Vulpix

I'm deciding between HGSE and Penn. I had the same concerns about HGSE. Penn has done a fantastic job about promoting, advertising, and clarifying the nature of their (pretty new!) program. They are definitely exclusively focused on the developing world in ways that I think no other schools are. Sorry I don't know as much about ICE, but I would assume with the "comparative" component it would be much broader and not solely focused on underserved countries the way Penn is. However, that doesn't mean you personally couldn't make that the focus. Penn is definitely practitioner focused, because not only do they have you do that internship, but they use the required IEDP classes as job skill builder workshops to prepare you to succeed at them, and have things to put on your resume as existing skills.

This is only distantly related to your predicament, but I've been speculating about to what degree existing educational debt makes a program more likely to give you more funding down the road (i.e. if you have 70K masters debt, your PhD program will give you fewer loans. Or if you have a lot of undergraduate debt, your masters program will offer fewer loans). This is certainly something I've heard to be true in my masters programs financial aid decisions. It's what I thought your post was going to be about when I read the title. Personally, I think 70K would be too much debt, but if you feel a masters degree would be the only way to become competitive for a PhD, then perhaps. You should look into other ways to make yourself competitive, or maybe reapply to cheaper programs....

Something I've been asking current students is what other schools they applied to/were admitted to, and how they made their decision. I'd also ask about faculty relationships, best classes, and things they wish were different/something that surprised them about the program.

If you reject your offer, I can't imagine they would contact you for funding (unless the FLAS committee is in zero communication with admissions... which may in fact be the case). What schools did you hear back from? I haven't heard a thing

You have to get significantly far from Brooklyn Heights for that range. Crown Heights or Bed Stuy might be a good place to try (Crown Heights is slightly "better"/safer). I also suggest Kensington, Borough Park, Midwood, or Bensonhurst in Brooklyn. I live in Kensington and I think it's possible to find something at that rate, and it's about 30 minutes to the Village. You may also want to try Flatbush, there are definitely good deals there.

I know very little about Vandy's program other than people speak very highly of it. i have attended 4 info sessions at TC, including with the professors of the IED program. They all seem very strong and personable and willing to meet with students (I went to talk to Mary Mendenhall as a prospective student). I think TC as a whole is not as good as Vandy, but IED may be stronger. If you want a better experience, go to Vandy. If you want more internship opportunities in NYC, I'd say TC is a better choice.

Yes, it's doable, but you can't be too picky about where you live. Further out into Brooklyn/Queens, or in "bad" neighborhoods, you can get waaaaay cheaper than that. When I first moved to NYC, I lived in Bath Beach/Bensonhurst, which is a lovely enough area, and I paid $600/month including utilities. It just took over an hour to get places in Manhattan. I currently pay a little more than 950 in my place much closer to Manhattan, but my roommate pays less, about what you want to pay.

They definitely do not, haha I'm simultaneously waiting on a FLAS ($33K grant) decision from Penn... it's nuts, because I don't take much stock in horoscopes, but I am SUCH a libra when it comes to decisions---I can't make them, because I just weigh every aspect of both sides. A month ago I was hoping I'd get rejected from Harvard so I wouldn't have to decide between Penn & Harvard. Now that I'm in, and leaning toward Harvard, I'm hoping Penn rejects me from the scholarship so I won't have to feel torn on THAT decision. SO many first world problems.

Thanks I think I'm more nervous waiting for this than I was for the actual acceptance! Ha! Like, I was pretty zen/OK with maybe getting rejected from HGSE, but the $$ is the real kicker.

So did they specify what the merit award was, or simply that you got an unnamed merit award? I'm comparing this to my Penn award, which simply stated "merit scholarship" based on my application. It isn't clear from HGSE's website that they do that.

I would echo this sentiment. My best friend studies TESOL at CUNY Hunter, very affordable. She turned down Columbia. If your goal is teaching, do not go into inordinate amounts of debt!

Thanks for the info. It just seems like the merit awards are super specific (the 3 that we all applied to ... leadership, urban scholars...), and that those would be very hard to get.

I didn't get an email about anything, but I just checked the admitted students' page again, and on the Financial Aid Award Letter section there appears to be an update. Mine used to just say the $9,072 grant, but now it also has $7,000 work study and loans. Don't know if this is the final package, but I'm guessing most likely. Just an FYI everyone!!!

It's too early for you to freak out when those of us who just got admitted aren't even FINISHED freaking out We're still waiting on financial aid decisions and where we'll end up... our bodies are not even cold yet! Excited for all of us, though... admitted or applying! Best of luck to everyone in 2017! Also, as a weird followup to my previous post about the website saying the maximum grant is $13,000.... well, it does still say that, but I noticed in the admitted students package, one of the financial aid documents says the max grant is $16,000.... so I assume that is the more updated version.

Hi y'all, I was hoping for some general advice on strong questions I can ask to current students and faculty in order to choose between my top two schools. I am currently quite torn (and still up in the air pending scholarships/financial aid) between Penn & Harvard and will be visiting both admitted students events on back-to-back days. I want to make sure I find a way to figure out key differences between the schools. Do you think it's OK to directly ask students (or even faculty) about what makes your school different from ____? Is it rude to bring this up? (Especially to faculty, I probably wouldn't, but maybe to current students?) Is it OK to ask students what other schools they were accepted to, and how they chose? Should this question only be asked privately in one-on-one conversations, and not let's say in front of a whole group Q&A? What are the best questions I can ask during a Q&A with either students or faculty? Thanks!!

I graduated in 2012! I'll PM you! It's funny, because 70-80 is NOT that many people, relatively speaking. But I guess when you're all focused on the same few professors, you do have to jockey for time. I just hope it's not so much 'competitive' in the cut-throat way of having to edge out someone else.

A bicycle is useful in any city, and there are lovely bike paths also in Philly. Spread out is a relative term... it's very easy to travel via bus or subway to hot spots in Philly from Penn. You can walk pretty much anywhere you'd likely want to go in 40 minutes, but that is a long walk, so bike is never a bad idea.

Yes, you can find one-bedrooms at that rate, especially further out in BK or Queens. Mostly studios, though. I have a 2-bedroom right now for $1800/month and I live about 30 minutes from NYU in Brooklyn (not an NYU student though).

I think I'll go with HUH if I don't find my own place. Dorm style and the meal plan just seems too cost-inefficient.

Philly is also CONSIDERABLY smaller than NYC. It's very easy to get around, you can walk or have a car. In NYC, having a car is mostly a terrible idea.

I'm so super anxious about financial aid!! Also, I don't know why I only just saw this on HGSE's website: "Grants generally range up to the present maximum of $13,000 and are awarded on the basis of financial need." Which is weird because I definitely read several people receiving $14,000 last year... but anyway... I've heard that "need" might be largely determined by how much existing educational debt you have. I am fortunate in that I do not have any debt right now. But that doesn't mean I don't "need" the support too. I hope they still give me something helpful . A small grant and work study would be nice. Just praying for not 100% loans.

Is it true you have to pay just to enter the Harvard lottery?

You went to Vassar!?? When did you graduate? I know a Vassar grad who went to HGSE... don't know any who went to Penn GSE. I'm going to be meeting up with him in Cambridge hopefully to find out about his experience. I will definitely share all my notes from the visit days!! Only 2 weeks *sigh*

Philly is way cheaper. Both cities are cool though.

Congrats!!! I have heard "by April" or "in April"... I sincerely hope it's more than just two days before the 15th!