CFBrown

If I go to Georgetown it'd be their School for Continuing Studies. Since they don't really offer campus housing for grad students, they only charge per credit hour for courses and maybe a student enrollment fee. It's also still early for funding decisions. Some schools don't offer financial aid letters until a month after they let you know you're accepted.

If I receive no funding at all from any school I'm admitted to (which is possible with my GREs), I'll just go to the school that requires me to borrow the least. In my case, this will be because I have family in the area of that school I could stay with, and the program gives you flexibility to work full-time while pursuing your master's.

Does anyone know if I agree to on-campus housing on the financial aid form if I could change my mind later? Is USC's grad school housing that much more expensive than off-campus options?

Yep. You win.

That's helpful, too. I almost want to wait until I find out what my financial aid will be like at Syracuse before I even consider declining the offer or contacting other schools regarding their decision. Even though it's still a stretch that I'll end up going there, maybe the financial aid offer will be better than what I get offered elsewhere.

Yea, you both are kinda right. There'd be no harm in taking a visit, and I like traveling anyway. Only thing I'd have to make sure of is having the money to do so...

I found my first acceptance letter from Syracuse yesterday (in my spam folder)! Even though it's my fourth choice, I don't want to rule them out just yet. Problem is, I'm not expected to hear from my other top schools until around mid-April - around the same time Syracuse wants their confirmation deposit. So my questions are: Should I take a visit to Syracuse for one of their preview days? Is there any harm in asking my other schools to provide me with decisions earlier?

I don't think it's a generic email. I think they genuinely need more information from your financial aid application that you might've originally skipped over or something. Relax. This is good news.

My reasons for wanting a Master's in PR has a lot to do with me simply chasing my dreams, improving my skills, and making strong connections through networking. I do kind of agree with you though on the lack of jobs in communications (even though my undergrad was in marketing and management). That's why it's very important to be good at what I do, and to keep my skills sharp I've been freelancing/volunteering with local organizations and businesses needing social media/PR/marketing help.

Came across this on Facebook tonight and my thoughts were: Does "public relations" count as communications and mass media? I see a lot of users on GradCafe who declare these majors... How much does this article give you second thoughts on pursuing your master's, if any? What do you think of the list overall? http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-most-useless-graduate-degrees-2015-2?utm_content=fbboost&utm_medium=cpm&utm_source=facebook.com&

Maybe it's just me, but getting transcripts to my schools cost me no money at all. Just a few forms to fill out and email to the registrar. It was probably the easiest part of the process for me. However, I did pay damn near over $700 prepping for the GRE...

It seems like they're basically encouraging you to apply for their master's program because you're not good enough yet to be one of their Ph.D. candidates.

I got an email from the department head from one of the schools I applied to. At first, I was nervous because it was early and thought it was a rejection notice. Instead, she mentioned being impressed with my interview and was endorsing my application for the final round of decisions (which should be coming this week or early next). This is a good sign...right?

Shook hands with rapper Lupe Fiasco Met and talked to comedian/actor Keegan-Michael Key Singer Ne-Yo performed at my high school once Met my state's governor at a Race for the Cure event That's about all I can think of right now...

Don't feel bad about getting a late start. I too only started realizing graduate school was an attractive option late in September/early October after I lost my 4th job coming out of undergrad. I also didn't take studying for the GRE as serious as I should have, choosing until a month before my test date to start cramming.

I'm far from an expert on admissions chances for Ph.D.'s in electrical engineering, but just judging from your GRE scores in Writing and Verbal I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable with my admissions chances into any major Ph.D. program, let alone a master's program for public relations. If you're wanting to increase your chances for getting funding for your Ph.D. program, I'd retake the GRE with the aim of improving your Verbal and Writing scores. On a positive note: I would LOVE to have your Quantitative score!

I got an email a few weeks ago from the department head from one of the schools I applied to saying that she was impressed with my interview and was endorsing my application for final decision consideration. I was mad nervous at first that it was an early rejection letter. This email is a good sign that I could get accepted, right?

I second that one. My professional experience and undergrad GPA give me confidence that I'll get accepted, but my GRE scores being below average have me concerned if I'll barely make the cut let alone receive decent financial opportunities. The waiting is almost over though. I'll at least hear from Syracuse in a week or so.

Congrats! Way to improve!

They're all Master's degrees, is there really a difference between what employers value more? For clarification: MPS = Masters of Professional Studies

TakeruK sums it up perfectly!

I think the reviewers of your essay gave you a 2 because you didn't properly complete the task. Instead of examining the unstated or stated assumptions, your essay seems more like you're analyzing the issue. I purchased the eBook study guide for the GRE and it gives logic behind the scoring of analytical writing essays. For the Analyze the Argument essay, your reviewers likely gave you a 2 based on one or more of the following characteristics: does not present an examination based on logical analysis, but may instead present the writer's own views on the subject does not follow the directions for the assigned task does not develop ideas, or is poorly organized and illogical provides little, if any, relevant or reasonable support for its main points has serious problems in language and sentence structure that frequently interfere with meaning contains serious errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that frequently obscure meaning Let me know if this helps.

You're fine, haha. When I started to fully consider grad school my thinking was, "shoot for the moon and even if I miss I'll be among the stars" (don't judge me). I already earned my Bachelor's from a school that doesn't have much of a reputation. I figured if I'll get my Master's I should get it from a place that'll help make it count, you know? I'm starting to feel a little better about my chances of getting accepted. Since I posted this I've had a decent Skype interview with Northwestern and received an email from the department head at Syracuse expressing her excitement to move my application forward for final consideration. None of this eases my financial aid concerns, but it does ease some of my fears about other life decisions I have to make soon.

Go all in on building up my marketing communications services. Maybe move with my gf to Canada once she finishes school.

Not sure if it helps, but I've been unemployed for almost six months. I discovered that my mentioning the potential of grad school in interviews was probably the ultimate red flag. I've always believed that honesty is the best policy, but obviously this isn't the case with corporate America. In your case it depends on how long you've been working there. If it's been more than a year, I'd take my chances and spill the beans early.