morlvera

I got my Pitt acceptance a few days ago. Pennsylvania schools moving fast! As people start to get decisions, don't forget to add them to GradCafe's admission results section. Previous years results can give you a decent idea of when you might here back from various programs. I figure I might as well pay it forward to the next generation of neurotic email checkers.

When are/were your apps due? Have you heard from the professor yet? It's nerve wracking to have such a big thing be completely out of your hands! Fingers crossed for you that the letters get in on time. I've read that there's some bit of leeway for late LORs if you have deadlines that have passed. Don't know how true it is, but I guess it makes sense that professors give other professors a pass because they all know how crazy life is this time of year.

Thanks!

Accepted to Pitt! Looking back at previous years, it looks like I won't get any information about the scholarship until February. More waiting -- boooooooooo! Unless the scholarship is only like $5, though, I'm off to Pitt.

Pitt says you usually get a response in 4-6 weeks and tomorrow will be exactly 6 weeks since I applied. I jump every single time I get a new email notification. Come on, Pitt! Sure, I already know I'm getting in based on their guaranteed admissions thing. However, I've pretty well convinced myself that there's an invisible asterisks hiding a morlvera exclusion clause or something. I hope everyone else is holding up well whether you're still working on applications or trying not drive yourself crazy while waiting for decisions!

Yay -- I'm glad it's all sorted. Good luck!

1 acceptance received! Just waiting on one more decision and I'm done with that part. Of course, the waiting still won't be over because I don't think I'll know anything about scholarships for the MSW until February. Sigh.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. Here's hoping an early bird gets some news soon. That'd just be further justification for my constant email checking.

On the one hand, a small technical mistake is something one hopes to avoid. On the other hand, if said small mistake leads to finding out that your application is being reviewed, well then I can live with that! An email I received last week from the school said that many departments wouldn't start reviewing applications until after the Jan. 15 deadline. Looks like the department I applied for isn't one of them. Here's hoping I get a decision before they year's out. Good or bad. Waiting is the most difficult part at this point.

I sent several transcripts to SOPHAS. It took about 2 weeks in all cases for them to post to my account as having arrived.

My applications are now completely finished as of this morning. One program said they'd start reviewing apps before the end of the month and the other said I should have a response in 4-6 weeks. Soon!

I applied to a dual degree MPH/MSW program. They'll start reviewing applications for the MPH before the end of the month, which is -- to steal a line -- "exciting, but also slightly terrifying." I'm still waiting on one more LOR though. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

Just figured I'd get them out of the way so I could concentrate on football season and fall TV. Priorities, right?

Just waiting on one LOR for my applications to be complete. Ugh, waiting. I've already submitted the MPH app so SOPHAS can do its thing, but am stalling on the MSW app because my desire to do micro over macro is waning. Stupid, mind! Why do you keep changing?!

If the GRE is truly the only thing holding you back from applying for a PhD, then I say get some study materials and do your best. The GRE score is only one part of your application package. What would the 2nd masters be?

Good to see another career changer! My goal is the same as yours re: micro MSW and macro MPH and I had the same problem of loving either the MSW program or the MPH, but not both at the same school. I know I'll get some kind of scholarship for Pitt's MSW because I meet the GPA requirement, but the MPH doesn't give any aid at all so I'd be paying for that entirely out of pocket. I'm in-state, but it still won't be cheap. Back to adding all of my coursework to SOPHAS. This is my punishment for taking advantage of several tuition assistance programs over the years. Sigh.

Yeah, the numbers definitely worrisome. I'm looking to go full time as well, but hoping I can squeeze in a part-time job for some pocket money. Just applying for schools puts a nice dent in the wallet! My list of potential schools ballooned to 7 at one point and I don't even want to think about how much that would have cost me.

I got tired of waiting for someone else to start this thread! Let's keep each other company while we slog through applications and wait for responses. I'm applying to the MSW/MPH program at Pitt. Maybe I'll add some more schools to the list, maybe I won't. I'm putting the finishing touches on my SOP and resume, but other than that all I've got left is requesting transcripts and making sure the LORs get in on time. Hoping to get my part done in the next week or two so I can get busy waiting rather than agonizing over materials. Where are you all applying? Where are you at in the process?

Ha! I now know where Kutztown is so there's that. I'm just not too keen on a lot of the schools in PA because it looks like I'd need to buy a car to get around to placements and whatnot. That's why I'm looking primarily at schools in Philly and Pitt. I currently live in the Philly area, but there are so many schools around here offering the MSW that I worry about competition for placements and jobs. I'm still considering going out of state. The price tag for doing so is anxiety inducing though.

I can't believe it's already April! This waiting thing is a little easier than I thought it would be. It helps that I've come up with about 50 new hobbies to occupy my time. In a few more months, I'll start working on my statement of purpose, updating my resume, etc. in preparation for asking for LORs later in the summer. At this point, I'm only planning to apply to one school. I'm also seriously considering applying to their MSW/MPH program. Not all that excited about adding a lot more debt to my plate, but it would be significantly cheaper to get the MPH now versus later. For what I'm thinking about doing, it would definitely help to have an MPH in my pocket.

Pitt seems really unusual in having guaranteed admission and scholarships for those with a certain GPA. Do you all know of any other schools that have similar policies? I haven't seen any and I wonder why Pitt does it. Not that I'm complaining; it's great to already know that I'll be admitted if I apply.

I had the same problem with my undergrad school's dossier system as well, artsy16. I had been out of school for 2 years when I needed the letters for a program I was applying to. I just had the dossier letters sent to the original recommenders so they could refresh their memories of my awesomeness. They were able to just copy what they had originally written and add a few updates. It was definitely obnoxious though.

LORs are on my mind a lot as well. I'd like to use my current supervisor because he'd definitely give me a great recommendation. However, I don't think it would be in my best interest to give that much notice about my plans. I definitely wouldn't get fired; it would just be really uncomfortable for far too long. I'm thinking I'll just use a past supervisor and/or supervisors from my volunteer work. I've been out of school for several years so I don't even think I'm going to go down that route unless absolutely necessary.

Since 2012, RCtheSS?! I'm glad I only found this board last year. I can't even imagine what kind of mess I'd be if I'd stumbled upon it sooner. Like both of you, I've been pretty busy, which definitely helps keep me sane. It also makes feel my life isn't on hold until the application window for next fall opens. That said, I'm excited that at this time next year I'll likely know where I'm headed. And yeah, bquinn, Pitt is definitely not as inexpensive as I'd like. I'm also planning to apply early for guaranteed admission and the scholarship. I hope your visit to UT goes well! Definitely share your impressions of the place/program.

I'll be applying for entry in the fall of 2016 so I'm just here gathering intel at the moment. It looks there are a few of us around so maybe we could chat a bit while we're waiting for our turn to be in the throes of application drama. At this point, the only school I'm definitely applying to is Pitt. I'm a Pennsylvania resident and I haven't been too impressed by the other offerings in my state largely because of costs (dang Penn!) or location (where the heck is Kutztown?!). I've considered going out of state, but everywhere I'd want to go is really expensive. So Pitt it is for the moment. If I get in, I'd be a career changer. I don't have much in the way of social services experience, but this past year I started volunteering with an HIV/AIDS group and at a hospital. I'm not too worried about the lack of direct experience because I'm sure can show how my work in my current career and past experiences are relevant to what I want to do as a social worker. Anyone else not so patiently waiting like I am?