linden

mpp2011: Don't give up yet. Your email might be coming later. policy_applicant: It is looking good for you. Good luck next week!

I have not gotten that email (yet?). Did they give a date? Or they just left vaguely at next week?

mpp2011: No, no. Don't be disappointed in yourself. You would not be human if you were not climbing up the walls right now. Hmm... It's also interesting that we all received the emails last week well after COB.

sisepuede: Don't give up until later. Last week, I did not get my email requesting the essay until well after 5 p.m.

1 p.m. Is it possible we all struck out?

This is now officially the longest day of my life. I even bought a Georgetown t-shirt, especially for this day. [shakes head] It's sad.

It's almost over, policy_applicant, almost over. Twelve hours to go, according to my countdown. (And, on the positive side, I have not even thought about HKS and WWS at all this week. )

I'm still feeling quite positive. I am willing to bet my right pinky that a good number of the applicants who would not have applied if the economic situation were better are individuals who are probably not as well prepared as many of us are. And, I am willing to bet my left pinky that many of them cannot show the same level of commitment to public service most of us can. Unlike banking and manufacturing, the public sector has not been bleeding jobs. During a recession, people generally don't leave a good job to go to school; they go to school if they lose a job or if they cannot find a job. I am willing to bet my right index finger that the increase in applications comes mostly from disillusioned private sector workers and undergrads who had never thought of public service before. Okay, I better stop now before I run out of fingers to wager.

Dagger: Ditto what policy_applicant said. I know it's easier said than done, but don't get stressed. Also, the scholarships for applicants with TFA service are probably decided separately.

Dagger: The plot thickens. Your funding email did not include a date? Hmmmmm.... Interesting. (Look at it on the positive side, though: It might mean you get to hear before Friday.) Good luck!

Well, it's at least good to know I am not alone in my angst. I am still angst-ridden, but at least I feel normal now. By the way, is anyone planning to attend the admitted student day? Do you think it's worth spending the money to travel and to stay at a hotel to attend?

So, I guess GPPI is really going to make us wait until Friday. Is anyone else finding this wait even more excruciating than the wait to hear about admissions? Or, is it just me?

I'm just going to delete my entries in this post because this is getting blown way out of proportion.

Delete

Okay, I will get this one started because I am very interested in this program. I would love to read your opinions and comments about GWU's Trachtenberg. Strengths: * Respected university and MPP program, at least in the DC area * DC location Weaknesses * Perhaps not regarded as highly as neighboring GPPI * Expensive (But aren't they all?) Unknowns * Strong quantitative training? * Quantity/quality of electives? * Career services?

Plate: You are a strong, well-balanced person.

Booooo, FSIA. I don't like your predictions. Do you know what an extra three days of waiting would do to all of us?

Peterson's cites a figure of 1,253 applicants to the MPP program for a previous year. (https://www.petersons.com/GradChannel/c ... sponsor=13) Applicants to other programs are listed separately. Now, don't freak out yet. Earlier, I posted a comment about an 80 percent increase in applications for the HKS/Harvard Business School joint degree. (http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=525923) That statistic in itself could be responsible for a a significant portion of the approximately 25 percent increase in applications HKS registered. As another poster pointed out back then, a large portion of those applications is probably composed of laid-off and/or disillusioned private sector workers. Most of us here have work experience or internships in public service. This is an important consideration. How many young workers have you known who left public service, disillusioned with the lack of resources, the slow pace of results, and the low salaries? Although MPP/MPA/IR programs know some of us will end up in the private sector, they want to prepare students for careers--not brief, embittered stints--in public service. Saying that you were inspired by Election Night or angered by recent corporate behavior is not the same thing as saying that you worked in a campaign or have worked for a regulatory entity. Also, realize that many of the students who are applying to graduate school because they are unable to get jobs might not have planned on going to graduate school this quickly or at all. Remember, the economic crisis (and the Obama factor) did not hit until early fall. By that time, it would have been too late to raise a lackluster GPA, improve a low GRE score, snag the strongest LORs, or take recommended classes. True, some of these last-minute applicants are strong competitors regardless of the situation. But, I think most of us here are still comparatively strong candidates.

Ha, ha. Traveler, I was actually thinking of you when I realized I had the IR peeps in a tizzy.

Yeah, same here. (And, if the official letter talks about money, that could really easy my mind.)

Elliott School IR people... Take a deep breath. Like slothrop99 already pointed out, the status change issue we are discussing is for the Trachtenberg School's public policy/public administration programs. I know this process is stressful enough. Sorry my question generated so much anxiety. :wink:

So dagger, anything new on the status change front for you? My status with GWU is still CCAS-3. I am assuming that my letter won't go out until my status changes to CCAS-4. I hope I am wrong.

Thanks for the info policy_applicant. Your was probably quicker because they probably had an easy time concluding that you were worth the car and lobster. I will share info as soon as I get something.

Traveler, I think policy_applicant is about to vote you off MPP Island.

Dagger, I would have posted the link to the eight ball, but Splic stole my thunder! Veeraa: Indeed, like Splic said, when it comes to HKS and WWS, it is hard to make predictions. That's why the eight ball has become a handy tool on this forum. That said, you appear to be a strong candidate for all the schools you mentioned. Good luck!