generation N+1

[nibot]

It's snowing again in Rochester. Sunny and snowing, snow swirling down in the turbulence between buildings. Aimee says there's something magical about lake effect snow. It's lighter, fluffier, more brilliant... Outside my window, it's swirling in a giant whirlpool of snow. It doesn't seem to be settling, just swirling, up and down, around and around.

The recruits are here, and I feel like I'm being sold on Rochester all over again. Or for the first time. At breakfast Adam Frank nearly convinced me to come here. With the recuiting events all coming together, it seems like the department is a cohesive entity. Last night the faculty and the current grad students and the visiting students all had dinner in the Meliora, which is this university's version of the Faculty Club. I'd really like it if we did that on a regular basis. I've seen hardly any of the 2nd year graduate students since the recruiting weekend a year ago. We should dine together regularly.

Word is that there's a blizzard coming. Most of the prospective students are here on turbo visit weekends. Fly in on the red-eye, get blasted with information overload for 24 hours, fly out. Nowhere in this process do they see Rochester. I looked to see when their flights leave tomorrow, thinking I'd take a group around the city, or go hiking, or go to the lake or something. But almost everyone's on the 11:05am flight out of here.

If I were planning the recruiting weekend, it would consist of a giant sleepover at my house. With hot chocolate.

None of this "Marriot Courtyard Suites" and "TGI Fridays".

Then again, I tend to be in the minority opinion on these matters.

On Thursday, Kris, Matt and I picked up two recruits from the hotel and took them out to a restaurant. It was thrilling. First I must tell you that we spent the preceeding week soul-searching about what we should tell these kids. "I don't know if I can think of anything good to say," was Matt's original evaluation. But we were completely honest with these guys and I think we came to the conclusion that this is a decent place to go. Better than most alternatives.

I was, if I dare say so, in fine form.

Just after setting down an enormous (dare I say it, "ultimate") margarita in front of me, the waiter, witnessing the excitement, had cause to ask, "What, is someone turning 21 or something?"

me: "No" [insert giddiness] — "The department's paying!"

I must thank the U of R for bringing me a great birthday, with dinners every night for three nights, and lunches, and last night, a night out at the Old Toad. We took the recruits out to this bar, and then Brandon arrived from Pittsburgh, and much fun was had. I made friends with two awesome secondyears, two people told me secrets, some of the recruits are very awesome, and Rudy expressed interest (unprovoked!) in living at the co-op. Hot!

Oh yes, the other hilarious part: Out at the Old Toad, after fraternizing for hours, this recruit asked, "Hey... you're from Berkeley? .... Are you the one with the bees?"

Comments

[heike.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine has been accepted to CMU. He knows about what to expect from my LJ. But the honest assessment comes from people who have taken the qualifier, I think. I think I have positive things to say about the program, and I think as first year we are a lot more cohesive and visible than last years seemed to be when we visited. At any events we are the largest single year to show up.

[nibot.livejournal.com]

I think I have positive things to say about the program, and I think as first year we are a lot more cohesive and visible than last years seemed to be when we visited.

Hmm, it's funny that you should say that, since it seems exactly the same way here. (-:

[fg.livejournal.com]

hello! you have an interesting journal. were any of these prospective grad school kids not directly out of undergrad? i've been in industry for a few years and i feel a little out of sorts as i look around and consider grad school options.

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

Certainly in the philosophy department at Berkeley I would say a majority of the students did something else between undergrad and grad. But in the math department almost no one did. So I guess it depends on what field you're going into.

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

"The department's paying!" is definitely one of those great moments in life.

Sounds like I'll be entertaining this Kenny fellow! (Or maybe he'll be entertaining me?) I don't think it would be polite for me to call him Kenny_3 though.