Skipper

You guys are suckers. Math camp at Northwestern hasn't even started yet. I'm still enjoying my summer. :p

Your profile looks strong enough to have gotten into a Top 10 to begin with. Why did you choose a lesser-ranked program?

Actually, you are still screwed with a 780. Just kidding -- congrats!

Here's an idea: I'll buy a decorative pink laptop and tell her it's a gift for her.

I've heard you don't really need a computer for the first year, but I'd really like to get one anyway. My wife probably won't let me get one unless I need it for school. How can I convince her? ;)

I thought the book was a bit of a waste of time. Basically, there's tons of exposition describing results that can be summed up in a 2-page chart. There are a lot of quotes from students, but I don't put a lot of stock in anecdotal evidence. As for students being dissatisfied, I think it's all relative. I'm guessing that grad school isn't nearly as much fun as undergrad, but way more fun than a "real" job.

What I find odd about St. Louis is that there are very nice neighborhoods that are right next to terrible neighborhoods. I never felt unsafe there, but I guess it depends on exactly where you live. I will concede that the public transportation system isn't great -- I'd recommend owning a car.

I think St. Louis is awesome. Sure, it's not New York or Chicago, but not everyone likes the "big city" life. St. Louis is big enough to have all the amenities you want, but not TOO big. I came VERY close to choosing WashU over Northwestern.

If you really think you are underachieving on the GRE, I'd retake it.

I think OU has a small program and only offers a limited number of fields (e.g., development, industrial organization, international, and public). So you should probably have an idea of what field you want to specialize in before you commit to the program. My dream job is to be a professor at OU someday (I'm from Oklahoma).

He means top 50 as opposed to, say, top 20.

You should be able to handle Simon & Blume. It's much, much easier than Rudin, in my opinion.

I've taken a grand total of one math class in the past 6 years. Feel better?

I'm not sure what effect a B+ would have, but I had a ton of A-minuses.

Some of the advanced TI calculators have computer algebra systems that enable it to solve indefinite integrals, simplify algebraic expressions, solve systems of equations, etc. Would this kind of thing be useful in doing homeworks, or is the homework all proofs? Thanks.

I know how you feel, but you wouldn't have been accepted to a good program unless you had some ability. Just work hard and try to be confident!

What if you've already been accepted but haven't started yet?

All I needed was a vague concept of what a derivative is (and I probably didn't even need that).

Quite simply, it's not worth the risk. I was disappointed with my 5.0 AWA, but there was absolutely no way I was going to put my 800 Q at risk by retaking.

I'm debating whether to get a new computer. Generally, does the first-year PhD sequence feature much in the way of writing papers and using statistical software, or is it pretty much all pencil-and-paper theory and problem sets? Thanks.

I'm 28 years old and married. My "plan" is to borrow as much money as I can and worry about it later.

B+ in Western Civilization

If I go to jail, at least that will give me time to master MWG.

On EBay, it is often possible to find paperback "international" versions of popular textbooks for a fraction of the U.S. price. Is it legal for an American to buy these books? Thanks.

Thanks, guys. I think I'll hold off until Leopard comes out.