harpert1
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Posts posted by harpert1
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17 hours ago, AReelExpert said:
Hey everyone, I’m wondering if you all could share what feedback you’ve received from mentors or other PhD students on what’s most important when deciding what program to attend?
I appreciate all your answers thank you!
After a few conversations with my mentors and friends who are PhD students, the biggest theme that I heard was "faculty match" as the most important aspect when choosing where to go. This mentoring relationship will last even once you enter the job market and as you are becoming more established in the field and come up for promotions, etc. Also just having to spend so much time working on data collection and analysis, writing papers, attending conferences, etc. that you should be somewhere where the faculty interest closely aligns with yours and there are good vibes. The next biggest thing I heard was funding. Although stipends range from school and region, it is important to make sure that the funding is secured and that you feel you will not have to worry about finances too much. Although I really wanted to apply to UC Berkeley's program, I chose not to because I didn't want to try to live in the Bay Area making $30-something thousand a year (not that it's impossible but it jus wasn't my preference). Also, some schools provide "guaranteed funding" for four years while other schools provide it for five years, so that is also a consideration about whether someone would feel rushed trying to finish everything before funding runs out. Finally, I would consider looking at the program's strength and records. For instance: Where have recent graduates landed positions? Are these similar positions that you're interested in (i.e. mainly post-doc for TT professor or maybe most graduates are staying local to one state but you are trying to move across the country); also what are other supports such as helping to get teaching opportunities, conference workshop support, cohort diversity, etc. I would say really think hard about it as most schools have that April 15 deadline but of course if you are 100% sure you aren't going somewhere, don't forget about the folx on the waitlist who may benefit from haste!
Once I stopped typing I realized how long this response was haha. But I hope that something in here may be helpful.
- ArchieJones, AlexSW, hopefulPHDtobe and 2 others
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18 hours ago, Sephora said:
Hi Everyone,
I just received an offer from UIUC, very surprised and excited! Still waiting for other schools, BU, BC and Columbia.
Congratulations on getting an offer from UIUC! ??
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8 hours ago, HOP said:
I officially got the email at 1AM Eastern TIme! I got accepted to UC Berkeley's program! I'm most likely attending! Official email sent from the department! If you applied, I hope you hear back soon! My POI is K.O!
Nice! Two acceptances back-to-back at great schools. Congrats, again!
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On 11/10/2020 at 3:00 PM, AlexSW said:
Yes! I've been accepted to the PhD program at the University of Denver for Fall 2021. They had a very early application deadline this year. I'll be moving from Philly to Denver next summer with my partner!
Congratulations on this acceptance to Denver!!! This is such exciting news!
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On 5/5/2019 at 9:50 PM, kxhl said:
Hi everyone,
I graduate this Friday (well I'm walking the stage and I have 2 online summer classes to go) and I'm so nervous and scared for my future.
I really want to go to grad school to get my MSW but I am so burnt out from undergrad that I am taking a gap year. Also it was so expensive to apply to grad school. My bachelors of science is in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Latino/a Studies.
My dream grad school is University of Chicago but I am too afraid to apply or even apply to other schools. I'm so afraid of failure and rejection. I just wanted to know how and why you think you got accepted into those SW programs? I have done a lot of service and social justice activism/work in my undergrad, as well as being apart of many different orgs and having leadership positions. I just think my grades espeically senior year grades are not the best. I don't know my final grades but I'm hoping my GPA would stand at 3.0 or higher at the end.
The best advice that I could give you is: Everything will be fine, and it’s totally normal to be a bit fluxed after graduating from undergrad (congratulations!!!). A gap year is a good way to hone in on your focus and also take a breather from school; I would actually say take two years off to get some post-college experience, which can help differentiate you from other candidates. I would also recommend volunteering a little bit in addition to working full-time so that way you could vary up your recommendations and resume. I don’t want to be cliché when saying this but the adage is true: “The only way to fail is if you don’t try.” The worst that any school could do is reject you, and that would be fine, not finitely life altering, while conversely an acceptance could be life changing. I don’t think I did anything too special for admittance to grad schools; if you offer a compelling personal statement, have good recommendations and a solid resume, I’m sure most grad schools would love to have you. I’m attending UChicago SSA, and thinking of pursuing a PhD, so I hope to see you around on-campus someday, perhaps.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”
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On 3/11/2019 at 12:00 PM, MSW2019!! said:
Hi all!
I was wondering if any of you have any general insight about the School of Social Administration (AM program) at UChicago? Or if you can answer some of my questions based on your experience:
Why did you or why didn't you apply or consider UChicago?
What do you know about SSA?
General impressions of SSA?
Any drawbacks?
Anything helps!
Hello!
I applied to UChicago because I liked how their program focuses on macro social work with the social administration concentration. I’ve seen where lots of alumni have been able to transition into policy, government, and nonprofit jobs from this program at SSA, though I no little about the clinical side of the school. A huge piece at SSA that I’ve heard is being generally geared toward social justice issues and making learning applicable in the broader Chicago community. Depending on your career goals, if pursuing the social admin route, SSA could be a great place. SSA offered me the least money of all my offers but I chose to attend due to the quality of the program, professors, curriculum, and school reputation for macro. Also, Hyde Park is a very diverse, vibrant community that contributes to the learning environment as well. I know this isn’t a ton of information, but it’s all I know from talking to students and alum.
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On 2/10/2019 at 11:03 AM, katface said:
Hi everyone! I was admitted to UIC on 1/16, paid my enrollment deposit by 1/29 (due date) and received information about starting the field placement process on 2/4. I need scholarships so I paid the enrollment deposit and am finishing up their scholarship application (due by 2/15), but am still waiting on other programs, so I'm not sure I'll end up at UIC. Has anyone started the field placement process yet? If I end up at UIC, I don't want to start this too late for fear of missing out on my preferred placement, but I don't really know how long the process will take and don't want to secure a placement only to cancel my enrollment/pull out of placement in the end... Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
P.S. I was admitted to UM on 2/7 and am waiting to hear back from UW and BU still... I'm using this next step in life to also move away, so I likely won't accept UM and am hoping for either UW or BU... fingers crossed!
Congratulations on your acceptances!!! Fingers crossed for UW & BU, with good funding too. Amen!
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10 hours ago, ChiNative said:
Just got my reject email from UChicago. So bummed.
I am sorry to hear about this; I am sure that good news will come with the cycle!
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Hi everyone! I also did, in fact, receive a physical acceptance letter today from UChicago, and it was a very exciting feeling.
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20 hours ago, zoetrope said:
Did anyone else get the physical acceptance letter in the mail? I saw one person in this thread mention getting one. I haven't yet, just the portal acceptance and emails.
I have not received a physical letter yet either; I’m wondering if it was a different program or something. I live in Chicago so if it was mailed, it would have arrive same day. So I’m wondering if they will mail everyone a letter. However, I did receive a nice greeting card from SSA.
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3 hours ago, aet777 said:
I'm curious: How much scholarship money did those of you who were accepted receive? I'm curious what the range looks like this year and whether it would be reasonable to try to negotiate for more. I was given the Dean's Distinguished Leadership Award ($10,000 per year), as well as a $1,500 service award.
I'll likely accept my offer of admission, so I'll look forward to meeting those of you who choose to attend!
Just now, harpert1 said:I believe that the amount is renewable for the next year as long as the student remains in good academic standing.
Congrats on being accepted, especially with solid scholarships! Very much might see you both in the fall at SSA.
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1 hour ago, aet777 said:
Congrats on being accepted! Is that amount total or per year?
I believe that the amount is renewable for the next year as long as the student remains in good academic standing.
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1 hour ago, lunary said:
I received my physical acceptance letter the other day, and it said that this year was the largest and most competitive applicant pool that SSA has ever had. Congrats to everyone else who got in! I look forward to hopefully meeting anyone else who decides to attend.
Many congratulations on your acceptance!!! It’s always something special — for me at least — about having a physical acceptance letter in your hands, so I’ll patiently await mine.
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On 2/3/2019 at 12:03 AM, UrbanMidwest said:
OT (so I apologize for thread jacking): Yea, experienced the extreme cold (today was beautiful compared to Wednesday and Thursday). Hyde Park, eh? I have close family friends in Hyde Park and a godmother in Bridgeport. Chatham's a nice SS neighborhood; I'm actually considering buying a bungalow house there.
Nice; Bridgeport is a solid place as well. There are some nice bungalows in Chatham, though I’m probably going to get a place in the Jackson Park area (which is really up-and-coming, especially with its proximity to UChicago and the Obama Foundation). If you’d like to talk more in-depth, I’m happy to message you privately here to not derail OT too much.
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6 hours ago, UrbanMidwest said:
Another Chicagoan. What neighborhood/side if you don't mind me asking? I was born on the SS, then moved to the North Side, then back to SS (SW specifically).
Another Chicagoan indeed! Fortunately I’m not in this polar vortex with frost quakes, but if you are please stay warm! I was born on the SS, grew up in the Chatham area and then moved toward Hyde Park on Woodlawn (so I’d be able to walk to UChicago).
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1 hour ago, Capturedvitality said:
I got the short letter. Congrats to all that got in! My path is leading me onward somewhere else.
Thank you, my friend. Your path will lead you to somewhere great; and I hope to hear about it one day.
- doctormelody and zoetrope
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1 hour ago, MSWgirl2019 said:
Everyone go check your admissions portal! They updated my decisions document today at 5 pm, but they did not email me about it! It was just very lucky that I randomly checked
I also was accepted to SSA with a good scholarship so this actually makes the decision much more challenging! Good thing that we have until April to make that decision; so it’s possible we could end up in the same place.
- MSWgirl2019 and zoetrope
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8 hours ago, MSWgirl2019 said:
Congrats!!!! That's an awesome list! If you get accepted to UChicago with a generous scholarship package, would you pivot towards SSA?
Hopefully, tomorrow is the day we've all been long anticipating so you can finally make a decision ?
Thank you so much!!! I would definitely consider SSA more heavily with a generous scholarship, mainly since my family is still in Chicago and I was born and raised there so it would be nice to be back home. I also know some SSA alums in Chicago who are doing some really great things.
Hopefully today is the day! Yes. Lol. If not, they’ve guaranteed to inform us by February 15th so that day will move closer now.
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On 1/29/2019 at 2:15 PM, MSWgirl2019 said:
Congratulations!!! ? Can I ask where you've been accepted?
Many thanks!! So far, I’ve been accepted to UMichigan, Case Western Reserve, University of Illinois-Chicago and University of Illinois-Urbana. Top choice is Case.
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16 hours ago, Capturedvitality said:
I’m dying!
I’m also dying. I’ve actually heard back from every school except UChicago, so I will be able to make a final decision as soon as they hurry up. Haha.
Fall 2021 PhD in Social Work!
in Social Workers Forum
Posted
That's so exciting -- congratulations on choosing a great program!