Jae B.

^… This! Do you really think your friends can tide you over for 4 - 5 years in a problemed department? Definitely consider how much debt you would go into for UCONN vs. your opportunities after lessening your debt teaching for a year. Is there a way you can get a year's deferment for UCONN, to test your prospects a year from now and see if their department shores up? I guess another consideration is, if you choose to teach, what happens if you get offered another teaching position (or related job) a year from now? Would you still reach for your PhD goal? Timing is important.

Clean cut

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for. However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for. Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement. For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school. Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going! In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance. If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication. Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.) This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right? Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment. It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps. Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

Dumb struck

Congratulations on such awesome acceptances! As an undergraduate at Berkeley, I have to vouch for GSPP. I really admire the program; the faculty is amazing and the grad students (great GSIs! -- definitely TA to offset your costs) are top notch. Their research projects are really impressive, and I only wish I knew more. I've tried to spend as much time at the school as possible, and I know my policy-buff peers have, as well! The minor offered at the school is quite popular among us. That said, the school is calm, quiet and welcoming. It has a great location on the campus' North side, the side grad students prefer because it's away from the undergraduate hubbub. At least in the San Francisco Bay Area, GSPP is very highly regarded in terms of public policy analysis. I see the Dean, Henry Brady, on the news frequently, and Professor Robert Reich offers commentary often. In some ways, GSPP is the public face of UC Berkeley. If I choose to continue my education at Berkeley (at the Journalism school, also North side), I'll definitely be taking classes at GSPP! It's my favorite graduate program at Cal, second to my own.

I think Craigslist is okay. I've seen some of my friends use it successfully. Check out the Berkeley Co-ops -- they have some graduate student housing: http://berkeleystudentcooperative.org/ May is probably way too early to figure out housing. Generally, most housing comes available late summer for Fall semester. Otherwise, you'd be expected to pay in advance. During my admissions info session, an administrator said some people "just show up" with their stuff right before classes start! They find a place that day...or someone's couch to crash on. Someone in my program said, if people don't find a place to stay the first day, they just sleep in the grad school! Just to give you an idea of how late people secure their housing. I didn't believe it at first, either, but late summer is usually the earliest time.

I love my chosen career path. But if I were starting over again, I'd give biology a chance. Also, I would finish my art history A.A. degree, finish my minor in public policy, and I'd speak Spanish proficiently by now. I guess there's still time for me to learn parkour.

My quickest acceptance was in two months, a little ahead of the time-line the school had proposed for the admissions process. It was nice because I was genuinely surprised to hear from them! Other students were hearing at the same time, though. My other school stuck to their three month admissions process.

Wow! I wondered about that! But I'd think your dedication should help your application, not hurt it.

My school has department funds set aside for that...so everyone enjoys a free meal! I worried first, too. It's a very nice change from undergrad -- I remember paying a pretty penny for lunch at a prospective student orientation!

I applied to the magazine programs. My major interest is in community-level reporting. My focuses are becoming a better, more efficient writer, and secondarily improving my multimedia skills. I plan to work in the San Francisco Bay Area. For me, the decision (other than financially) is between staying in a place I love or venturing out into a place I'm interested in. I've always wanted to go to New York, and there isn't a better J-School there than Columbia. Gaining street smarts in New York and a fresh perspective on city life could be a very valuable experience. A major consideration for me is whether I will learn more inside or outside of my comfort-zone. I'm gently leaning towards Berkeley. The financial aid package there would be a big help to me; I'm set for the first year as long as I work this summer, and looking good for the second year, too. Berkeley's program is so impressive, including the people in it and the work they do. Being someone a little burnt-out on undergrad, the more my graduate program feels like a real job, the better -- Berkeley's three local newsrooms do not disappoint! I'm a little concerned with how much Columbia's program is going to feel like the lecture --> homework cycle again, even if the "homework" is reporting. Berkeley's welcome week was a nice opportunity to connect with current students, and I've had more opportunities just because I currently attend Berkeley for undergrad. Having Berkeley as both my undergrad and graduate school is another consideration for me. Normally, I would think diversifying is better. I haven't had as many opportunities to connect with Columbia people, would not be able to visit the school before attending, and honestly can't decide anything until I see their financial aid offering. That said, their graduates have landed some pretty impressive jobs. Because of my interest in writing, Columbia's program may be best for me. But as a complete web geek, I could not help getting excited about Berkeley's multimedia emphasis. And their program is flexible enough to let me write and develop my web production skills. I definitely have more questions to ask Columbia people! Have you gotten to connect with many graduates, and are you going to the admit events?

Applied and accepted to Berkeley and Columbia, magazine concentration. Ditto -- hearing financial aid from Columbia will be extremely important! I'm kind of hoping financial aid makes my decision for me. Otherwise, this is going to be a tough one.

As someone considering both schools straight out of undergrad, my perspective actually isn't much different. I assume you applied to Columbia's M.A. program, though. Berkeley seems geared towards providing an environment where you can add skills, so you are ready to do more, different things, and be more competitive in the general job market. Columbia's M.A., from what I've read, is more about you working on one reporting topic in-depth, to develop a specialty. So, are you interested in being more flexible as a reporter, or specializing in a particular type of reporting or topic? If your major interest is in multimedia, it seems to me that Berkeley is really focusing on that, and Columbia is still emphasizing writing and adding multimedia on the side. Look at the online work of the students, and judge who is doing a better job yourself. Some things I've heard talking to current and former students: At Berkeley, at least in the past, the second year of the program could be slow. That could be a plus if it gives you time to put yourself back on the job market (and I do think Berkeley students have more opportunities to work while in school), or a minus if you're just looking for stuff to do. But if you do work as you finish your master's thesis, you should be pretty busy, gauging from the schedule of one second-year that I saw! At Columbia, the whole program goes by really fast. One successful grad told me you can't bet on being able to enjoy Manhattan, since you'll be so busy the whole time -- a little disappointing for me, also a lifelong West-Coaster. An Ivy does open doors (I see Columbia graduates in very good jobs -- not so sure about Berkeley grads, who seem more open to freelancing), but some employers still seem hostile to graduate degree-holders, regardless. I'm keeping in mind that Columbia is carrying some baggage in certain sectors for being an uppity "liberal" school. It may not matter to you, but I am a little sad they have gotten pigeonholed. I'm definitely not saying Berkeley isn't liberal, but they have a bit of a fresher reputation. Regarding the cost of the programs, I still don't know my financial aid for Columbia, but I could very well graduate from Berkeley debt-free -- something extremely valuable to me! I'm also planning on working in the SF Bay Area, so I'm not too concerned about employers not having heard of Berkeley. But if I were thinking of moving anywhere else in the near future, Columbia would probably get more points. Are you also considering the size of the programs?

It could likely mean you are waitlisted. One of my schools asked for my decision A.S.A.P. because other students are waiting to hear if they have a spot. Way to make someone feel lousy! If financial aid notifications haven't gone out yet, that can seriously slow things down for you. Who wants to decide before they know what their financial aid is? I'm not sure if there's anything you can do, but I guess I'd brainstorm ways to potentially move to the top of the waitlist. I'd call again. Good luck!

I know how that feels! One of the schools I was accepted to has been very personal and welcoming. I'll feel crummy if I choose the other.

Not your fault! A real nightmare would be fearing somehow you'd not finish a thesis on time! You're so lucky you're already done. I'm still working it. If -- in some weird circumstance -- said dream school mentions it, just offer to let them read your thesis. Win.

wetfeet.com is pretty good.

Some of the best schools don't even require GRE scores, so they should be less decisive in admissions. I skipped a bunch of GRE-requiring schools I hoped to apply to because, as soon as I started studying for the test, I realized how much time it would cost me to do well!

Wow! Did you get a refund on your transcript mailing fee? I once spent my last $15 on a second copy of transcripts that "must have been lost in the mail" (I don't know about you, but I've never had mail get lost before) for a scholarship, but at least you had proof your school messed up!

Hmm. I think it would be fine to ask just like that. You can be enthusiastic but say you're concerned about settling in at their school, rather than making a comparison to other schools' funding offers. Tell them you'd like more assistance. Not terrible at all. I'm still waiting for one of my financial aid packages, but if I were to consider going there I would definitely need some relocation assistance!

As I've heard before, they wouldn't have picked you for the program if it weren't right for you, if they weren't going to like you, and if you're not ready for the level of work. Feel confident about that. Silence the voices of doubt and try to look forward to this! I try to picture myself graduating and how it will feel. My mantra is pretty much, "I can do this work, and soon enough it will be successfully done." A finish-line perspective. Try to connect with people you know will help you now, so you can feel you have support. I'm a little nervous because most people accepted to the schools I'm deciding between have way more experience in the field than I do. But I'm looking at this as a great way for me to gain the experience I lack, and to learn from my more-advanced peers. I'm not sure I'll be able to get a decent job in my field immediately after graduation. But if I can't find one after grad school, I doubt I could find one now! I'm most worried about built-up stress. I'm graduating from undergrad this semester, and I guess it's selfish but I would love some downtime this summer -- to relax, chill, de-stress, recuperate -- before heading into grad school. But I definitely need to work. This makes two years of go-go-go that's about to become three or four. Might not be a lot for some people, but I feel like it's a lot for me.

Ditto the TA / RA suggestion. Find out how difficult it is to become one after your first semester, or at least by your second year. You might not have to loan as much as you think. Have you called and asked about funding? Tell them you would love to attend, but no funding makes it very challenging for you to do so. Make sure there is nothing else they could qualify you for, including outside fellowships they may award. Aim for at least a first year fellowship, to cover you until you can become a TA or RA. Have you searched for outside funding yourself? Might not hurt to try, especially if you have some work to submit. Make sure you apply to get the interest held on any federal student loans you have from undergrad. At least that's one benefit. Assess what your employment outcome will be after this degree, figure in the loan payments you already have, and then see what room you'd have for masters degree loans. How likely is it that you will be able to find work in an adequate amount of time with a higher earnings status? In my case, it is not wise for me to take out loans (journalism) even though a masters is pretty much the terminal degree for the field. But it might be different for you.

Good to know the tax rules don't change from undergrad to grad financial aid! I would change my state residency if I were moving for five years. Unless you get some kind of housing benefit for being out-of-state, but that's more likely for international students. I'm sure there are certain benefits for being a state-resident, instead. Maybe after a few years it will make you eligible for more fellowships or aid, if you're interested in it. The kind that require state residency for x number of years. At least it makes voting easier. 'Cause, you know, voting is important! But, seriously, I always wonder if mailed ballots really get counted. (Even more than I wonder if in-person ballots do.)

Exactly. A first year fellowship is great, and I think it's a pretty normal, since they usually don't want you to work during your first semester, and generally are more receptive to hiring second-years. Therefore, the school's primary concern is your first year, and worries about the rest once that's covered. Perhaps the school can qualify you for further aid -- or you can apply for more -- now or later on. In my case, one school attained second-year aid for me more than two weeks after sending my initial offer. It would be worthwhile to find out how difficult it is to become a TA or RA at each school you're interested in, to help with your decision.