Glitter1nTheAir

Thanks for sharing the link to the facebook group.. Looks like it might really come in handy!

Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): Top public school in the US Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA Integrative Biology/Music Minor (3.2 GPA/2.7 Major GPA) GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 161/162/4.5 Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): Currently serving in AmeriCorps VISTA (month 8 out of 12) Math/Econ Background: 2 semesters Calc, 1 semester Stats Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): N/A Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPA - Environmental/Health Policy, Nonprofit Management Long Term Professional Goals: Would love to work at a foundation that supports environmental/health development or become a community/organization leader to create positive change in the environmental/health sectors Schools Applied to & Results: UW MPA (accepted - $$$), American U MPA (accepted - $), University of Oregon MPA/MNM (accepted - $), UT Austin MPAff (accepted - no funding), UC Denver MPA (accepted - no info on $ yet) Ultimate Decision & Why: UW - It was my first choice and I was impressed with the city, campus, and faculty when I visited during the open house in November. I would love to work for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is located in Seattle. I think it's a great city with opportunities and resources for what I want to do. I also got a great scholarship and offered in-state tuition rate. Advice for Future Applicants: I agree with everyone who emphasized the importance of having a good statement of purpose! Coming from a Biology/Music background with the only relevant work experience being AmeriCorps, I was worried that I would have trouble getting accepted. But in my statement of purpose, I really laid out my motivation/inspiration to apply for a MPA program, and why the experience I do have makes me a good candidate (did not even mention my lack of experience... I didn't think that "Even though I do not have much experience...." would help me at all). I do regret not researching more schools, but honestly I just looked at schools in cities that I positively wanted to live in - since I knew that the network I will build in grad school may keep me in that city for a while.

Hey Nocho.. Yeah, I remember speaking with you! I actually won't be able to make it to Admitted Students Day, unfortunately.. Let me know how it goes though if you go! I've been considering Greenlake/Ravenna and possibly the U District. Looking for roommate(s) since my ideal budget is $700/mo or less. I'll try my luck at finding a place beforehand, which worked for my friend currently attending UW.. He was saying that his program had a facebook page for incoming students where he was able to find roommates from there, but I'm not sure if the Evans School will have that. If anything, I can probably stay with him while I search for somewhere to live - hopefully I can get that sorted out before the program starts!

I will be entering in the fall for the MPA program. I went to visit in November for the program's open house and very luckily had clear skies the whole time I was there. I ended up loving it! But I wonder if that will change when I experience the rain there haha. Activities for my program start the week of Sept 15, so I am thinking of moving up by the beginning of September. Do any of you know how difficult it is to find a place to live before actually moving there?

I am currently 24 and will turn 25 within a couple months of starting my program. I took an extra semester of undergrad to study abroad (so worth it), took another year to figure out what I wanted to do with my life (initially wanted to go into physical therapy, then event planning, and now I'm here!), then started serving in AmeriCorps VISTA - my service year ends in August a few weeks before my program starts.

Just got my email for admission around noon! They were not able to offer me any funding though. Congrats to everyone who got int!

Same! Although I've already decided where I want to go.. I'm just a little curious to see if I get in. If I don't get it, I'll just take it as a sign from the universe that I should not be in the same city as my ex who is currently at UT for grad school haha

For my program, you get a prescribed set of core courses for your first quarter. Starting in the second quarter, you can mix in electives in your area(s) of specialization with your core courses. In my dream, I signed up for all electives my first quarter haha

Oh wow.. GOOD LUCK Last night I had a crazy dream that involved me registering for all the wrong classes for my first quarter at grad school.

Saw this today and thought some of you might find it useful: http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/March-2015/Best-Neighborhoods-in-San-Diego/The-Best-Places-to-Live-in-San-Diego/

Ahh thanks, Usmivka! I think the infrastructure where I was living in the Bay made it prone to lots of big puddles - hence the ruined boots and wet socks. So if it's mostly a light rain, then I guess it won't be too bad. I won't be able to leave my job until the middle of August and I will be driving up from California, so unfortunately the earliest I can be up there is probably the end of August but hopefully I can make it work.

I want to know if the weather/rain really is as bad as people day it is. I've only really ever lived in California (mostly southern CA, 4 years northern CA for undergrad + 1 semester in Sydney), so dealing with rain is somewhat foreign to me. It seems silly (don't judge me) but how to dress in the rain is a concern of mine... Like, if I have to go somewhere in professional attire and it's raining - do I wear rain-resistant shoes and bring some more professional shoes with me to change into? I would wear rain boots sometimes in the Bay Area but I eventually stopped because I hate wearing rain boots and just dealt with ruining a pair of normal boots and the wet socks. Also, I was thinking of going up there toward the end of August/first week of September and staying with a friend of mine while looking for housing so I can check out places in person. Does that seem like a good idea or should I be looking for housing sooner rather than waiting until I'm actually in Seattle?

24, will turn 25 within a couple months of starting my program.

I was worried that I wouldn't get accepted into any programs. 1) I majored in Integrative Biology with a Music minor 2) I have a below-average GPA (3.2) with an even lower major GPA (2.7) 3) NO letter of recommendation from an academic source 4) BARELY ANY work experience (worked at Starbucks for almost two years after graduating from undergrad while earning a Meeting & Event Planning Certificate at a state school, currently serving in AmeriCorps) I ended up getting accepted into my top choice with enough scholarship money to cover tuition. I give credit to: 1) My extracurricular leadership experiences and awards & recognitions 2) My SOP (what is my inspiration and tied why I wanted to get a MPA to why I wanted to major in Biology in the first place) 3) Strong LORs even if none of them were from an academic source 4) I did well enough on my GRE to make up for my GPA, I guess. 5) I graduated from one of the top and most prestigious public schools in the nation, so I wonder how much they take that into account. I do agree that there seems to be an upward bias here though.. I noticed that a lot of the threads were pertaining to the most prestigious MPA/MPP/IR programs.

I love it here a lot - every time I move away I miss it! Public transportation here is not good at all compared to any other city I've lived in and most other cities I've visited. You have a car, so that's good and Uber/Lyft has a good presence here. Parking here sucks though - get good at parallel parking! There's lots of good food (AND BEER) establishments to explore in San Diego, if you're into that. There are also some great hikes that are dog friendly (Cowles Mountain, Torrey Pines Reserves, and more). In fact, SD is a very dog friendly city! There are a bunch of cafes and eateries that are open to dogs (check out places in Pacific Beach/Mission Beach - there is a dog beach here too). Can't think of any more tips at the moment, but I'll add more tips as I think of them.