Vulpix

That's you! I'm in the box on the left right now driving Athena crazy with IED questions

Web chat with current students in 3 minutes! Let me know if anyone has any questions! They will have students from most departments.

Interesting differences there. Well, there's definitely still hope for everyone! It sure seems like they're contacting just a few people a day.

When you get the email from HGSE it will have the link and code for their financial aid website, and from there you can view whether your FAFSA was received. It probably wasn't because they have a disclaimer up saying that the federal government will not be sending them info until late February, despite what our FAFSA confirmation emails have indicated If you don't get the HGSE financial aid email soon I would email/call them and ask what's up, as it seems most of us masters applicants received it.

I see on the results page an EdD Higher Ed invite for Penn via email. Someone here??? Also, wait, there's an EdD vs. PhD in Higher ed? I didn't realize GSE had that many options.

Yep, I'm IEP. I got the financial aid email. I'm sure it's not an indication of anything whether you got it or not, but if you don't get it soon you may want to check. It's a very short application with just a few questions about your financial history. I submitted my FAFSA several weeks ago and the US government said it all went through, but HGSE's financial aid website still says "NOT RECEIVED"... They do have a big notice saying that they won't be receiving FAFSA info until late February, so I guess that's normal... and they said that financial aid info will go out at the end of March/beginning of April for admitted students.

I bet they send the PhD stuff separately as the masters programs also notify separately!! Don't give up hope yet!!!

I have no investment in this topic, but did you guys notice on the results page: The University Of Michigan - Ann Arbor Combined Program In Education And Psychology, PhD (F16) Accepted via Phone on 20 Jan 2016 20 Jan 2016 POI left a voicemail telling me I've been accepted into the program. Email with the funding offer and visitation day information to come. Dunno if this is relevant to y'all.

Everyone has a different perspective on this. Personally, I don't have any undergraduate loans like many of my friends, so I'm putting my investment into something else that will significantly change the course of my career.

Haha, funny that you forgot! Thanks!

Yep, mine also said March. I also applied a while ago. I think they are just actually starting to look at masters applications now.

No, it was just something I saw on the website, so it's definitely not only for admitted students! You can sign up here: https://upenn-grad.edu.185r.net/survey/index.php?time=2016-01-21%2019%3A00%3A00&id=119&timeID=22 The direct link to the webchat is here (they will send this to you via email after you register): http://upenn.adobeconnect.com/wc012116/ The full list of future events is here: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/admissions_financial/events#online

Sorry no news yet Maybe they like to release information on Fridays. I've seen that in past threads, and I found out about my acceptance on a Friday afternoon. But I totally agree that when things are in your control, like preparing for an interview, you can feel calmer knowing the ball in temporarily in your court. Of course, after the interview, it's back to panic mode... That wasn't helpful . My fingers are crossed for you to hear good news soon!!!

I apologize to everyone else for briefly turning this into a conversation about Penn

Yes, I bet it has mostly to do with her work. They told me other students are studying Tibetan, Swahili, and Burmese, so there is definitely an active language scene going on!

I'll take notes, and if you have any questions you want me to ask, let me know! There is another web chat with current students that may be more convenient for your time zone: March 2 9 AM EST, you can register online.

I have a friend who did a summer immersion in Amman! You're so right about all that. I am completely ignorant about the different dialects of Arabic, although I am aware there are many, so for starters I'll go with MSA. I asked Penn about auditing language and Lauren the program person said that there are suddenly a lot of IEDP students taking Quechua. I was like, uh, what's Quechua (google tells me it's a language spoken in the Andes). I'm starting to feel like a right dummy going into these programs

Is it hard to get student housing or is there enough space for everyone?

Also, anyone else attending the virtual open house tomorrow night at 7 PM? It's a Q&A with current students. I'll be there asking every question on my mind!

Are you leaning toward 1 or 1.5 years if you go to Penn? I'm torn but I think I'd prefer to do it in 1.5 because I'm new to the field and want to have enough time to experience everything and take it in, plus taking language courses on top of the curriculum, having a part-time job...

Well, I don't know if Caracas would be the place to go to learn Arabic, but I get your point There's no reason to pay HGSE to teach me a language when you can learn it literlaly everywhere. Just that grad school seems like the best time and place to do it. Yes, who knows if I'll even get in with so many international applicants dominating my particular field. My focus is on development, which is why language is so important. I do already speak Spanish, but I want to refocus my interests in the Middle East.

Thanks! Although financially, I feel like living on campus is usually way more expensive (at Cronkhite?)

Yes, but auditing a language would be low-pressure.... and really important to my job search in International Ed.... hmm.... It's funny because for the equivalent program at TC, studying a language is mandatory, and at Penn, basically everyone does it. Both schools have FLAS fellowships and encourage you to learn a language. It's just strange given the program that they wouldn't at HGSE.

This is very encouraging---I need all the help I can get! Coming from a teaching background, my job searches have been very independent but straightforward---you just apply to schools to teach the subject you teach, it's not all that complex. But going into a field of nonprofits, international/national government agencies, UN agencies, etc, will be very overwhelming and I don't know where to start! I will need this kind of support. I really like the small cohort/community feel that Penn has, but I'm sure Harvard's cohorts also have strong sense of community.

That's amazing!