tkovach05

Thank you! Your information is extremely helpful and thorough. I stayed with my friend in Arlington, so I wouldn't have a problem with the Arlington Courthouse/Rosslyn/Ballston area; it's at least walkable and feels fairly young. I've found a few apartment buildings that seem within reason in Columbia Heights & Petworth, so maybe something will work out there. I actually bought a SmarTrip while we were in DC, so I've got that taken care of. I accidentally when into the red on my last trip in the city though (I'm a whopping -0.90) so I need to get that squared away before moving back.

I also asked them about potential funding opportunities a while back, and they were pretty set in their ways. I do want to follow up, but am not sure quite the right way to go about it. Can you guys provide any insight (I just put up a thread about this in The Bank). Thanks.

So I accepted an unfunded offer last week from a school with an April 20th deadline (today). It was tough to swallow, but the school is right for my interests and long-term goals, has good connections with NGOs in my field, and I have a good rapport with the professors. But I have been told by at least one other person on this site that he/she has turned down a funded offer to the same school. This obviously happens at grad schools around the country, and it seems impossible to know whether the schools give out all their funding and have extra when offers are turned down, or whether they overcommit knowing some offers will be rejected. I want to go back to financial aid/admissions to just see if they may be willing to give me some funding (any pittance would be appreciated), but am not sure how to go about this. Does anyone have any experience or advice with this? Does the email below seem alright? Revisions/suggestions are certainly welcome. Dear [Name], I recently accepted the offer of admission for the Global Environmental Policy program at Your University Name Here.. Since today is the deadline for candidates to make their decisions, I wanted to follow up with you about potential funding streams. I know that less than 10% of accepted candidates receive funding from SIS, and I unfortunately did not fall into this group. However, knowing that it is likely some students who have received funded offers may choose to attend other schools instead, I was wondering if there was any possibility that the University may have any additional funding sources that have come available. If so, will you be making this funding available to any students that have accepted offers, whether funded or not? While I was very pleased to have accepted the offer, even unfunded, any financial support that you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated, whether a grant, stipend, or assistantship position within the school. If there is a procedure in place for this, please let me know what it is and how I can follow through it with it. I look forward to hearing back from you, and to beginning at Your Univerisity this fall. Sincerely, My Name

Glad I can help. But don't just choose SIS because some stranger on the interwebs seems nice . I know I would have a tough choice turning down LSE, even if it was for SIS. Luckily you have two great options and one of them is funded (I'm quite jealous you got funding for SIS by the way). If you have other questions, you can post them here or PM me. Good luck.

I'm in the same boat: I actually turned down partially funded offer (40% tuition, no living expenses or stipend) to take an unfunded offer that will double my debt load. I had a lot of doubt and worry as I was trying to make my decision. Initially I was going to dismiss American off-hand when I got the offer without funding, but ultimately I am pretty sure it was the right choice. The partial scholarship from The New School didn't add up to a significant enough savings for me to choose it over American, and I got a whopping $6,000 pittance from NYU (on a $62,000 total cost of attendance!). I am the kind of person who researches any remotely significant decision (car, apartment, computer, etc.) like crazy, but then when I'm confident I pull the trigger right away. I put together this whole 35-criteria list to compare SIS and Milano, but the moment I spoke to the profs at SIS I knew my decision. Fortunately the gut feeling I got while on campus matched the quantitative anaylsis I did (SIS won 86.5-77). Now I just need to work hard my first year and do my best to get funding for year 2.

I'm going to SIS for Global Enviromental Policy. I didn't get any funding either (only 10% of accepted applicants do I guess). I actually turned down a partially-funded offer (40% tuition from Milano, The New School) to accept SIS's offer. For me, SIS's program fits my interest in international environmental security perfectly. I was willing to give up partial tuition, trusting that I would be able to pursue my interests more closely and have a decent shot for 2nd year funding opportunities. I have already spoken with a prof about a grant he is working on that will provide grad students with paid positions next year, so I am hoping that might pan out, since he knows I am interested. In addition, the opportunities for internships and part-time jobs with relevant NGOs and government agencies in DC far outweighed those I could have gotten in NYC. I can appreciate your hesitance to take the offer unfunded; it was a bit much for me to stomach at first too. I already have a large debt load from undergrad, and this it will essentially double in my first year. But I am willing to take that risk to do the program that I think is right for me at the school I think is best for me. Plus, all grad loans should be federal Stafford or PLUS loans, so you have the opportunity for loan forgiveness after 10 years of consistent payments. I'm sure I'll be tapping into that.

If the programs offer rolling admissions and you would still have a shot of applying and beginning coursework this Fall, then you should still be able to complete the FAFSA. You are definitely behind the eight ball on this, since grad programs have limited funding vis a vis undergrad programs, but you should still be able to complete it regardless. I would probably hold off a few months (maybe around August?) if you are planning to apply for Spring 2012 admission.

I was hoping that those of you who are more familiar with DC than I am could provide some insight on a few neighborhoods. I am moving with girlfriend at the end of the summer. She is in the running for a full-time position (*fingers crossed*), and I will be getting my master's at American University. Her *potential* employer is located near McPherson Square (orange line), and American is in Tenleytown (red line). I will be selling my car, so we are looking for an apartment in a walkable, younger-feeling neighborhood that provides good proximity to at least one of those metro lines. We aren't looking to get a roommate, so we'll need a 1-bedroom for undre $1,500 a month. Would anyone be able/willing to rank these neighborhoods based on which ones you think are best and/or most likely to fit our needs? Adams Morgan Brookland Columbia Heights Mt. Pleasant Petworth Thanks.

Mine is going to be more of a saying goodbye to Cleveland bucket list, since I'm moving to DC for grad school. I've lived here my entire life and love the city like crazy, but I definitely need a change of scenery. Plus, as I plan on selling my car, I won't be able to come back home very often (maybe 3 times a year). So, here is a start of the things I need and want to do this summer: 1.) Let my boss know I am going to grad school so I can get my final affairs in order at work 2.) Visit the Cleveland Zoo after their new African Elephants exhibit opens on May 5 3.) Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art at least one more time 4.) Go to Burning River Fest at Whiskey Island (late July) 5.) Visit Great Lakes Brewing Co. as many times as humanly possible 6.) Attend at least 1 Cleveland Indians game this summer (hopefully before they eventually regress towards the mean) 7.) Take a trip to Milwaukee to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and niece 8.) Sell my car 9.) Go to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky 10.) Get my financials in order (pay off remaining credit card debt, get loans squared away for school next year) I'll add to this as I come up with other stuff. It should be a busy summer; I start school at the end of August and am planning to finish working at the end of July.

SIS does appear to have a very good reputation within DC. I am starting in the Global Environmental Policy program, and the professors have connections with most of the major environmental NGOs and government agencies in the area. My will-be advisor has just co-written a grant with the World Wildlife Fund and the American Red Cross to provide module trainings to students and development/aid workers on environmental issues in post-conflict and disaster relief situations. They also have a pretty good job placement track record, given the current economy. In 2009, 75% of students had jobs within 6 months, and 3/4 of those were making $50,000+. I got some pretty good one-on-one advice from the head of the Career Center for SIS, John Charles. You may want to contact him directly with more personal questions (charles@american.edu).

Not sure if this reply is too little, too late, but I wanted to give you my two cents for what it's worth. If you are looking to focus on US Foreign Policy, then I think American is a very strong candidate (and I'm not just saying that because I'm starting there this fall). It is the largest and one of the oldest schools to cover these fields in APSIA, and it has a very strong faculty. Also, being in DC is an invaluable resource if you are working in any international field. Personally, I am strongly attracted to the idea of getting an MA abroad (though, for some reason, I never actually pulled the trigger and applied abroad), because you can get a very different perspective of the world from outside the States. If you would like to have an outsider's (or international) understanding of American foreign policy, as opposed to the insider's perspective, than LSE may be a better option. I have been told by my professor from my semester in Geneva, Switzerland that many in IR view LSE as the best school in Europe for graduate studies. I would certainly agree that it has a better reputation/more prestige than SIS, especially internationally. I'm not sure if you are looking to work within the US, for the government or an NGO, etc., so it is difficult to give educated advice. Also, is there a funding discrepancy? DC is far from cheap, but London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Also need to keep in mind the exchange rate (as I'm sure you know), as the Pound is currently worth $1.62, and it hasn't dipped below $1.50 in a long time. Just some things to consider; I don't have enough info to really give my opinion one way or the other.

Fortunately I took what someone else referred to as the "sniper approach" (which is, albeit, riskier), so I only applied to 3 schools. I was going to apply for a 4th but ended up deciding otherwise. GRE + prep book: $165 Application Fees: $75 (NYU) + $50 (The New School) = $125 (American waived my fee since I did AmeriCorps) Transcripts: 4 x $5 = $20 Postage Costs: $6.75 (includes 4 stamps & packet of thank you cards for recommenders) Travel to Schools: Tough to say; I visited American during a previously-scheduled trip to DC. But I did take a trip up to NYC that weekend, so that's $98 for train tickets + $30 or so for expenses = $128 Total: $444.75 (I know that's a lot less than many of you, but still, geeze). Thankfully I asked for cash for Christmas.

I'm glad that this has been thoroughly discussed to death already. I should have known better than to doubt the informed nature of my fellow Grad Cafers. Good luck to you all at UW. I have heard very good things about Madison. My sister lives in Milwaukee, so I've been there several times, but I've never actually made it out to Madison (maybe if Walker had actually let them build the rail connection... but I digress). I know Wisconisn has an excellent university system, and UW is one of the jewels of that. Enjoy your time there.

I'm not attending UW, but I do have two friends that are pursuing their MAs in History there. Both of them have been concerned about their funding streams, since they come from the state government. My one friend is a TA and gets her health insurance covered by the school, and the changes in the public employee system may force her to pay more into her health care. Just something you guys may want to consider if you haven't already. Our wonderful governor is pulling the same crap in Ohio, but fortunately I will be getting my degree in DC (oh, and I didn't get any funding to begin with).

For those of you who are still waiting to hear back from your respective schools: Have these schools signed onto the grad school compact that set the April 15th deadline? If not, you may be working on a totally different timetable. Just wanted to throw that out there.

Cool. Glad to see there are fellow incoming SISers (or whatever term we should use. Americans? Eagles?) on the board. Where are you doing your Peace Corps work? I have a friend posted in the Philippines.

Mom: "Congratulations. Now how are you going to pay for that?" Me: *crickets* Dad: "Good for you! Just know that I won't be visiting you in DC during the summer [sarcastically]." SO: "I'm glad you got into all the schools. Let's pick one and move now! But I need to find a job before we move." (Back of her mind: Go to American so I can get a job in DC already). My cats: "Will there be more birds/fish where we're moving? Please say we don't have to drive. Wait, a 7 hour drive? But there's birds here too you know."

I actually managed to make my decision Tuesday and send in all the items on Wednesday, so today has been kind of uneventful. I feel terrible for those of you who still haven't heard anything from different schools; that is torture. I got all my notices back in mid-March (within 3 days of each other), and I thought that was bad enough. I guess you've just got to trust that it will work out for the best. I drove myself crazy trying to differentiate between the two schools at the top of my list, but in the end it all fell into place.

I'm moving from Cleveland to DC to start at American in the fall. I'm mostly looking at things in the central NW part of the city, since the Tenleytown/Cleveland Park/Cathedral Heights area is less than ideal. The neighborhoods I'm looking into are Columbia Heights, Petworth, Adams-Morgan, Eastern Market (SE), and Brookland. I stayed with my friend, who lives in Arlington, over the weekend, and the area around Arlington Courthouse-Rosslyn is pretty nice. There are shops, restaurants, grocery stores, a movie theater, etc. and the Orange line is right there. It took me about 0minutes (including a delay) to get from Arlington to Tenleytown.

Just wanted to see if anyone is planning to attend American (particularly SIS) for grad school starting this fall. I finally made my decision yesterday and sent in my deposit, so I'll be starting the Global Environmental Policy program this fall. I got a chance to meet a few people from the GEP program during Monday's admitted student day, but if anyone else is on the forum, that would be great.

I'm in a similar boat. I have it down to two schools (sure, I only started at 3) and am visiting each of them next weekend. I will be driving to DC on April 8, then catching a train to NYC to visit The New School on April 9. Then I catch a train back to DC on the morning of April 10 and go to American's admitted student day on April 11, all before driving home that night. It is going to be exhausting and overwhelming, but I hope it will at least give me a chance to make a more informed decision.

Hey, I also got into American (Global Enviro Policy in SIS), and I am looking for a 1-bed in DC ($600-900 price range). I am moving with my girlfriend, so she will help share cost, but we aren't looking to get an additional roommate. I've had trouble finding any decent apartment listing sites or apartment buildings in the city other than Craigslist. I'd prefer to live close to the red line, since AU is on it, but want to live in DC proper. Any suggestions on where to look & what neighborhoods to focus on? I don't really know many neighborhoods to look into other than Capitol Hill, Tenleytown, Georgetown (obviously too expensive), and Foggy Bottom (ditto).

Congratulations on your admissions. I also applied to and was accepted to NYU SCPS (for MS in Global Affairs) and am hesitant to accept the offer. While the program does have a fairly strong faculty, I have also read a lot of less than stellar reviews of the school. It seems that SCPS is the red-headed step child within NYU; it is heavily promoted but is focused on returning professionals and adult students seeking a degree. This is not as appealing a situation to me as the other two programs to which I was accepted. Futhermore, NYU's website is frustrating me. I tried to contact professors within the Global Affairs program before I applied, but despite several hours of searching, I could not find email addresses or even track down a standard email format for faculty. I also have not heard back from them on financial aid/funding, although I was informed the notices would go out Wednesday, and I am having a difficult time figuring out how to get this info from financial aid. I called them last week and was told I would be contacted already. I can't speak for your particular situation, but NYU is probably #3 on my list of 3. (Other two are American SIS & Milano The New School).