matcha

Have you decided where you are going? Why did you make that decision?

The historic apartments can be very expensive, if in a good neighborhood. That town is crazy for historic buildings. There are some apartment complexes near the downtown area that are cheap, but I've never been inside. I would visit them first. There are tons and tons of apartment complexes made for college students near Purdue. Do some craigslisting. Most of my friends had roommates, but I think it is possible to live alone without blowing a ton of money. It just depends on your budget.

I grew up in Indiana, so I can sorta help with a perspective of Bloomington. Bloomington is close to 70,000 people, not including campus. The campus itself is BEAUTIFUL, with rolling hills and lots of green grass. It is in the more southern part of the state, so the winter isn't as harsh (still snows, though). The town is a very young, fun college town, with great restaurants and bars. It's pretty cheap to live there too. IU is very well respected by employers all over Indiana, and SPEA is a well-know program. I guess the question is, would you rather be in Indiana or Minnesota? I think you shouldn't have a problem with finding a NGO/Government/Private job in that same state- moving states might be more challenging. Unless you go to Harvard, jobs will be more available in the state of the state college. Rankings,SPEA is higher than HHH. I hope that helps a little.

You know, I realized I haven't received my "official" admissions letter- nor anything else from them! I think I'll be giving them a call to see what's up, because that's a little strange. Cornell has been banging down my door trying to get my attention.

I've been accepted by both a MPA and MPP. I'm trying to look at the strength of the program and where alumni have ended up. I think that connections are one of the most most valuable aspects of a program. If the program has alumni working in areas you want to work, there is a good chance you'll end up where you want to be!

I asked one of my favorite undergrad professors the same question. His response was "never take out money for a Masters." Now, I think getting farther in a field takes a masters, at the very least. So the question is: is that program worth the price? You have some fabulous programs on your accepted list! I would take time to make sure the program and career services department are worth the price. After all, with the right connections and opportunities, you will have not only a fantastic career but a salary that can handle some student loans.

I am focusing on social policies and education, so Brown is right up that alley! I haven't heard about any financial assistance yet- maybe I didn't get any? How did you find out?

I'm deciding between two small programs, Brown's Taubman Center and Cornell's CIPA. Any thoughts on those respective programs?

I grew up in Lafayette, although never went to Purdue (the whole running away from home thing). I would live in West Lafayette, simply because parking on or around campus is really awful. The buses in West Lafayette are pretty good, running frequently all over that side of town. The buses between Lafayette and West Lafayette are less convenient. Besides, everything you want is withing a few miles of campus. Great restaurants, bars, shopping, doctors offices... I would want a car for going to the mall, Chicago, and a few random places in downtown Lafayette. A side note: Bring snow boots and a down jacket. It gets cold in the winter. A fan is nice for the hot, humid summers.

I am currently planning on visiting my two top-choice universities. I'm a little nervous about making sure I see and do all the things that would be the most helpful in making my final decisions. What things did/will you do on your campus visits? What questions should I be sure to ask? What should I wear?

I grew up in Lafayette, which is only a hop across the river to West Lafayette. I hope my 18 years of experience in that area can be helpful! First, weather- Winters are cold and snowy. You will be walking a lot (it is a big campus, although not as spread out as IU and other colleges I've seen), so snow boots and down coats are a must. The summers are hot and humid. If you are in a dorm or apartment, I would suggest a fan for the bedroom. The winter lasts from the end of October until the middle of March. Sunny days are not unusual during the winter months, but it doesn't help warm things up that much. Transportation- The bus system is good. It is free for students and runs all the time. Parking is awful, so cars on campus are just a pain in the butt. Most things are within walking distance from campus. There are a TON of restaurants and fun things to do in and around campus. The only need for a car is to get to the mall (which is pretty decent), some doctors offices and Chicago. You can live near Purdue without a car, as long as you aren't afraid of walking a bit and taking the bus. Living- From what I've seen (I didn't go to Purdue), the apartments and dorms are very institutional, but nicely located. There are a lot of apartments near campus that look pretty nice. Just be prepared to walk a couple miles to class. Town- Good food, bars, and hang-outs. You can live comfortably on a very limited budget. No big clubs or anything, but Chicago is a three hour drive. Not the most beautiful campus, but there are some fun fountains and parks. All in all, I like West Lafayette. It has a lot of fun spots, restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alley's, etc... The winter is, well, winter. Unless you are going down south, you are going to face the white stuff. Those are my thoughts. I can ask any other questions about the town, as long as it doesn't have to do with the school itself. I moved as far away from home as possible for my undergrad. :-)