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In the "visits" thread there's a few people talking about how the LBJ visit went.

Cool -- thanks for the info. It's nice that they're e-mailing. Perhaps I'm on a funding waitlist or something similar. Congratulations!

When did you hear from LBJ and was it e-mail or postal mail? Were you first notified of admission in the late February e-mails? I'm dying to see that second letter they said was coming.

My status changed about a day after I got the acceptance e-mail. I'm pretty sure they also change the results page to a reject/decline message if you're not accepted. I would take the message you're getting as a sign that at least you still are in the running. And you could always contact them (assuming you're not hounding them).

Jay -- again, that's great. I'm still waiting for my letter from LBJ. I'm definitely going regardless of merit funding, but at this point I would appreciate anything they send my way. I don't mind the delayed/scattered notifications just as long as I find out before April. namrata -- sorry you are still waiting. Here's hoping that you find out soon.

If you're confident and keep studying, there's (relatively) no harm in taking the GRE a second time. I basically got your scores and made it into a top 10 MPAff. program -- the only program I applied to. The biggest thing is making sure your work experience, recs and SOP is in line.

I figured I make a new thread to see if/when people have heard about admissions/money. Jay -- I see from your sig that you got a full fellowship -- that's awesome. Mind if I ask how/when you heard? Anyone else?

Anyone admitted to LBJ get the letter yet straight from the school? I got the graduate studies letter a few days ago which was postmarked March 3. I'm just wondering if they'll be early on the second letter like they were with the e-mails. Also, anyone recall what percentage of admits typically are offered funding? I remember reading it somewhere on their Web site in the fall but can't find it again... I think it was somethign like 60 percent.

Thanks Jay. MPP_RT -- I could probably answer most questions you have about the campus atmosphere about Austin -- I went to undergrad there. In a nutshell, it's a really laidback environment with always something to do. Believe the hype about the live music scene. Despite being in Texas, the city is a bit cooler in the summers than most of the state and actually is quite beautiful being on the edge of the HIll Country. Also despite being in Texas, the city is quite progressive (a blue island so to say). The campus feel is comparable to any top university, especially public ones like UNC-Chapel HIll, maybe more-so. It's on the edge of downtown but has a definite campus -- you could walk to the Texas Capitol in about 15/20 minutes. Another thing -- even though enrollement is close to 48,000 it really feels like a smaller school. I would see the same people every day in my program. My big criticism would be that the cost of living is higher than the rest of the state (somehow real estate prices still are going up there).

I've lived in San Antonio for about 12 years through high school. I don't know a lot about the UTSA atmosphere or the program you mentioned. The city is very, very spread out (area wise) and a car is a must. Public transportation is spotty, you could probably get by on the bus but you'd feel very restricted. The cost of living is much lower than average for a city it's size. Obvsiouly very hot in the summer. You could get a pretty rockin' 1 bdr apartment for under $700 a month... probably closer to $600 or $550. As far as the school, it doesn't have much of a campus feel and (at least used to be) a commuter school.

Anyone go to the LBJ visit day yesterday? I'm going to the one in April but would like to know what other people's impressions were.

I went to school there five years and am moving back for grad school. Here's my take on housing: * West Campus is ridiculously overpriced and extremely noisy with all the undergrads, greek life, etc. * North Campus, north of Dean Keaton through about 45th street, is a good bet. The apartments are older but generally larger and way cheaper than the newly developed areas west of Guadalupe Street near campus. * Anything off a UT shuttle route is going to be cheaper and generally a better all-around deal. I would avoid the riverside area (way far away, mammoth apartment buildings, no style). * Regarding East Austin, anything east of I-35 and south of MLK Boulevard has the potential to be a bit rough. Some of the best deals close to campus are east of I-35 near Dean Keaton and other cross streets, and the neighborhoods can be quite nice.

That's exactly what happened to me. Do a byline search for me in Nexis and you'll come up with 700+ responses... but apparently I'm middling when it comes to a logical argument. But I guess 50 minutes in two essays is enough judge your logic/writing ability.

So here's a (very specific) new question about Austin: I went to undergrad there from '01 to '05 but in my rare visits since have seen explosive growth. Anybody know how the town has changed since? Some will say it's been losing that independent/weird vibe for a while but I thought things were going strong when I left.

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Awesome Dave! For the people notified today, has the status online change? Mine hasn't despite the e-mail. Not worried though. Also, looks like I'll be going to the April 9th visit day on account of previous travel plans for the first date.

Thankfully, yes. Best of luck to anyone still waiting.

Thanks for the kind words Jay. Like canhardly I got the e-mail today.

In prevous year's they've typically notified some some admits around March 1, and then some more around the 14th. It's far from over!

I only applied to LBJ and never really considered any place else, mostly because of my desired concentration. Plus went to undergrad at UT...

TTUjay -- did the accept e-mail mention anything about an admitted students weekend?

I don't want to give you false hope. With that out of the way, if her exact words were, "I see your name on the list," that implies somethign positive or at least neutral to me. Maybe I'm overanalyzing, but if she said "THE list," I think of at least the wait list...

That makes me feel a bit better. Thanks for the news.

congrats Jay -- that's awesome news! I haven't heard anything... here's hoping I learn one way or the other soon.

GPA: 3.03/4 overall 3.5ish upperdivision GRE: 610Q, 590 V, 4.5 AW Work experience: two years in a related field and two internships