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dollybird

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  1. Upvote
    dollybird got a reaction from DaveMaynard in Has anyone heard from CMU Heinz (MSPPM Pittsburgh?)   
    I was getting so nervous and sad but I just got the email saying I'm in at Pittsburgh with 90% funding. Phew! And blown away by that amount!
  2. Upvote
    dollybird got a reaction from Garcia in Michigan Ford 2017   
    @Garcia That's a good question. I can't put my finger on it, but it's probably a combination of things. LBJ's class is 70% from Texas, and Michigan's is 70% from out of state. Michigan awards aid to 68% of the class vs. 37% at LBJ (stats I think I found on their websites but who knows if they've changed). I've only spoken to one LBJ alum who is in law school now, but I've spoken to two Michigan students who both have outstanding credentials. And then reading about how established/old Michigan's program is and their website gave me such good impressions. And isn't Michigan better known/higher ranked as a University? (understanding that that doesn't mean their MPP programs would correlate) I could be wrong. The Peterson's info is comforting!
  3. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to Garcia in Chicago Harris   
    There was an option to indicate on the registration form whether you were interested in attending a class on Thursday. I didn't do it but I'm assuming they'll follow up with those who do.
  4. Upvote
    dollybird got a reaction from Garcia in Michigan Ford 2017   
    I'm in love with Michigan. I want to study social policy and work closely with social work and business students. I also like the idea of staying in the Midwest, closer to my family. I had to email with them yesterday about something and they said "mid-March." Probably want to set expectations low re: the release date.
  5. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to ajak568 in Duke MPP 2015 hopefuls..?   
    No prob! I'll copy and paste what I wrote in the "AM I COMPETITIVE" thread awhile back. My stats are not anything super special, but I'm thinkin maybe the fact that I'm a returning Peace Corps Volunteer helped. (Duke has fellowships for returning Peace Corps Volunteers.) Here's the post:
     
    Hey y'all! I wanted to post, too, to get some feedback. I think I could get in some places, but I don't know if that's false confidence. Whaddya you guys think? What are my odds? ALL criticism is more than welcome, people. I want to get into a good policy analysis program that can give me a strong international focus. My dream is to get into the Foreign Service after completing an MPP/MPA. I'll also be applying for a Pickering. (Think I could be competitive for that? Any of you guys have ANY IDEA how competitive it is to get a Pickering?) If there are schools that I missed that would also fit well with the program I just loosely described, please give me shout and let me know! Good luck to all of you!
     
    Applying for Fall 2015 to: Goldman MPP (UC Berkeley, top choice), Ford MPP (UMichigan, I would also be very happy here), Maxwell (Syracuse, MPA), WWS (Princeton MPA), Harvard (HKS MPP)
     
    Undergrad: UNC Chapel Hill 2012
    Major/GPA: Spanish/International Studies double major, Chinese minor
    GPA: 3.54 (distinction)
    GRE: Verb- 163 (91%)
              Quant- 161 (83%)
              Writing- 5.5 (96%)
     
    Languages: Spanish (fluent, advanced), Mandarin Chinese (intermediate)
     
    International Experience: Southeast Asia (study abroad Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Summer 2009), Spain (study abroad, Spring 2010), China (study abroad summer 2011), Panama (Peace Corps 2013-present)
     
    Coursework: I've taken coursework in single and multi-variable calculus (back in the day as an undergrad), statistics (even longer ago. . .but I got college credit for it and it's on my transcript so it counts, right?) and economics (intro, calc based micro, international, developmental). And, ya know. . .international studies type classes that are less technical and maybe less relevant to mention here. I've also been taking some online calc and macroecon policy courses to brush up since I've been in Peace Corps and haven't been using my academic brain as much.
     
    Work experience: Really my only relevant experience would be my current Peace Corps service (I'm mid-service, one year under my belt, will have finished my second year before my degree program would start). I'm an Education Volunteer in Panama and I'm also involved in several gender/women's/youth development initiatives and HIV/AIDS awareness activities. Nothing too technical, but I'll be trying to sell it for all it's worth in my SOP!
     
    SOP/Personal Statement: Working on these. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to mention to you all here.   I want to be an FSO. I also have interests in education policy and immigration policy (more or less in that order). More than anything, like I said earlier, I want a program that is strong in policy analysis, has an international focus, and is very practicum-based rather than theory/thesis-writing focused. I gotta little bit of a sob story about some obstacles I've overcome, but I don't want my personal statement to sound like a sob story, so if you have tips on how to strike that balance, please let me know!
     
    Recommendations:
     
    *Pretty well-known political science professor from my undergrad days. I haven't talked to him in about a year, but he knows me pretty well and we've had a relationship all throughout undergrad, so I'm confident I could get a pretty good recommendation from him. I'm thinking this recommendation could speak to my academic merits.
     
    *A pretty senior Peace Corps staff member here in the office in Panama. My idea for this recommendation is to have a rec that speaks to my work experience.
     
    *A staff member at Community School of the Arts, where I was once a student and have been volunteering for years ever since. There's a program director there that jokingly calls my sisters and I her daughters, so I'm wondering if that relationship may be too familial for a good recommendation? My idea with this recommendation was to get a rec that speaks to my committment to public service.
     
    Alright y'all. Thanks for reading my novel of stats, here. Any advice you all have would be more than welcome. If there's anybody that's up for trading personal statements and statements of purpose, I am always looking to peer-edit. I'd like to get some feedback before my essays hit the desk in admissions at Berkeley and Michigan, so I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine.

    Paz y amor, chic@s!
    Aja
  6. Upvote
    dollybird got a reaction from sleeplesswithcoffee in UT LBJ 2017   
    @Garcia -- I have not received a letter yet, just an MPAff acceptance email that said I would receive formal information, including news on funding, later. Hopefully that means I got something. Now I am quite anxious. I got into Harris as well, with a 1/4 scholarship offer. Are you planning to attend the admitted students' day?
    @sleeplesswithcoffee -- LBJ's biggest downside for me is the program's prestige/name recognition. I went to a less prestigious undergraduate institution and have worked at places with no name recognition since then, so I want to beef up that aspect of my resume. I doubt it has many implications for my future job search, though. Beyond that, the cons are few for me! I agree that the city is a great "lab" and the school's value seems unbeatable. I'm also interested in working at a foundation or in private gov't affairs, and alumni seem to be successful in those areas. I'm not sure I can afford to attend the admitted students weekend.
     
  7. Upvote
    dollybird got a reaction from Garcia in UT LBJ 2017   
    Wanted to update everyone by sharing that I received my full acceptance and funding letter via email late tonight. There's an Admitted Student's Day/Weekend schedule, for Saturday, March 25. Haven't received anything in the mail. MyStatus still says "In Review." Good luck to everyone else! Hope the wait is over or over soon!
  8. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to Garcia in UT LBJ 2017   
    Same, except for MPAff. I assumed that because it said, "your admissions offer does not include one of the limited fellowships" that meant I wasn't being offered funding. 
    Did anyone get a letter with different language about funding?
    I got into Chicago Harris with half tuition. Texas is still less expensive but they're both in my top three. However, if Harris seems more interested in me ( Texas offers no funding), I'll stick with Harris.
  9. Upvote
    dollybird got a reaction from sturdyelm in Hopes, Dreams, Guesses (2017 Gov. Affairs)   
    I love this idea and would respond in full, but I have almost exactly the same thing to say! I applied to very similar programs. Want to get a half scholarship from at least one. Dream is to get a full ride or 75% from one of the top 4 (out of 6 applied to). And who am I to guess?!  "I'm expecting at least one acceptance with some level of financial aid." That is all I'm allowing myself to expect at this point as well. This month or so of waiting is awful!
  10. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to sturdyelm in Hopes, Dreams, Guesses (2017 Gov. Affairs)   
    I saw this in a different subject area and loved the idea! Especially while we are all mostly just waiting it out now with competitive/aid deadlines passed or coming up on Feb 1. So what are you hopes, dreams and guesses for admissions/aid? I guess you should also state which type of programs (MPP, MPA, IR)  and schools you applied to, but let's avoid gpa, gre scores, work experience etc., specifics (keep it for the results thread!) and focus on our hopes and dreams to keep the overall positivity. Can't wait to hear everyone's dreams! 
    Applied: MPP - Duke Sanford, UMichigan Ford, Brandeis Heller, Georgetown McCourt, UMass Amherst SPP, Northeastern SPPUA
    HOPES: That I get into one school with at least half tuition scholarship.
    DREAMS: That I have offers with decent financial aid from my top schools (Duke Sanford and Brandeis Heller) making my decision difficult and really allowing me to be able to choose the school that would best serve my focus well.  Lots of factors to consider so not banking too much on my dreams. 
    GUESSES: I don't want to jinx myself, but considering my overall package and the variety of schools I applied to, I'm expecting at least one acceptance with some level of financial aid.
  11. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to sturdyelm in Fall 2017 Admissions Cycle   
    As I am finishing up applications and already getting antsy, figured I'd actually make myself visible on this forum instead of just reading secretly.
    Undergrad: Top 15 Liberal Arts College, 3.43 GPA, 3.61 last two years, Government Major Schools Applied to: Brandeis Heller, Duke Sanford, UMichigan Ford, Georgetown McCourt, UMass Amherst SPP, Northeastern SPPUA GRE: 161 V/ 157 Q /4.5 AWA Experience: will be 2 years post-grad before entering, working at an Education Legal Non-Profit. also various internships related to focus including attending UN Committee sessions for one internship. Lots of leadership activities for extracurriculars too.   I think I have my heart set on Heller because of my focus on Child & Family Policy, but Duke and Michigan are also great possibilities. As my spouse lives in Massachusetts doing a PhD, I applied to more schools in MA as a backup. Major concern is funding but I think I am a strong applicant with a great background and direct focus, including a good SOP and letters of rec (despite my slightly low overall GPA and lower than I wanted GRE scores). So it's now just waiting until March.... *Fingers crossed for everyone*
  12. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to raliq in Fall 2017 Admissions Cycle   
    I've submitted applications to LSE, King's College London (both for conflict studies), and Tufts Fletcher (MALD, applied EN), and I'll be submitting apps for American SIS (US Foreign Policy & National Security) & Georgetown SFS (MSFS) in January. 
    I just found out last week I was deferred until regular decision for Fletcher, and got a conditional offer to LSE this morning! 
    I'm applying straight out of undergrad with just under a 3.6 from NYU (political science), 166V/164Q/5AWA. Experience is limited to one relevant internship, but I have other extra-curriculars/work experience in undergrad as well. I also have somewhat extensive international experience, not working but growing up/study abroad. I know some of these schools are a stretch (lookin at Georgetown) but if I didn't take chances I probably wouldn't have bothered to apply for LSE either. 
    Since the department is so renowned in the field I think KCL would be my top choice- both UK schools are also significantly cheaper assuming no funding. 
  13. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to Minnesotan in Alcoholism and Grad School   
    There's a big transition one needs to make between undergrad and grad school. Most successful students make it. I know I can't drink more than once a fortnight, unless it's going to meet with an adviser and having a maximum of two beers while discussing school-related matters. Keep in mind, I used to go out every night after getting my homework done as a bachelor's student, and managed a perfect GPA. In grad school this is not possible (nor is it desirable).

    The first few days of orientation, and any visitation weekends you attended, might give you the false impression that your whole cohort goes out and gets sloppy after every meeting. You have to realize that beginning the term with such bonding rituals can serve an important purpose, but when the time for socializing is over, we all have to put our sober hats back on.
  14. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to RCtheSS in Fall 2016 Admissions Cycle   
    I wanted to bump this topic for any other Fall 2016 applicants lurking around! Also, I have an update to my original post...
    Favorite programs: I have (again and again and again) changed my list of programs to focus on dual MPP/MSW degree options. This will be my definitive list for the rest of the application cycle:
    UCLA
    University Chicago
    University of Michigan
    University of Minnesota
    University of Texas - Austin
    University of Washington
    What have you done up to this point to narrow down your choices?: Princeton, Duke and Cornell have excellent MPP/MPA programs, but I realized that having the MSW education is really important to me so I chucked the schools that didn't have the option! Now I'm on to sending out my GRE scores, securing my last LOR, and getting my resume and SOPs critiqued.
  15. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to chocolatecheesecake in Finalizing school list - some questions   
    Please apply to Sanford! Though we have a small cohort (60-ish people per class), it's very tight-knit. I can even refer you to a current second-year student who came from a career in finance (seven years as a trader on Wall Street)... =) I know it can be hard to tell from a website or a forum if you're going to fit in at a school or get what you want out of those two years. PM me if you want me to put you in touch with him!!
  16. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to MJA87 in Still Waiting? What is Your Top Choice?(Fall 2015)   
    Goldman is definitely my top choice. UChicago Harris used to be very close behind them, but I've heard some concerning things about that program recently and I think it's slipping down my list.
  17. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to SocratesTheMediocre in Don't take on debt   
    I can only speak for my experience, but word of advice:
    > went to a top school
    > "a graduate degree from Princeton/Yale, what could go wrong."
    > more than half the class can't get jobs in the field.
     > reminds me of everything I read about law school, turns out the stats are quite similar (and similarly doctored)
    > realize half the class is just there to fund the program
    > they actually paid students to post on these forums and help recruit
     
    Also, everything you learn you could teach to yourself with an internet connection and a decent amount of drive. 
     
    Save your money if you don't get a good offer. I wish I had. 
     
  18. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to StarkResilient89 in Decision..Decision... What's yours?   
    I'm on the fence right now between three schools: 
     
    Duke ($25k aid in total)
    Carnegie Mellon (Roughly $30k in scholarship aid)
    SUNY Albany Rockefeller (may qualify for a $6k scholarship, but the fact that it's about $25k total for two years, including room and board, makes this quite the attractive offer). 
     
    As it stands, it's really a choice between Carnegie Mellon and SUNY Albany. 
    Your thoughts? 
  19. Upvote
    dollybird reacted to RCtheSS in Macro/policy centered MSW vs. MPP/MPA w/social policy   
    I currently work in a national-level social policy advocacy organization, where policy directors and analysts have earned either an MPP/MPA or an MSW. After interviewing my colleagues over time, I chose to purpose the MPP/MSW dual degree option. As much as I like to engage in policy analysis, I also felt that I need to ground the top-down approach to this work with direct service-learning and clinical knowledge about the populations I wish to advocate for, and how they actually interact with safety net programs. I look forward to the opportunities to work directly with individuals, children and families in poverty to understand how interventions may help or hinder their well-being. 
    You can end up doing policy analysis and advocacy work with an MSW, but the social work path does come with certain career paths that wouldn't be as readily obtainable with just an MPP. I agree with the main points MD guy discussed, and second his advice about talking to people in the field(s) which you'd like to work in. I'd be happy to share more information if that would be helpful!
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