policy_applicant

At least you got your acceptance and scholarship first! It would have been rough the other way around. Their loss.

Thanks! That's really helpful, and it's on the same line I was thinking as well. I've been really regretting not applying to Harris since the deadlines passed, but hindsight is 20/20. Like you said, it seems like it would be pretty tough to pull together a convincing PhD application after the first year if you didn't already have the research experience/publications going in. If I go for it, I was thinking of trying to land a think tank or policy research job before applying for PhD programs, so I'll be able to use my thesis as a writing sample and won't get too far off the research track.

xnormajeanx, I noticed in another post that you are considering pursuing your PhD after the MPP and are ultimately considering a consulting/policy research (please correct me if any of this is wrong). I've been considering this path recently, and I'm wondering if anything has changed during the first year of the program, or what you have been able to do to make that option feasible in the future.

Ugh, I really need to get on filling out all the financial aid stuff for the places I applied, not to mention the FAFSA. Please let me know if you figure out the GUID thing. Thanks!

I'm assuming you were admitted to the GPPI MPP program? Congrats! I'm not sure about the GUID. I can't seem to find one for myself either, although I'll have to start filling out the financial aid forms soon. Have you heard anything about funding, or did you just get the generic paragraph in the email?

That's just mean! Haven't they heard of email?

No worries. And congrats again. Hopefully we'll be hearing from NYU soon, too.

Congrats seattlegirl! Care to share your stats? Where else did you apply?

Thanks! So do we still not know who the GW admits are?

Thanks! I sure hope that's the case. No, they didn't. And I'm still "under review" at GW as well.

Yay! Just got an email from Georgetown, and I'm in. Still waiting on a funding decision, which will be key, but this is about the earliest I could have hoped to hear. I completed the application around mid October, which I imagine helped me get the admit so early.

hi there. thanks for coming back! i remember your sig from when i was browsing here early in the process. even though i didn't apply to harris, i would also be interested to know about the quant courses and if they match the hype.

I think mostly for MPP, which tend to have a more quantitative focus, but it really depends on the program. If it was not mentioned on the website or in the literature of the programs you're applying to, I don't think it would be a disadvantage.

Like many others, I forgot to add my GRE sitting fee, which probably puts me in the $1,000+ category, one higher than I clicked. Ouch. It would be even higher if my undergrad institution charged for transcripts (which they don't). Like most, ETS got the bulk of my money.

I've been on a huge Belle and Sebastian kick lately (I say as I listen to "Belle and Sebastian" the song). Also the Pastels (another oldy but goody) and the Walkmen.

Netherland is really good. He's an excellent writer. I'm currently reading Don Quixote for a book club, Rising Up and Rising Down by William T. Vollman, and various working papers written by professors from the departments I'm applying to. Needless to say, I've flown through some fluffier material while in the middle of all of these.

Okay, that's pretty scary. I need my first acceptance so I can at least rest a little easier

agreed. there's actually a legit shot we'll start getting acceptances/rejections this month (january really was a long shot).

I know I'm going to become unhealthily addicted to it once people start posting acceptances to schools I've applied to. The only thing keeping me sane at this point is that the only results are from schools I didn't send applications to.

Congrats! I don't know much about Brown's MPP program, but you should put your acceptance on the results page. I believe you'll be only the third MPP acceptance on there.

Does this mean you'd prefer a 1-year program? The MPP at Syracuse is only one year and seems to be highly regarded. Also, Princeton has a 1-year MPP (mid-career). I don't know if you would qualify since your experience is in a PhD program, but it might be worth looking into. As far as applications overall, I would guess you will be competitive, but you will need to be convincing regarding why you want the MPP/MPA to supplement the PhD. Good luck!

Since I'm a West coaster, I looked into the University of Oregon and University of Washington programs. In fact, I came close to applying to UW, but ended up deciding against it. If I remember my reasoning correctly, both programs seemed light on the quantitative side. Ultimately, I decided on other programs that had a stronger quantitative focus. In the case of Oregon, though, I did not look too deeply into the program, so I could be way off.

This is what I'm worried about, not finding a loan. Also, I'm with younglions that any sort of public affairs apps will increase after a 2-year presidential election that increased youth interest and participation in the electoral process. But, also like younglions, that's just me making advance excuse for any rejections.

UCLA just updated my last LOR to "complete." I'm not expecting a decision until mid March.

You have 2 acceptances already? I propose you be banned from the board. Kidding, of course. Congrats! I have not heard of the program at GW, so I can't comment.