ddittmar

Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): Big state school Previous Degrees and GPAs: B.A. in Political Science (3.7), B.A. in Economics (3.5) GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 160/155/5.0 Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): Six years in local government Math/Econ Background: A B.A. in Econ, with lots of statistical analysis and econometrics. Service learning economic analysis of a county in my state for my ECON capstone. Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): Not as applicable, but intermediate in French. Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Master's of Public Administration Long Term Professional Goals: City Management Schools Applied to & Results: CU Denver (AMPA), University of Washington Evans (MPA), Portland State (MPA), University of Oregon (MPA)--Accepted into all. Ultimate Decision & Why: University of WA, this program was my top choice for the location and funding. Advice for Future Applicants: Be certain about what you want to do! I'm going in straight from my undergraduate, and four years ago I was certain I would go into IR. After sampling other courses I found a passion for PA, as well as mentor who has been instrumental in helping me to find focus. Grad school is too expensive and too important to not be sure. Good luck everyone!

Hello Everyone! If you're worried about sending the program director of the school you've decided against an email like I was (neurosis or perfectionist), I just wanted to say they'll usually be nicer than you thought. I sent off several emails today letting professors and chairs know that I would not be attending, and all I received back were compliments and well wishes. Sure I had agonized over the wording for those emails for two, maybe three, days. Searched through all present and past forums about saying no, had about four drafts of each, but no one is counting. Good luck to everyone this admissions cycle! Hopefully you'll all be lucky enough to have the opportunity to say no to some great programs!

Wanted to bump this one for the Fall 2014 season. Is there anyone who's considering UW or definitely going? Maybe some advice from previous students? Thanks in advance!

This entire page has been so helpful! Early last week I got accepted to my second and third choice (pretty good schools) and I had just about given up hope on my dream, reach program. I set up a future visit with the two programs, contacted faculty to set up personal meeting times, etc. Then over the weekend I received an email with an amazing funding package and acceptance from a program that I had almost talked myself out of applying to due to its high rank and wonderful faculty. Now I'm stressing over backing out of the visit and declining the other programs. Thanks to everyone who posted, I need to send an email out with just these sentiments to the other programs soon.

I didn't receive my email until Friday night, pretty late. Maybe check your spam folder if you're still not seeing anything (my gmail sent a few of the general UW emails after I applied to Spam). Once they've made a decision and updated your online portal, which took all weekend for me, the 'Status' link will take you to a page I'd never seen before with options for accepting/declining. I wouldn't worry too much! I had applied very early in the cycle and the online portal took a few days to update. Good luck to everyone and I hope to see you all in the Evans cohort this Fall!

Anyone sure that they'll accept the UW-Evans offer or attend the Admitted Students Day(s)? I'm very excited about this admission, I've always wanted to move to the Northwest and this seems like the perfect opportunity. Also, does anyone know how the advising process (i.e. choice of adviser or timeline) goes at UW for MPA students?

Hello Everyone! So last Wednesday I received an acceptance letter to an MA program which was my second choice (Program B.) and another that was my third choice (Program C). Program B's letter asked for an acceptance decision within two weeks and was dated the week before so this Wednesday. I had wanted to visit both B and C, they are both in the same area, before committing and received an extension of decision from the department director as well as set up through email meetings with faculty. The night after confirming the extension and meeting plans with the professors I received an admittance email from my number one, super reach, top ten program. With more funding than the other programs. Needless to say, my mind is made up and I will be attending there this fall. My question is how to gracefully back out of the meetings with faculty members (this program is far away and would have cost me nearly a thousand dollars to visit) as I would hate to waste their/my time. All the meetings were set up through direct email contact and I'm feeling bad about canceling. Should I let them know that I got into another school with better funding? I'd hate to say it's a fit issue when they know I haven't visited yet. Thanks in advance!