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Anyone else applying to Point? Any semi-finalists or finalists here or elsewhere have any advice? 300-word essays are not my strong suite...

I think you should look instead to current students work and see how you compare. I went briefly to a selective arts undergrad and honestly think ego must get in the way of good applications cause our admit rate was low but still saw a wide range of quality in incoming students

Sorry full grump bucket in effect last night. Let me re-frame, I don't think I could personally live on that amount for a year, even with my partner's help. SSA sent me a holiday card today by email- which was so very nice of them, and also a little terrifying that I would have an email this soon.

I have a big issue with Americorps and the lack of of a living wage. I hear you're allowed to take outside employment now but 1300-1800/month is pretty harsh for full time work, and seems to encourage service-tourism from people of privilege versus developing leadership in the communities most affected.

Now that apps are in I'm trying to brainstorm my "plan b" (these wheels just don't stop spinning). I'm in a good corporate job but I would still very much like to relocate- maybe I could try to get some experience in the field with a 1st level addictions counselor certificate? Do overnight supervision work for very little $? What would you do if you had to wait a year or apply to lower tier programs?

If you have time the book "Graduate Admission Essays: Write Your Way Into Graduate School of Your Choice." was extremely helpful to me in my essay. There's poignant examples, pointers, exercises, etc.

I submitted for UChicagos early deadline. Should hear by February 15th- though it looks in results that people heard as early as mid January. Waiting begins!

Also CASA volunteering, if you have another skillset or position that pays better than some of these positions and want to get the experience.

If you dont have the human services work experience, I think its better to get academic references. Instead of telling your third recommender "never mind", you could just ask a 4th person and keep their letter on deck or possibly submit it in addition. I think its wise to ask at least one extra person in case somebody flakes, anyhow.

Just realized I forgot a college in my own city. Metro State University of Denver is offering an MSW as of a few years ago, and I believe colorado is one of those weird states where you can get in state your 2nd year.

My list for this was all southwestern schools- some of which had tuition exchanges with my state making it much better, but basically every program in New Mexico is pretty affordable, as well as ASU. Factoring in cost of living makes AZ and NM even better... Too bad my partner is a committed urbanite...

I was told this was how they make their funding decision, so its a mini-fafsa so to speak I tried to be ethical and honest: I have a certain amount saved, plan to work, and then the remainder will be financed. I included grants I was applying to to show I that I am very sincerely in need of aid and have a realistic and mature understanding of how to finance my graduate education. I ventured that unlike the FAFSA where you want your number to be 0, you want to show you are actively looking for aid, leveraging all of your resources, and still have substantial need. But that was my approach. I might get bitten for it, we'll see.

Definitely! I have no food service or retail on my "comprehensive resume" I had enough weird "helping professions" / activism experience to flush it all out. I was in undergrad from 2008-2014 and My resume goes all the way back to 2009. Not all those lines got 2 bullet points, some got three.

I really recommend Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher that gives solid examples of how people integrate personal history into their statements. For something separate I would recommend still treating it like a cover letter and not a tell all. I also have many intersecting identities and a complex family history (I'm trans, my parents are addicts... etc.) and getting it all in the essay feels like far too mutch. I'd pick whatever you can pivot off of to sound prepared for graduate education / appropriately humbled. Something like "My greatest accomplishment is my sobriety." Is not a terrible thing to say. Just set targets for what you want this essay to do or add to your application and then put your experiences around it?

I personally do not. If it were a family friend, sure. But an actual family member's opinion literally will not matter- they have an obvious conflict. Pick a professional who knows you but maybe not the field?

UChicago SSA asks for a "Comprehensive Resume." I believe this is similar in that you are stating basically everything you have done- all the internships, volunteer positions, etc. Multiple bulletpoints getting all your brag points. I thought of mine as almost a miscellaneous section to my application.

I would say its worth it to apply to big names that have lower $ payouts. Theres a continumum from like Duct Tape Prom Dresses Scholarship.com (This is an actual thing for Undergrads)<----> Rhodes. If you're a fit and it doesnt give full rides and multi year fellowships, you should apply. Also while applying to schools, you may gain some additional insight for how to sell yourself/experience and apply it to additional scholarships/grad applications. Best of luck

I would say take extra courses to develop your writing/professional/other skills. Dont take them for easy grades- the impact is likely to be minimal. Better to improve yourself in areas with greater impacts if you have extra time- language ability, internship, etc.

Candidates that express sincere interest are likely to attend if accepted. So her motive may be to have you apply, accept you, and know that you are a definite point in her yield- which they are motivated to protect. Also a newer school may have a greater interest in this. I agree to try to ignore the mind games, I cannot think of any real motivation for a school to put that much effort into you and then reject you. They are salespeople 1st, but its not that complicated.

It is certainly overwhelming! I dont know if we could verify your gpa as it would depend on the number of credits you took for each program. For those required pre-reqs, they likely dont have to be submitted prior to your application- you just have to finish and pass it to keep your "provisional admittance"... I'd check with the admissions folks but this is typically the case. I'm in a similar boat in that my history degree means I dont have enough social/behavioral sciences for a lot of the public (and cheaper) programs...

If you miss having any breaks or vacations, maybe don't start grad school yet. If its possible later, you could take that month long vacation first to decide what you need right now? Good luck. I'm 3 years out of undergrad now, its a difficult decision to leave the work force, I'm also concerned life will catch up to me and I wont have the time for grad school if I wait much longer.

Hi I'm looking UChicago, Loyola as well as Temple and some others. My partner is very specific about where he's willing to live so I will also maybe add some online programs and relocate with him anyway if at the end of the application season if plan A doesn't work out. Just made my check list to get crackin' on Applications