Congrats on the job offer, meara. If you're at the low end of the scale that means you've got room to move up when it comes to raises.

More money NOW, of course, is better.

Juliana, I kind of love your hair exactly as it is now. However the solution to helmet hair is not to grow it longer, but clearly to cut it shorter.

I applied to four schools and got into three.

I graduated in 88 and applied to 3 schools (U of So. Carolina, U of GA, and GA Southern). I got into USC and GA Southern.

I graduate in '93, applied to 6 colleges/universities, got in to all of them, and went to the small private Lutheran college that offered me a half-ride plus room and board. The other schools either didn't offer any ride or didn't have housing for me (it's okay, I would have been miserable in AZ). My only requirement when applying was 1) good liberal-arts education and b) kick-ass theater program.

Still would have like to go to Occidental, but eh. Money trumped.

In '84-'85, I applied early to 1, got in, and my inherent laziness kicked in.

But I think the standard was that you applied where you really wanted to go early, and then had a few back-ups just in case. It couldn't have been too many because acceptances were announced at lunch in front of the whole school.

I think most people I knew (graduated HS in 95) applied to less than ten, but five or more. Unless they were doing early decision.

If you're at the low end of the scale that means you've got room to move up when it comes to raises.

Mmm, but I find that usually I'm not getting huge "oh, you do this job so well here's a 10% raise!" kind of raises. More yearly 3% cost of living type things. Maybe up to 5%. And I figure if I start higher (would still be in the middle of the range), those 5% are more!!

Just got a call from the contract recruiter there, who has been bizarre and somewhat incompetent through the whole process, and put the bug in his ear that I'd like more, so we'll see. Will likely still have to do the negotiating, but they wouldn't be surprised, then!

Susan, is it true there's no state income tax? Do you end up paying awfully in other parts of life to make up for that, or what?

It couldn't have been too many because acceptances were announced at lunch in front of the whole school.

How did the school know who got accepted where? Were they just passing on the info that they got from the students? Because that would be a huge invasion of privacy if they were just announcing them willy-nilly.

Meara-- you can ask for an extra week's vacation. It happens all the time. You can also ask for moving help--but make it specific. Ask for an amount for a reason--like hotel while you apaprtment hunt or something.

ION, the Chicago Tribune has a long article about traveling in Nova Scotia--I wanna go back there now! (I was only there once, when I was 16, as part of our New England trip.)

Good luck with the negotiations, meara!

I'm at school now, cranky as shit and preparing to take a mid-term. Blech!

Ask for an amount for a reason--like hotel while you apaprtment hunt or something.

Heh. See, that's why I can't ask for more--it's already included! The moving stuff is great--they pay for a trip out there to house hunt, a hotel and rental car while you do that, and someone to help you. They pay to pack your stuff and move it. And they pay for a month in a temporary housing place after you get there, but before you move in to your new house.

I must remember to ask for a couple days in October off, when I talk to them tomorrow, for my drag king conference. I'd *rather* unpaid days, because I don't want to use the precious little vacation I'll have for the rest of hte year!