Diverchica

I understand exactly what you mean. That's my main issue right now. I'm deciding between an academic program in the sciences vs a professional school that combines both science and policy. Almost everyone has told me to go for the professional, but I still feel like I need more feedback. I'm anxious to make the next move, because I want my investment to be well worth it! Does the professional school have any information on jobs that their recent graduates obtained right out of school? That is what has tipped the odds in favor of me accepting the professional school offer. All of the grads I saw in the pdf they sent, had jobs exactly where I'd want to work, and were more versatile in the types of jobs they were eligible for. Some even went on to get their PhD in the sciences after graduating. I was also told, that if I don't plan on continuing for my PhD after I graduate from an MS program, then I'll be competing for the same jobs (coastal managers, technicians, scientists) as those who will have graduated from the professional school, but I"ll me more married to a topic (which, if you're not IN LOVE with it, could be bad.. or in my case which is VERY location specific), not have the connections that the professional school has with employers and with its elite name, and less likely to get those jobs... Hope this helps a bit, this is just my two cents, but I'm struggling too! You're not alone!

Mudlark, I would, but my husband's in the army, and we only have 3 years in NC before we are re-located to anywhere else in the country.... so i'm trying to take advantage of the coastal situation!

Lantern, nice to meet someone else in the field! I want to do fisheries work too! have you decided where you're going? Armadillo, I'm having issues with UNC. As of Feb, he said my app was on hold while he looks for funding. I shot him an email last week telling him I had other offers and wanted to know if anything was int he works, and he hasn't responded......... not sure what to do on that one!

Ah yes... I feel this way too! I think I built myself up to imagine these feelings I would have as soon as I got that acceptance letter (even since I got rejected across the board last year), and now even though I'm incredibly happy, it doesn't begin to compare to what I imagined I'd feel like. Maybe its because now I have to work out the logistics of moving, diagnostic calc and stat tests, actually incorporate my new husband into my decision (especially hard since he wasn't there the entire time I busted my butt through undergrad to get these accepts), and the lack of funding for my dream school. Also, maybe I'm just scared. I always thought that getting accepted was reaching this amazing milestone, where I'd feel so much better about myself as a person because I accomplished my goal. Although I do feel amazing about accomplishing it, I didn't anticipate that I'd be worried about actually getting THROUGH grad school, that it would actually be HARD! Stupid, I know. Anyway, there's my two cents! I'm glad you posted this, definitely is true!

Thank you all so much for the reply! I definitely think I would regret not going to my dream school Good luck to all of you!

I either have the choice of attending my dream school/program (Duke coastal management) but with only a small amount of funding (total debt approx $45,000) or I can choose a program that I am not as passionate about (NCSU Forestry) and only go into approx $11,000 in debt (no funding offered, but i'm in state). Basically, its like, go to my dream school and study the ocean which is my topic of choice and go triple the debt or go to a good program, studying something I'm decently enthusiastic about, and greatly decrease my debt. What would you do?

On my undergrad major: OP: What are you studying? Me: Wildlife Conservation OP: Oh so you're going to be a forest ranger, like Smokey the Bear! Or OP: Wait, but you eat meat. You went HUNTING?! How dare you call yourself a conservationist! On my grad studies Me: Coastal Management/marine science OP: I always wanted to swim with the dolphins... Or be a dolphin trainer! You should do that! Or wait, you won't make much money doing that, why do you need a grad degree? Me:

My masters program is a professional one (Duke MEM) so it costs about $56,000 for tuition for two years. Does anyone know if the government will give graduate students grants through the fafsa? I have an efc of like 2000 ish. Didn't claim much money as I dont get paid much!! Thanks for your input!

Hey Stiles, Any idea of the number of apps vs the number accepted for the Nicholas masters programs this year? Just curious!

Thank you all for the replies! appealing the aid sounds like a good idea, I'll look into it!

If it has been a few weeks since the app was due, maybe you could call and see when the first round goes out? I did that and it didn't hurt me....but yes check the results board!

If it has been a few weeks since the app was due, maybe you could call and see when the first round goes out? I did that and it didn't hurt me....but y

I've had experiences both ways with profs I've contacted before applying/being accepted. Last year I got rejected across the board, and at my first interview, my 'potential advisor' made it sound like she was trying to sell me the program and working with her. Saying, 'its a perfect fit, we will look forward to your app.' Then, the second interview, she brought her husband in (the other prof in her lab) and they played good cop bad cop on me! Pretty much scrutinizing me and testing me, asking me why I think i'm good for the program, telling me to apply elsewhere. Which, was all well and good, it was an interview.... but then she chose another student over me in the end and was sort of unprofessional about it. After being mopey for a month, hearing similar experiences from people regarding the same school, i realized I didnt want to work in such a cliquey environment anyway that being said, all other faculty contacts I had were great. I had contact with 4 this round, and each one was genuine, and gave me good mentor advice as well as application advice. The ones that had no say in my admission (Duke MEM program) told me they'd love to work with me, looked at my stats, and gave me their opinions on whether or not i'd get in . The others who were going to be my advisors (MS program) and would have a say over my admission, were very nice, told me how to make the best career choices project/program wise, and were very honest about where my app would go from there.... I think you should trust your potential advisor. If he says admission wont be a problem, then believe him, and wait for the results on paper. Dont hesitate to email him about your app status a few weeks after the deadline either. If he ends up going back on his word, you don't want to work with someone like that anyway. hope this helps

No worries! Don't panic yet! I hadt he same problem with my top choice. I called 4 times, left messages, emailed, etc. before the apps were due, because they refused to update my status to complete and received. Each time, they said their 'staff' was behind on updating materials, but everything was received. Apparently the people who update the computer system aren't the same as the adcom. Finally, after they were due and I was upset, I called and asked one more time. This time, the woman updated it for me, and said my status was 'under review'. I got an accept two days later. I also have the same issue with another school, and my gre scores. I called, and they said they have what they need. My computer status still isn't updated. Whatever!! The point? DO NOT ACCEPT THIS AS A REJECTION! It means nothing more than the fact that the school is busy with apps! Call and try to reach a person to talk to, then they can't ignore you Good luck!

I can't offer much advice, but I'm in the same boat!! expensive program, awaiting my FAFSA package

The Duke CEM program is my number one choice! However, it's SO expensive! They gave me around $6000, 3000 of which is an assistantship. However, it's about 30,000 a year (including tuition and fees). I think I can get some army money (my husband to be is in the army), perhaps $6,000 more per year, but does anyone know how else I can get some money? Does the government give grants (via FAFSA) for independents with barely any income? or is it mostly loans? and finally, if you attend Duke (either MPP or MEM, etc.), do you feel like you made the right decision in terms of the $$ investment?? Thank you!!! K

Thank you!! Ugh, it's so irritating, I took an intro to econ of natural resources class, but apparently it wasn't enough micro, more macro... boooo...

I have to take a microeconomics course before I enroll at Duke. Does anyone know where I could take a summer online course (distance learning, since I am moving all over) for an affordable price?

Program Applied To: Duke MEM (The other two are MS programs) Schools Applied To: Duke Schools Admitted To: Duke MEM Schools Rejected From: None yet...... Still Waiting: UNC Chapel Hill; NC State Undergraduate institution: University of Delaware Undergraduate GPA: 3.79 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): Undergraduate Major: Wildlife Conservation GRE Quantitative Score:620 GRE Verbal Score:560 GRE AW Score: 5.0 EW to the above, I know. Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 Years of Work Experience: Combined probably 1.5 Describe Relevant Work Experience: Work for the State of delaware Dept of Natural Resources (DNREC) Since July, worked for the GLobal Forum on Oceans Coasts and Islands/UD center for marine policy while in school; senior thesis marine science work. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Good; honed in on the importance of integrating policy and science, Duke's main focus for the Coastal Environmental Management program Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Undergrad research advisor; administrator of the Coastal Programs at current job; supervisor at current job. I had asked the woman from my previous job, who wrote my recs for my first round that I didnt get in. This time, she told me she would do them, and never did! Luckily I got a back up, and it all worked out fine.

I have called before, though not for PhD programs. If you have another excuse to call, like the status of your supporting documents not being updated on the site, sometimes they'll tell you your status anyway (happened to me last week, told me the status is 'in review' and i'd here very very soon. I found out I was admitted the next day). Also, I am close with one of the potential advisors I want to work with (funding is his problem right now) so when it was a month since I submitted my app, I asked him directly the status of my app. Just don't make a habit of it, I think one call isn't going to make or break your admission to the school. Hope this helps, K

Thank you!

I submitted my FAFSA a few weeks ago, and got my SAR back. I hadn't yet filed my taxes, but I'm doing so this week. I just got admitted to Duke, but loan information was not in there. I signed onto my FAFSA and it said the financial aid officer of my school wanted me to edit a transaction, so I went in and assumed it had to do with filing taxes. I clicked "already completed" as they will be tomorrow. Now what do I do? Why didn't I get any loan info in the admit letter (in addition to scholarship/assistantship stuff)??

I'm also glad you started this post! I was beginning to feel out of the loop I just found the professional programs board, and got pretty excited about that as well. Why are you pursuing a masters? Having just a B.S. in wildlife conservation, doesnt really allow for permanent jobs, with decent salaries. I also want to do more applied research, that has political implications. I'd rather go into environmental management, than go completely environmental science. How's the process been for you? Very different from traditional MS programs, as I've applied to both, to keep my options open. The issue of funding and 'fit' with an advisor have been the most different. With an MS, a lot of professors wont accept you if they can't fund you, and they have to actually want to work with you as their student, wheras with professional programs, its almost like applying to undergrad. How are you going to pay for this? Loans, loans loans.... Maybe a research assistantship to cover some of the cost, hopefully some scholarship too! If i even get in Are you still waiting for any responses? Haven't gotten one yet!

Thanks Wool, and congrats!