lemonscone

Really need help deciding! I have been accepted to my top 2 choice programs - University of Michigan for an MS in environmental policy and planning, and Columbia Climate School for an MA in climate and society. After visiting Michigan for admitted students days, I was fairly confident that I would choose Columbia. Columbia is my top choice, the program is 1 year instead of 2 (aka one year less of tuition), and I would much rather live in New York than Ann Arbor. Columbia hadn’t offered me any scholarship, but it would still be cheaper than Michigan overall because of the program length. However, I just got word that Michigan is offering me additional scholarship money, which in total would essentially cover the entire first semester of tuition. I’ve also been informed that I would be invited to apply for other scholarships once I’m there, which would put a huge dent in the tuition cost. Would it be crazy to still choose Columbia? I’ve always heard to go with the cheapest option for grad school, but my heart still wants to go with Columbia. Another consideration, though, is that the Climate School has very recently been established, and Michigan has a long and accomplished history. Does anyone know anything about the columbia climate school? or just have any thoughts in general? Thank you!!!

Hey everyone! I have a meeting in 20 minutes with a colleague who graduated from SEAS - let me know if you want me to ask any specific questions and I can post the answers here!

Anyone who applied by the priority deadline but hasn't heard back yet: Any idea of when we will hear?

I just called too, they didn't pick up

Anyone else having major anxiety around funding? I think I was overly optimistic about the amount of funding I would receive. I've gotten (and not gotten) scholarships from different programs, but all options still lead to a lot of student loans. If it's not too forward, how is everyone planning on paying for this? Are people applying for a lot of external scholarships, counting on TA positions or research assistantships, or just taking out loans? Is it smart to take on a lot of debt for a masters in a field that historically doesn't have the highest salary range? I've gotten into some of my dream programs, but I'm not sure if I should even go at all if I would have to go into too much debt.

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP, MPA, MA, MSc, MEMSchools Applied To: Yale (School of Environment), Univ. of Michigan SEAS, Columbia Climate School, NYU (SPS), American (SIS), Georgetown (McCourt), Univ. of Washington (Evans), Sciences PoSchools Admitted To: Columbia, Michigan SEAS, NYU, AmericanSchools Rejected From: n/aStill Waiting: Yale, Georgetown, Washington Evans, Sciences POUndergraduate Institution: Top 25 US private universityUndergraduate GPA: 3.5/4Undergraduate Major: Political Science and Environmental StudiesGRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores: N/AYears Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2Years of Work Experience: 4Describe Relevant Work Experience: Internship and post-grad experience at local and federal gov't offices, paralegal at top global law firm, internship experience in environmental non-profits.Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Pretty strong, I think. I worked on it for a few weeks before submitting, then tweaked the same one for each subsequent application. Described academic experience, professional goals, study abroad experience, etc. All very climate change focused.Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think my LORs are the most compelling part of my application. Two from professors, one from a government official.

Congrats to you as well! I got in for the EPP track, they offered a $15,000 one-time academic scholarship.

I got a merit scholarship in my email, but if I check the results page it says "No financial aid information found." I think just give it some time and everything will update!

Also accepted to SEAS! The email mentioned an in-person admitted students day - does anyone know if they would pay for travel costs for those outside the region? I know this is common-ish with PhD programs, but not sure about standard practice for Masters.

Hi everyone! Applying for a Masters and the anticipation is killing me. I made a list of the anticipated notification dates for the schools I'm still waiting on, with info from this forum and the school websites: YSE - March 15th Michigan SEAS - Early March Columbia Climate School - Late March UW Evans - Mid to late Feb Georgetown - Mid-March Sciences PO - Rolling, 3-8 weeks from submission Does anyone have any edits to this list, or heard back from these programs? I've already been accepted to American and NYU, but I'm pretty anxiously awaiting some of the other schools above. Thanks!