SconnieNation

i would go Madison or bust. I don't think a MBA from UW-Whitewater would bring much value, unless you are currently working for an organization that requires an MBA for you to move up the ranks.

spot on!

I can relate to you FiguringItOut80. I'm 27 and starting in a month. Most of my classmates will be younger by 1-3 years younger. I thought about doing the part-time evening program for my course of study (with more students my age), but the full-time day program offers SO much more IMO. Age is a number and I'm learning that it's really irrelevant. I just want to add that you are at a nice advantage as far as writing a SOP also. Depending on the average age of matriculants for your program, you can leverage your age and work experience quite nicely, even if it's not directly related to the field you plan to be studying. As an "older" student you probably have a lot more experience with times of failure or humility. In these instances you probably grew as an individual and have a better sense of how the real world works as opposed to a 22 year, straitght out of undergrad who has only worked a couple internships. You know real deadlines and you know how to deliver real results (assumingly) from your work experience. To address a career shift where your graduate study is the catalyst or jump off point to this new career, just explain that after graduation and a few years of working in the trenches, you sensed a lack of fulfillment and felt your talents are better suited elsewhere. Be sure to include specific work experiences (a major project, a manager who pushes you to the edge to be better, etc.) and how you grew and achieved a better understanding of yourself.

Just jumping in for fun. State College is amazing. One of my best friends went there for undergrad and I made multiple trips to take in the scene. Arts Fest in the summer, SO MUCH FUN! As mentioned, great sports. Football is king there. I will also agree that Greek Life is a major staple of the social scene. If you're not an athlete, participating in the Greek Life from what I saw was the next best thing as far as living a "fulfilled" social life. Not to get side tracked, the PSU name has some weight to it also. All the alums I know from there are doing really well. I really liked the campus too. As another postee said, it's in the middle of nowhere. I would think you would be just fine without a car there. A bike/moped/campus bus system will get you to where you need. It's the epitome of a college town. I think it might get a little boring there as a grad student. There isn't much for older students looking for a quieter social scene. That might be a blessing though allowing you to focus more on your studies/research.

This thread is funny having already obtained the B.S., but scary for any current undergrad.

I connected with a link to the video of the cat playing the keyboard. It's like the ICBM of SoP tools.

It's a complete sales pitch. There's not one specific method that's going to guarantee you an admission IMHO. All you can do is examine the how and why you are your applying and get the reader invested in you. If there was one "method" I used in my SoP, it was to create an emotional bridge between the reader and I. While some people struggle over SoP's, I found it extremely easy to write. The best advice I can give is to have everyone from all walks of life you know read over it. That feedback is invaluable.

I'm the exact same way psyched/nervous. I'd recommend uptown. Seems like an older crowd, diverse, vibrant area. I've been here for about a month now and and live a block away from loring park/walker art museum. so far, love the city.

couldn't you get unemployment while in school? I though the Big O was just signing legislation stating that those returning to school to advance their careers could still collect unemployment benefits. I mean, it makes sense. Why would you penalize someone taking the initiative to advance or obtain new skills? I believe the line Obama said was something like "unemployment benefits shouldn't be just a safety net for a job taken away, but a a bridge to learning new marketable work skills" (or something VERY similar to that).

I dont find it strange at all (regarding the high verbal score and low writing score). Verbal is completely knowing definitions. Go ahead and make a case about how it's understanding the relationships. The bottomline is that if you know the definitions, you can score very well. Now formulating a compelling argument or defense in a timed environment with no knowledge of the topic until the countdown begins requires an entirely different skill set. Just my 2 cents.

I do like the article. Brutal truth. I completely agree that the graduate education market has been saturated beyond repair, specifically in the current MBA offerings. I've also been observing some momentum with changes for the worse in the medical school education which is very scary. I seriously question the analytical abilities of individuals pursuing online or small tier MBA schooling. There are way too many of these institutions charging anywhere from 30k-80k for what I'm sure are laughable ROI's for their grads. Sure there 1 or 2 poster-boy/girl CEO's who may be alums, but I highly doubt University of Phoenix Online or low-mid tier State School U (ex. University of Wisconsin-name extension) come anywhere near the ROI that an Ivy League or Top Tier Public U offers. The fact is you have to do your homework before you commit to a grad program. If you don't know the past, current, and projected job markets for the career path you are planning on seeking graduate/professional schooling, you are already behind the competition. It's basically like going to war. I know it sounds cold, but times are tough and its survival of the fittest. You must be 100% engaged in your goals. Side note: what is the future? Will graduate schools dismantle and then global companies (ex. Chevron, Nike, Coca-Cola) create specialty programs where new grads PAY the companies they hope to work for and in return receive a function specific education (sales, operations, hr) while also gaining valuable work experience and contributing to that company's bottom-line while also generating "admission fees." If you think I'm off base or this is impossible, you are wrong. Companies struggling with budgets are already "auctioning" off internships in major markets. Imagine that, Undergrad-->Graduate-->Internship(s)-->Job/Career blown up to Undergrad-->Job/Intern/Career/FunctionSpecificEducation.

there is definitely more applicants and funding is, for the most part, not increasing. On the flip side, schools need to make up lost funding. I wouldn't be surprsied to see if you did a general survey of various programs, the number of enrolled students being up (I'd guess 5-10%) from previous years in most programs.

Congrats on your find. Your view is one way to look at it. I guess I should start blaming the news for discouraging me about the economy under your logic instead of creating something for myself too. Anyways, I was simply trying to share my experiences in madison and that it is not easy to find prime housing (as I define it) after the months I stated. Did I say it was impossible and say you should give up all hope? No. The reaction I was hoping to convery was a sense of urgency and that it takes some work. I don't sugarcoat reality and I guess you could call me a glass half empty guy. I would have loved to have offered some referrals, but I don't remember the landlords numbers/names. They disappeared 2 cell phones ago. Sorry for ruining your day, but I can tell you enjoyed the power to lambast me.

If you haven't secured housing by January, February at the latest, you are going to have issues with your ideal rental unit in Madison. Finding a place at this point and beyond that has nice amenities, good campus proximity, and economical rent will take a little luck. Anything under $650/mo without a roommate will be tough. Even places on the west and east sides really aren't saving you that much money, plus the commute to campus isn't fun. Word of mouth is always the best route for Madison rentals. When I was there, I was lucky enough to know people a few years older who got us the inside edge on their apartments. Some of the best/cheapest apartments are barely advertised (specifically, apartements on/near state street). Of course, I'm sure there are available units at the new luxury high rise on University Ave across from Brother's. Enjoy the $900/mo rent share though.