I've got some more good news from Stanford!
University of Chicago - waiting
UCLA - visiting/interviewing Feb 20 - 22
Duke University - waiting
Harvard/MIT - waiting
University of Wisconsin - ACCEPTED visiting March 13 - 14
Stanford University - ACCEPTED visiting March 31
University of Pennsylvania - ACCEPTED
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
UCLA weekend - Saturday
Our morning began around 9:30 when the candidates and two grad reps met outside the hotel. Then our bus rolled up. Yes, we had an entire bus!
This is the Graduate Student housing. It was our first stop, and we got to look at three different options that are currently occupied by students in the program.
Santa Monica Peir
J. Paul Getty Art Museum
Monday, February 23, 2009
UCLA weekend - Friday
On Friday we woke up early and were met by our grad student reps in the lobby of the hotel. My roommate and I must have been a little late, because when we got off the elevator everyone was standing there, some in suits, looking to see who was coming. Apparently we were two of the four that hadn't come downstairs yet. It was a little intimidating having 20 people, all dressed up, staring at you as step off the elevator.
We then went to the Medical School, which we were told has a building footprint only second to the Pentagon. It soon became obvious of this as we weaved through hallways to finally make it to the BMP Office. There we had some breakfast, met the administrators and began our tours.
The first stop was the NEW Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. It is an amazing place. Designed by architect I. M. Pei, the light that enters the main entrance can make it's way to every room (so they said). We got to see a few of the imaging rooms. Next we got a brief campus tour where we got to see the Bruin, which is their mascot, the gym (very important) and other parts of campus. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on Friday, so not pictures of campus. Sorry :(.
Next we had our interviews. My first one was tough. The guy grilled me pretty hard, but I think I came out OK in the end. The second interview was really laid back. The guy was a Penn State Alum who was originally from Lancaster, so I think that helped my chances a bit. On that note, the Head of the Department was a professor at Penn State Altoona for a while so that is good for me too :).
Then we had a nice lunch in the J.D. Morgan Athletic Hall of Fame, which is huge by the way. UCLA is WAY into sports, duh, and they are proud of it. I mean they have there own sports museum on campus, dedicated to there years of success in almost every sport.
Our day continued with lab tours. We hear talks and saw the research labs from the four different degree options. After all of this, everyone was getting pretty tired. We had about a half hour to take a break and change clothes before going out to dinner. We ate at the Westwood Brewing Company, which doesn't brew beer anymore, but has really good food.
Adam, one of our grad reps, offered to take people out on the town after the dinner. Most people were pretty tired, but a few of us figured that we don't get many opportunities to go out to bars in LA so..... Off we went. Six of us went to a local place that was pretty happening since the Lakers were playing and were on EVERY TV in the bar. Everyone was pretty upbeat, especially when the Lakers won. A couple people from our little group split, and then we went to another bar in Santa Monica called South. It was a pretty cool place. Lots of people, loud music, cool lounge areas, and pool tables. We shot some pool, had a couple drinks and then we back to the hotel. Saturday was another full schedule for us so getting some sleep was on all of our minds, especially those of us from the East coast. :)
We then went to the Medical School, which we were told has a building footprint only second to the Pentagon. It soon became obvious of this as we weaved through hallways to finally make it to the BMP Office. There we had some breakfast, met the administrators and began our tours.
The first stop was the NEW Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. It is an amazing place. Designed by architect I. M. Pei, the light that enters the main entrance can make it's way to every room (so they said). We got to see a few of the imaging rooms. Next we got a brief campus tour where we got to see the Bruin, which is their mascot, the gym (very important) and other parts of campus. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on Friday, so not pictures of campus. Sorry :(.
Next we had our interviews. My first one was tough. The guy grilled me pretty hard, but I think I came out OK in the end. The second interview was really laid back. The guy was a Penn State Alum who was originally from Lancaster, so I think that helped my chances a bit. On that note, the Head of the Department was a professor at Penn State Altoona for a while so that is good for me too :).
Then we had a nice lunch in the J.D. Morgan Athletic Hall of Fame, which is huge by the way. UCLA is WAY into sports, duh, and they are proud of it. I mean they have there own sports museum on campus, dedicated to there years of success in almost every sport.
Our day continued with lab tours. We hear talks and saw the research labs from the four different degree options. After all of this, everyone was getting pretty tired. We had about a half hour to take a break and change clothes before going out to dinner. We ate at the Westwood Brewing Company, which doesn't brew beer anymore, but has really good food.
Adam, one of our grad reps, offered to take people out on the town after the dinner. Most people were pretty tired, but a few of us figured that we don't get many opportunities to go out to bars in LA so..... Off we went. Six of us went to a local place that was pretty happening since the Lakers were playing and were on EVERY TV in the bar. Everyone was pretty upbeat, especially when the Lakers won. A couple people from our little group split, and then we went to another bar in Santa Monica called South. It was a pretty cool place. Lots of people, loud music, cool lounge areas, and pool tables. We shot some pool, had a couple drinks and then we back to the hotel. Saturday was another full schedule for us so getting some sleep was on all of our minds, especially those of us from the East coast. :)
Friday, February 20, 2009
A post.... with the correct time
Since I began my blogging when I was in Palo Alto last summer, the time on all of my posts is defaulted to PST. I can change it when I post, but I never remember. So when you see those 6:30AM posts, the time is a lie. :)
Well, this time it IS true, because I am back on PST. Although, I am totally jet lagged and it does feel like 2:00 AM. I just finished getting settled into the Hilgard House Hotel in Westwood, very near the UCLA campus. I found a Subway for a bite to eat before I fall asleep.
The trip was really good. My flight out of State College was a little worrisome when the snow squals were blowing in and you couldn't see the other side of the runway. We had to de-ice, which made us a little late getting into Philly. It worked out, for me at least, because my connecting flight was delayed about the same amount of time.
The only snag was that my shuttle driver heard what he wanted to here when I told him where I was going. I said "Hilgard House Hotel" and he said "Guest House?" and I said "Hilgard" and he said "I know Guest". So I figured it was the same placed, just called Guest House for slang or something. Well, I knew something was up when we passed Hilgard House and kept driving for a few blocks. When we got to the guest house I again tried to convince him that this was not the right place. He did not believe me until I showed him my letter from UCLA with the name and address of Hilgard House. After appologizing, he said he would take me there and all was good.
So for now, I will sign off. Expect an update soon... I've got wireless :D.
Well, this time it IS true, because I am back on PST. Although, I am totally jet lagged and it does feel like 2:00 AM. I just finished getting settled into the Hilgard House Hotel in Westwood, very near the UCLA campus. I found a Subway for a bite to eat before I fall asleep.
The trip was really good. My flight out of State College was a little worrisome when the snow squals were blowing in and you couldn't see the other side of the runway. We had to de-ice, which made us a little late getting into Philly. It worked out, for me at least, because my connecting flight was delayed about the same amount of time.
The only snag was that my shuttle driver heard what he wanted to here when I told him where I was going. I said "Hilgard House Hotel" and he said "Guest House?" and I said "Hilgard" and he said "I know Guest". So I figured it was the same placed, just called Guest House for slang or something. Well, I knew something was up when we passed Hilgard House and kept driving for a few blocks. When we got to the guest house I again tried to convince him that this was not the right place. He did not believe me until I showed him my letter from UCLA with the name and address of Hilgard House. After appologizing, he said he would take me there and all was good.
So for now, I will sign off. Expect an update soon... I've got wireless :D.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Getting ready......
Well tomorrow I fly from State College to Philly, then on to sunny California. It will be in the 70's and sunny in LA and I doubt that I will miss the sleet and rain we had today :). I'll be attending candidates weekend at UCLA. Things will begin Thursday night (unofficially) when I will meet some of the current students and other candidates. We will be hanging out at someones condo I think.
Friday will be the big day. Tours of the Hospital and labs, interviews, lunch, more tours, dinner, and maybe some nightlife (woohoo). Saturday, we will get to see some sites in West LA, have a meal with a faculty member in their "plush" condo in Pacific Palisades, and then some bowling in Santa Monica. Then I've got an early flight on Sunday morning.
I'll have my laptop and camera with me, so HOPEFULLY I will get a chance to update my blog while I'm there. But, please don't hold me to that! I will definitely have an update with pictures coming up soon.
Wish me luck!
Friday will be the big day. Tours of the Hospital and labs, interviews, lunch, more tours, dinner, and maybe some nightlife (woohoo). Saturday, we will get to see some sites in West LA, have a meal with a faculty member in their "plush" condo in Pacific Palisades, and then some bowling in Santa Monica. Then I've got an early flight on Sunday morning.
I'll have my laptop and camera with me, so HOPEFULLY I will get a chance to update my blog while I'm there. But, please don't hold me to that! I will definitely have an update with pictures coming up soon.
Wish me luck!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Update on grad school
Here's a quick update on my applications to grad school:
University of Chicago - waiting
UCLA - visiting/interviewing Feb 20 - 22
Duke University - waiting
Harvard/MIT - waiting
University of Wisconsin - ACCEPTED visiting March 13 - 14
Stanford University - waiting
University of Pennsylvania - ACCEPTED
In a couple weeks I hope to hear from some of the other schools. I think I will have to make a decision by the end of March or early April. I still don't know which one yet :).
University of Chicago - waiting
UCLA - visiting/interviewing Feb 20 - 22
Duke University - waiting
Harvard/MIT - waiting
University of Wisconsin - ACCEPTED visiting March 13 - 14
Stanford University - waiting
University of Pennsylvania - ACCEPTED
In a couple weeks I hope to hear from some of the other schools. I think I will have to make a decision by the end of March or early April. I still don't know which one yet :).
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