Aoteroa

I received my acceptance 17 minutes ago to my gmail account!! YAY! Good luck everyone :-)

I think policy wonk has articulated my frustrations exactly. The whole process was made more annoying given they initially told us decisions would be on 1 April. Many of us mid-careers are working so we need to resign our jobs, and in many cases shift countries, to start this program on time. I've found HKS are making a poor impression in the way that they value their potential students. I've almost given up checking my emails!

Complete silence. I tried phoning on Friday but was just put on hold and then not answered. Hopeless!

Yes they were due at 5pm! Good luck and hope to see you at WWS soon.

Thanks trotamundos. I was about to send off acceptance to another school....but maybe I'll wait one more day. Not that it helps much if the financial aid decisions are still separate and not for another few weeks. Argh.

Thanks Hezronk. Did you specifically ask whether "everyone" includes all Mason plus Non-Mason Mid-Career MPA's? I was told by Admissions they were being done separately. This is confusing!

Yes, I attended the hosting weekend at WWS. It was very impressive. For a start the class sizes are quite small. I sat in on one class of 5 students! Other classes seem to be around 15 - 30 students, although what they call the "gateway" courses are much larger. This smaller class size means greater attention from the Professors and help with papers etc. It is definitely one of the key strengths of WWS vs other schools. The Alumni network and career services seemed excellent. By all accounts the alums still use the Princeton career services network years later to help them get contacts, interviews and jobs. We had a lunch where Alumni spoke and I was very impressed by their career trajectory's - without exception they were all still very committed to the school. Princeton itself, and the campus, was a pleasant and relaxed environment. It looks like a small English town actually. It is very small though - it seemed to basically be one road of shops, but about 15 minutes away is apparently a bigger shopping area. The Graduate College has a basement bar which seems quite social. I heard from other students that if you are on the meal plan (ie living in Old Grad College or new Grad college) then that is very social and a good way to make new friends. If you live further away in the other apartment blocks you have to make a bit more of an effort to meet people, but the WWS students all hang out in the Robertson building (main WWS building) so you meet people there. Everyone I met was really lovely, articulate and interesting.

I heard, third hand, that they only just started looking at our Applications (non-mason) on 1 April. So it seems the chances of hearing until later in April are low. It's really very frustrating and is making my other option (WWS) look far more appealing - they've been very communicative and helpful. Hope everyone is surviving the wait ok!

I just called - it didn't sound particularly promising I'm afraid! They repeated that decisions are "by 30 April", nothing new there, but she did a few times say "later in the month" so I don't think we can expect anything this week!They said that there is no planned "hosting day" for the MC-MPA admits (The MPPs have their open day tomorrow)Although admission decisions are "by 30 April" the financial aid decisions are not until May 2nd! We have until May 23rd to accept the place.They confirmed that the program for Mid Careers starts on 20 July The waiting continues for us all which is very frustrating! What are other people doing about accepting other schools with Deadlines of 15 April??

Hi - I was amazed to get in to WWS and get full tuition plus $25K stipend on the MPP program (might be more as our summer program is longer). Pretty difficult to turn that down, but still considering HKS.

I hope it was an April Fools....it certain fooled me! Can the people accepted already to the Mason program let us know if their course information says when the Summer Camp beings? Last year it was 21 July but I wonder whether this year because the terms at Harvard are meant to start earlier whether it will begin 18 July? I figure most of us have to resign jobs and shift at least cities, if not countries, to get there in time so any inside word would be appreciated!

Thanks for all the information - I'm in the same position as many of you and need to reply to another school (WWS) by 15 April. I'm not definitely going to HKS as I need to know whether I get any financial aid (I previously applied for the MPP and received a fellowship but I didn't take it up). If I get something from HKS I could cover the rest with savings/loans. If I get nothing from HKS then I don't think I can turn down the generous offer at WWS. I've had student loans before and they take way longer to pay off than you think.

Argh! I just called them as well and they said the decisions are "by April 30th". I said that was unhelpful when other schools want a decision by April 15th but they were unsympathetic. I said that I'd previously been told the decisions would come out this week and she said that information was not accurate. This is very frustrating.

For those on the Mason Program who have had their acceptance can you tell us whether you have been invited to a Hosting Weekend at Kennedy School, and when it is? Thanks! (and congratulations!!)

Thanks so much for the information! That will definitely help stop the constant checking of my gmail account.