hurrah

I do, sorry! I'll message you, and I'm happy to answer general questions about any of the concentrations, as I have friends in all of them.

First, the caveat I probably should have included at the top of the thread-- I'm just speaking from my experience, and obviously it's totally totally different for everyone. hitomimay - I had a SUSE prof interview me over the phone. She didn't indicate whether she would be my advisor or not if admitted, but later the same prof called me back, made the offer, and said she would indeed be my advisor. HGSE did not do a phone interview. They called me to congratulate me and that was it. SUSE admitted me rather early (end of January-ish) while HGSE admitted me toward the end of February (I was trying to resign myself to rejection at that point and was pleasantly surprised). One thing to keep in mind is that HGSE is less compartmentalized than other schools-- the whole faculty gets together to consult on building the cohort, whereas other places do things in more of a piecemeal fashion (or so I understand). keepswimming - HGSE offered me (a lot) more money and my partner had a job offer in Boston, so it was no question. But even before I got into HGSE, I was on the fence about SUSE because I don't love the area and because I didn't feel so strongly about my advisor-- seemed like an awesome person, but perhaps not the best fit for me. I was considering Berkeley instead, even though they were entering me for campus-wide fellowships and thus I was possibly not going to have much money, but they were awesome people, seemed like a better fit, and I love the bay. As I'm sure you know, you have to decide what factors are most important to you. Is there something you're comparing between HGSE and SUSE?

I relied heavily on info from gradcafe last year, and thought I'd return the favor! I'm in the EdD at HGSE. I was also admitted to Stanford, Berkeley, and Madison. Let me know if I can be of help.

Thanks! Yeah, we're now looking at a place in Lower Allston, which seems to be a lot more low-key. I was initially really into Somerville, and that's still an option, but my partner needs to be near the expressway to commute west so I think we're going to go for it.

Hi Boston knowledgeables -- thanks in advance for your help! What's up with Allston? Is it an undergrad ghetto, or a decent option? Like an earlier poster, I will be with my partner, who will be gainfully employed. (Yes!) When we looked on Craigslist at a price point that was higher than what the average undergrad would be able to pay, it seemed like there were some really nice places there. I also really want an easy carless commute, so the location seems convenient. But I don't want to be surrounded by bro culture or drunk people. At the very least, I would like to limit myself to tasteful drunk people. Like someone who is going to get drunk and ramble about farm subsidies or Derrida, not get drunk and pee on the street. Somewhere with plenty of youth culture and things to do, but nothing gauche. (If you're familiar with Chicago-- I'm thinking Logan Square/Wicker Park/Pilsen, not Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville). Ah! Please take this with a healthy dose of "no offense." If you are still reading and haven't been offended ("I'm a frat boy, and I'm opinionated about farm subsidies! How dare they?!") any advice would be appreciated.

Sure, PM me and I'll tell you whatever you want to know. Same goes for anyone else.

That's what I thought after Tuesday, and I got a call yesterday! I understand wanting to guard yourself against disappointment, but don't give up hope!

Well, I got in anyway. So now my heart won't be broken! Thanks, guys, for keeping me afloat!

You can find more information here: http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/gradadmissions/admitted/financing-support In summary (from the Stanford website): "Most graduate students at Stanford need help to pay for their educational expenses. Financial assistance can be divided into three broad categories: Grants, Scholarships and Fellowships - "Free money" that does not need to be repaid upon completion of enrollment.Assistantships - Wages paid for research, teaching or other work performed during enrollment. Compensation also includes funding for tuition.Loans - Funds advanced to you by a governmental or private lender, to be repaid (or possibly forgiven) after graduation. Only US Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible for US federal loan programs through the Department of Education." Hope this helps!

I guess I just feel like everything changed when my relationship became a factor. Before that, I was excited to go anywhere. But now I feel like Harvard is all that matters (worst feeling ever). I feel like I should be entitled to some kind of True Love Exemption where they have to let me in. Like when Wesley gets brought back from the dead in The Princess Bride.

Thank you! I do, and I know I should be grateful. But [beware: sob story ahead, replete with tiny violins] my partner of 3.5 years just took a job in Boston. I pushed him to do it because it's an amazing, unsurpassable opportunity. But it suddenly makes the whole California dream into a really sad scenario. And, personal situation aside, it just hurts to see so many intelligent, capable people going totally insane. [see:

Thanks! I got both the unofficial and the official email. I don't want to talk about it too much here since this is the HGSE thread, but you can PM me with any questions.

Why are they so cryptic? Why do we have to be kept in the dark? Why hand out the "mid-to-late March" line when everyone knows it's bunk? Is there so much last minute wheeling and dealing really going on that it justifies denying information to people who are waiting to determine the direction of their lives? </rant> ...But really. Why?

Okay, I am not the only one up reading the results board at this hour, I see. Congrats to the Human Development poster, and fingers crossed for the rest of the day. Oiseau, I got into LLC. I am very grateful and excited, but my SO of 3.5 years just got a job in Boston, so I am really, really, really, really, really, ad infinitum, hoping for Harvard to come through.

I'm wondering the same thing. And I just called the office to see if they're open for the holiday--which they are not. Infinite sadness.

Are they being kind of slow, or is it just me? Or has everyone already heard while I was in a cave somewhere?

That's the only thing that tipped the scales for me. Having experienced both, the waiting is definitely, definitely worse.

I guess part of that is the paradox of the internet: information you want, alongside the peril of information you don't want.

Yes, it was CTE. I don't know about any other departments or what the timeline might be like.

Thanks. I would rather not say who the prof was specifically, but yes, they contacted me and I got the email the next day.

I was first drawn to gradcafe last year for the promise of helpful, useful information about when I could expect to hear from my school of choice. I resisted it for a while, knowing that I would be obsessive about checking the results page, and then I gave in and of course I was just that. And when my school of choice finally started posting acceptances, I was heartbroken. But then, by the time I got the official rejection in March, I was already over it because I had known for so long. Fast-forward a year and I am delighted to say that I have two acceptances so far. Before I heard, I told myself that I would post immediately, to spare others the horrific waiting game they put us through. It just sucks so badly to be so much in the dark. But then when I got in, I felt really reluctant, because I knew that my little posting could completely ruin someone's day. Am I being a wuss about this? Obviously people come here for information, knowing full well that the information they get might not be the information they want. But I still remember my own sinking feeling, and it's just not a good memory....

Hi! It was me. I am happy to answer any questions as well as I can.

Am I the only one who has fallen into the "call and ask" trap? It's so pointless... yet so very, very tempting. There are people on the results board who say they were notified over the phone after calling, but that just doesn't seem plausible to me....

Thanks, guys! I think (and hope) you're both right.