sheriberi

Did anyone go to the Open House and glean any useful information that those of us who were unable to go may want/need to know? Thanks in advance! 

@E-P @bumbleblu Thank you both so much! Lots of great tips! I'm definitely gonna try feeding him in his carrier and getting him used to the travel harness. I also bought the Feliway calming spray but haven't tried it yet.
I'll give him an extra pet/cuddle

@E-P @bumbleblu Thank you both so much! Lots of great tips! I'm definitely gonna try feeding him in his carrier and getting him used to the travel harness. I also bought the Feliway calming spray but haven't tried it yet.
I'll give him an extra pet/cuddle

HGSE 2019 group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/730047760532118

Coming from the perspective of someone who spent their life moving to far-flung parts of three different countries (US, Italy, UK), moving always sucks. The month leading up is stressful, the first day there is exhausting, the first week lonely. However, people get how you feel and want to help you love their home. Because of the wonderful people I've met, I have NEVER lived somewhere I didn't hate leaving at the end. Culture shock exists, but as long as you approach every new situation as a chance to learn and experience another group's perfectly valid different way of doing things, you're going to have a really good time. Just take every day as it comes, say yes to as many events/hang-outs as you possibly can, and jump straight in as fast as you can. Actually move into your new place as close to the start of the first scheduled thing for school as possible. I've found it's better to have less time at the beginning to mope and be alone.
Also, pro-tip. People will know you're not local. Don't try to hide your accent or change the way you speak to sound local. You will probably end up confusing or offending people. I've found people really get a kick out of my obvious "not from here" accent/word choice. Don't over-exaggerate your accent, but embrace it, roll with the lighthearted teasing, and enjoy.
Seriously, moving somewhere new is hard, but it's rarely ever a bad thing.
PS: Skype/Facetime is your friend. Actually seeing your people from home will make you feel way less homesick than just calling or texting.
PPS: Keep the things that are part of your routine. For example, I have always spent a lot of time in coffee shops. They feel like home to me. So, every time I move somewhere new, I make sure to case out the coffee shops within the first week. Really can help you settle into a place if you keep your routine things. Bringing your dog should super help with this. 
PPPS: Unpack and go grocery shopping as soon as possible. You'll be tired and just want to crash, but trust me, the sooner you do the little things to feel more in place, the less you'll feel like your world's been turned upside down. 
PPPPS: Enjoy. This will be really good. Just go for it. 

Push through second thoughts and feelings of uncertainty. Do NOT self select yourself out of contention by getting squirrelly.
Someone is going to get offered admission to a graduate program at the University of Happyland. Why not you? 
Focus on putting your best self forward in each of your applications. It's your role to make committee members nod their heads and say, "Yes, this person will do well here."
 

I understand, @sheriberi! Traveling with cats is so stressful (but worth it!). Whenever you need to have your cat out of the carrier, just be sure to keep the leash around your wrist and have a good hold on your cat. 
Have you tried putting the harness on your cat yet? With my younger cat it works as a 'calming vest' by which I mean he basically stops moving until we take it off again. 

You also might consider doing some practice runs to see how he is.  If you can, take him to a shopping center or something in his carrier, or some other type of place with a lot of people.  Your doctor may also be able to give him calming medicine (I give my cat tiny doses of Xanax!) to keep him calm and relaxed.  Also, start feeding him exclusively in his carrier.  I do that with mine, and they're considerably less stressed out when it's time to shut the carrier door than they were before I started doing that.

As near as I can tell, the process for bringing a cat into the US from Egypt is way easier than bringing a cat into the EU from the US.  Here's a link:
 
https://eg.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/traveling-with-pets/
 
Basically, it sounds like you have to make sure your kitty is vaccinated and in good health, and get a document to that effect in English.  Then talk to your airline about their rules and regulations.  If possible, get an airline that will let your cat fly with you IN the airplane, rather than in luggage.
 
In terms of flying from California to Boston, you just have to call the airline in advance and pay a fee (last time I checked, it was $75 USD).  Again, you should be able to fly with your cat in the airplane.
Give your kitty a pet for us.  Or at least for those of us who have kitties too. :-)

@sheriberi I wasn't too worried about the plastic snapping, and one of my cats is very strong. Also, I don't think there was ever a time where I was really relying on that bit of plastic -- we carried them through security, and the rest of the time they stayed in their carriers. (Though of course we kept the leashes attached, just in case either of them decided to do a runner.) 
 

Good advice above on the rabies vaccine. Definitely something to look into and probably should be your first point of research. The vaccine and titer test is absolutely preferable to a quarantine, which would cause a lot of stress on you and your cat. 
 
I need regards to the actual trip, I am moving across the country (not abroad, but it's a long way) with my cat (7 years old). To me, she is my family and I would rather subject her to a day and a half of stress than have her be without me for two years. Assuming you feel the same way, I feel is worth it to move the cat unless they are very old. Decide if you want them in the cabin or in the cargo, and keep in mind that during peak summer and winter months most airlines require they be in the cabin with you due to it being very hot or very cold in cargo. I plan to purchase a soft sided, airline approved carrier (a small sized SHERPA carrier is a safe bet) and have a chat with the vet about sedation as my cat is high strung- if you don't feel comfortable with sedation, which I'm not sure if I do, there are calming sprays you can use in the kennel. As I understand it you will need to remove your cat from the carrier during security so have them in a harness and leash. Your vet will have information on feeding and watering during the trip, but generally cats under stress won't eat or use the litter box anyways so even for 8-12 hours they should be ok. More money for more direct flights is always worth it with a pet. Make sure they are used to the carrier before the trip by placing them in it and NOT going to the vet. 
Another thing to think about is finding a place that allows pets. Make sure if you're sharing a house or apartment your roommate(s) are ok with your pet and the responsibilities (I.e. Not leaving doors and windows open) with it. I personally will splurge for a bachelor apartment so we can have our own space. It may be a little more expensive or difficult to find a pet friendly place but in my mind, it will all be worth it when I'm settled into a new place with a familiar friend.
good luck!

So this post isn't really for me or for Heather... It's for anyone who is looking at these schools in the future. 
I ended up deciding on Stanford for the following reasons:
Coursework - Because my focus on the transition to college spanned both K-12 and Higher Ed, the POLS program offered me the greatest level of flexibility to study both. The cohort is focused on the whole continuum, and they end up working in a variety of sectors (charter, public, higher ed, nonprofit, etc.). Also, because Stanford operates on the quarter system, I have the opportunity to take a greater variety of coursework, essentially an extra semester's worth of classes. I felt like this was the best use of my time. Leadership - The focus on leadership through the POLS seminar was really attractive to me. During the Autumn quarter, the seminar is used to study different leadership theories, and in the Winter & Spring the seminar is used to put those theories into practice. All of that culminates in the POLS Project, which I think really demonstrates practical knowledge to a future employer. The director emphasized that the program was there for your personal development and growth, and his goal was to help you figure out what kind of leader you wanted to be in what kind of organization. General Atmosphere - The POLS program was just a great cultural fit for me. The director of the program, David Brazer, was very down to earth and eager to talk with us individually. Stanford definitely did not pull out the "bells and whistles" for prospective students. Some schools I visited were a little more flashy, and I appreciated that I didn't feel like I was being sold something. I just felt like I was in a community of helpful people. We had four different chances to interact with current students through a number of activities, and we had several reception/meals with current staff and faculty. Everyone was fantastic.  Funding - I had a slightly better financial aid package from Stanford, but the differences were pretty slight. Marriage & Travel - This will vary for everyone, but travel affected my decision. I am married, but my husband is going to remain at his current job in Texas and visit when he can. Flights to San Francisco were significantly cheaper, and weather conditions are not something we needed to worry about as much as Boston.  We also just loved the area - there was so much to do. I really enjoy hiking, and hiking up the coast was so beautiful. We're looking forward to enjoying nature when he comes up to visit Latino Issues - I am Mexican American, and the majority of students that I serve are Latino/a. While Stanford is still an elite and primarily white institution, the state of California, like my home base in Texas, is almost 40% hispanic. The flexible coursework gives me good opportunities to take a few courses specifically focused on latino student success, and the organization I choose to partner with on my POLS project has a good chance of being Latino focused. If anyone else in the future is really interested in studying latino success in education, I would also recommend UT Austin. It's a top 10 education program, has great latino research opportunities, and a really socially conscious and diverse faculty. It was really difficult to turn them down. I'm keeping them in mind for a Ph.D. I still think Harvard is an absolute dream - check out HGSE 2016's board if you want more information about the school. It really is an amazing option to have. There was no "wrong" choice. Many of the prospective students I met were thinking about both schools, and I presume we'll all fall in different places for different reasons. Ultimately, you just have to decide where you will be the most successful.

oh! I'm in the same boat too POLS or HGSE EPM! 

@sheriberi why are you leaning toward HGSE? EPM cohort is the largest at HGSE. Around 80+. Where POLS is around 30-35. Which I suppose can be both a good or bad. 

@sheriberi It’s hard to speak about the “difficult decision” when I realize it’s such a privileged position. I’m still trying to soak it all in. Yesterday feels unreal.
I think fit is key. I want to visit both schools for admit days/open houses. With that said, I can’t imagine not just loving both after visiting because these schools are incredible!
Stanford included a fellowship in my admit letter—I cried like a baby. Financial aid can prove very persuasive. And at this point, I’m really drawn to the small cohort size that @greenteagrad mentioned.
These are exciting times! I’ll PM you guys deciding between the two and hopefully we can share insight and experiences.

@gsehopeful Was feeling the same until I got my POLS acceptance just now too!
Good luck people!

Was feeling really discouraged knowing that people had heard back a few days ago but I got my POLS acceptance via email today! Good luck everyone!

Got into EPM! So stoked

EPM for me! Thanks for being a fun crowd as we waited! So excited!

Boarding. Godspeed to all. See you on the other side.

I'm anticipating a very dramatic drive home from work.

Thank God for this thread! Glad I'm not alone in this. Good luck everyone!

Happy March, guys!!

How’s everyone dealing with the anxiety? It was easier to be patient when the wait was months/weeks and now that it’s just days I’m having trouble thinking of much else! 
Also,  does anyone know if the phone calls scheduled for 3/2 are just for EPM? As in, the welcoming phone calls for the other cohorts will be made at another time?

Thanks for the info, @jsk32155! Anyone else have any other sources re: Phone calls on 3/2? This week already feels so long and it's only Tuesday!!!

2-3 more days guys!!!