[Lee Kuan Yew School (LKY School), National University of Singapore (NUS)]

2 hours ago, aemi said:

Congratulations to those who got admitted. I am so disappointed due to not getting offer. Next year Hopefully.

aemi, did you simply not hear back yet or got rejected? Called the admissions office today and they mentioned they are still going through applications right now and will be sending out results up to late April-May. My sense is that all the folks who have heard thus far are the scholarship recipients. But then again, might be wrong... 

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

How many of you guys have formally committed or are planning to? 

[IHEID Fall 2016]

9 hours ago, Saheim said:

I was accepted! Pretty shocked by this whole grad-school process, as per the standards that all of these schools listed, I was sure I wasn't a strong candidate.

For those wait-listed, I remember lurking in a thread similar to this one where several of the main contributors had been wait-listed. I know that at least one of them decided to wait it out and was eventually accepted. I think this option is really only available to people without alternatives however, as you have to wait beyond most decision deadlines to know whether you can attend or not. I know another person that applied the first time, was rejected, and took a year off to do an internship abroad through a connection they had with their undergrad institute. They applied again and got in. So I think if this is THE program you want to get into, you CAN get in. Anyways, I hope this info is useful to some of you - I was prepared to do both.

I will most likely be accepting, and I look forward to meeting those of you who will also accept! Take care everyone,

Peter

Hey Saheim, thanks for your comments. Wondering whether the thread you were following was specifically in regards to IHEID or some other program? From my understanding, the waitlist situation varies from school to school. Also, it seems like (after scouring through past threads for the school) not many people get waitlisted at all. 

[IHEID Fall 2016]

22 minutes ago, Yooni said:

congratulations to those who got admitted!

I was refused, but I'm happy to hear my brother who also applied was accepted. So it made me feel a little bit better. 

I'm going back to bed... Again, Congratulations. And those who didn't get in- CHIN UP!

Thanks for starting the thread Yooni! And yes chin up Best wishes to you too! 

Congrats to all who made it in! For those denied, sincerely wish you all will end up in the best fit program for you. The admissions process is not fun/easy, but ultimately we (not institutions) define our own destinies *hugs*. 

Finally, if there are any other lonely waitlisters out there please give a little shout out!

[IHEID Fall 2016]

2 minutes ago, researchfreak said:

I know, even more waiting must be horrible. Perhaps try to search on grad cafe to figure out previous years waitlistings. I hope you get in! 

Both my SO (MDev) and I (MIA) were accepted, although no scholarships - but I expected as much since our government provide pretty good deals on student loans and aid. 

Congrats research freak, that is so wonderful for both of you! You guys must be relieved

And thanks for your wishes, I'm starting to look but can't find much honestly. No idea how I'm going to manage this considering I'd probably have to put in a deposit to secure a spot at another institution just in case. 

[IHEID Fall 2016]

Just now, researchfreak said:

I'm sorry! But waitlist still means it's possible. I'm not too sure, but there's always people who turn down their spots for a variety of reasons. I know some people who were waitlisted for PhD programs, and they contacted the departments/school and expressed their continued interest in the program. This was for US schools though, and PhD programs, not sure if the protocol is different for MA's or European schools. 

Yeah, I know but there's no way knowing where I am on this so called list as they will fill up opened spots based on how they ranked folks-- chances, etc. This has been an anxiety ridden process, it's terrible for it to be drawn out like this... Anyway, any luck with you?

[IHEID Fall 2016]

Unfortunately waitlisted, this makes me sad Any ideas how great chances are to get off this thing? 

[IHEID Fall 2016]

7 minutes ago, Yooni said:

OMG guys.. you'd never believe. It appears they "banned" me from gradcafe altogether! I've been trying to log in and it keeps saying "you are banned" and at first I thought it was a system glitch. So then I log in from another laptop, and it looks like the site is running perfectly fine, but the thread (which I had created) is gone and so is my account! I have no clue what I did to deserve this jeez... really really confused. So I just created another ID and came back. SO WEIRD. 

Regardless,,,, good luck to you all!!!

Oh no! That's terrible!! I was wondering if I was banned from the group when there were glitches initially haha...anyways, welcome back people!

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

10 hours ago, creativeusername said:

I was 26 when I entered the school and had to decide between LSE, Sciences Po, and Hertie. I chose Hertie because they were the most responsive in their communication and the most generous with financial aid. I also did quite a bit of research on all three schools, speaking with both alumni and current students about their experience. I was hard pressed to find someone who had anything bad to say about the school. This was less true for Sciences Po and LSE.

The Pros as I experienced them:

• School is cheaper than competitor schools (though - full disclosure - I did receive a scholarship);
• Berlin as a city is much cheaper than London, Paris, or New York;
• The school is very small, making it easier to assimilate into the Hertie community and build friendships;
• The school is entirely dedicated to the MPP (and now MIA) meaning that all of the infrastructure and human resources are at your sole disposal;
• The school is new, so the facilities are nice (rooftop terrace, bathrooms, classrooms, etc.)
• The academics are the same quality as other GPPN schools;
• How you conduct your studies is very flexible. You can take a semester or a year off; do a professional year; study abroad, etc.
• The school has some really cool study abroad options, and everybody has the opportunity to go abroad if they are flexible;
• Because the staff is mindful of the school's nascent reputation, they work extra hard to provide good services;
• The same is true of alumni with respect to helping students.

The cons:

• The school has a comparatively small campus. This can lead to difficulties in finding empty study rooms, e.g. for group work;
• The selection of electives on offer are comparatively small. My impression is that the list is becoming increasingly diversified, especially now that the MIA exists. Nevertheless, prospective students should study available courses closely to avoid disappointment later on.
• Due to the school's size, there are comparatively fewer clubs and associations. However, Hertie is very open to students starting their own associations and clubs.

Those are really the only grievances that immediately come to my mind. The first one never bothered me since I study at home anyway. As for the second one, that's an easily avoided pitfall. 

You're going to like some people and classes more than others, but you have that everywhere. 

Assuming that you're set on doing an MPP - as opposed to law or business school - Hertie is as good a school as any. If you're American and want to go back to the U.S. for work, well, people do that all the time. There are a lot of Americans at Hertie.

Many thanks my friend! Not only informative but also comforting to hear... you've affirmed a lot of my own pros and cons looking from the outside in. Are you American by the way? Or European? 

Are you doing a Professional Year currently? What kinds of opportunities have students gotten for internships and professional year and of the alums you know, where have they gone after graduation? As you mentioned above, I'm aware that a lot has to do with student ability but it seems like different MPP programs attract a variety of students who end up pursing more of one area than another or multiple more than others. Does it seem for the most part that a majority of graduates have no problem obtaining the jobs/opportunities they set their minds to?

Appreciate it! 

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

18 hours ago, stmas78 said:

Do you think it still makes sense to apply now? The deadline is May 1st (for Public Policy), but I am guessing a lot of spots have already been filled.

Well, I think they have a May 1st deadline for a reason...if they already anticipated being booked up already they could've easily made their deadline sooner. 

What is for sure though is that your chances may be more minimal as this is rolling admissions. But you still may have a good shot! Go for it!!

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

18 hours ago, creativeusername said:

Congratulations to all of you that got accepted.

I'm a current student at the school and am happy to field a couple of questions.

Hi there! Wondering if you could tell us a bit about your background, what your interests and focus are, nationality, what made you choose Hertie (what were your other choices?), and the pros and cons you've experienced as a student. Please feel free to be as candid as you wish! Thanks in advance! 

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

9 hours ago, sdonovan77 said:

Seaglass,

*high five* right back at ya man!  I am pretty confident I'll be attending in the fall.  I just want to work out the best financing plan first and would really like to get some concrete illustrations of an international student building a career after attending the school (I've found a couple but am still not totally convinced).  Berlin sounds incredible and the program, while a little young, seems like its really headed in the right direction and has a great focus on quality.  I also really liked the Trade and Finance track in the MIA, it's something that's always interested me and the fact that I could get into it without real prior financial experience was big for me. 

I've also applied to Sciences Po PSIA (app went in yesterday) but am a little doubtful of my chances there.  I was a French major and lived and studied in France for about a year so it would certainly be my first choice but I know it can be very competitive.

be409,

For an American student, the terms of the brain capital loan are fantastic to the point where I thought it might be a scam.  It's funny to hear someone say it's "nothing but a loan without interest" like it's not a big deal.  That is incredible to an American student!  I'm glad to hear that the program is well established in Germany though.  I'll probably be pursuing it as well as FAFSA funding at home.  Thanks for the reply.

sdonovan77, agree with you on so many points you've made in your post! There are folks out there for sure who are foreign students but it's difficult to get a truly solid idea of how precisely the odds are for non-European folks. It does help that it seems like administration is very concerned about the student body and is efficient. Also waiting to hear from other programs as well, so we'll see about it. But like like you, I feel optimistic because the program at Hertie seems stellar and everyone i've spoken with about Berlin has been raving about it! 

9 hours ago, be409 said:

I am totally aware, that you Americans have a different point of view in terms of education and especially educational debt. I know that you have a horrendous amount of money to pay if you want to get decent education. Luckily we Europeans and especially Germans have a different system, that's funded by the state and ensures everybody can attend University. For example, I didn't pay a dime in tuition fees for my undergrad degree, so it's quite clear that from our point of view, tuition fees that are that high are making us think at least 3,4,5..10 times. I know that it must be awesome for you, coming from the states and overall Brain Capital seems like a solid deal, will be thinking about it as well.

Indeed, though I was a lucky undergrad since I got a full ride. Loans are a new concept for me in a sense, but in terms of looking broadly and in comparison with many of my compatriots taking out loans is the norm in the states for sure! My boyfriend is from the EU and was horrified when he had to finance his MBA  Don't get me wrong, I'm also horrified but more willing to bite the bullet I suppose. 

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

7 hours ago, sdonovan77 said:

Hi All,

Great thread.  I am an American who was accepted on March 8 to the MIA program.  I had a couple questions:

I've noticed that some of you were in touch with international alumni.  Was this through your own devices or via the Hertie website?  I would really like to know what kind of career prospects the university holds. (I'm happy to work in Europe)

Did anyone else receive a letter from Brain Capital to fund their tuition?  I was wondering if anyone had experience with it.  The terms (I haven't really seen specifics) seem pretty generous and I'm curious to see if anyone else has participated.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall!

Hey there sdonovan77! Welcome

Fellow American I see *high five*, sounds like you're pretty certain you'll be taking the offer for Hertie! Did you apply elsewhere? Was Hertie your first choice? Would be interested to hear your reasons for choosing the school. 

I've been in touch with international alumni by reaching out to folks on linkedin and I know one personally who is an alum of a program I am currently on. I know the Hertie website also provides alumni ambassadors and I requested an introduction, was copied to an email from alumni affairs-- but I received no responses from the said person. 

Yes, I have received an email from Brain Capital and I'd also be interested in hearing any thoughts about this from current students! 

 

[MIA EARLY BIRD APPLICATIONS IHEID]

Seems like a great number of you folks who got in are recent graduates (undergrad), is this a pattern that HEID has? Do they take interest in individuals who might have worked 2-3 years prior to schooling you think? 

[Teacher's College 2016]

1 hour ago, marature said:

 

Okay, I guess I'll wait until I do get an email from them and then take THAT as the final decision? Is the reason they haven't sent the email yet because it's not finalized? Or just glitches in the system?? Otherwise, they should expect that students will be looking at the site, since it's indicated in the award letter and most people are not like me and can actually read. (In my defence, I've been quite busy this week, and I should actually be reading work stuff now and not posting on this forum). Well, in any case, unless a miracle happens, I will probably have to decline, so I guess I should just chill and not over-analyze...

Well, if you look on the admitted students site and look at the financial aid page it says that we're supposed to hear about the final fin aid results after we are notified. If you really feel anxious you should e-mail the fin aid office. I e-mailed them and they replied to me about which scholarship I was eligible for and am being considered for as well as the date to which I should hear back.

[Teacher's College 2016]

2 minutes ago, KaySsaem said:

Seaglass, thank you so much for the info. While TC has never been my first choice, I was freaking out--the Education and Politics program is super cool imho.

The $9K is probably listed because it is merit aid awarded in the hopes to get you to attend regardless of all of the other offers they knew you would get. It is probably completely separate from the financial aid office's work. Congrats on an amazing sweep this application season Heather.

You're very welcome KaySsaem! Good luck to you, sounds like a stressful situation...I'm also abroad at the moment in Japan so the prospect of figuring out logistics (moving myself back home in NY then setting out God knows where) is really something. What's your first choice?

[Teacher's College 2016]

Just now, Heather1011 said:

Based on this, it sounds to me that they haven't released loan awards yet.  I don't know if this means that grants/scholarships are already finalized though...

Nope, the scholarships are not finalized yet either. From what I have been told, they are still working on all of that and will forward that info shortly. Received an e-mail saying scholarship decisions are being made the next few weeks.

[Teacher's College 2016]

5 minutes ago, KaySsaem said:

Hi guys!

I'm so happy--just got my acceptance letter to the MA in Education and Politics program!

Anyway, as I was going through the Admitted Students Site, I was very disappointed. It showed me a financial aid award letter that had literally no award--not even loans. I am very confused. Is this my financial aid (nothing) or does the site just show that but my financial aid hasn't been awarded yet. I emailed financial aid and got an automatic response that I should expect to hear back in a few days. Since I need to start making plans for next year ASAP (international move back to the US from Korea and all), I wanted to know if I should just eliminate Columbia TC from my options or wait until I hear back.

Best,

KaySsaem

 

P.S. I never got the email about applying for housing. Going through the Admitted Students Site was the first I heard about it. 

Hey there, i've contacted the office as well and they got back to me saying that FinAid comes in later this month. If you look at the FinAid page on the admitted students site there is more info on that. For specifics, I'm sure the FinAid office will specify by which date you will be hearing back.

[Lee Kuan Yew School (LKY School), National University of Singapore (NUS)]

3 hours ago, Ardent_PhD said:

And my  Admission Status is N.A.

What is yours?

Same, I don't think this will have changed for anyone...

[Lee Kuan Yew School (LKY School), National University of Singapore (NUS)]

9 minutes ago, Ardent_PhD said:

What is the status of you guys right now in the internet portal?

Mine just "physical application verified"

Yep, same and it's been that way for a while...

[Lee Kuan Yew School (LKY School), National University of Singapore (NUS)]

1 minute ago, MPA hopeful said:

I only sent one before and I got a generic response. Then I asked about when results will be out after my interview and the interviewer answered (wearily) that interviews are still ongoing. 

I really hope all of us here will get in. I feel that my interview wasn't easy, not based on the questions, but how it was being asked...I felt like the interviewer was trying to rattle me. 

DId anyone check if their status on the application website changed after the interview?

Thanks MPA hopeful, find it strange and concerning that of the very few e-mails I have sent out have not received any replies at all. Certainly don't feel like my interview was easy either and hope we all get through fine too. Can tell you from checking status right now, nothing has changed. Best of luck to all of us, hang in there!

[Lee Kuan Yew School (LKY School), National University of Singapore (NUS)]

Random question for all, have you guys found it difficult to receive responses from the admissions office? 

Sent off various e-mails with specific inquiries and rarely get a response. Thanks!

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

11 minutes ago, ChocChoc said:

Thank you seaglass0025! Whether it is likely for me to attend or not depends completely on the funding  When it comes to your concerns about the reputation of Hertie, I think it's been improving enormously and more and more people know about it in the field (just take a look around Grad Café).  Now, in your case, do you plan to work in the US or in Europe? I'm saying that because I heard so many times from graduates that the most valuable thing a school can offer is its network. I presume Hertie's network will be mostly in Europe and that most graduates end up working in EU countries.  

Ahh I see, what other schools are you considering at the moment? 

Well, I eventually want to return to the US but would be open to the possibility of working abroad a few more years. That being said, the reasons why I decided not to apply to US schools are that the tuition is astronomical (often times twice as expensive) and want the international experience. 

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

8 hours ago, be409 said:

Wooooohoooooo, finally the wait is over!!!!! I got accepted to the MPP as well. After having heard nothing during the past weeks, I contacted the admissions office today and tadaaa, two hours later I got the mail saying I'll be in the class of 2018. What's quite surprising though, is that I didn't got accepted for the MIA (which I thought, is still inferior to the MPP). Never mind, I got my first choice and I am going crazy right now. So excited to be a part of this. I will have to wait on an answer on funding though - but I am gonna make it work somehow. I will not let this chance go away - classic YOLO. So excited to see you fellow guys later this year. Cheers!

Congrats be409! You must be so relieved, bask in the glory! 

Find that odd too, thought the MIA was a newer program so easier to get into but anyway win-win for you~

[Hertie School of Governance 2016]

6 hours ago, ChocChoc said:

Got in! I have to wait for funding decisions though!  . Did you get the info about the 25% tuition waiver right away together with your email of acceptance? It just because it says in my email that decisions regarding scholarships will be sent in another email. 

Congrats!! Like your letter explains, funding comes in a separate letter/email. It took approximately another week or less for the school to forward that information. I'm sure it won't be too long now.

Is it likely you will be attending?