it's no secret to most people here that I'm hoping to go to grad school pretty soon.  However, I haven't shared much of my plans yet.  I've decided to bet the farm on Rice University.  I've found a research group and advisor there who seem a great match.  Every time I look closer at their work or personalities, it gets better.  For example, tonight I was poking around the advisor's web page and stumbled onto his favorite TV show: the Simpsons.  That's a good thing.

With that, I'm off to Houston tomorrow evening to visit Rice on Thursday.  I've spent a very nervous evening reading up on the research going on there and obsessing over the statement of intent on my application (which is now on its fourth major version -- that's 4.0.1 for those keeping score).  I feel good about my chances of getting in, so this visit is all about discovering what life may be like for the next 5 or so years.

Anybody have any parting thoughts or salient topics to bring up when I meet with experts in robotics, mechanized logic, and bioinformatics?  Either way, I'll probably report what happens here.

potassium benzoate.

What a good idea.  Unfortunately, too late.

Things went well anyway.  I had breakfast with one of my advisor's students today, which was pretty fun.  I then met with two really cool faculty members and then lunch with my advisor.  I should post details, but I have to get cracking on the quizzes I have tomorrow. 

My last day of classes at OU and I have two economics quizzes.  Laaaame!!!

Glad to hear the interview went well.  How was the GRE?  Rice is an awesome school and I really like that part of Houston.  Good luck and let us know as soon as you hear!

Agreed; that part of Houston seems to be pretty damn cool.  I hope the museums and theaters give good student discounts.  I hope you'll come to visit if I get in.

The GRE wasn't all that surprising.  I did well enough to get in, but not as well as on practice tests.  Test anxiety strikes again!

With the deadline coming up on Friday, I finally quit wordsmithing my statement of purpose and sent my application off to Rice.  As much of a pain as the transition to their new system is, I do like the fact that I could wait until the deadline to finish and not have to spend $$$ to get it there fast.