tdix09

Are these two different days/weekends? Or do universities use them interchangeably? When you attend one, is that the chance for you to be wooed into accepting their admission? Just making sure I'm clear as I'm researching.

Thanks for this - UPenn is at the top of my list, and your reason is another add to the "pro" column. Now I'm wondering why I'm applying anywhere else, money aside.

NYU is a great school for graduate/professional school (Stern, Tisch, Steinhardt and Silver/Social Work are highly regarded). For undergraduate: it's super pricey, not at all the traditional college experience, and you really have to find your fit there. I didn't hate it, but for what I studied (not arts/sciences/business/arts) I couldve saved a lot of cash and maybe had more fun. Also, NYU is not a school of pride. Alum aren't going to stop you on the street if you're wearing a tshirt or cap. I associated in a lot of different circles, and I don't know anyone who shows "pride." Perhaps bc there's no sports to build morale around? No one I know is donating to an alumni fund, goes back to visit campus, or anything. The only time the NYU name helps me is, incidentially enough, working in student affairs and playing the "who do you know" game. Don't get me wrong, NYU is fun, and I had good times. But some of the times are sh*tty. It's pricey. It's a school for the monied. I wasn't/still am not. For me, because I've already experienced the large, urban private university with an open campus, outside of Penn (which is similar in that respect) I'm open to something different. At least I say I am.

thanks so far! are there other schools I'm missing that's worth checking out? @iampheng: I've heard good things about all the schools on my list. I'd never heard the comparisons between Mich and MSU but if I had to choose based on your comparison, MSU is more desirable. It matches my initial impression when visiting their site. I also have built a relationship with a professor here at my campus who just finished her PhD there, and a friend who is starting her PhD at MSU this fall. I'd like to work with students more, but I think I appreciate theory just as much. As for people I'm interested in working with, I've only started looking at professors at Penn. http://psychology.sas.upenn.edu/people/duckwort - saw her on TED and while she doesn't teach in GSE, I'm intrigued. https://scholar.gse.upenn.edu/harper - he spoke at my current university recently, and while this may seem silly, his tweets are interesting. http://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/annette_lareau - also spoke at my university. while her current work didnt seem super groundbreaking, her book (which i'd read pieces of as recommended by my boss) was of academic interest to me. @jbums: i think Denver is too much of a stretch for my life right now. Honestly, living in the suburbs freak me out, but mostly bc its new/foreign to me. I'll have to get used to it if at some point, I could be taking live-in positions at Any College, USA. Cool to see a fellow AC VISTA alum!

I'm so glad I found this forum! I'm new here and throwing my hat in the ring: I too am having a hard time in selecting a confident list of schools. I'd like a solid list of 4-6 schools. Other things to note: --I'm a city girl. As much as I'd like to stay in a city (NYC/Philly/DC... Chicago maybe? Boston even less), I can be convinced out of a city. Lord knows I need a change. --Does name matter in this field? I've been picking mostly off name/ranking/hearsay. I have a lot of friends/colleagues who work in this field and their degrees vary widely. Many went to NYU Steinhardt, but I went there for UG. WON'T BE GOING BACK. --I've extended research to Michigan, MSU and Indiana. I have a hard time seeing myself in either Michigan or Indiana but those names keep coming up when I ask for advice, and many POIs in my research have degrees or have worked there. --I'd like to work in leadership development-type programs, particularly with a service-learning component. I can also see myself in student activities, maybe reslife. I was a peer educator and RA in UG and currently work with students in community engagement/service learning. --I'd like a program that focuses on counseling, as before this, I was interested in an MSW. TL;DR version: help me make a solid list, I dont feel very confident in my current picks. As much as I want to get out of NYC, I think another city might be best. Here's what I have so far: Current list: UPenn (has been a dream program for a while) Michigan MSU Indiana Ones to look into, based on perusing this site and other fora: UConn (their faculty doesn't intrigue me, but tuition waiver does!) Penn State Illinois Urbana-Champaign (their site kinda bored me)