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Congrats to all the other admits. I got my letter in the mail Saturday with 1/3 tuition. I really liked the map they included in the packet too. Now it's decision time.

I feel so late compared to everyone else on here, but I got in today around 6pm (EST). They offered me $5k, but I'm underwhelmed after my offer from Carnegie Mellon. I plan to notify them ASAP, so hopefully that money can go to someone who will really appreciate it. Congrats to all the other admits!

I can't confirm the result on the results search page, but I just had a friend tell me that they got in. So they are definitely sending out e-mails! Now I hope I get one soon.............Good luck everyone!

I applied to the New School- Milano for Urban Policy Analysis and Management. I called the admissions office on Friday and they told me that decisions were in the process of being mailed out that evening. I am expecting to receive snail mail from them any day now. I'll be sure to update when I get any word from them. I see you are waiting to hear from NYU too...I am in the same boat. It gets really nerve-wracking when some people hear back and others don't. I never heard of Mills..hopefully somebody else on here has and will respond soon. HTH.

I just got an e-mail today telling me to check the application website. I have been accepted into the MSPPM two-year Pittsburgh track. 1 down...6 to go.

Thanks for this advice! My application is finally complete. And then I get the e-mail saying they have processed 50% of the applications...March can't get here quick enough.

Just curious....did anyone get the call about the status of their application? I've had some intermittent activity over the last two weeks on the online status page, but my application still isn't complete and I haven't received a call . Here's to more wondering and waiting.

Are you planning to transfer from a MPA program or similar at VCU? Or will you have a degree from another graduate program by the fall? If the latter, how is that degree related to your reasons for wanting to attend NYU, if at all? I'm assuming that you are applying by the June 1st deadline. If you have not already applied, then I would strongly consider taking the GRE or GMAT (since NYU strongly recommends it) if you have time to prepare and do well. It could potentially strengthen your application. I hope that helps some...clarifying some details of your plan of action and background might get you more responses from other posters.

I have an update My page has changed slightly- they received 2/3 transcripts now. I'm a bit worried that the the payment, one transcript, and my GRE score still say "not received" though. I sent all those items around the same time: at the end of November. Hopefully by the end of the week everything will say received (fingers crossed)?

You are not alone... I submitted my complete application in early December and the status still says last updated on the date i initially submitted. The only places it says "received" are the items I uploaded when I submitted online (SOP, Resume and LORs). The test scores and transcripts still say not received. I am thinking that they have not updated these pages because my other schools received my scores and transcripts. I sent those items to my schools prior to Thanksgiving, so I know they all received them by now. I'll be sure to respond to this thread again if/when that status update changes :/

The above poster made some very good points for you to consider. A strong, focused, well thought out SOP and LORs will be a necessary component for your application. I'd also add that you may be able to highlight the quality of your academics, where it is applicable. A lower than avg GPA can come as a result of various combination of course loads, classes, and circumstances. It could be two or three early semesters that were not quite as strong as others. That is something that will only be evident from a close examination of your transcripts. You mentioned work/travel since you were 18? Did this take away from your ability to study/do well in classes? Are there any classes/types of classes you did particulary well in that highlight your passion for pursuing this degree? Having exposure to quantitative classes will also help. Did you take any challenging courses in math, economics, or statistics? If so, make sure you make this clear in your application whenever it is asked. Finally, many schools have an optional essay for you to address concerns in you have in your application. I'd be sure to write an optional essay that thoroughly and thoughtfully describes your past academics and even possible reasons for not doing well on the GRE (ex. bad test taker). In that optional essay, you can also outline your action plan for success in their graduate program.

Yes, checking with you cohort is an option. But it is a limited option in that some fellows take a year or two off for internships and work. For the ones that are applying, they have no idea what funding offers they will get since they are going through the same cycle as you. That info is not going to be very helpful or timely, IMO. What you can do is utilize the alumni-net page at your disposal. It's as useful as you make it. If someone has your interests, background, attends or attended a graduate school that you are interested in, then it would be your job to take the next step and contact them personally. No, not everyone includes their information, but a ton do. The ones who list their information obviously do not mind being contacted. It is possible to do a search and get results for hundreds of fellows. It lists their names, e-mail addresses, and home addresses. It may not have information on every single fellow and you may have to put time into it, but the alumni-net is the best tool to getting the answers you are looking for. That is exactly what the site is there for-networking. The above poster is correct, a forum like this will not yield very good results. Getting a generic questionare together to send to former fellows is going to be your best bet if you are truly interested in the information you asked in your original post. Good luck!

I'm assuming you are an almuna/nus of the PPIA program? If so, on the PPIA almuni-net website, there is an entire section that allows you to search every single ppia class (dating back to the early 90s) and find out their graduation dates from undegrad and graduate school, where they went for their summer institute, what schools they attended, degrees they pursued, and their areas of interest. I know this is a little late, but I hope it helps.

I am applying to MPP/MPA programs at NYU (Wagner) and CMU (Heinz- MSPPM) for the Fall of 2010 and figured I would jump in and give you my two cents on those two... Having talked to people on the adcom at CMU I think you have a pretty decent shot IF your personal statement is as strong as you say it is. In my opinion, I think that they want to see people who will do well quantitatively but who are also passionate about policy qualitatively. In other words, they are going to take everything into account. Your quant GRE score will definitely look good as will your quantitative classes- whichever ones you ultimately decide to send to them. Yes, the grades you got in those courses matter, but I think that exposure to college level math in general will look good. For instance, people with relatively no math background still get acceptances and are asked to take a summer session prior to their first year. So you have more than demonstrated your quantitative ability in that regard. Another note is that CMU says that they are starting to take more people right out of undergrad (which from my research on other mpp/mpa programs is not common). I'm not sure if you are applying right out of undegrad, but either way...your work experience will look good. I would worry more about quality over quantity as far as experience is concerned with CMU. Making your past experiences connect to your future academic and career goals is crucial. Also, I personally would include all my information from every school and every course I had taken. But I understand your hesitance. You can always explain your lower grades due to the rigor of the courses and any other concerns such as your overall gpa in the optional essay. I would take advantage of every opportunity to show them that you want to be at their school next fall. But that's just my personal take on the matter. Having your professor write the grade in the letter of recommendation is fantastic, but the more they see it (i.e. in official transcripts) the more it solidifies for them that you are a good choice. I too took grad-level stats, econ and policy analysis classes this past summer and got A's. I sent them those transcripts and have the LORs to back it up even though the summer grades are not reflected in my overall undergad gpa. For NYU, I am less certain of anyone's chances. I am thinking that their process is more competitive in general because of its location and number of very strong applicants, allowing them to be highly selective. I also think that full time work experience matters a bit more. Having said that, I think your GRE score will definitely still be solid amongst other applicants. Just as long as your LORs and SOP are strong too, I think you have a fighting chance. I am not applying to U. of Maryland, but I am pretty sure that you could consider this school a "safety" compared to CMU and NYU from what I have read in passing. I have not researched the others. Hope this helps! And good luck with applications (I assume you're still in the process of applying...)! One other note: You may try posting this in the gov't affairs section of the forum for more responses. All the mpp/mpa applicants usually hang out in there.