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I applied back in December. I also have a family. They told me they give priority to families. You might try emailing Peggy (referenced earlier in this thread) she's super helpful and will hopefully be able to tell you where you stand.

I signed a lease for an Eagle Heights 2 bedroom last week. So they're getting that ball rolling.

Thanks for the details! I'll definitely be buying a new wardrobe. I heard it's better to wait until I'm up north to buy the clothes. Is that true? In Texas it'll be pushing 90 all the way until November. We only had a few days below freezing this year. It's definitely going to be a huge transition.

I'm also very eager to hear any cold weather advice~

I overcame a 2.6 uGPA. It can be done. accepted to two top 10 phd programs with full funding.

I agree with you, sort of. I have great confidence in saying that if you want to pursue a masters in educational leadership/principal certification they flatly require 3 years teaching experience. I'm fairly certain it's the same for a masters in counseling. But I'm equally certain that you are correct in many other fields. I've met several phd students in math education who do not have 3 years teaching experience but who do have relevant experience.

As referenced above, if you're not looking for a degree from a top flight institution, you will have no problem getting a masters. There are tons of discounted tuition programs available to in-service teachers, both in person and online (mostly for counseling and administration, a few are for content areas). My district sends out emails multiple times a week for various programs. They typically view the GRE as a formality and are not particularly stringent on gpa's. If you want a degree from a top tier research institution, here is some advice: Pretty much any graduate program in education will want you to have 3 years teaching experience. It's usually not an immediate denial of admission if you don't, but it definitely carries significant weight. Have clearly defined research interests. It took me almost a decade of teaching to really figure out what I wanted to research. I does NOT take everyone that long. I actually applied around year 5 and was rejected across the board. I was passionate, but not really about anything in particular. 3 or 4 years of refining my research interests, definitely made my statement of purpose much more powerful. Graduate work begets graduate work. I jumped on one of those emails my district sent out even though it was NOT my end goal. I started taking courses, one a semester. You can finish a degree there (if that is your end goal) or use it as a stepping stone to a more prestigious MA or a PHD. It bolsters your application if they know you've already shown initiative and been successful. If you want a phd it's not bad to finish a masters first and then apply for a phd. I've definitely taken the long road, but i'll start a phd program this fall at one of the top C&I programs in the country.

I've taught community college for 3 years and have been told that as a part of the funding for my phd I'll be teaching my own course. I've never been a TA. For what it's worth...know the rules/procedures/ plan of action on dealing with problem students before you encounter your first problem student. Be persistent in finding out. I'd ask as many people as it takes to get a clear answer. Once you know the policy, it's no longer a judgment call on your part. It's policy. Consistently, fairly enforce policy. If any student has a problem, it's not a problem with you but a problem with the policy. You can simply point the student to the person/committee making the policy. There is enormous freedom in being able to point the blame somewhere else. Being proactive is way, way better than trying to fix problems after the fact.

I was able to tour Eagle Heights and University Houses. Eagle Heights were older, but very decent and appeared to be well maintained. University Houses were/are being redone and are very, very nice. My impression is that the Harvey Street ones are about on par with Eagle Heights. The price include all bills but electricity. It is a pretty sweet deal.

I was a really terrible undergrad. I honestly never really considered getting a phd when I was 20. Over the course of 14 years of devoting myself to my field and graduate work in that field (at a couple different regional universities) I was finally able to overcome my shoddy beginnings and build a strong resume. I didn't really get a vision for the research I wanted to pursue until about year 9. Even then I still refined it hugely over the next few years. I certainly took the long way around, but I got into one of the top programs in the nation and will start working on a phd this fall. All that to say, diverse real world experience is powerful (certainly doesn't need to be as extensive as mine). The strong academic background you're building coupled with great work experience should make you a very strong candidate.

I spoke with Leasing Coordinator, Peggy Lockhart. Her contact info is: (608) 262-2789 leasing@housing.wisc.edu https://www.housing.wisc.edu/about-accommodationrequests.htm I did not think the info was located in a particularly obvious place. I actually knew who she was (I had been transferred to her several times over the phone) and did a google search to find her info. She has been very pleasant to deal with and has been able to answer all my questions the couple times I've spoken to her. She said offers would start going out in May for the upcoming fall. I'm hoping to move up (I'm coming from Texas) mid to late August. She made it sound as if once you've accepted an offer the actual move in very open to your schedule. It sounded like a fairly painless process.

I will be attending Wisconsin. I just confirmed my funding on Monday, but I applied to graduate student housing months ago. I have a wife and 3 kids. I was told I should be able to get a 2 bedroom, but that 3 bedrooms have a wait list. So the plan for now is to have a 2 bedroom in either Eagle Heights or University Houses, until a 3 bedroom opens up. They told me to expect to wait at least 6 months for a 3 bedroom to open up.

I have a swivel screen tablet at my current job. I have it set to only let the stylus "touch" the screen. I LOVE this mode. no accidents, but still the functionality of a "touch" screen. My desire for my next laptop is to be able to create videos of myself talking and writing as a curriculum supplement, as well as to tutor remotely. I'm hoping to supplement my income with the tutoring. anyone have any suggestions as to a device that could do those things?

I have a monsterously big (17" screen) HP laptop. it's in great working order and I love it but it's literally too big to fit in the laptop section of my bag. I'll be starting a phd program this fall and will be commuting by bus, and be up and down stairs quite a lot. While I'm physically very capable of carrying a heavy laptop it just seems silly to be so impractical. I am contemplating getting a surface pro 3 or 4 for the functionality and mobility. I would get the keyboard/cover and stylus to go with it. Anyone have any advice?

This is almost identical wording to the admittance letter I received from the University of Wisconsin. When I visited them late last year they told me that if accepted their would be funding of some sort TA/RA/Fellowship. It's now 3 weeks after I initially received the letter and yesterday they told me I would know "very soon" what funding options I will have. I'm really hating the waiting game. It sounds like our experiences may be "normal."