obrien_blue

Show of hands for who is going to Spring Preview! I'll be there, so if anyone from the board wants to at least have someone to awkwardly make small chat with, then send me a message. I'm also trying to figure out the living situation - does anyone know if any grad students every just up and live in Detroit? A2 looks AWESOME, but that's some fierce rent, whereas there are obviously some bargains in the city. Thoughts? ETA: Anyone who is doing an apartment search and has good sources, share!

I'm not sure about that, but I did get my rejection email for it day before last - that was quick! Has anyone gotten their call or communication or whatever it is that admitted students were supposed to get this week?

No problem! I've talked with NYU - looks like, at the moment, my 50% scholarship is the most I'll get. I'm definitely still considering them, but I'm focusing on Michigan and Berkeley assistantships at the moment. There's not much else I can do to up my money at NYU - I just have to wait to see if someone else who got a better deal drops, and hope it trickles down to me - but GSI positions are starting to open up at Berkeley and Michigan, so I'm working to see what I can get done there. Much to do, still, before April 15!

Has anyone heard anything about GA/TA/RA/GSI positions? I spoke with my contact on Friday, and I think admissions knows less about that because it's a decision made by faculty. I'm just wondering if anyone's heard anything to see if I have missed my shot at one, or if I should keep hoping!

It means it covers 50% of tuition. They admitted it's oddly worded. Has anyone heard about assistantships? Apparently those are coming from faculty, so they are trickling out. Admissions didn't have much info on them. Bueller? Bueller?

@deepviszion They seemed to allude to merit-based scholarships/some other kind of funding, but nothing totally solid. I feel confident I'll be offered something; I just don't know yet what. I have actually taught law school classes for my alma mater (tier 2 SEC school), so I feel pretty good about assistantship prospects. ....and while I was typing this, I just got an email saying I've been offered the Public Service Scholarship, which states the following: "You have been selected to receive a 50% tuition scholarship that will cover all of your tuition costs for the fall and spring terms." How can something that's 50% cover all of anything? Guys, we've got a math problem. I have more questions than ever. No mention of an assistantship, but maybe they aren't doing those in the same email? I'm going to be on the phone with them by the end of the day, God help me. Unless that scholarship covers the whole tuition cost, then an assistantship is gonna have to come down, too!

@deepviszion I was up for the David Bohnett Fellowship. They actually have one at Michigan, too, so I'll be applying for that and see if I can get lucky on the second go. What about you? From previous threads, it looks like they can stack scholarship and and assistantship to (presumably) pay for the whole thing and get a stipend. But I assume you'd still need another job to live in NYC (unless you're unspeakably rich; if so, feel free to share). That's why I was really hoping for that fellowship!

Congrats @deepviszion! Did you get to the final round? I was super bummed not to make it, but I'm hoping it's an indicator of better things to come next week!

When I was going through the fellowship process, they said that people would find out about money the week following admissions decisions. On the website, it looks like they tell you what's up with scholarships and GA positions at the same time, which I wish to God other places did, because it's driving me crazy not to know!

It looked INSANE on my phone. I hope your students cheered for you!

@coasts Yes, Wagner is a strong possibility for me. I already have a solid work resume, so I definitely aimed high for prestige programs, but I also aimed for programs that were diverse in their philosophies about how to approach policy/management/service. I'm in at Berkeley and Michigan (didn't get HKS, but I never would have been able to pay for it, and I don't want more debt, so that was probably all for the best) and Wagner. All three schools are very different in geography (which I wanted - I'm from the south, and I plan to come back here to do policy/non-profit work, but I wanted to try something different for a few years) and in the approaches that they take to their programs. At Michigan, for instance, if I went there, I would hopefully get an assistantship and have kind of a relaxed couple of years (it would be hard work, but I've been a lawyer for USDOJ for seven years, now, so I've got a whole different idea of what "work" looks like than I did before that, and I dream of spending more time on learning). At NYU, I would probably have a job during the day, because their program is set up so that you can further your career while you're also going to school to further it in a different way. It'll depend on money and the type of experience I ultimately want to have. I'm going to admit days for Michigan and NYU (Berkeley is just scheduled at a terrible time for me - I have court that day, so there's no way I could make it). I love New York, so location-wise, it's my top choice. I also like the practicality of the program; they seem to really emphasize getting out and doing the work you want to pursue while in school. There's my novel on that topic! Brevity is not my strong suit!

The title on mine says, "Congratulations on Your Admission to NYU Wagner!" But that does mean you're in! Hi, possible fellow classmate!

I just got mine! Congrats to fellow admits! Yay! Hope to see you at Spring Preview Day!

@quietman, I feel for you for sure. I'm a lawyer going back - admits to Berkeley and Michigan (and probably NYU; I interviewed for a fellowship with them and didn't make finalist, but they've all but told me I'm in) and rejected from HKS. My quant score was abysmal (lower than yours, trust me), mostly because the last math course I took was Cal 2 in Spring 2003 (my freshman year...Jesus, it's been so long). I think I got the admits I got because of my life experience. I get the feeling that at least Berkeley and Michigan didn't give a toot about my GRE score because of that (though I did well on verbal and the writing portion; I can't even remember what the score was; I was mostly just taking it because I had to). My undergrad GPA was a 3.9, and I graduated from law school with honors, but I think there were two things that got me in: 1. I have spent my entire professional career (now seven years) in public service (I was hired through DOJ Honors out of school, and I've stayed put, despite the call of...so much money. I don't know if that makes me cool or an idiot). 2. I had a clear narrative for why I want this degree and what I plan to do with it. It sucks to high heaven that you didn't get in on this go, but you certainly sound like you're headed in the right direction. I didn't have econ in my background, either (I'm taking it right now, actually; I don't want to go in cold); I went to a state school for undergrad and law school; I've never been abroad; I've been involved in non-profits. Frankly, reading your profile you posted, you sounded a lot like me a few years ago. I think you've got a great groundwork. Please don't give up! Take heart! I truly believe I wouldn't have gotten in a few years ago, but the life experience, and the time that gave me to craft an idea for what I really want to do (an insane plan to try to save the Mississippi Delta, where I'm from). I hope that you can take this as an opportunity to explore the world a little bit. So many of us, I'm sure, have spent a lot of time busting our tails in school or trying to improve our professional lives, and we don't take the time to appreciate all of the knowledge we've gotten, the things we've achieved. You have achieved a great deal, and not being admitted this go round does not change that. You're going to get in; it's not a matter of if, but when.

For anyone waiting on Harvard results, if you didn't get in there, but did at Michigan, you now have the date free for admitted student weekend. I hope to meet some of y'all there! Very excited to check out Ann Arbor!