solarpunk

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP, MPA, MEM, MENV Schools Applied To: Duke (Sanford and Nicholas), UMich SEAS, CU Boulder, CU Denver, UVA Batten, UW Evans Schools Admitted To: UMich SEAS (no merit funding), CU Boulder (no merit funding), UVA Batten ($12.5K/year) Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: Duke (Sanford and Nicholas), CU Denver, UW Evans Undergraduate Institution: public Ivy in Eastern US Undergraduate GPA: 3.55 Undergraduate Major: Government/Environmental Policy GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores: did not take Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 Years of Work Experience: 1 Describe Relevant Work Experience: 3 month internship at environmental nonprofit, 3 months with school's sustainability office, 1 year AmeriCorps term doing environmental work Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I consider verbal/writing to be my strong suit, so I felt I was able to tailor my SOPs nicely and substantially hit every point I was aiming for within the word limit. Duke Sanford and CU Boulder had video essays attached, Duke's I felt I flubbed-- it was just not my comfort zone, but Boulder's was much smoother and I was happy with the end result. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Everyone I asked was happy to write for me, and I chose people who knew me well enough to attach concrete results and examples to the name. Other: Technically as of applying, I only had a few months of work experience outside undergrad, but by the time I matriculate anywhere it will have been a year, not including the work experience gained during undergrad. I also have a lot of volunteer experience in my local community so I'm hoping that counts for something. I'm hoping Duke pulls through on the funding, especially since they are pretty generous for AmeriCorps alums. My assumption is that need-based aid is sent down the line, as opposed to the merit scholarships which appear to generally be sent with the offer of admission.

Hi folks, update time because we're headed into the heart of decision season. Currently I've been accepted into SEAS and Boulder, though no financial aid info was attached to either. Looking at previous threads it seems that for SEAS, merit scholarships come with that initial email, but other funding info (work study, need-based, etc.) will be sent out in the coming weeks. Hope that reassures folks like me who didn't receive a merit scholarship. For Boulder it seems they don't contact you about financial aid until after admission, so hopefully more info on that will be released soon. Still holding out hope for Duke. It's my top choice, along with being slightly less expensive than SEAS and already going to provide substantial aid to me as an AmeriCorps alumni. It would really seal the deal I think. I'd be happy to go to SEAS or Boulder but this isn't the sort of field I feel comfortable going six figures into debt for.

I suppose it wouldn't necessarily hurt to put an application in there. I just truly don't think I can afford it (though really the same could be said about UW) and other programs have better financial aid incentives for AmeriCorps alumni. Duke, for instance, gives so much to AmeriCorps alums that it goes from way too expensive to actually quite affordable as grad schools go. Also my undergrad GPA is lower than their average of 3.7 (I'm working with 3.55), which I know isn't an immediate rejection but it does put a damper on things. And after the admissions scandal and given their well-established "elite" status, I have a hard time believing they would consider my application as a low-income student on the same grounds as someone born into significant means. Maybe I'm just jaded but it takes the wind out of one's sails. Would you happen to know what YSE's financial aid is like? Sorry to hear about Harris, but hold fast for those other options as every program is different. And everyone's personal situation is different, but if this cycle doesn't work out, you can always try again next cycle. That's what's keeping me from fully falling into that nervous pit.

Hi folks, new here but saw there was a topic on this for the last cycle and figured we could all use a support group/prayer circle. I'm on the application grind currently. Looking at Duke MEM (and MPP), UMich SEAS (and MPP), CU Boulder MENV, CU Denver MPP, UW MPA, and UVA MPP and hoping I can actually afford to attend any of them. Let us all hope and worry and agonize and commiserate together until those fateful days in March, or whenever the weight is lifted from our shoulders and we're accepted into our dream programs with as much financial aid as possible.