DNguyen

Thank you so much for that, SunshineGrl456! Does not make me feel any better, but at least now I know HOW they decided.

Personally, I would prefer a Sunday lunch meetup. Anyone going to the teachers college Boston reception that Saturday night?

Higher Ed has a paid GAship - a paid 20 hour a week job in higher Ed. Not sure if this is considered part of the "financial aid package" or just extra spending money.

I don't know how it is for your programs, but I got into Penn GSE's education policy and smart masters programs. I met with someone from financial aid last week. She said that they only award merit scholarships which are announced in the admissions decision letters. The "financial aid package" that you get after you matriculate will just go over the loans. Work study is first come first serve.

It depends on what you are looking for in UC. A lot of UC apartments are run by leasing agencies, like University City Apartments/Campus Apartments or University City Housing. There are the easiest way to go -- you call them, tell them what kind of apartment you are looking for, and when you need to move in, and they will tell you the options they have available. The leasing agencies hold a variety of properties in UC, but a majority of the properties will be in multi-unit apartment buildings (e.g. I live in a 40-unit apartment building run by UCH). Although very convenient to go through one of the major leasing agencies, this might not be the way to get the best deal. Scouring Craigslist will be the best way to find better deals, but you also will be spending a lot more of your time and energy. I have lived in two different areas of UC (Drexel and Penn areas) and South Philly, so let me know if you have any further questions about living in Philly!