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wongjcz

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    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted · Edited by wongjcz

    @CrimsonEyes I'm not sure if Upenn processed my application faster because I am an international student. I'm really not sure how the whole thing progressed. I just received the outcome. I'm sorry I can't provide any more information. I can't say anything with certainty because I really do not know. :( 

    I applied to three schools - 2 in the U.S. (Upenn and Uchicago) and 1 in Australia (Umelbourne). I was admitted into the UChicago program. I'm not going to Melbourne because I prefer the program in Chicago to the one in Melbourne! But I love Melbourne as a city! Great coffee and cafe culture! And amazing Asian food!! Also, the phd coordinator at Umelbourne knew I was applying to U.S. programs and was completely fine (and very encouraging) about it. It was hard to decline the Melbourne offer. 

    So I've finished waiting! Yay!!

    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    Hello! I just realised how lame it was to quote kelly clarkson. It was literally the song that played in my mind when I read the email! Hehe. 

    @CrimsonEyes I received an email from the dean containing the admission decision. I mentioned this before, but since I received another offer from an Australian uni (I'm based in sydney) and the program starts on the 29th of February, it was important for me to know the decision asap! So I emailed upenn informing them of my situation, and they agreed to release my decision as soon as the results were finalised. Mind you, I was meant to receive the results on the 16th of February, so I think the decision making process was protracted! (I'm not going to the australian uni, by the way!)

    @Beetroot I'm super excited for you! And I agree - things are dream-like until an official document comes through. 

    Also, I am very happy about the outcome in an - I feel like there is some wonderful growth lesson in this because it reminds me that I don't have complete control over my future - sort of way. If past me took bets on which uni I'd be admitted into, I would have placed a bet against the grad school I got admitted into, and for upenn which I did not get into! But the opposite occurred! I have some control, but not complete control! And I need to keep reminding myself of this! :) 

    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    On 12 February 2016 at 3:07 PM, Beetroot said:

    Thanks! I'm nervous. My former prof/reference/mentor gave me this sage advice: "Do not talk about your cat." 

    How did your interview go? I hope you did talk about your cats! hehe. Cats are cute and fluffy and makes things better. 

    My former supervisor (hardcore economist) also gave me great advice: "Just be yourself, except, maybe not the insecure, confused part of yourself." and "just remember to have at least 7 hours sleep, because we all know you become emotional when you're sleep deprived". 

    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    Hey! I received an unofficial offer for uchicago's phd program! I think I was informed earlier than most people because I'm an international student and received a phd offer elsewhere (which they are aware of).

     I was told that the official admissions outcome (via the electronic admissions system) will be updated later. So, if you haven't heard back yet, don't worry! 

    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted · Edited by wongjcz

    @CrimsonEyes Ahhhhhh! My heart skipped a beat when I saw your message! I don't want to be the source of incorrect information!

    OK!! Maybe it's different for me!!

    Background:

    I was accepted into a phd program at the university of Melbourne (a university in Australia). The program starts on the 29th of February, and is my back up back up. In Australia, uni starts late February/early March because of our different seasons. 

    But, I intend on discontinuing the program in Melbourne if I get into a U.S. program. (I didn't post this information on this thread because the phd is in economics, not social welfare/work. There's a whole back story on why I applied, which I won't go into).

    I felt really really guilty about my duplicity. I even had a Skype conversation with my undergraduate supervisor to tell him of my dilemma and guilt, and to ask for the best way to proceed! So I sent an email to all the chairs of the doctoral programs I applied to (including Melbourne) to let them know of my intentions. For UChicago and upenn, I also asked when I could possibly hear back about admission decisions. I really don't want to start my program in Melbourne only to stop it 6 months later. It's not very nice!

    I was told by upenn that doctoral decisions would be made by the 15th of February. If I don't hear back by then, I was told to email the chair of upenn's program directly to ask for the outcome. 

    So, I was told that decisions would be made by the 15th, but wasn't told that decisions would be released on the 15th. I should have made that distinction clearer.

    I'm so sorry for the confusion. oh my goodness. I feel terrible. Maybe their timeline has changed? most likely I wasn't clear enough in my last post. :( 

    @CrimsonEyes, thank you for calling admissions to clarify. I'm sorry for all the people who read my previous post and got confused. I was just trying to be helpful. Eurgh!

    Mistakes you've made on your applications

    in Waiting it Out

    Posted

    I have two blunders. 

    1) I wrote an email to the chair of the doctoral program titled: "pdf in social welfare - query". After I sent the email, I realised my mistake and had a minor panic attack. I sent him another email profusely apologising for my error! Phd, phd!!!!!!

    2) I tried to be coy in my writing sample. I based my sample on a student population from "X university". I decided to change "X university" to "university in Y location". Anyway, turns out I didn't consistently make the change in my writing sample! I had X university and university in location Y littered across my writing sample. I had a good ice cream pity fest after I discovered it. 

    rookie mistakes *shakes head*

     

    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    Hello! 

    @Happysoul, I think you're amazing for making steps towards moving overseas, with family, to pursue academia/research. I don't know what the admission committees are looking for, but from an outsider's perspective, your record looks impressive!! :) 

    I'm also super anxious about the whole process. I'm prepared for rejection, but prepared to reapply! I keep telling myself: Good things take time and patience (and the "good" is a flexible construct!)

    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    On 21 November 2015 10:37:43 AM, pippapants said:

    My advice to both of you is to explore the websites for each program you are interested in and become familiar with the research areas of faculty. If you can, access CVs and read articles by professors with whom you would like to work. Reach out to the programs that will provide an appropriate research fit and begin to develop relationships with both POIs and program directors prior to submitting your application.

    Also, find out about funding (how much and for how many years), then compare your stipend with cost of living. Some stipends in some urban areas will not allow you to live without taking out loans, so that is something to consider, since docs can take 4-7 years. (Also ask what the median number of years to graduation is.)

    Thank you for your advice pippapants!

    Out of curiosity, is it common practice to contact potential supervisors prior to submitting applications? 

    Social Welfare/Work PhD applicants

    in Social Workers Forum

    Posted

    Hello! I am so happy you started this thread!

    I am also pursuing a PhD in Social Welfare/Social Work. Given I'm interested in not-for-profits, specifically the relationship between the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, I'm applying to UPenn and UCLA. I'm also applying to UChicago (because I'm a sucker for beautiful mission statements, and the vibe I got from the website was very powerful!)

    I am also very very very terrified . I completed my undergraduate degree in Commerce and Economics in Australia, worked for two years in an Australian Social Policy Research Centre, and recently finished my Masters in Social Policy in the UK. I am not accustomed to writing statement of purposes, afraid that my theoretical and practical knowledge of social work is lacking, and feel that perhaps I should also try the MSW route to supplement my theoretical knowledge with practical experience. But I also know that I would like to be an academic at a research intensive university, focussing on human-centric research and feeling like I'm advancing society in some way, so I must get over my insecurities and try my best!

    Anyway, thanks again for starting this thread. "Follow!"

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