PI just told me that he's cutting 5 weeks of my summer pay. Any advice?

indoze · 4 days

Those aren't bad ideas. The bills are already prioritized, but the food bank hadn't occurred to us. I'll have to ask the people I know about splitting groceries or potlucking.

diabloyumyum · 9 days

Thank you for being so generous. This week I was hit with some pretty bad news... That my summer funding for grad school is getting cut by around $2200. This news has basically crushed my summer plans entirely, as my wife and I live paycheck to paycheck.

Grad school has been especially tough this year, but I love science so I keep at it. I don't make much but it's enough for me to not go hungry and be able to have a roof over my head. I've been saving money up for D3 but when I found out about my funding cut on Monday I knew that I shouldn't spend money on anything other than necessities to get by this summer.

It's pretty much been one of the most stress weeks of my life so far, since this isn't the only thing that's gone wrong. My grandfather was admitted to hospice and I've been saddled with a ton of work while my advisor (the same one who cut my funding) is out of town.

I'm not even sure what to do at this point, I'm just down and it feels good to get it off my chest, even if this is just an internet forum. I hope whoever gets the game really appreciates it. Thanks again. :)

A friend of mine was nice enough to give me the game as an early birthday present. Thanks anyway, I hope other redditors can enjoy your generosity.

indoze · 11 days

I haven't. It's something I've wanted to do, but unfortunately my bills don't go away when I do.

indoze · 11 days

I don't think there's a minimum funding level. The only guarantee that my department gives is full funding through either a TA or RA during the academic year. Summer pay is at the discretion of the PI. :/

I'm checking my other options for now, until he gets back from China anyway.

indoze · 11 days

I'm not angry, really. Just kind of sad. There's nothing I can do about it for the next few weeks, either, since he's away in China and only has spotty internet access. I've sent an email of course but I doubt I'll hear back from him soon.

I think he does realize how shitty a situation it is, but at the same time it's not just me who's funding has been shorted. Everyone in my lab is getting the same pay cut so that his grants can support us through the next academic year.

Wait and see I guess. I've already sent emails to departments on campus that I collaborate with in the hopes that I can do some work for them for a few weeks, but I feel like it's kind of a long shot. :(

zZ1ggY · 17 days

I would put one of these to good use if chosen. Thanks so much for being so generous. :)

edit: This is only for the authenticator. I don't need anything else, but the fact that you're giving those away as well makes you even more of a badass. Thanks!

indoze · 1 month

Yeah, cleanliness seems very important with this service.

This is the first major maintenance thing I'll be doing personally on my bike, but unfortunately my tool collection is lacking. The SRAM documents detail what I'll need exactly, but for a complete rebuild I worry that the cost of tools alone will be beyond what I can afford at this time.

I may not need to replace the bushings at least, since there isn't any noticeable knocking. That probably cuts down on the cost quite a bit, but on the bright side by investing in the tools now I'll be on my way to maintaining my bike on my own instead of taking it to the LBS for every little thing.

Thanks for your response. :)

mmehlhope · 1 month

Happened last night. Someone in my group got 2 that same run... none for me though.

Dead_Motherfucker · 1 month

Fun fact: A'a' is the sound people make when they walk over rocks solidified from lava of the same name.

iHoldfast · 1 month

Everyone and their mom has their own opinion about this, but in my experience clipless is great for added stability. I tend to feel more secure on my bike with it, even though it can make bailing a challenge. With the kind of riding I do though, bailing isn't something I need to do often.

If you're doing something more in the DH realm, maybe flats are the way to go. It's up to you!

edit: I should add that everyone I know had bad experiences with clipless pedals their first few rides. Usually though they get used to them and don't go back to flats. My advice is not to be discouraged so easily, however its your bike so you're allowed to ride it however you see fit.

indoze · 2 months

Your MW2 interests me, but let me get back to you. Traveling now and I don't have a whole lot of time.

rmwpnb · 2 months

I assume angry users are never angry because they're bad people... They're just angry because of some other stress in their life and the one thing they need to work properly is their computer. Naturally, when it doesn't, the IT folks end up taking enough rage for the computer issues AND whatever other baggage the person is carrying around.

Sad but true. I usually just laugh about it and move on with my day. I've never had a user ruin my day, and I doubt I ever will. :)

I'm also painfully optimistic at times.

rmwpnb · 2 months

That's actually a really cool trick.

cjw2211 · 2 months

It's definitely feasible... In fact, I'd say it's recommended! Dogs are great and will be there for you when you need some cheering up for seemingly endless amount of work you have to do.

Fostering is also great, but it may be better to have a dog that you can trust not to make a mess out of your house since grad school is stressful enough as it is.

dkguepv372 · 2 months

I recommend that if another offer comes along with funding that you take it, however my understanding is that many departments may not have funding available for your first semester/year, but will then be open to funding you for the remainder of your time. There's also the option of securing your own funding, either through fellowships at your university, or through external graduate fellowships (NSF, EPA, NASA, etc., for science, and I'm sure there are others for non-science disciplines). Granted, these fellowships will be very competitive but there's no reason not to try for them (particularly if you're competent in your field and have a supportive advisor).

Grad school would be ridiculously hard without funding, but I want you to be aware that you probably have options if you're willing to work for it.

Ghostofazombie · 2 months

Have fun! You should just do whatever you find fun, because in graduate school you tend not to have as much time for it. Granted, you'll probably find your work fun in its own way (and you'll still have time to do non-academic fun things), but use this time to do something you've always wanted to. Skydiving, biking that trail that's an hour's drive away, playing video games, seeing friends. Really, anything is a good use of your time.

After this summer you're essentially starting your career. Use this time to also evaluate what's important. I think taking the opportunity to do so will help you throughout your program.

Sorry about the vague answer, but it's really the best advice I can give.

blitzkannon · 2 months

I was in a similar situation. Similar GPA, similar GRE, and I was able to get in to several competitive graduate programs. I think what mattered more than the numbers was the relationships I had established with the professors I was planning on working with, my personal statement, and my letters of recommendation.

I don't know if you have the opportunity, but I found that the places I was accepted to were the places where I had gone out of my way to talk to (at conferences, over the phone, emails, etc.) those professors. The places I was not accepted to were places where I was not as successful with contacting the professors. In many schools the department you are applying to makes all of the decisions, so make as good an impression as you can on the people you'd be working with and I think you can get in to any school you want.

Best of luck!

rmwpnb · 2 months

When I was working IT at a college campus, a professor couldn't get his computer to turn on. I ran through the usual issues ('Is it plugged in, is there an amber light coming from the computer, etc'), and starts to get really mad at me. "OF COURSE IT'S PLUGGED IN, I'M NOT STUPID," he says.

I explain that it's a necessary check, but he would have none of it. Seeing that the other issues didn't seem to be the case, I asked if he would mind just checking to make sure it was plugged in to fully eliminate that issue. He gets really mad at me, and explains that tech support on campus is terrible, etc. etc. (we've all heard it before). I stand my ground though, and eventually he relents and checks.

Suddenly, angrier than before "Oh, it just started working, thanks for nothing!" and hangs up on me. I'm pretty sure the computer was unplugged the whole time.

At then end of the day, the user never likes being wrong (and it seems their anger related to being wrong increases the sillier the problem is).