Spreadpeace88

I got in! So who knows what that financial aid status was all about....I hadn't and still have not submitted a FAFSA. But now I will. Thanks all!

Also, this website is helpful to look for all types of programs state-by-state: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do

To piggyback on what everyone else has already said...definitely look at NCCC as well as the State/National programs for more hands-on service. I served last year in a State program tutoring in Kindergarten and First grade literacy in an inner-city school. It was an AMAZING experience. I learned so much and got extensive and valuable training that I continue to use and is very marketable in my field. Not to mention the feeling of DOING something important that I ended every work week with. In my eyes, the only downside is the living stipend is tight. But with help from things like foodstamps and extra babystting/odd jobs here and there I made it work. And it was well worth it. Plus, now I know I have that $5,500 education award to use towards grad school when/if I get in.

Today I got a notification from my undergrad that my transcript was opened at UT (when I got my digital transcript I signed up to be able to track when it is opened), and when I logged on to my MY STATUS page it used to say "Attention: Your application for admission is in review"....it now says: "Your file has been forwarded to the Graduate Committee for review" Progress people, progress.

Thanks for the reassurance guys! The other person who posted was I believe a Phd applicant in Sociology...it just seemed strange that both of ours changed on the same day, and changed to different things.

Hi Guys! Glad I'm not the only one out there. I applied for a Masters in the Curriculum and Instruction department, focusing on Early Childhood. The deadline for that program was Dec. 15th and my application was completed that day. My status has said "In Review" since the day after I submitted it. Looks like last year the C&I folks heard around mid-Feb so I'm hoping it will be around then this year too. Lately I've transitioned from the confidence high I had after submitting all my stuff to now feeling doubtful. I think my SOP was strong, and my GPA and test scores are far above their averages for accepted students. But my undergrad was not education related (though I feel I use my degree in my teaching a lot) and I only have 2.5 years of education-related experience.

I am awaiting a decision from UT Austin. I applied for a Masters in the Curriculum and Instruction department in the Ed. School. On the UT My status page there are multiple tabs- admissions, housing and financial aid. When I logged on today the Financial Aid tab now says " Please Check Back- Access to financial aid status information is restricted to admitted students. If you are offered admission to UT Austin, please check back to access your financial aid information." I wouldn't be paranoid except someone else posted about UT that their Financial Aid tab changed today to say "Decisions about financial aid will be made after you have been officially admitted and your financial aid application has been processed." Their change sounds so much more positive than mine. Am I reading to much into it? Help me...? Has anyone had either of these experiences before?

Anybody applying to Education Masters or Phd programs at UT for next year? I haven't seen too much activity on here about it, but I'm looking for some comradery!

I am awaiting a decision from UT Austin. I applied for a Masters in the Curriculum and Instruction department in the Ed. School. On the UT My status page there are multiple tabs- admissions, housing and financial aid. When I logged on today the Financial Aid tab now says " Please Check Back- Access to financial aid status information is restricted to admitted students. If you are offered admission to UT Austin, please check back to access your financial aid information." I wouldn't be paranoid except someone else posted that their Financial Aid tab changed today to say "Decisions about financial aid will be made after you have been officially admitted and your financial aid application has been processed." Help me...? Has anyone had either of these experiences before?

I went to Minnesota for my undergrad, it is a very affordable place to live if you know the right places to look. Anything near campus in Dinkytown or in the Loring Park or Uptown areas is going to be way overpriced. For affordable apartments/dulpexes/fourplexes/houses look in Seward, Powderhorn or Nokomis neighborhoods. All three of those neighborhoods are within 15 minutes of campus and you can find affordable places. If you are looking for roommates you can find a room in a house or apartment for as low as 250 or 300 a month. Hope that helps!

Hey Folks Soooooo I wasn't going to say anything because my news was bad news. But I just refreshed my application page and a link popped up that said a change had been made to my status. Clicked it, and it took me to a very short and generic rejection letter. I still haven't gotten an email, but y'all might want to check your application pages. Sincerely sending good vibes!!!

Oh my gosh, please do!!! I was really tempted to do that today but I don't have the guts. I'm glad you do! Even just to get a general idea along the lines of "sometime this week" or "sometime next week" would be great.

I'm telling myself that I am only allowed to freak out between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm (central time) Monday through Friday until the day that we hear, since I suspect it will be in that time-frame, no matter what day it is.

Awesome. Apparently now the storm that just hit the Midwest yesterday is headed for the northeast tomorrow...hopefully it doesn't mean more delays!

Totally. Tomorrow at 11:37 am, calling it now....haha

Wow....I really thought it was gonna be today! Bummer... I'm super Type-A and like to plan everything so not knowing what I will be doing next year is driving me NUTS. Plus, this is the only program I applied to, so there is really no back-up plan. YIKES! Anybody have the guts to call admissions and ask when we might know? I think its got to be this week! Especially when you have prospective/admitted student days coming up probably at the end of the month.

I really think it should/could be today. Only because they have been so consistent over the last 3-4 years. And I'm tired of waiting, so I hope you're wrong! (no offense) Let's all just put as much good and hopeful energy out there as possible. Ready.....go!

I mailed my tax return and w-2s to them last Wednesday, got delivery confirmation from FedEx on Friday, and then today got an email from the HGSE financial aid office saying my financial aid application is now officially complete and, if admitted, aid decisions will be made available late March or early April.

I work 7:30am-4:00 pm today and tomorrow so hopefully that will keep my busy enough. What I'm worried about is sleeping...I barely slept last night I was too nervous, and I anticipate that tonight will be worse. I'm trying not to drink any coffee after noon today and then I'm going to go workout at the gym so I hopefully I can tire myself out enough that I'll actually get sleep hahaha. And that being said, if we do not hear tomorrow I'm going to be so disappointed! I have been telling myself "just get yourself to March 5th and then you'll know". Fingers crossed for everyone!

When I log in the status says Submitted 1/4/2013 and then on that page it just has green check marks for payment received, official gre scores, and my three recommenders. What is this financial aid status e-mail y'all are talking about? Is it they have received your w-2s and such? I only ever got the e-mail a couple of weeks ago that said they had received my financial aid application and FAFSA. And additionally, was it ever stated explicitly that admissions is need-blind?

Does anyone know how the admissions committees for the masters programs work as far as representatives from each program? Is it certain that the program director (or someone similar) from the masters program we applied to sees our application or is it all by general committee?

Kelly, I agree with m26, a standard resume will do, especially for a masters program. And don't forget you always add extra-curriculars to your resume and they aren't just things you did outside of school when you were in college, but also extra things you do now outside of your main job (ie: volunteering). Here is a good example for someone that has been out of school for a couple of years: http://www.teachforamerica.org/assets/documents/Sample.Working.Professional.Resume.FINAL.pdf (its from the teach for america website) And so cool that you are in Peru! I lived in Lima one summer during college and volunteered at a pre-school up in the mountains. Do you work at an international school? I always thought that would be awesome. Everyone, I am FREAKING out about these next two weeks. I don't know if I'll make it. I keep checking my application even though I know full and well that its not going to tell me anything. I am a total planner, so not knowing what I am going to be doing come next fall is the most stressful thing I can imagine. All pointers for making the time pass faster are welcomed and encouraged.

I am a non-native Minnesotan (born and raised in Cincinnati) but have lived in Minneapolis for 6 years now. Here are my two cents: as somebody who could barely stomach living near campus as an undergrad, I would never recommend it to a grad student. If you want to be surrounded by cheap bars full of frat boys and woken up at 3 in the morning but loud and drunk 19 year olds, go ahead. I think that uptown is a good option for grad students, it's mostly full of young professionals and I always feel safe there. It is, however, a little spendier for rent. My boyfriend and I used to live over there and each paid $675 for a nice two bedroom apartment. We now live in south minneapolis by lake Nokomis in a gorgeous brownstone and pay $675 TOTAL, so less than $340 each, and we love this neighborhood. If you looking to be close to the action I would say uptown, but if you are looking for something quieter and a little more removed (or if you have a family) I would definitely suggest the Nokomis area or even St. Paul. As far as the winters go, it's really not that bad. I've found that its all a matter of dressing correctly. If you wear a cheap coat and toms with no socks, you will be cold, wet and miserable. Buy some smart wool socks, good (waterproof) boots and a warm coat and you will be just fine. With all the lakes here it is so beautiful in the winter, and it only makes you appreciate the gorgeous and sunny summers up here even more.