claypot14

Hey folks. I’ve been admitted to a handful of programs and am now having some anxiety about choosing. I’ve been accepted to UCLA, UW, and UT Austin. Originally I thought I would definitely go to UT if I got in, because it is so much more affordable, and it’s in my home town of Austin, so I’d be close to my family. It’s also considered a pretty good program. In talking with a couple current and recent students from all of the above programs, I am getting the impression that UCLA and UW are going to be the more intellectually challenging programs of the three. I was very privileged to have an excellent undergrad education, and I think my expectations for grad school are pretty high as a result. An undergrad friend of mine who is currently in UT’s MSW program said that undergrad was by far more challenging than her graduate school experience has been, while that has not been the same for my friend at UW. It sounds like UW perhaps is also doing a better job of addressing issues of diversity and identity? I realize that these are just a handful of experiences out of many, and I am trying to not let them influence my choice too much. Much of one’s experience will be influenced by individual classes, professors, etc. But from other research I’ve done, it seems like UCLA and UW would be more rigorous. I think I probably just need to accept my offer at UT, as it is between $20,000 and $30,000 a year cheaper (!!!!!), but I am feeling a little deflated, confronting the idea I may not feel as challenged. I’m sure I will get a lot out of any program I attend. I do not mean to be an elitist here, and I know UT is a fantastic school. I’m just in my feels / anxiety a bit about it? Does anyone else relate, or have relevant perspective / advice to share? Thanks!

I just got into UCLA!! I’m about to pee my pants!!

How desperate am I? I got so excited thinking the email notification from your response to this post might be an email from UT lol

No - but Lord have mercy am I desperate to find out!

I really don't want to make a decision of where I go to school based largely on status (I want a great education that is the ideal fit for me), but out of curiosity... Do y'all have a sense of how to assess one MSW program's rank against another, other than just like, the US News Best Schools list? It seems less straightforward than, say, undergrad. Thanks!

Hey friends! This past week, I was rejected from Berkeley, and accepted to UW last night. I still have to hear back from UCLA, PSU, Minnesota Twin Cities, and UT Austin. I almost applied to a couple other schools where I knew I'd be a shoe-in and potentially receive funding, just so I could use it as leverage in asking other schools to offer/increase their funding. I didn't up doing so (got burnt out), but still could for a couple programs with late deadlines. Just curious - does anyone have experience appealing for more money? And if so, did funding offers from other schools provide meaningful leverage? Or were you able to get some by merely making a good case, independent of other offers? Thanks so much! Pretty stoked to have gotten into my first school!

Hey! I heard back three days ago that I was rejected... So I wouldn't assume that not hearing back means bad news.