To all interested, I have an update on my personal funding issues. I have received Federal Work Study money, and, due to a slight miscommunication, funding from an advisor this summer as well. I think I’m going to talk to him about maybe pocketing a little extra out of the FWS money, if he pays me $1000 less and I have a $1500 FWS grant, then we both win!

I still stand by my claims about money, though. Life as a grad student is dictated by who has funding; I’ve considered several times switching to nuclear physics because they seem to have more money than the condensed matter folks. You have to do what you love, but at the same time, doing what you love doesn’t allow you to eat and not live in your car.

My biggest mistake applying to graduate school, bigger than applying to only five, was not applying for any fellowships. If I could have swung one $20k fellowship that would have lasted five years, I would be set and could work with whoever I want on whatever they have. The NSF gets a lot of attention, but there are so many out there to be had. To the whole three readers I have, if you haven’t applied to graduate school yet, spend a lot of time focusing on fellowships. They will make your life so much easier when you get in.