Danbrenn

My acceptance said that I wouldn't receive any scholarship money and that the 'Visiting Day' for the program would be April 22nd. Today I received an email with a link to my loan information, etc etc.

I'm finishing up the macro/micro online class offered by SAIS. $1500 and pretty good for people who have no background. I'm also reading Naked Economics and Naked Statistics, because I have no prior background in either subject. Other than the above, all reading will be for pleasure.

Nothing here either. I'm lucky to have some veterans benefits and some savings from deployments, but it'll still be the better part of 100k in loans more than likely. Honestly, I'm thinking that it may be worth it, but I'm not yet positive. I have a feeling that I would regret not going and that it may open 60-70k worth of doors over a lifetime. The wife has a successful private sector career and we don't have kids, so I'm not too terrified of making payments after graduation. Not complaining. This is a great problem to have.

No clue. I want to read into that and the fact that I never got a personalized email/official acceptance letter, but I think it's probably best to just chill out and wait until April.

I requested and was denied a travel stipend as well. I'm also thinking that might not bode well for funding, but it also could have to do with how much money you said your travel will cost. They might not have funded anyone who thought it would cost below a specific threshold.

Hey man, I'd give it a shot. Your background seems to make you fairly competitive. You say you don't have the requisite policy experience, but it looks to me like you probably have more than most people chasing the MPP. I'm in at HKS and my only experience was with the Marine Corps/private sector. I think the important thing is to tie your experience with your career motivations and how HKS will help you get there in a coherent pitch that reaches across your essays, CV and application.

If you are working in public service, may agencies will help pay back a portion of your student loans based on your income. Harvard also has the LRAP (see attached file). LRAP_PSLF.pdf http://www.hks.harvard.edu/degrees/sfs/learn-more/lrap (if the attachment doesn't work, click the link)

I'm struggling with that as well. I don't think I can turn it down even if they offer no funding. I'll have at least 20k a year from veteran benefits and I'm hoping to find some more other places if possible before they release fin aid decisions. Last week I would have told you that I wouldn't go in debt for any school, but now that I'm in, I can see why people take on student debt...

I can only speak for myself, but hopefully this might help... I applied to two programs last year, HKS and Jackson. Rejected at both. This year, I'm 6/7 with admits at HKS, SAIS, Fletcher, Sciences Po, LBJ and QUB. I have a fairly low quant score (158) and no econ or stats classes at all. The only difference between my applications last year and this year is more worldly experience. I spent most of last year working in a US Embassy in a volatile country. When I reapplied to HKS this year, I didn't even change my rec letters because I didn't think I would get in. Where I am getting at is don't be discouraged, get more real life experience and reapply. In 15 years, you aren't going to care if you were 25, 26 or 27 when you got your masters.

I'm in! Congrats to those who got in, and to those who didn't, I was rejected last year. There is hope!

They passed on me as well. Congrats to everyone who got in! Obviously a great program, just super disappointed with their professionalism/tact towards the end of my experience with them.

Gave Jackson a call and they first said that all admissions decisions had been released and they they would let me know what the issue was with my account. I got put on hold for a minute and then they came back and told me that no admissions decisions had been released and good luck. haha

Same. I hate to be an angry rejectee, but I find it pretty unprofessional that they are leaving us in the dark. I paid the application fee and went to the effort to apply, and I can't even get a 'thanks, but no thanks' email...

Congrats! Going to assume that that doesn't bode well for the rest of us who didn't get an email yet. Super happy for you guys though.

I also am waiting it out for Jackson. As with everyone, it will be a reach for me... they gave me a hard pass last year.