Dreams

I have talked to many people in quite a few federal agencies about this issue. As it was told to me, be very upfront with the investigative officer about everything concerning your experience abroad, and keep good records of everything (places lived, associates, etc). The clearance process will take a little longer, but there are still high changes of getting a clearance.

SIPA will also be notifying this week. They estimate that half of decision will go out before the end of the week.

Well you don't know what you are until you get the letter :wink: I like to err on the side of optimism

I have no clue what it means. Mine specifically listed an acceptance. Perhaps you were waitlisted? Or maybe they are still sorting out funding and advising matches for you.

Many students have the terrible semester or few classes in college. And some choose to explain it while some don't. I think either way you are fine as long as your grades after that period were consistently improving. The graduate admissions committees are smart enough to see this. The only time where I would think it very necessary to provide an explanation would be if you have several Fs on your transcript, which it sounds like you don't. And just to note, I had two bad semesters on my transcript that I did not explain and am doing just fine this admissions cycle.

Ahhh a Cornellian! Don't you just love Ithaca's weather in the winter??? Sorry I am having some memories flood back in. The neverending grey overcast, snow, and sledding! I know I am a freak, but I just love that type of weather.

Thanks Rutabaga. And thanks for the heads up about the open house. If that's the case, I will likely head to the April event if I have a choice. If not then I would still attend any session they have. I have not been home to check the mail yet, but seeing as I just got the decision online today, I am not anticipating a packet until early next week or so.

In at Hopkins for the doctoral program. This complicates things a bit but I am very grateful for the acceptance. Now I don't feel so bad about Columbia.

You might want to look at Southern Management to start. They have nice properties in the city.

I am one the state people. Though I also chose academia (non research).

You might want to call them to check on your status. I remember you saying something before about secondary review. You may want to inquire whether they have reached the final review yet :wink:

That's a good question. Have you considered checking in with the career services section of the schools you are interested in? Perhaps they have connections and can aid the students in securing internships. What has worked for me personally though in DC is either contacting an interesting organization for an informational interview, or going there in person. Most of the organizations there were receptive to the prospects of an internship.

Actually it is true with Maxwell. It is on the site and it was told to me by the director of admissions last year. I was told not to apply too early if I was not prepared to get a quick decision. While it does not explain your case, Maxwell does have a rolling admissions policy.

Maxwell has a rolling admissions policy, so you would naturally get your decision soon after applying. I received my response from Maxwell around 2 weeks after applying. They say they usually administer decisions within 6 weeks of receipt of application. Albany's Rockefeller College also has rolling admissions, so your decision would come quickly as with Syracuse. Funding is a different matter though and that is usually decided at a later time. I don't know about Albany's program, but Maxwell expects to have funding details sorted out by April 1.

Hmph. The university decides to close AFTER I get here this morning. At first we were on a 2 hour delay. So now I am the only one in the building blasting my subwoofers, browsing the forum, and getting student papers printed so I can leave within the hour.

In which area? The Homewood campus area? If so then there are plenty of housing options for grad students all within walking distance of the campus. They are very good quality, but are also fairly overpriced. If you are willing to live a little further from campus, you can find comparable living arrangements for several hundred dollars less per month.

40 below? Wow that brings back fond memories Trudging to class in all of the cold slushy goodness That was one of the turns of Syracuse for me that led me to apply. That and the mild summers.

I don't think SIPA will notify this week. They keep saying mid March, so I am planning for next week. Also they claim to send out 80% of admit responses on the same day. So the only ones I see being dragged out are the people on the waitlist.

t_ruth are you out there? You are slipping! Gotta get that post count back up

If this keeps up you might want to upgrade the server again

Give it until Friday the 13th. If you haven't heard by then, then contact them.

Mine is 15K, but only at SIPA to cover the extra cost of living expenses. Otherwise, I do not foresee myself going past 5K or 7.5K in loans.

I was speaking with a program director the other day and was told that they are contacting people by last name. So someone with last name W may hear back far later than someone with last name B. Especially with a grad dept manned by just a few people. So they just may whittling the pile down and will get your response out as soon as they can.

Also Alan, did your undergrad university (again assuming you are an American applicant) have resources available to help you complete the FAFSA? At my university, I help all students under my advisement who need it complete the FAFSA, as well as incoming freshmen who ask my department. I would think the resources or people are there on campus, it would just take some digging. And it could save people the expense of paying another organization as well.