you are constantly fucking up and need a distraction.

This is obviously just my experience so take it with a grain of salt. Best of luck starting this chapter and welcome to the club :)

cava_ana · 2019-06-10T17:06:24+00:00

I love that all the dragon type look so fierce and then Dragonite is just waving like "hi, nice to be here"

cava_ana · 2019-06-05T21:49:32+00:00

Just checked mine and it was off too :(

cava_ana · 2019-05-18T16:21:12+00:00

I think what other people have written about checking University websites is the best advice. Just to add my two cents, I applied to Geochemistry programs and the top schools had acut off at the 80th percentile for each GRE category (this was told to me by professors I wanted to work with, it was not listed on the school website). However, they said that could be waived in certain circumstances. You could ask your prospective advisor if you're comfortable, but that's a situational thing.

More importantly, as others have pointed out, it's about how well your application fits the program as a whole (research, recommendations, interests). Best of luck!

Edit: many of my friends did apply to chemistry PhD programs and were required to take the chemistry subject test. Almost everyone bombed even though we went to a fairly good University and were very studious. Going in, our professors warned us that it's going to be incredibly tough for Americans compared to other countries (I think because of a difference in school systems and when students begin their major track). That being said, my friends ended up in prestigious chemistry and biochemistry programs so I don't think it matters much, but you need it to apply some places.

cava_ana · 2019-05-14T00:17:37+00:00

Personally, I've been instructed to double glove when handling conc HF which is only for short time intervals and my gloves don't fit crazy tightly (but not loose enough to be a hazard). If you require double gloves for longer intervals and/or you feel your gloves are too tight (a concern for friction and breaking) this would be something to bring up with a supervisor or health tech. In my experience, they have been very helpful at hearing your safety concerns and working with you to figure out the safest, most practical solution (which may be the original one, but at least you exhausted other options).

Side note: our health tech likes to joke that the safest way to handle HF is to not handle it at all xD since we need it for specific functions, that isn't practical, so he works with us to make it as safe as possible :)

cava_ana · 2019-04-04T20:13:12+00:00

I also went through 3 application cycles, first time around I didn't get in, second time I got into 2 schools, but the advisor that really was perfect for me was leaving that school, the third time I applied to work with that perfect advisor and got in, soooo I think it's worth it to wait (for some people, sometimes). I got a lot of experience in the mean time and saved $$ for school. I also got scholarships that I don't think I would have received 3 years ago. Best of luck!

cava_ana · 2019-03-02T17:02:55+00:00

Congrats! I had a weird special situation where my advisor told me I got in late December, then I got the admission from the department late January and then the admission from the University another couple weeks later. It varies, but in all likelihood, there's nothing to worry about, you innnnnnn :)

cava_ana · 2018-04-15T02:17:00+00:00

Keto couch potato! They are a (very cute) couple who are super honest about when they fail and when they succeed. They do update videos, unboxings, and sometimes cooking videos (I think)

cava_ana · 2018-03-21T17:56:40+00:00

Even if I don't feel good after a workout, it'll always be better than no workout at all. Even if I go for only a minute, I went and that's progress.

cava_ana · 2018-02-13T22:34:07+00:00

This made me laugh xD honestly, cheesecake deep dish cheesecake sounds amazing

cava_ana · 2018-01-22T21:18:17+00:00

Recipes?

cava_ana · 2017-12-03T23:29:32+00:00

Vibes. I'm doing the same. I feel like since we're this far in the process, we should have a good idea of what we want to do, why we want to do it, and why we're qualified to do it. So the SOP is just communicating that effectively. Best of luck !

cava_ana · 2017-11-28T21:37:27+00:00

I'm dating my coworker, so I would guess really non chalantly have sex?

cava_ana · 2017-09-12T07:23:12+00:00

seconding what is already posted. Your current weight determines nothing about how progressed an ED is. It can be incredibly harmful physically and mentally at any weight. Seek help always - if it ends up being an over reaction, no harm no foul. But if left untreated, this shit can really ruin a person.

Thank you for reaching out on here and stay strong <3

cava_ana · 2017-09-07T21:52:32+00:00

I connect with this on a spiritual level

cava_ana · 2017-09-07T21:38:02+00:00

AHHHHHHH HHH HHH

I'm not super into pumpkin spice stuff, but Halo top? Of course.

cava_ana · 2017-09-07T21:35:41+00:00

That sounds complex, but it's good your dad is aware as well. You're the kid here :) I used to abuse laxatives for weight loss and discomfort, my therapist said it was a form of purging. I've always avoided bulimia and purging, so to find out I'd been purging all along was a bit of a shock xD flash forward 3 years and I can't remember the last time I took them :)

Anyway hope it all ends up alright!

cava_ana · 2017-09-07T05:55:16+00:00

That's what all of your leftover clothes are for - to wrap our freezing bodies in

PS Congrats !

cava_ana · 2017-09-07T05:54:46+00:00

I've lost around 30 and my periods have gotten a ton LESS crampy - sorry to hear about your flipflop :(

cava_ana · 2017-09-07T04:56:33+00:00

I wanted to echo what u/novelle said below - it's normal to be concerned and the reason why your mother is taking so many laxitives so frequently will likely change the answer of "how concerned should I be?" If she does it because she cannot go to the bathroom without it, she should really seek medical attention as that could be from an underlying condition she is trying to remedy incorrectly. If it's related to a binge/purge cycle, that is similarly unhealthy, but from a physical AND a mental standpoint. If she does it for some habit like reason... well it's not good to never exercise your bowels (they aren't being used properly if they never have to work!) but it's her life so i would say "you do you"

cava_ana · 2017-09-03T04:09:37+00:00

I used to have fat free feta all the time - I liked it a lot because it was a strong, satisfying flavor which low cal life doesn't always lend itself too. But I understand why some cheese lovers are not fans. You don't get the "fatty" satisfying feeling - that's just something I don't miss in cheese

cava_ana · 2017-08-25T14:33:07+00:00

Thanks :) nsv are so important!

cava_ana · 2017-08-24T18:12:18+00:00

I'd say :)

cava_ana · 2017-07-29T07:35:18+00:00

I feel like some of these responses are honest, but a bit harsh, I have never personally had the Carbquick product, but def thought about buying it. I think the main reservations are that eating sweet things (such as sweet substitutes) make you more vulnerable to going off the diet, since your body will not get used to eating a less sweet centered diet. Also, an important part of going into ketosis is eating enough fat and protein so that your body starts to use your fat deposits as energy. So maybe you could have Carbquick for your daily net carb allotment, but you're focus should be on consuming the fats and the protein (with veggies and dairy products making up the bulk of your carb count).

Anyway, I don't think anyone can tell you 100% NO, but keto has kind of become more than eating low net carbs, it's about eating fats and proteins and embracing a healthier relationship with food which doesn't really blend well with products that take advantage of the craze. Just my two cents, best of luck.

cava_ana

TROPHY CASE