mridgeway

I completely agree that there's nothing wrong with taking out loans going to your dream school! I know it's a personal decision for each applicant. These message boards in particular are so pro "state schools, less debt, as long as the school is accredited" and anti "ivy, private, big loan" but there are a lot of other factors to consider when deciding where to attend. For instance, I did consider the (national) reputation of my prospective schools since I plan to pursue a doctorate. I also applied to schools that fit my particular research interest only. From there, it now is an issue of who offers the most funding, but it wasn't my bottom line. Title IV-e, NHSC, PSLF are all opportunities I think msw students should at least look into. Ive spoken with a lot of students, doctoral and masters, as well as faculty from UChicago and they all really sold me on the program. Congrats on making your decision! I still have technically given up my spot... I would change my mind in a minute if they were able to match other offers!

No idea yet. I should make my decision in the next couple weeks when my deposits are due... but it's between Michigan and Penn.

That's exactly the reason I will likely turn Chicago down. I was offered a similar amount and couldn't justify it in the end. If they had been my highest offer, I likely would have taken it. I really love Chicago's program. However, a couple of other schools offered significantly more, so I felt I would rather follow the merit scholarships... However, I will be re-applying to Chicago in the future for the PhD program so that makes my decision to turn them down now a little bit easier.

Thanks! Best of luck to you as well! I'm not planing to hear by tomorrow- I know they still had a couple interviews scheduled for early this week. I think next week is a realistic guess, especially if they are checking references.

I'm having such a different reaction- at this point, I don't mind the wait at all. Maybe because it's because I know we'll hear soon? (Although we did interview for different offices; no idea if Career Services and Admissions have different timelines). I'm really just glad we're at the very end of this whole process, finally.

Very true, thanks Emarouk! Although, I wouldn't rule yourself out. It's pointless to try and guess based on prior cycles or even other applicant's experiences how a certain admissions office operates. Office habits change year to year. I worked in admissions with my undergrad and I can tell you from experience that waiting a long time is not a bad indicator! Really, offices just get a lot of apps, and if they fully read (meaning they don't have minimum numbers), it can just take forever. I generally would not have minded UW's wait since I can totally understand it, except that I have so much info from everyone else that it's not worth it for me to start asking for extensions as I get more info from UW. At this point, I just need to make a decision and UW wasn't my very top choice. All that to say- you seriously still have a shot! Best of luck!

Hey all- I received an offer of admission from UW today but am 99% sure I will decline.The extremely long wait (applied in November, was rolled into general) means I've been deciding between 5 other acceptances and narrowing it down since early February and already have financial information from those schools. The email I received was heavy on the steps to commit to the program without offering ANY financial information- financial aid or merit based shcolarships. I've reached out to them inquiring re: financial info, and if I'm told it won't be available for a while (for example: the tuition fellowship applicants wont receive a response until May 31) then I'm declining and moving on. Especially because deadlines for Penn, Mich, Chicago, USC etc. are all coming up next week (and UW wants an admissions response by the 15th). I'm over Washington at this point. I really hope that my decline offers someone a spot who truly loves the program! Also- just FYI for anyone checking the website often or something, my decision came in an email this afternoon.

I interviewed last week as well. I believe they were finishing interviews this week, so I would assume we will know soon! I can't imagine it taking a long time to release the decision once all of the interviews are concluded.

Congrats to you both! I haven't been on this forum much at all in the past two weeks, so I thought I'd update. I'm also interviewing for the position in admissions, and I'm getting pretty excited about UMich as an option (even outside of the position). Best of luck!

Good to know! I've heard from financial aid (pretty solid offer), but nothing from the CW Scholarship program or GSSA. It seems like you and I are in the same boat with similar schools, etc.

Well, I didn't get a hold of Erin Zimmer, but the person who answered the general number (I think a student?) said they had not offered interviews yet. She didn't have a timeline, but she thought it would be soon. So- good to know!

Not at all- as long as you don't mind waiting until Wednesday! (I have a weekend long work event through Tuesday so doubt I'll have the time to call during business hours until then. I'm on the west coast).

I received that as well! The only correspondence. I likely won't reach out until Wednesday but I'm going to call rather than email and see if that gets a faster response. I'm pretty close to making a decision, but this and the special program I applied to would def. affect my final choice.

Hey Elizabeth, My acceptance came about two weeks later. My interview was great- seems like they're looking for students with a solid understanding of the field, an educated interest in upenn, and a passion they can specifically articulate. The questions I was asked started broad (what type of social work interests you?) and then got quite specific (why penn? Why grad school now? Why the field change?) and the interviewer followed up my answers with more "digging" type questions. I mentioned an interest in a very particular field of social work and he immediately asked whose research I admired in that sphere. As long as you have an understanding of the field and are self-aware, I think you'll enjoy the interview.

Hey all- has anyone received notice either way re: the GSSA positions at Michigan? The application said interviews would be offered mid-February, and the position offers extended in mid-March. I'm under the assumption if I haven't heard by now, then I won't be invited to interview. I plan to call next week to check in, but thought I'd post here as well.

I did as well. However, I received a deadline to respond to the financial aid information that's earlier than the deadline given for admission. These deadlines are killing me. I'm going to ask for yet another extension...

I ended up emailing and asking for a later deadline, but haven't heard back yet. I'm not stressing too much. If it takes over a month for financial info, then I'm sure they'll accomodate to allow a later decision. Or at least, I'd hope so.

I applied Nov. 30 and received my decision on the 10th! Nothing yet here. I was told financial aid info. would come in another email, but so far it hasn't come. One email said "within the next two weeks" and one said "in the near future". I'm guessing it takes a few weeks? It's only been one week for me.

jarenolds- I'm with you. I also applied for the CW Scholarship which I know can take a while to hear back on. I've basically decided to wait for my financial aid information and then flat out ask for an extended deadline. I'll update once it gets to that point! If either of y'all do the same, let me know what they say!

Thanks, pmelwani! I applied (and my application was complete) on 11/30/2013. All of my rec's and my transcripts, etc. were in before I submitted, so they confirmed my app. was complete the next day.

Hey all - I was admitted to UM on Monday and received the "official" notification via email today. They noted March 1st as a deadline to respond! I still haven't heard back from the dual MSW/PhD program I applied to, let alone heard anything about financial aid from UM, so March 1 is definitely not going to happen for me. Anyone have familiarity with how flexible they are regarding these deadlines? I figure if I don't hear re: financial aid/from the other program within the next week, I'll give them a call and explain. (Even further- I applied to the GSSA position and according to their fact sheet, those decisions won't be made until mid-March either!).