ThinkingAboutPhd

I'm currently enrolled at a Masters program at a state school in the U.S. (turned down a top 5 program because I didn't want to go straight to Washington - I wanted to get involved in smaller creative projects). My degree is community planning and development and I'm getting involved and plan on working in environmental policy. The program has been well above my expectations so far and I've been presented with great opportunities. So I'm starting to think about a PhD, specifically the DPhil in Geography and the environment at Oxford. I'm wondering if any U.S. residents have attended this program or been accepted. Is it very competitive (I graduated undergrad with a 3.89 w/ honors and my current MA GPA is also 3.89)? What did you write your research proposal on? Was your Masters work directly related to your DPhil research? Are you worried at all about finding work in the U.S. when you are done? Are most people from the U.S. there from top programs? Did you get funding? Anything you can say would be really helpful! I want to do my research in the UK because of the different perspective there on sustainable agriculture and technology. Thank you!

I found it on the accepted students page, but i bet it is in on the financial aid page

I emailed about financial aid (need-based, the merit-based has been given out) and they said that they will be putting packages together in April. They actually said that you might not hear about your financial aid before April 15th, when you had to make a decision. I thought that was completely absurd. They said they could give me some preliminary breakdown, which I said yes please to, and then they informed me that I had not submitted my FAFSA. Well, I double checked because I completed it in early February and sure enough i HAD completed it AND sent it to the Heinz school specifically. So now I'm worried that they are disorganized. Also, I sent the second financial aid app (not FAFSA, the one through the school) a little late as well because I did not know about it either (again, disorganized department) and they said it was fine (I'm guessing because they are not doing anything with them until the beginning of April). I got a merit scholarship and that certainly helps, but the school is very expensive and with the economy the way it is and no guarantee for a job it would be stupid of me to choose a school that is almost twice as much as other programs. Don't get me wrong, I'm torn. Heinz MSPPM is ranked 4th in the country (Harvard's MPP is ranked second, even though the school is ranked first, to put it in perspective) so I know what I would be turning down. But I know I'm going to work hard and do something interesting no matter where I go and I don't want to accept admission and then not get aid. Hopefully the admit weekend will help me make a decision.

Anyone know when Heinz is giving out their need-based aid? They gave their merit scholarships out with acceptances.

From my experience few places are more laid back than California. Especially when you compare it to Chicago winters... This past summer my mom said to me that women always under estimate their worth - your guy should feel lucky to have you. If you got into such a great program, at 22, it sounds like you are quite a catch. So don't settle.

Harvard is known for giving out money to those that have financial need. They don't want to lose quality students because they can't afford it. As far as fellowships go, I think they have a fixed number. You had to apply for most of them, they were listed on their scholarships/financial aid website. The deadline is passed if you have not already done it.

Last year they did send out a bunch of decisions on the 22nd even though it was a Sunday - if you search the results page you can see.

I was wondering about 2010 admit stats as well. Also, does anyone know their anticipated notification day for admission decisions? Am dying to know...

Received an email directing me to the application page about an hour ago. Was accepted. Spent the last half hour calling and texting everyone I know! Good luck to people still waiting!