feralgrad

That sounds like a pretty standard waitlist procedure to me. I'd guess the program already accepted a 3rd applicant, but that applicant hasn't responded yet. If you're at the top of the waitlist your chances are decent, but applying to jobs is a smart move.

Many schools offer discounted health plans for both employees and students (I know PhD students may be considered employees, but not always). Try calling your school's human resources department, and don't hang up until your satisfied with their answers. If they're being vague, then they aren't doing their job. It may be uncomfortable, but you'll need to learn to advocate for yourself in order to navigate the American healthcare system (and keep in mind that as long as you're polite, people will usually want to help). I also found this article online that has a lot of helpful information, including some recommended providers if your school can't cover you. However, it is a sponsored article, so I'd recommend shopping around outside of what they recommend. Also, if you need to get insurance quotes, keep in mind that companies will ask for contact info in order to give you a quote. This is so their marketing team can pester you, which is annoying but harmless.

You can email someone in the program to ask; it's not an uncommon question at all. Since you're in a science field, you can also see where people from your school are being published. Some savvy googling should bring up articles from alumni, and from there you can see where they've gone on to work.

I don't think a second Bachelor's would be worth the time, money, and effort. You have several other options to improve your application. How are your grades in history? Many programs will focus on those. You can also mention your undergrad struggles in your SOP, and describe how you were able to overcome them and improve your GPA. I've also heard of people auditing courses, which can show your academic improvement, get you better letters of rec, and allow you to develop a stronger writing sample. Another option (at least in America) is teaching high school for a few years. Once you've been out of undergrad for a while, GPA becomes a less important factor. Teaching will allow you to stay engaged in your field, and it may help you choose your research area. Additionally, many US states will help pay for teachers to attend grad school. It would also look nice on a resume if you intend to apply for TAships.

I've heard similar complaints about Columbia's MFA program: namely, that it's an expensive program that's easy to get into and rarely awards funding. That said, an MFA is near-useless in the job market, and I don't know how the MPA compares in that regard. I would recommend looking at the FAFSA student loan repayment calculator (or this calculator if you prefer). $100k+ in debt is hard to conceptualize, which is why this tool is so valuable. It allows you to estimate your average monthly payments and how much you'll pay in interest. Compare that to what you expect to make post-graduation. Do those numbers add up? Does the cost seem fair for the benefits you get? Frankly, I wouldn't pay a mortgage just to have the name "Columbia" on my resume, but of course, I'm in a very different field.

Sorry you didn't get better news, but you can still wait until the 15th to make a final decision. There's no shame in committing in the 11th hour -- in fact, it's very common.

I'm at peak stress waiting on funding information. Only one school I applied to might fund me, and I'm supposed to find out between tomorrow and next Monday. It's easy to distract myself with movies or hobbies (writing, drawing) at home, but work is difficult. I've spent way too many work hours on GC over the past few weeks... I know that buckling down and focusing on my job would make me feel better, but my mind is always wandering and worrying about next year.

That sounds like you were admitted, but it's extremely vague... Did you read the other documents?

I'm still waiting on funding info from one of the schools that accepted me (it should be coming out this week or next). I'm also on the waitlist for funding at another school, but I didn't know this until I reached out to the director of the program and asked. It's not an uncommon position to be in, even this late in the game. That said, you should definitely send out some emails. It's not rude at all, since it's a vital part of the decision-making process.

Based on results from previous years, it seems like most students hear back in late March/early April. Your wait is almost over, and you're still in the running!

Finally got my rejection from VCU via snail mail. A bit disappointed, but I've been expecting it (and I only applied for the funding to begin with). Good luck to those still waiting to hear back!

I've heard similar things about Columbia. They don't post their acceptance rate as far as I know, but I've heard it's high since many accepted students choose not to attend due to cost. I'd wager the programs you got waitlisted at are more competitive than Columbia -- which should still be encouraging, since the difference between a waitlist and an acceptance is usually fit, not applicant quality.

On the positive side, since I posted here I found out that I did, in fact, apply for funding correctly. Supposedly I should find out about funding this week (next Monday at the latest). I should be glad I'm in the home stretch, but I'm only getting more anxious as time goes on. It's been so hard to focus at work... I wish I could just put it out of my head!

Not a philosophy applicant, but I noticed your thread and thought I'd chime in. I think @Duns Eith makes some very good points. If you're starting this degree with the intention of teaching, you're likely to be disappointed. Having a master's in philosophy may also make it difficult to continue your current career, as it suggests you'd rather be doing something outside of IT. However, if you are interested in teaching, consider getting a teaching certification along with a master's. Teaching English or history at the high school level (and perhaps being an adjunct at a community college on the side) could be a satisfying, intellectually stimulating career path. Plus, your master's will still afford you a higher salary, and in some states will help you get certified. That may not be the best option depending on your goals and temperament, but I think it's a solid option that many GC users overlook.

A quick look at Zillow says $1,500-2,000 a month to live on your own -- honestly more than I expected, but manageable if you're willing to live with roommates. I grew up in Arlington, so trust me when I say this area will offer you an excellent quality of life if you can afford it. It's very well-connected to public transport, has great food, and lots of good entertainment options (parks, movie theaters and drafthouses, etc.). The nightlife is also pretty good if you're comfortable rubbing elbows with yuppies. Alexandria will be $1,250-2,000 (much more variation by area compared to Arlington), but your commute will be way longer. The quality of life there varies a lot depending on what area you're in; the more expensive sections are comparable to Arlington, but the farther from the city it's ugly concrete apartment complexes and little else. You can also look within the city, but some of the "cheaper" areas aren't very liveable (e.g. there are no grocery stores nearby, and parking is a mess). Still, try looking near Union Station. There's a bus that goes directly from the station to Georgetown.

People embellish the truth on SOPs and job cover letters all the time. While you created a false impression, I wouldn't consider it horribly immoral. You're making a genuine attempt to learn the language, and as long as you're able to deliver on your SOP's promises when you enter the program, you'll be fine.

I'm glad my thoughts were helpful! I know it's hard to resist the idea of 2-3 years dedicated to creativity, while decades of debt feels so nebulous. I hope your waitlists come through as well. If not, you can feel proud that you impressed some very competitive programs. Whatever happens, this isn't the end of the road for either of us. We can continue to write and send out manuscripts. We can also find a creative community on our own (especially with the help of the Internet). The MFA is one path to success, but it's not the best way for everyone.

This. You may still have issues, but you're unlikely to deal with drugs, heavy partiers, and other drama if you meet someone beforehand.

While I'm not a Columbia graduate, I would seriously advise against taking on 100k in debt. Even if you manage to publish (by no means a guarantee in this market), that will take decades to pay off. I don't want to sound preachy, and I'm sure you've heard this, but I think for many students that amount of debt is hard to conceptualize. It wasn't until I used the FAFSA loan repayment calculator that I decided it wasn't worth it to go 50k into debt for a program I really liked. It was going to take me about $200 a month to pay it off in ten years -- a serious financial commitment for a degree that is unlikely to increase my earning power. Moreover, I live in an expensive East Coast city, so if I ended up working in a coffee shop that debt would be a nearly unmanageable burden. I've decided I will only take fully-funded offers, even though I may end up reapplying next year as a result. Your circumstances are probably different from mine, but these are all factors to consider. Some questions to think about, if you haven't already: Do you feel confident you could fully enjoy/succeed in the program with that much financial stress? How will you feel if your degree didn't lead to a writing career? It's common for people to end up working non-literary jobs due to the pressure of debt. In my research, I've found that the people who most regret getting an MFA are those who took out loans and ended up forced to take an office/retail job to repay them. Lastly, I've heard that Columbia's incredibly competitive/limited funding creates tension in the cohort between funded and unfunded students. I imagine it's uncomfortable to share a creative space with someone who's not paying for the degree, while you're on the hook for six figures. Again, I hope that's not preachy. I just wanted to weigh in because I faced a similar decision this year.

You absolutely should be familiar with the faculty's work for each program you apply to. That doesn't mean you have to read dozens of novels. Personally, I just looked at the bios and bibliographies of the professors, picked 1-2 per school that piqued my interest, and looked for their short stories online. Aside from figuring out if the program is a good fit for you, this process will allow you to mention the faculty's work in your SOP. This is vital for many reasons. It shows that you've done your research, and it will also signal to that faculty member that you want to work with them. If you play your cards right, that faculty member may become your advisor and/or help you secure funding (however, every program handles advisors and funding differently).

As others have said, Georgetown is not a great option. If you're going to school in Georgetown, keep in mind that it's not very accessible by metrorail. You're better off taking the bus. Arlington, VA is nearby and offers a high quality of life for much less than Goergetown (it is still expensive, however). You're going to spend /at minimum/ $1,200 anywhere in or near the city unless you're willing to live on the opposite end from Georgetown.

Living along can cost almost twice as much as living with a roommate. Whether it's worth that cost is up to you. Unlike Crescenza, I lived well with roommates throughout college. If you decide to live with them, I would look for an apartment complex that offers independent leases (i.e. they lease the bedrooms to each of you separately, as opposed to leasing the whole place to all of you collectively). That way, if someone skips out, you're not on the hook for the rent. And if worse comes to worst and you need to sublet, do NOT use AirBNB. Find someone in a local sublet Facebook group or on Craigslist. It's still risky, but I've done it multiple times with success. Anyway, I'd recommend roommates. Yes, they can be pesky, but learning to live with people outside my family was good for my personal growth. Meet your roommates before move-in (ideally pick them yourself, even if you're picking someone online), set clear boundaries, and be willing to communicate.

Lifelong DMV resident here. For my money, I'd recommend very different places from Crescenza (not saying they're wrong, I just have different priorities). First of all, there's nowhere near GW's campus that's inexpensive; it's directly downtown. Make peace with that now. That said, GW is right on the metro, so you have a lot of options. And if the budget you listed is for rent only, you could get a place almost anywhere (if $1,500-1,700 is your total budget, you still have a lot to choose from). Maryland suburbs are cheaper than Virginia, but the quality of life is lower. Silver Spring is a good MD option, although they're gentrifying the HECK out of it. There are also a few places to left in DC proper that aren't offensively overpriced. Columbia Heights is cheap-ish for how centrally located it is (it also features a grocery store and a Target). Mount Pleasant, the next neighborhood over, has a similar vibe. Both are fairly safe, middle-class neighborhoods with large Latino populations and decent architecture. I used to live around Union Station, and personally I found it very comfortable. The only weird section is the area near Union Market, which used to be populated entirely by wholesale warehouses (however, the arrival of the market is changing that quickly). Anacostia and upper NE are the only areas that haven't really been gentrified, which could be appealing or unappealing depending on your outlook.

I'm not sure how much "never pay for grad school" applies to STEM fields; that advice is usually given to arts and humanities students, who are usually clamoring for a limited number of academic positions. So my question is this: do you expect to be pulling in enough post-PhD to pay back these loans quickly? If you haven't already, see where graduates of the program have ended up so you have an idea of your prospects.

Receiving and offer from another school is a perfectly good reason to withdraw your application. I'm sure he would understand why you want definite funding over possible funding. As long as you thank him for his time and support, you should be fine.