Auburn Vist Re-Cap

This post should have come before the Offers piece, but such has been my world of late. The day after my Georgia State interviews, I woke up early and headed down to the Plains to see my alma mater, see one of my favorite professors of all time, and see if Auburn would be a good fit for doctoral work.

LOCATION

As is the case with Atlanta and Georgia State, I am equally familiar with Auburn. Campus and the surrounding town have changed a lot in the past 9 years, but I can still find my way around and the familiarity of being there provides a nice sense of peace. Most of my favorite restaurants are there (and I managed to eat a pre-interview breakfast at one), and the people just could not be any more friendly. Spending another 4 years at Auburn would be akin to slipping on a favorite old pair of jeans. It just feels comfortable.

FACULTY

One of my favorite professors of all time, and the one who started my down the academic journey in the direction of management, is the department head at Auburn. I began the day with her and am thankful to them for allowing me to set the tone for the day by warming up with her. She gave me a little run-down on the folks I’d be meeting and we discussed some particulars of the program.

The rest of the faculty meetings really bounced back and forth between average and very good. The pair of professors that took me to lunch made me feel completely at home. We ate at 11:00 AM, by the way. These two are in their late 60s and are a riot. One of them wears a long sleeve t-shirt, shorts, and hiking shoes every day. Tenure is a wonderful thing.

As great as they were, some of the others were the opposite. One was in a hurry to get to a meeting and just grilled me with rapid fire questions with a very aggressive and somewhat condescending tone. Another tried to seem interested, but might suffer from an enthusiasm deficiency. But, as soon as I would get discouraged by meetings like these, the pendulum would swing to the other side and I would have a great discussion with another pair about research topics and get great advice on beginning the academic journey.

Overall, there are several faculty there who could make good research partners and mentors and there is a healthy mix of tenured and and younger folks in the mix. Also, the tenured folks seem to still be aggressively pursuing research projects. The faculty, as a whole, seem very productive.

 

STUDENTS

My student meetings were almost as mixed as their faculty counterparts. My first set included four candidates in their first and second years and this group made me feel extremely welcomed and energized about getting into a program and forming some bonds with aspiring academics. But, as good as that group was, the second set was quite the opposite. Three of the four in this second group were reserved and not forth-coming. I had to work to get them to open up and only one of them seemed genuinely interested in whether I would end up at Auburn and committed to providing me insightful information to aid in my decision-making process.

 

PROGRAM

Auburn’s program is very entrepreneurial in nature. Students are not assigned to a faculty member for research purposes. Instead, they are expected to seek out faculty members working on topics that interest them. Also, students are expected to generate research ideas, bring them to faculty, and get help developing appropriate methodology and finding related literature. This approach allows students to pursue the topics they are most passionate about and creates an environment where the bold are more likely to succeed. On the downside, the lack of assigned partnerships could create a scenario where a student is not exposed to a variety of topics and methodologies in an applied setting.

Another unique feature of Auburn’s program is the elimination of traditional comprehensive exams. For those of you unfamiliar with doctoral education, these exams typically come during the summer after the second year when students are finished with course work. They cover everything, and I mean everything, about the field, usually last for two full 8-hour days, are essay based, and allow no reference material. It’s been described to me as the worst thing I will ever go through and already has my stomach in knots. It is not uncommon for preparation for these exams to begin months in advance of the test dates.

Several years ago, Auburn faculty realized that their candidates were virtually worthless for six weeks after exams while trying to clear their heads from the comp experience. Combine that with six to eight weeks of preparation time and you get a total of two to three months of lost research time. This dead period was impacting the number of projects students were getting into publication and ultimately hurting graduates as they entered the job market. So, the Auburn faculty replaced the two test days with two empirical research papers. Each candidate would select two faculty members, develop a research topic, collect data, and generate an article suitable for publication. The faculty would act as guides and as primary reviewers, before the articles were sent to journals. There were three goals is mind. 1) Eliminate the dead period caused by comps with activities equivalent in rigor but more applicable to the life of a researcher. 2) Give the student the opportunity to work on a few papers that could lead into the dissertation, creating  a “head start” of sorts. 3) Provide the opportunity for the students to have increased opportunities for publication prior to graduation, ultimately making them more competitive when they enter the job market.

I’ve researched almost 30 programs during this process and have yet to find any other institution that has adopted this policy. I know that there is some benefit to traditional comps – the knowledge base developed by the intense study of the foundational literature in the field – but I really like the idea of being dedicated to constant productivity over  tradition and ritual. In some ways, it seems that comps have become more like hazing and similar rites of passage for fraternities and other groups.

SUMMARY

The comfort of the town and the institution are very attractive, as is the ability to chase my own ideas. The papers for comps approach is clearly a distinguishing factor. But, the mix of faculty and student vibes I received make it far form a slam dunk. Plus, knowing that I would like to have the option of becoming Auburn faculty one day means that I’m better suited to go elsewhere for doctoral studies. Thus, Auburn will need to be a clear favorite during the review process for me to forgo the opportunity to return to the Plains immediately after graduation.

III

Offers In (updated)

I apologize for post overload this weekend, but a week filled with travel and visits meant a lot of stuff to write and update on. Then, at the end of the week the offers started coming in and I want to try to show a view into the process by sharing what’s on the table prior to making the decision. So, if you’re tired of hearing from me, don’t worry. I’ll likely need a break from all the drama soon. Plus, come August I’ll be drowning in journal articles and will  have much less to share…or at least much less to share that is interesting to the general public.

My first offer for doctoral work arrived at 2:01 AM eastern time, Thursday night/Friday morning. I was somewhat shocked, expecting not to hear anything until Friday and was actually hoping to just take the day off from thinking PhD stuff. But, I woke up in the midst of an intense rainstorm and (like the addict that I am) rolled over to check my phone and discovered that Oklahoma State University had struck first. Less than 14 hours later, Georgia State took the the next shot, making their offer. Florida State’s offer came in on 3/2.

Here’s how things break down:

Oklahoma State

They have an average base stipend, but add in a summer teaching stipend, waive 15 of 18 credits per year, waive out of state tuition for the remaining credits, add health care coverage, and include a department-funded supplemental stipend. In my offer was the note that my supplemental stipend was the largest the department had ever awarded. I include this not to flash arrogance, but rather to display their commitment to me. It is clear from this move, and subsequent emails, that they really want me to be there. As analytical as I am, I am still susceptible to psychological triggers and I will admit that it makes me feel good to be wanted. Here are some fun quotes from the email exchange:

We seriously don’t want to lose you to a “peer institution.”  I understand if it’s UNC or Wisconsin.

We’re going to have a very strong group and it will be a research-focused environment where you’ll get a lot of faculty attention and deep training.  If there’s anything we can do to make you say yes, do not hesitate to ask.

If it comes down to personal preferences, there’s obviously nothing I can do.  But I would gladly join in a battle if it’s between some of those peer schools like Auburn or Florida State.

The only downside of the offer is their desire for me to make a decision within the week. I managed to secure a few extra days to allow other offers to arrive, and am not sure how my emotional stability will be this week. On the bright side, it appears that the deadline will prevent me from engaging in “paralysis by analysis” and working myself into too much of a frenzy.

Georgia State

They offer a stipend competitive to what Oklahoma State provides, minus the moving allowance. I also think their health care costs might be more, but again they offer the 5th year of funding without making a candidate jump through too many hoops. And, they waive all tuition, leaving me only responsible for the university fees.

The director was far less direct than her counterpart at Oklahoma State, but she made it clear that they wanted me there. Also, the speed at which they moved in the process seems to indicate that they wanted to act quickly to avoid missing an opportunity to get me there.

Interestingly, they also want a decision within the week. If you are looking for things to pray for, my sanity should be on that list. I’m likely to be uber-distracted this week so try to pray for those on the Atlanta-area roadways, too, in case I get overly spacey while behind the wheel.

Florida State

The base stipend is higher than both Oklahoma State and Georgia State. Not much higher, and likely not high enough that OSU wouldn’t match it. FSU doesn’t cover all of health care, but gives a health care subsidy that covers about 40% of the premium costs. There is no moving allowance, but a 5th year of funding is possible, depending on how research is progressing.

They were also very complimentary over the phone and were curious who the competing schools were. They also wanted to know how their funding package stacked up against the competition. They led me to believe that I was their first offer and that two more offers would be made (possibly another if I were to decline).

Auburn

They have not made an official offer, but they have made it very clear that they want me there. They have also passed word to me through the head of the management department that they are worried I won’t seriously consider them and are scrapping for extra funds from the dean to try to make the offer more competitive. When I left campus on Thursday, they told me to call them if I needed the offer before March 3rd.

Chapel Hill

I did not make the final 6 there, but am honored to have made it into the top 15. Had I received an offer here, it would have been nearly impossible to say no. Even the directors at other programs were telling me not to pass that opportunity. Given that, being strongly considered by UNC is a huge validation of my application package.

***

As much as Georgia State has surprised me, it’s really becoming a 2-horse race between Oklahoma State and Florida State. Stress level is high right now and I’m trying to cram extra due diligence in. I had a call with OSU faculty on Monday and have traded several emails with them and their students. I have a call set up with FSU faculty tomorrow and will be emailing their students as well.

I need Advil.

III

Georgia State Visit Recap

While enduring the “miracle” of modern air travel from Oklahoma to Atlanta via Chicago, I received a voice mail from Georgia State’s PhD director saying she’d like to discuss my application. She gave me her cell phone and suggested I could call her at any time, but I made the decision not to give her a ring during my 1:00 AM cab ride back to the north side. We did speak the following day and she managed to pull together a visit and interview session the following afternoon. What follows is the same framework for the previous to re-caps.

LOCATION

As much as I promised never to be considered an Atlantan, I am one. I’ve been here for 9 years, done professional tours of duty in the suburbs and in the city, done church inside and outside the perimeter, and did grad school deep within the concrete jungle at GSU from 2005 to 2007. So, I’m intimately familiar with the surroundings and staying here for doctoral work would present a different set of geographic questions. Mainly, do I stay put in my suburban home and take the train down every day or do I pick up and move in town where the rest of my life is.

There are also other things to consider: do I need to take this opportunity to go somewhere new, start over, and abandon distractions (especially those present in such a large city). On the other side, staying means an in tact network and support structure and less to get used to prior to putting my brain through the intensity of the next few years.

FACULTY

The faculty is small, but percentage-wise is actually very well known. One professor is actually referred to as a rock star (no joke) within our field, is constantly sought out at conferences, chairs a prestigious journal editorial board, and shows no signs of slowing down his research program. The department head has seen a slight drop in productivity during his administrative tenure (to be expected), but over a 10 year period before accepting that role he was the most-published academic in one of the top psychology journals. There are two other talented researchers who also happen to be very nice people, and the department has just scored a big hit by getting someone from Michigan State to come down to join the ranks.

The size of the faculty is somewhat deceiving, because this is the research portion of the faculty. Most of them focus the bulk of their time on research, mentoring doctoral students, and a few graduate classes. There is a much larger faculty contingent that handles the bulk of the department’s teaching load.

From a personality perspective, two of the four primary faculty in the organizational behavior section would be my preference to work with, and a third would be good from a subject matter standpoint but not the best personality match.

STUDENTS

Georgia State has a very small program, and I had lunch with all four current students. There were two others, but one dropped out and the other was asked to leave because of some integrity issues. The remaining students were very kind and open about the program, though two of them were international and definitely have difficulty with the English language. At times, I was unsure whether I couldn’t understand them or whether they had not understood the question I posed. Needless to say, I spent the bulk of the time interacting with the two American students.

Three of the four were just two days away from their comprehensive exams, so their brains were a little fried and the energy level may have been a little lacking. Still, they were very welcoming and seemed excited and ready to add a couple more students to their ranks.

PROGRAM

Similar to the culture of the other programs I’ve visited, GSU prefers to admit a very small number of students they think will be successful and collaborative. They demand a great deal from the candidates, but are also committed to investing in them and making them successful. They make it clear that the goal is not to wash out those that come in, but rather to use the learning crucible to produce the next generation of renowned scholars.

The methods and theory training are similar to that of most other programs, with the exception that they add a few courses along the way, making the likelihood of completion in four years unlikely. That said, they do not limit funding to four years, eliminating some pressure from the candidates.

The program has just been re-started/ramped up in the past few years and doesn’t have a lot to judge in terms of placements. The few that have graduated in recent years have landed positions at solid research institutions, and the reputation of the faculty is no doubt helpful when entering the job market. In fact, the “rock star” researcher has made it clear that having a PhD program at GSU was important to them because they are dedicated to mentoring and producing a generation of productive academics, not because they needed an ego boost or cheap labor.

SUMMARY

I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw and heard and am thankful that the opportunity to visit came together so quickly. There seems to be an opportunity to learn good solid research skills and to present and pursue ones own ideas, which is attractive. The small size is both a major plus and minus, though and I’m not sure what side of that fence I will fall on during the decision process.

III

Oklahoma State Visit Recap

You’ve heard the travel story, so let that serve as the entertainment portion of the Oklahoma State visit. As with the FSU recap post, I find it somewhat difficult to get the pertinent facts of the visit out in a timely fashion coupled with a high degree of creativity. And at this point, I don’t want to make it seem as if I am more or less fond of a program based on the level of humor injected into the post that covers its review. Thus, we will follow an identical framework established with the FSU review that covers my thoughts on the location, the faculty, the students, and the program as a whole.

LOCATION

Stillwater, Oklahoma is rather remote. If you want to know how remote, just read the travel post. The geography is flat and the town itself is rather inauspicious. There are a couple streets with some two story buildings that comprise the downtown area and remind me (in slightly less charming ways) of Auburn. On that note, the campus itself has a very similarly themed architectural style and uses a healthy dose of brick for its buildings. They are currently in the midst of what I was told was a $1,000,000,000 building and renovation campaign. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000,000 of this has been provided by a single donor – T. Boone Pickens.

The only other noteworthy item on Stillwater is its cost of living. If one is committed to living in poverty for a period of at least four years while training for a career in academia, Stillwater has to be one of the more affordable places on the planet to do so. I met one student (who is Russian and sounds EXACTLY like the card-playing mafia gentlemen in Rounders) who pays $550 per month for a two bedroom apartment. Additionally, anecdotal information indicates that an actual house can be had for maybe $100 per month more.

FACULTY

Almost everyone in the management department projected a rather laid-back demeanor and they all seemed to genuinely like each other. As with any academic, you know an ego is present, but this group seemed committed to keeping theirs in check and were very interested in who I was, what I wanted, and eager to sell the distinct benefits of their program.

I struggled to identify a single member of the faculty I would be hesitant to attempt to work with and really enjoyed every conversation I had throughout the day, even the teleconference with four faculty members who are permanently assigned to (or just happened to be in) the OSU-Tulsa facility that day.

Previous reconnaissance had uncovered the existence of a research methods guru (think Obi Wan Kenobi level expert) on faculty there. While we did not get to spend any one on one time together (he was part of the teleconference), it was clear that he is a huge selling point for the program. His name recognition echoes nationwide, to the point that he was lauded by Georgia State faculty in my discussions with their PhD program director.

Overall, they were a collegial bunch that seem very proud of the growth of their program and are clearly committed to doctoral education and the success (both in completion and placement) of their PhD students.

STUDENTS

I met six students (and another potential candidate) over lunch at the famous Eskimo Joe’s bar/eatery. They were a friendly and helpful group that leaned heavily on each other for both emotional and intellectual support. There was an extremely collaborative vibe to the group and resolute opinions that competition within the ranks was not tolerated.

All current students are white males, which seemed odd at first but may be less surprising if I knew more about Oklahoma demography. The other candidate visiting that day was a female, and I couldn’t help but wonder how that dynamic would play out if she were to join the program.

I wouldn’t say that I really clicked with anyone to the degree that I see a best friend in the making, but the group was warm and inviting enough that I feel they would want to help me succeed, which is probably more important. Plus, I’ve been surprised by where my closest friends have appeared before and am trying not to be too close-minded about anyone that I meet…unless they’re just complete jerks.

PROGRAM

The program is best described as adopting a bend, don’t break philosophy. They are committed to the success of every student who enters the program and had a few examples of individuals who were struggling and were able (with the aid of faculty investment) to make dramatic turnarounds and complete the program and land good jobs. That said, the information load is intense and the students shared stories of moments where they felt as if the fire hose of information had been replaced by Niagara Falls. Much is expected of doctoral students and workloads in the 80 hour per week range were not uncommon.

Placements have been steadily improving over the past few years, with graduates finding jobs at University of Georgia, LSU, Nevada-Reno, Clemson, and Old Dominion. Additionally, one graduate has become the Dean at Pepperdine. Not too shabby. With this track record, more talented students are being attracted to the program (which is maintaining its small size) and even more promising placements are expected.

The department is clearly committed to doctoral education. I had a very good conversation with the PhD program director and the head of the management department. In addition to the standard doctoral stipend, the department adds their own supplemental funding to attract better candidates. Additionally, they provide summer teaching funding, conference travel support, and give bonuses for publications that are accepted by “A” level journals. They are the only program I’ve encountered that has this wide range of funding. I mention this not to say that they level of money will be the deciding factor in where I choose to pursue a PhD; however, given the concept that money is spent on things that are important to a group, I think this speaks to a high level of commitment from the program to its doctoral students.

Finally, knowing that the job market is not always matched up with the right opportunities for a candidate when they exit, OSU provides an interesting option for candidates. This comes in the form of a built-in post-doc appointment to the OSU Tulsa campus. There are typically two spots per year and if you are not ready to enter the job market, you can be placed (assuming know competition for the spots) in a position in Tulsa. There is no committee work involved, just a full teaching load and ample time to focus on finalizing research projects to aid in placement. This is a paid position that is above a doctoral stipend, but below a full assistant professor post.

SUMMARY

Overall, I was impressed with the program and am intrigued by some of its more unique elements. The faculty (specifically on the organizational behavior side) is relatively young, not tenured, and therefore pretty hungry for good publications. I didn’t leave thinking it was a slam-dunk, but it definitely piqued my interest.

III

Oklahoma State Visit, Travel Edition

I had it all mapped out.

I would wake up at 6:30 AM, leave the house at 7:45 AM, get to  MARTA to catch a train into Buckhead at 8:15 AM, arrive in Buckhead at 8:45 AM to pick something up from the pastor, and meet with the rest of the panel to preview our discussion at 9:00. We’d run two panel sessions, I’d be free at 12:30 PM, and catch MARTA to the airport in time to eat lunch and board the plane at 2:30 PM.

From there, I’d fly to Chicago, arriving at 4:00 PM (central time now). I would enjoy an adult beverage, eat dinner, read a book, and write a blog post or two prior to my 8:00 PM flight to Tulsa. I would land in Tulsa at 10:00 PM, be driven to Stillwater, and be in bed by 11:30 PM, allowing for a good night’s sleep before another marathon session of interviews and second consecutive long day of travel.

Everything went according to plan until leaving the panel discussion. It was at that moment that I received my first text from the nice people at Orbitz, informing me that my departure gate had changed. “Man,” I said to my elevator companion, “isn’t technology helpful?” I received another text from Orbitz while on MARTA that informed me that visibility was limited in the Chicago area and that there may be 30 minutes of delay. No big deal. At that point they had eight hours to catch back up and even if they didn’t, 30 minutes was not the end of the world.

My phone buzzed again as I was entering the airport, informing me of an additional gate change. In hindsight, I should have realized at this moment that the rest of the day was not likely going to go according to my plan. I ate lunch and boarded on time, finished my book on the plane (earlier than expected due in part to my new speed reading skills), and departed the plane ready to bang out a blog post with the aid of an adult beverage. It was a 20 minute walk to the new terminal, but I had plenty of time. As it turns out, I had enough time to make that walk 21 consecutive times without missing my next flight, but I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

I arrived in terminal F, bellied up to the bar, and enjoyed a beer with a nice man from Peoria while watching golf. He asked where I was heading and what I was doing. As I described the goal and the process, he asked how many people got into a PhD cohort. “Four to six,” I said. “Wow. That’s tougher than med school,” he replied. I agreed, adding, “And THEY make a point to tell us we won’t be REAL doctors. Ha.” After another sip I asked him what he did for a living. “I’m an orthopedic surgeon.” Oops. He chuckled and we had a good chat despite my somewhat arrogant introduction and the constant interruption of Orbitz texts informing me that my departure gate was continuing to change and that my departure time was being pushed later and later into the evening.

At the end of my originally scheduled four hour layover, I was up to my thirteenth Orbitz text and my flight was to leave at 11:00 PM. I would now get to Tulsa at 1:00 AM, and likely be in bed in Stillwater at 2:30 AM local time. This, however, would be 3:30 AM body time and would mean that I had been up for 21 hours prior to a packed day of interviews with faculty. Hooray for copious amounts of caffeine!

I wrote the FSU visit blog post, read half of a second book, watched a TV show on my iPad, and started to take a nap when I was interrupted by Orbitz text numbers 14, 15, and 16 – all in immediate succession. The departure gate had changed again, but then changed back, and the flight was now delayed until 8:45 PM. My default reaction was to look at my watch, where I was informed that the current local time was 8:05 PM. Neurons began firing again and I realized that my flight had been un-delayed, a miracle of Biblical proportion in modern day air travel.

The plane was not at the gate when I arrived, but it was only ten minutes away. It was also a small, regional jet and would take virtually no time to unload, refuel, and reload. At 9:00 PM we were on board and the doors were shut. We didn’t push back for another 30 minutes, at which time I texted my ride in Tulsa, powered down the phone, and nodded off.

I awoke an hour later to the frightening sight of another plane out my window. Frightening, not because we almost collided, but frightening because there was no chance at collision since both aircraft were on the ground and not actually moving. Not good. The captain came over the PA system and announced that we had finally been given a take off order number and would be tenth in the air. This is the aviation world’s equivalent to arriving at a restaurant, waiting in line for an hour before speaking to the hostess, and then being informed you that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table.

Meanwhile, the flight attendant apparently remembered the Jet Blue runway disaster of a few years back and decided to keep pouring water and pretzels down our throats to stave off hunger and possibly quell a mutiny. We finally turned off the taxiway and hit the throttle at almost 11:30 PM. We landed in Tulsa at a little after 1:00 AM and I managed to stay awake for the entire drive to Stillwater. At just after 2:30 AM, I got into bed and managed to get a few hours of sleep before getting up to start (rather, continue) the day.

The interview sessions went well and I’ll cover the details of the visit in a follow-up post. For the purposes of our travel discussion, let’s fast forward to the end of my day on campus, where I expected a smoother excursion back to Atlanta.

Several of the Stillwater faculty actually live in Tulsa. So, a little after 3:00 PM I caught a ride with two professors carpooling back that way. We had a little time to kill after we dropped one at his car at OSU’s Tulsa campus and my guide asked me if I’d like to view the Tulsa facilities. We did a quick walk-through and then got back in the car to head to the airport. I was relieved to be early for my flight, not panicked about rushing through check-in, and looking forward to having a drink and distilling my thoughts on the visit. I was at complete peace when I walked through the airport doors and approached check-in. There was no one in line and I waltzed towards the counter while checking my email to find my flight information. “Let me guess” I heard someone say. I looked up and saw he was talking to me while two other people were frantically typing into a computer monitor. “You’re going to Chicago?”

I suppose I should have known that this gentleman was not psychic, but I was relaxed and confident about my interview performance (especially since I was operating mostly on adrenaline). I smiled and said “Wow. Y’all are good.”

“What’s your name?” the man asked. I cheerfully responded, still not properly grasping the gravity of the situation, but curious why the woman yelled “I got him right here!” and started printing boarding passes before I handed her my ID.

Maybe I was too delirious to be properly affected by the words “Your flight has been canceled.” I honestly think I laughed. I’m not sure why. Maybe the previous night of travel delays had conditioned my brain to expect such drama. Whatever the case, I finally realized that I would not be having a beer in the Tulsa airport when I heard one man, talking into two phones simultaneously, ask if they would hold everything while he sent me sprinting through security. I will say that I am impressed by his level of effort (kudos, United). Most would have mailed it in, but this guy was actually talking to the plane on one phone and the gate agent on the other phone at exactly the same time, making sure that I would not sprint off the jetway a la Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber.

I dashed to the security point, removed my shoes, stripped out of my blazer, and took everything non essential or remotely resembling metal and stuffed it into my bag with unprecedented efficiency. I was so quick (and probably looked so desperate/determined) that I was actually pulled out of line and allowed to pass a few people. I sprinted through the terminal and made it to the plane without having to stiff arm anyone along the way.

Things were relatively “normal” from there, considering that “normal” in the Chicago airport means a minimum of an hour delay. This wouldn’t have been overly troublesome if it didn’t create the scenario where I arrived in Atlanta after MARTA shut down for the evening and was forced to take a $90 cab ride to the north side of town. I finally got home after 2:00 AM and took a much needed full day of recovery yesterday to get recharged for consecutive days of Georgia State and Auburn interviews (which should provide less entertaining travel experiences).

III