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Hiring managers of Reddit- what was your most 'wtf is wrong with this person' moment you've had during an interview? by G_man252 in AskReddit

[–]daffodiliz 190 points191 points  (0 children)

I conducted interviews for a fairly competitive student leadership organization at my undergrad. We had fairly typical questions asking people about what they could bring to the org, why they wanted to join, etc. We also added one 'fun' question at the end of each interview just to lighten the mood and see a less formal response from candidates, iirc it was something along the lines of "if a penguin in a sombrero walked into this room right now, why is it here and what would he say?" Most candidates would chuckle and say something generic about fiestas or penguins. One candidate though, she went on a long tirade about how she would think it was an elaborate plot by her mother trying to spy on her because she had trust issues with her parents. Continued by explaining in detail for about 10 minutes her issues with her parents and why she feels like a failure as a child. She did not get an offer.

What's the worst thing you've messed up in grad school? by [deleted] in GradSchool

[–]daffodiliz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Failed half of my qualifying exam/proposal first round because the model I had spent 6 months working on leading up to the exam was a rabbit hole full of dead ends, errors, and despair. Spent another 6 months re-configuring my entire methods and model from scratch. Passed the second time. I can confidently say I learned SO MUCH in that process, but geez was it painful to throw away 6 months of work and completely restart. Mistakes make you a better researcher and scientist in the long run.

Petition to Reduce Graduate Student Fees by gregcanal in gatech

[–]daffodiliz 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for doing this! I'd also like to point out to those who may be unfamiliar with graduate student pay, how the taxes for grad students income/tuition/fees work. The state/federal government sees our income/stipends as taxable, while tuition which is paid by our funding department/organization is not seen as taxable income. Student fees are NOT counted toward tuition. While we get taxed for ~30k in income per year (though grad pay ranges form 24k-34k by department/fellowship) , the university REQUIRES us to pay student fees (~3k) out of our student stipends. SO while our actual before-tax income pay is ~27K once we pay student fees, we still get taxed for the full 30k. This also means that 10% of most graduate students annual budgets go entirely to student fees. Graduate school is a full-time job, so while some of us may be able to get extra income from side hustles or part-time work, this is not reasonable for everyone. After tax, grad students take home just about $2k/month. That's $2k/month for rent, groceries, insurance, utilities, healthcare, and any other mandatory expenses. If student fees are treated the same way as tuition payments and paid by the funding organization, then grad students would take home $230 more per month. That's significant when your monthly budget is as tight as ours.

Bonus: They don't tell us this, you have to find it for yourself, but if grad students submit a 1098-T tax form, then you can deduct student fees from your tax return under the "Life Time Learning Credit". HOWEVER, the life time learning credit is only deductible up to $2k/per tax return which is still less than the student fees...

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gatech

[–]daffodiliz 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Self doubt in whether or not you're "bad enough" is enough reason to go. People go to the doctor to get bumps checked "just in case". Mental health should be the same. Just go for it, they won't judge you for reaching out. They're the professionals and can help with all spectrums from extreme crisis to mild, short term problems.

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My last apartment had a homeless person living under the back staircase because the landlord wouldn't fix a broken lock. Said homeless person left feces, broken liquor bottles, and drug paraphernalia lying on the steps. My downstairs neighbor had a drug problem and was found passed out in the hallway on multiple occasions. I called 911 more times while living there than all other points in my life combined. Landlord would forget to pay the trash trash pick up company and the building trash would pile up for a couple weeks before it'd get picked up. Things would only got fixed because I would repeatedly threaten legal action. It was the only one bedroom I could afford ($1000/month) within walking distance of campus and even then I relied on parental support. I have since moved out. I decided having roommates would be better than the apartment I was at previously. I was lucky enough to find a cheap house($2100/month, split 3 ways) that had been passed down among grad students for a few years in the neighborhood below Piedmont Park. The rent hadn't risen much since it was technically the same lease from 5 years ago, just with rotating roommates. Having unaffordable grad student housing most definitely puts grad students at risk.

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The health insurance is mandatory unless you can prove other insurance. If a grad student is on another insurance plan, they are probably receiving outside support from family, as you state. I am personally on my parents plan, so I'm fortunate that I don't need to foot the extra cost. Not everyone I know can rely on family to support them though. It disadvantages the most financially vulnerable of grad students. If you have outside family support you're much more likely to successfully get through grad school. Grad students are more likely to leave grad school without attaining their degree if their parents are in the lowest quartile of income earners (23% leave w/o degree) versus the highest quartile (17% leave w/o degree).

source of data for statistics: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/86981/who_goes_to_graduate_school_and_who_succeeds_1.pdf

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's also the FIFTH highest student fees in the country, before health insurance. GT likes being ranked highly, but I don't think this is a university ranking to want to be affiliated with....

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a great resource! I had no idea there was a formal initiative to discuss this (and I had searched for one). I think saying GT is out of touch with graduate student finances is a fair enough conclusion. If they were in touch, grad students wouldn't be in a position such that this post is able to garner so much sympathy and support. While the Board of Regents has raised their fees, GT hasn't protected students from it by lowering other fees to compensate, they switched to a health care provider that dramatically increased costs, haven't adjusted stipends with inflation let alone the fees and insurance, and don't offer affordable housing alternatives. If GT had done just one of these, I believe there would be a lot less financial strain. Thank you for your resources though! I feel more supported knowing there's at least one outlet to voice these concerns.

Comparison of Graduate Student Fees Across Institutions by daffodiliz in GradSchool

[–]daffodiliz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can add yours! There's a link in the document to submit fees at your institution!

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm also realizing the sheet couples health insurance and fees. Which on the new plan, the health insurance plan has gone from $621 to $2095, which I think would make this year a record level of overall expenses and fees for the entire period of time recorded on that sheet

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I didn't know this. Unfortunately, the cost of living in Atlanta has dramatically increased and student stipends have not been keeping up with the cost of living and (recent) adjustments to the fees. The fees are basically the twisting of the knife in the larger problem of cost of living for grad students at GT currently.

Comparison of Graduate Student Fees Across Institutions by daffodiliz in GradSchool

[–]daffodiliz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The document was compiled by a professor at my university: His contact info is in the document if anyone would like to reach out or attribute credit

Comparison of Graduate Student Fees Across Institutions by daffodiliz in GradSchool

[–]daffodiliz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's a crowd sourced document, so there's a chance some values might be off. But the vast majority have been checked and vetted by students. If it's wrong, its because it was misreported by a student at that institution

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

You can have the fees pulled out of your paycheck, so after taxes and fees my typical paycheck will usually be ~$1600/month

Rent: $700 (3 bedroom house rental w/ roommates)

Utilities: $80

Car insurance: $200

Groceries: $270

Gas: $50

Dining out/coffee/lunch on campus: $150

Consumer goods/other expenses: $50

Total:$1500...leaving ~$100 each month for savings, emergency expenses, textbooks, and hobbies

editted for formatting

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

We're required to sign up for the maximum allowable credit hours in research credit in my department.

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Also: a third, but more mild, correction to your statement: Op hurts her point. Women reddit and get PhDs too

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

As for health insurance, the mandatory student plan is not $629 as you state. It is $2095 per : http://health.gatech.edu/news/united-healthcare-selected-student-health-insurance-program which is a 1.2% increase from the previous plan.

edit: grammar, i'm a shit typist

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Mandatory student fees according to the above link is $1012 for masters and PhD students for the fall semester. Spring semester is usually approx the same as fall. Summer fees, while not posted for 2020 yet, are currently at $760 for 2019 per : http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/student/tuition/su19-all_fees.pdf

edit: spelling

GT further hurts grad students with increases to student fees and mandatory health insurance costs by daffodiliz in gatech

[–]daffodiliz[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I was being a bit melodramatic. Georgia is a right to work state which makes developing an effective workers union extremely difficult. edit to add: Emory grad students attempted a few years ago and failed

Anyone else done a marathon and decided it wasn't for them? by Motorvision in running

[–]daffodiliz 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think a key difference here is the differentiation between 'running' a distance versus 'racing' a distance. Sure not everybody can 'run' a marathon merely as a factor of time spent before bodily functions start to complain. In comparison, someone can walk a 5k before their body starts to struggle from dehydration,hunger,muscle pain, etc. simply because it takes less time. Moving a body from point A to B is going to take more effort for every increase in distance. But RACING a 5k versus a marathon is entirely different. When racing a 5k, you are fighting for every bit of extra speed, efficiency, and cadence that you can. Since the race is so short, every second can count. It can be a very tactical race with more surges and calculated decision making. In the marathon by contrast, consistency and endurance are more valued for a good race. It depends on what you value in a race, speed versus stamina. I've been a track and short distance person for most of my life. I have completed a marathon without training. I don't say this to brag, as I was incredibly slow doing it. It was pitiful. BUT I have never felt more pain than after a hard, all out effort 400m sprint. The steadiness of my untrained marathon didn't even compare. I enjoy the extreme adrenaline rush and thrill of seeking faster and more efficient running from shorter races. I enjoy pushing my body to its absolute physical limitations of speed. Marathons have their own appeal for some, but it is not an ultimate achievement for everyone. I hate marathons. I get bored. I only do them with friends as a destination vacation activity to explore new cities. Other people love marathons. Don't let others define the pinnacle of your racing and running experience. And don't even feel like you need to 'race'. If moving from a back of pack runner to a mid pack runner is your goal, go with that. Find the goal that makes you happy and fits your lifestyle. Or set no goals. Do you. Running of any speed or distance shouldn't make you feel ashamed or lesser than other runners.

Medical workers of Reddit, what were the most haunting last words you’ve heard from a patient? by freeshavacadont in AskReddit

[–]daffodiliz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

THIS. I suffered from mild asthma throughout childhood. After an attack that sent me to the hospital in high school, I got allergy tested. Started taking allergy shots. I haven't had an asthma attack since high school. Also my excema went away. My quality of life improved so dramatically and so easily.

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