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wendella

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Everything posted by wendella

  1. So I applied to the Evening Master’s Program on February 1st (two weeks after the targeted deadline). I was originally planning to apply for the next cycle but decided to throw my hat in the ring this cycle. The program and the schedule and location works perfectly with my job and I think it will be great for my career path. I was interviewed on February 11th, when they said they would let me know by Monday or Tuesday. But I got the call on Friday morning saying I’d been accepted! I’m so happy! I have been considering graduate school for years but I’m older (38) and it just didn’t make sense to join a program with people who are in their twenties. This program is perfect for my needs, and I’m considering applying to another degree after this one. So, they didn’t send me the offer of admission until late Friday afternoon, and it said the deadline for my deposit and my official transcript is Sunday. I put in the deposit, but I’ve gotten no directions on how to send in my official transcript. I emailed admissions, but I assume they won’t respond until Monday. I’m sure they will work with me if I send it in late, but if I can just meet the deadline and get it to them tomorrow, that would be great. I went through the transcript service for my undergrad, but Harris doesn’t come up as an option when I put in U chicago (pic attached). They also have the option of inputting an access ID (I don’t know what the access code is for Harris) or putting in a physical address and email. Can anyone who’s done this share the information on how to send in official transcripts? I can always send it again later - I’m sure they’ll work with me given the swify turnaround. Lastly, should I assume I have no financial aid or awards if no one has mentioned anything? They did tell me to fill out my FAFSFA asap, which I did, but I haven’t gotten any other info yet. I appreciate any advice or info other admitted students can offer! Thanks!
  2. So I'm 30, and applying to MBA programs. I graduated from college several years ago, and have a very spotty undergraduate record with some very bad grades. Now, I'm doing what I can to offset it - studying hard for the GMAT, crafting a careful addendum to explain my grades, securing excellent letters of rec, highlighting my leadership experience over the past several years, etc. I'm also wondering if it's worth my while to take a couple of night courses this fall as I apply. I took no business or finance courses in undergrad. I did take a few economics classes, and didn't get the best grades. I took Calculus II my freshman year and got an A, and that was the last time I took any math. I live in Chicago, and I work full time as a consultant, though I could go down to part time for the duration of the course if I wish. It's too late for me to sign up for UIC courses (apparently they started this week). I did meet with an advisor at Northwestern Continuing Studies, and we agreed that an intro to stats and a microeconomics class would be a good fit. I'm meeting with with the continuing ed advisor at University of Chicago tomorrow. I'm not sure what other opportunities there are in Chicago for challenging coursework. Any thoughts or advice?? My experiences with continuing education has been mixed. If it will help with my applications, I'll do it, but I would like it to be worth my effort, time, and money. Thanks!
  3. FYI, I'm also wondering if a degree in stats combined with a degree in a strong interest like middle eastern studies or government might serve a similar purpose.
  4. Thank you Seeking. The way you describe it, I'm not so sure that it sounds too narrow for what I'd like to do. I think when I said "niche" I meant like picking a sub specialty in grad school - like Near Eastern policy, or Education policy. But a general link to what Iv'e done and what I'd like to do sounds do-able. heartshapedcookie, I don't think she meant that grad school isn't or creative people, but that grad programs aren't for people who aren't focused.
  5. Hi Seeking, Thank you so much for your kind words and your thoughtful response. "That's because Grad School is not made to accept highly creative, multidimensional people who don't have a single focus marked out clearly. They usually expect that you should have a clear focus of what exactly you want to do in Grad School and why." Yes, this is true, and it worries me. I think this personality trait (or defect) definitely contributed to my failure in undergrad. I'm assuming because I'm a happy person now without the problems I was weighted with in undergrad, that I'll do well in grad school. Who knows? I know for sure that I want to go, but I don't know how clear a career focus I can develop any time soon. I do think the public policy route seems like the best route for me so far, and I see myself being in government and policy work work for many years, so it does seem like the best choice - *generally*. So do I come up with something and fake it for the applications? It seems like many people enter grad school with a clear idea, and very few of them actually go through with the career path they planned. The fact is, I'm actually quite particular about the sort of work environments I thrive in; I like situations where a manager gives me a goal and say "go figure it out," allowing me as much leeway as I'd like and creative judgment in order to achieve it. I like organizations with strict ideas about how to measure performance and reward it, and who allocate resources according to how thrifty and effective employees have been, and who reward initiative and certain amount of "rule breaking." This seems pretty common sense, but few organizations actually have this sort of culture. As someone who has worked in nonprofits, I can tell you that it's *extremely* hard to find a nonprofit with this sort of culture. There is very little accountability, goals are set either low or are impossibly vague, and resources are allocated to the employees who are struggling the most. The thing is, there are so many causes and fields that are worth working in. And I'm more willing to work for an organization that has an ideal I don't give a shit about, and the right culture, than an organization that has every issue close to my heart but has a shitty work culture where creativity is ignored and each day feels like the last. And of course, having the opportunity to start my own business/initiative is great too. So given that, how on earth do I pick a focus? The truth is, I don't even care about the actual field. I just want a career where I'm working my ass off, growing intellectually, develop as a leader, and contribute to society in a meaningful way. The fact is that I have about another hundred interests that I haven't even mentioned yet. I could specialize in any of them and be happy. But do I have to come up with some sort of bullshit niche interest to be attractive to grad programs?
  6. But I guess we can start at the beginning. About me: I'm 30, with a troubled academic background. I went to a state school for undergrad, where I got horrible grades, resulting in a 2.9 GPA. I dropped out twice, and had been put on academic probation a couple of times. My grades mostly consist of A's or Ds, with little in between - the D's were mostly classes where I did well and didn't show up to the final or never handed in a final paper. I was battling issues of depression and family problems, but none of my "problems" really seem compelling or serious enough to warrant my bad academic performance. I never saw a psychiatrist, and I really have no documentation to "explain" my bad performance. I had kept changing majors, and have coursework in biochemistry and economics (I got good and bad grades in both), but finally I decided to get the hell out of school, and doubled up on humanities classes. I took a shitload of English and Philosophy classes, and graduated with a double major in English and Philosophy, six years after starting college, at the age of 24. Since leaving school, I've been happy, but dead broke. I worked in social services, working with young people with emotional and behavioral disorders. I worked in several nonprofits geared toward youth with low income families, and also had dead end jobs like part time reception and bartending and yoga instruction. Unsurprisingly, I'm a (failed) writer, working on a novel that hasn't been finished yet, and occasionally perform stand up in local comedy clubs. I also love open mic nights and theater, and perform certain personas or characters I've made up. I occasionally publish smallish articles in local publications. Two years ago, I started work in political campaigns, and though I never had an interest in politics, I've loved it. I took to it naturally, and worked my butt off, and kept getting promoted until I was even higher up than people who had graduate degree and more years of experience in politics. I worked in a successful campaign until November 2012, after which I faced a few months of unemployment while being a full time volunteer for an organization working for immigration reform. Right now, I'm working a temporary, three month gig for a start up that pays shit, but the project is high profile and getting national attention. So, I'd like to go back to grad school in the fall of 2014. There was a time, back when I was 22, that I had everything figured out, but right now, at the age of 30, I know even less about what I want to do. I know what kind of work environments I like, and I know what I *don't* like, but that's about it. I'm a general "do-gooder" and want to do something that helps others and contribute to society, but of course, there are lots of things you can do that qualifies. I miss math and science - I took it it very naturally as a child, but haven't taken any math since getting a 5 on AP Calc in high school. I want a grad degree that 1. Gives me a knowledge that I haven't developed enough, preferably in math or science, and 2. Will generally make me more employable and give me more options in the job market. I'm still not ready to pick a single "career," but I imagine a degree that demonstrates that I have decent quant skills would be helpful in anything that I do. Even though I have done pretty well considering what I've had to work with, I do see that people with more education than me who also happen to be hardworking and smart and clearly getting better and more job offers. So, have at it - any advice whatsoever. I'm new to this board, and I don't know the culture yet, but if it's normal to mock and insult me a little before giving me advice, I'll be a good sport. I know I've fucked up in my life, and I accept it. There was a time when prestige of a school meant a lot, but at this point, I just want to be in an enriching environment (anything better than the shitty state school I went to). I've thought about public policy degrees, economics degrees, and MBA programs. Not sure what sort of programs I can get into with my shitty academic background, but I'll do my best. I can start by taking coursework to prove my quant skills this summer, and study to rock a standardized test, and see what my options are after that. FYI, I have no debt, and my family will pay for my grad degree.
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