unknownscholar

sounds like a tough call to me. but if debt is more important to you than a gtown degree and network, then it's an easy decision. you're planning to work in dc anyhow, so your job prospects are virtually the same...since the consortium contributes plenty heavy hitters in the field. it's a practical decision. I'm glad it's not mine though, because reality has forced me to choose practically more often than not. I've earned to go with my heart for once. Luckily I'll be working in the field simultaneiously to pay for it. Question: how devoted are you to mastering your studies? Because you can quite effectively qualify for more scholarship money in the second semester or second year with some hard academic work, aggressive research, and networking.

I'll be there for the MPP and then hopefully the JD. Looking for a place now in NW DC. Anyone else?

Can't we all just get along? Truth of the matter is, any school's program can work to your benefit if you exhaust the possibilities to excel in the program. And if you don't do that, no matter if you're at Harvard or Little Known University in Bumblebee, Kansas, you'll be hardpressed to find a job in your field. Hate to admit it, but networking is pretty crucial too at this stage. And here's a little known fact: it's hard to get a job that you're perfectly suited for, period. While I'm already working in the pp field, I was just passed up for a job that I'm already doing and then some (but with another company--though I think it's because I'm going to grad school). But when I was applying for jobs to start when I graduated in 2006, I sent well over 500 applications out, and it was by the grace of God that I ended up doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. I still don't know how it worked out so perfectly. You have to be aggressive and not allow the name of your school carry all the weight because you're not just competing with students at other schools for jobs, but you're competing with your classmates. I went to a top tier private school, but that doesn't say much in and of itself. So even at the graduate level, I'm not surprised that students who matriculated at the Ford School are having trouble. That doesn't really tell us much other than what we already know, the job market is unpredictable, and jobs are scarce, in case some of you didn't know.

THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING TO ATTEND: Georgetown (GPPI:MPP) OTHER SCHOOLS I CONSIDERED: GWU, MPP; Vanderbilt, MPP WHY I CHOSE MY NEW SCHOOL: 1) I'm settling in the DC area to establish my career. 2) First choice. Always has been for as long as I can remember. 2) Quantitative focus. I have an undergraduate degree in Economics and Mathematics and have been going quantitative policy research for 2 years and counting now. GWU has a good qualititative focus, which is important to me for policymaking, so I still intend to take a few courses there. 3) Law School. I'm going for the dual degree program, and Georgetown Law has a premier law program. Being accepted into the MPP and doing well will really help my case when I reapply for GULC this fall. 4)I was accepted off the wait list! Does anyone know how difficult it is to get accepted off a waitlist? Any waitlist? Especially Georgetown's? When I applied there undergrad, they sent me a letter telling me they didn't even look at their waitlist that year. Such fortune at GT is just hard to come by. Period. But as I said, I wrote an addendum, as per their request for additional info deemed relevant, and I spilled all. I told them I was certain about attending, why I've chosen Georgetown, and my career aspirations. I think my enthusiasm was key. And what's so interesting about that is, I've never been more enthusiastic about anything else in my life but that school. And now I get the chance to live the dream.

Guess who's going to Georgetown this fall?? TEEHEE Got off the waitlist into full acceptance not 5 minutes ago!!

Yeah, I understand that being on the waitlist isn't that bad. I'm not angry about it. I am just annoyed it took them so long. I hadn't really given Wagner any serious consideration, as I've been pretty set on moving to DC for years now. It'd be pretty unfortunate if I didn't get either the graduate internship or the policy job I applied for in DC because I might be somewhat skeptical about my prospects there even after finishing school. In any case, Wagner said that they would send me a final decision no later than June 1. And sejla, you're right that the delay in your decision is likely the result of your transcript issue. I read somewhere on their site that they consider applications in the order in which they are received, and I didn't submit mine until January 16th, 10 days after you.

good luck hopeful!.. I finally heard from these folks.Wait listed. They told me to send em an email if I still want to be considered. lol. jeez.

I'd consider part time, but I'm trying to get into GWU's law school next fall, and I'd like to show them a full time status at GWU. I won't be able to get them any grad grades or GPA since I'm applying early decision, but hopefully I'll muster up a recommendation from one of my professors there to help my case. ] Maybe I'm trying to do too much..

So, since I'm pretty much decided on GWU (pending a final decision from Gtown), I'm trying to figure out my work options. Their classes apparently don't start till the evening, so I'd have the option to work full time if I wanted to, but 40+ hours plus 9+ hours per semester seems like a lot. So I could possibly squeeze out 30 hours, and these are my options: Currently, I work for a policy research firm NYC. I can keep this job, work remotely from DC and decrease my load by 15 hours, although I don't know how much I'd be paid per hour, since I'm on a salary. Since I already have a good report with this place, Its probably the most profitable and flexible option I have now, in terms of monetary value, since I'm not sure what the following org would offer yet. I'm also interviewing with a policy research firm in DC, but I think they're looking for fulltime only, so I'm not sure how to broach the big question "how flexible is your company with those who are currently in a graduate program" when I interview with them soon. and I am in the final round of interviews for a graduate internship related to local government policy work in DC, which will pay me part time, and some tuition; its a year round position for 2 years, but of course it's the least profitable (in terms of monetary value) I plan to settle in DC, so I'm trying to figure out if DC-based policy work is more important than policy work in general. I'd like to be able to live comfortably in NW DC, but maybe not if it means that getting paid less now and going back to dorm living for 4 more years will mean I can live well for the rest thereafter. Any insights?

no word here either....and i dont care...their loss

sorry OD...we're trying to keep topics consolidated as much as possible, so I moved your funding post here.

Thanks for the update Banana, and welcome aboard!

I haven't pulled off a thing with law schools. Every rejection I've received thus far has been fromthe law schools (I've applied to 10 and heard back from 8...and they are all of the same schools I applied to for the MPP program too with exception to UMD, GM, and Howard).My LSAT sux too badly, which is what I expected. But I needed to be sure that someone with my credentials couldn't accomplish a law school admission before I would force myself to take the test again. So I've moved forward with the MPP to help me get into the law school the following year (2009). I signed up for a LSAT prep course which starts this weekend (which is why I can't go to ASW at any of the DC schools) and I'll be taking the June LSAT and apply to the law program super early to whichever school I'm in this fall (and I'm also planning to take a law school course at either Gtown or GWU to help my case if there are a few spots open). I think I'm essentially right where I need to be because I already know what I need to do to get into law school, and I'm not at all behind to graduate in 2012 (dual degree program is 4 years). My preference was to start the law school program the first year, but this way works too because I'll be able to keep my job for another year if I go to GWU. Let the loot roll in! Also, regarding the policy research...it is very tedious work. I concur, as I'm currently doing this kind of work and have been for almost the past 2 years. But I'm on the technical side---the data research side, which is likely the same as norma, but while it's likely you'll have to do some of this in school, you may not have to delve into too much in practice, as there are several of my colleagues who "out-rank" me who never touch the stuff...they get closer to the policy implications than I ever will in this position. But when I do get into such a position, I'll be able to do both! I'm excited! Eventually I'd like to move into a full blown policy making career, not just analyzing them but developing some. ahhh...the day....

accepted into American's MPP...almost forgot I applied, but when I filled out my AU law school app, I checked the little dual degree box.

Doing well,OD, thanks! If I'm accepted I think I will ask them. Good idea! I'm so swamped with fellowship apps and my upcoming LSAT prep course that I just don't have any spare time to beg for financial aid if I'm not even accepted (plus I'm waiting around for you all to make your MPP decisions...especially those of you who got into Gtown...so they can give me some extra consideration :wink: :wink: :wink: )

Hi Elena, I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I really couldn't say whether or not we'd be considered for funding. I feel like the most qualified folks get those offers first. My guess would be if those most qualified declined that maybe there's a chance that a waitlist could get some funding, but I would still think a regularly admitted student would get first dibs. Just can't be sure without asking them. I'm still waiting to see official waitlist documentation from them. My point in mentioning gtown at all was to emphasize that they are my top choice school, so an acceptance from them, under any circumstances, kind of makes any correspondence from another school pale in comparison. What I meant was that because NYU Wagner's scholarship consideration deadline was the 15th, I wouldn't be considered for aid there, thus I would have no real incentive to stay in NYC to go there, as NYU's MPA program isn't really the one I'm really interested in (MPP is more the direction I'm in). So unless funding were provided, I probably wouldn't even consider it under normal circumstances. But at the time I applied, I wasn't sure if I might be interested in staying in NYC but since finding out I can start school in DC (my top choice location), NYU has reached the backburner. (For the record, I tried to submit the app before midnight, but I was having connection troubles, and didn't find out until later on that it didn't submit before the 15th was over.) Elena, I'd like to discuss gtown with you if u have some time, but I don't want to hijack the thread so I'll send you a PM.

I hear ya erin. It did sound quite insulting, but in the context of your interests, it makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying. As for the GWU being trash remark, I think it's the sense people get by reading any of these threads in this particular forum, not necessarily from something you've said. I dont' think it's trash, and you've said you don't think it's trash, but I know I'm not the first to have gotten this vibe. I even remember someone saying something about not having heard anything about GWU and that we should all take that into consideration, which I really wouldn't advise anyone to do do, being as it's just one person's opinion. And someone else made a comment that perhaps GWU is just a rent-seeking institution because it hardly offers much scholarship, which also seems like a flamed comment, given the fellowship opps we get in the mail. Grad programs that are not for Ph.ds are going to be expensive at any school (And a lot of Ph.ds end up not getting much funding either). GWU is no exception. My point in posting was to address this notion that GWU is only comparable to its neighbor and that if it's not better, it's just not worth considering. GWU is on the map. very much so, but because they aren't top 5 and 6 , they aren't getting credit for having a reputable grad program, particularly because they are right down the street from GTown, which has a reputation that far precedes its curriculum, not MPP in particular but overall. I think it's time to start considering GWU for its individual merits.

Maybe you found it useless since you have some more stellar schools to choose from, but I found the email quite helpful. I didn't know about any of those fellowship apps that are upcoming. And I'm sending in my apps over the weekend and next week. But maybe I'm also biased since I'm choosing GW regardless of any other school I may get into (with exception to Gtown since I have a soft spot for the place), based on location, law school funding opportunity, and ranking among the other schools to which I applied. I just find it difficult to stomach how opportunities for half tuition, opportunities for 2 year paid graduate internships, and for housing would be useless to anyone who knows the struggles of having to pay for school...even people who were granted scholarships. :?: One who didn't know anything about the program or the school would read these threads and get the impression that GWU is a trash school, and that just isn't true. Far from it.

I'm in the same boat too, easy mack. I submitted Wagner on Jan 16th....which means no funding so I really have no incentive to hear from them.lol. Although after I got my waitlist from Gtown, all my other outstanding app decisions seemed nonexistent. I have had a few law schools who have had my app since November and still no word. eh.

I too haven't heard wonderful things about GWU on this forum either, but I think that's mostly because many people compare them to Georgetown since it's right up the street and is higher ranked across the board. But GWU is also ranked for a reason, both for the grad program (top 20) and the JD program (top 25), so that's enough for me. Not to mention the fact that its a reputable DC school which is where I want to build my career, so it isn't a bad choice for me. I have an affinity for Georgetown after spending a few months there and becoming familiar with both the students and the general atmosphere. just fell in love with it. The prestige of having a Gtown degree, especially if you work in DC, is an added bonus.

Good Luck. I only asked because some people find that contacting schools about your status is not always a great thing to do, for a variety of legitimate reasons. But I figure, unless they say don't contact them for that reason, I would go ahead and do it, especially if it's a top choice for you. I didn't apply to LBJ, as my graduate (JD program inclusive) school hopes and dreams kind of lie with Georgetown right now, with GW as a close second.

Why don't you? Is that disadvantageous?

I think I'll write a short addendum to send by email, just re-stating a few of my strong points and my certainty about attending. I'll even throw some info in there about the law school too, since I'm going for a 4 year graduate experience at georgetown. I'm about to spill my guts to these people. I hope they have a towel. I'll get started on it now!

so what do you guys think I could do to help my case at Georgetown? I know with certainty that I will go if accepted, no matter the debt, because it's really worth it to me, and I'll work till I can't anymore to pay for it. Bad idea to tell them if accepted, I will come? lol.. sounds kinda funny when you say it aloud. cross your fingers for me!!

waitlisted at GPPI!!!!! Yes!! some of you accepted ones, don't go so I cant get in!!! Best newsssssss this year!!!!