Thandiwine

Paxi! same boat here. No school can beat the cross-registration with the divinity school;

You could just win the lottery actually, who knows? Seriously now, IMO, you shouldn't base your decision on money (yeah, I know, money is important . but I'm telling you this from my gut and I grew up third world poor - I am still poor actually ) YET, I won't base any decision on money because at the end of the day, money does not buy happiness (even if it's more confortable to cry in a frontbeach villa in Hawaï than in a studio in Harlem) What was your dream school when you started your application journey? I'll recommend to stick to that. And listen to the voice inside of you (Now DON'T tell me there is no voice inside of you, I'll get angry ggggrrrrrr (just kidding - I assume being dinged from HKS drove me crazy). When you look at the ocean, you don't question whether it is big or not. You just know it is. So for your choices of school, it's the same. Pick the one you don't question about. Is your dream school worth the 150K + investment ? My answer would be yes, because that was your dream school. I'm an international student and if it took me 1 million in debt to go to HKS, I would (oh ... wait a minute, would I?) because that's my dream and this dream happens to be a school that gives undeniable credentials and open many doors in my continent. You're also an international student, so I assume you know how HKS shines big time (not to say that Chicago and Georgetown are not worth it, but i can tell you that almost all congoleze citizens know about Harvard). But that's easier for me to say because I don't have kids yet, I could go to HKS and eat pasta all year long that I would still be happy for the opportunity to live my (VERY) expensive dream. Maybe if you have bills to pay and if you raise a family while you study, that's different. Hope my fifty (crazy) cents helped!

Policygrad92, same experience here. The one thing I could work on is my GMAT score. I was even hesitant to apply because of that, but then I thought "if I am rejected because of my low GMAT score, this means that they did not like me anyway" so I applied. Like you, I have done everything, campus visit, course selection, I have been reading the blog for two years prior to applying, I have even put my life between brackets to concentrate on that. Worst thing is: that's the only policy school I've applied to. Maybe we could start all over again next year? but is it even worth it? Yes it's HKS so it's worth it, but is it worth the killing effort? I feel like I have no more energy. Thumbs up for the adcom though, they handled everything very professionally. Onthe path: how old are you? I'm 31. Congrats on SIPA acceptance!

So... I was right, you were admitted. Congrats!!!

what do you mean previous 21 applications failed?

dinged! Good luck to you all

Thank you so much for your very appreciated insight I hope I'll get the email today, because I'm really closed to a breakdown Good luck to you all, fellow applicants! Prayers for us all

waaaouw 4/6 admits so far, you're already in a pretty comfortable situation Congrats!

I almost had an heart attack when I read the first line of your message ... I was like "what??? HKS decisions are out??" Should have started the sentence with "last year..." The wait is almost over, hope we'll get the decision today or tomorrow, have been so unproductive and releasing decisions on a friday 13th would be cruel, wouldn't it??? If you guys make it, will you attend new admit day? I have such a long flight from Africa, but - should I be admitted - I think I would.

I'm pretty sure you'll be admitted then. (Lucky you!) Will the committee bother to ask you to switch, and then send you to dingville?

I second that too HKS has one of the best - if not the best - admissions committee. They're quick in reaching back to you, when other committees don't even bother to answer your email. I attended an open house last year, and gosh, the atmosphere, the people! This is really a place we need to go. Matt hold a short presentation, I heard him speak and thought "this man is the director of admissions of HKS and yet he is soooo humble". and funny I might say, when he told us not to worry too much about who we are, as he got hired with his long "hairdo".

Thanks for the advice :-) It's really scary when you hear all the stories of those 700 + GMAT who get dinged. And then you think "why do I even believe I might compete with them?" But hell, yeah, you never know unless you try. I'm working on those four essays , did one and a half two months ago, 2 and a half left. Moral below ground level Let's go for it! I have nothing to lose (apart from a 100 application fee, but that's well worth the expense if I get accepted).

I planned to apply but since I got my GMAT results two days ago, I'm not so sure I'll give it a shot anymore. How come there are so few people who apply this year? Or -maybe- they're all in another thread?