nab190

I applied, sent everything in January 15th, got an email a few days later saying I wouldn't hear back until March. I'm anxiously awaiting!

I just got my admission to GW's Philosophy and Social Policy program!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!1 I was worried, because so many people had heard back already. GW is my top choice, ahhhhhhhhhh, I'm so excited!!!

Neither of my parents really went to college. My mom dropped out of community college after a semester and my dad got a degree from a tech school. When I was younger I always had the basic necessities, but we were definitely working class, and my parents never really had enough money to set aside anything for my sister and I for college. Eventually, by the time I reached high school, my dad had a job with a good company, and my mom had moved her way up from a cashier to assistant manager at her store. But I still had to take out a lot of money in loans to pay for school, even though it was a public university (Penn State, most expensive public school in the country). I ended up staying home for the first two years because it was cheaper and I was able to get into the honors program at the local Penn State branch campus and they offered me a small scholarship. I didn't have to pay for rent or food, because I was still living at home, but I never liked accepting money from my parents and I worked 20-30 hours a week, while being a full time student (Penn State considers any student full time who takes at least 12 credits, but I normally took 18-20 credits), to pay for the things I needed and to help pay off the loans I was taking out. After two years I transferred to University Park (Penn State's main campus). I picked up a job there too, again working 20-30 hours a week, plus 18 credit semesters. My first semester at main campus I ended up hating my major and started dealing with some personal issues related to my sexual orientation and needless to say, I pretty much ended up failing out of my classes that semester. I switched into a major in the social sciences that I was more interested in, but that I basically chose because I wanted to graduate in four years (which didn't happen anyway). I couldn't really talk to my parents or family about the stuff I was dealing with. They were happy I was in college, but they couldn't relate to my experiences, and I wasn't comfortable talking about the more personal issues I was dealing with. The one thing I did find that helped me through some hardships was activism and advocacy work. There were a lot of political issues surrounding Penn State at the time and I joined a student group which I became wholly devoted too. Eventually, I and some others started our own group and I branched out and got involved with student government and a few other organizations. I ended up spending more time working at my job, so I could pay for rent and food and books and insurance, and being active in different student and community groups than I did on my school work. I was able to improve my GPA every semester after the one that I basically failed out of, but with the combination of work and being only mildly interested in my major, I never devoted myself as much as I could have (which I regret). And while some of my peers in student government were taking $15/hour Exxon/Mobile internships over the summer, I took an unpaid internship working on local immigration issues. The next fall I was basically broke and was only saved monetarily when I got a $1200 scholarship from Penn State for being a "student leader". Its weird that my extracurricular work, which in many ways kept me from doing better in school, is also what I've been able to use to get some money and, most likely, what has gotten me into grad school. Ultimately though, a high GPA will get you places that community service won't. It just killed me when the student body president, who went to boarding school, whose father was on the University's Board of Trustees, who lived in Palm Beach, and flew all over the country every weekend just because she could, lamented about getting her first "B" because she was so loaded down by taking 3 classes AND being in student government. I know a lot of people come from circumstances more dire than mine, but even I can recognize the privileges that come with money and support. I sincerely applaud everyone on here who has kept their head up and worked hard to get where they are. Also, as a side note, what does everyone think about merit vs. need based aid? A lot of universities have increased merit aid and reduced need-based aid and subsequently, middle/upper class students are starting to receive more aid than lower income students because they typically have better grades, more varied experiences, etc.

I do youth counseling for a non-profit organization. I want to move away from human services and advocacy though, get into research and policy and legislative affairs.

I actually didn't apply to their MPP program, I applied to the MA program which is housed in the Philosophy Department, so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it. Although I saw at least one girl who was admitted in the MA program already.

I'd like to work for a think-tank or for the federal government, preferably on the legislative side of things, in the House or Senate or maybe CRS (dream big!).

I haven't heard either. I saw a bunch of acceptances a few weeks ago, so I don't know what to think. :|

I feel like I should be listing an ivy, but honestly, George Washington is my top choice. Their MA program in Philosophy and Social Policy is perfect for what I want to do. But UW comes in a close second, I really like their MPA program and the school in general. They also have a really cool program in Political Communication, which, if I'm feeling ambitious, I would consider picking up as a dual-degree. Still waiting to hear from both. Sigh.

It feels pretty awesome.

Haha, I agree. Everyone who knows you just assumes that you should get in. They however, do not know my GRE scores/GPA, lol.

Not WST, but I applied to the MA in Public Policy for Philosophy and Social Policy. Since its actually housed in the Philosophy Department, I'm hoping that other people being accepted to GWU's MPP program doesn't mean I should have heard by now. I just got accepted to American for its MPP, but GWU also my top choice. Good luck!

I just got accepted into the MPP program at American!! Woo! Lol, that's all. I'm just pretty excited. You know, the whole dear-God-what-if-I-don't-get-into-any-school-I-applied-to panic can go away now. Still waiting to hear from... George Washington Oregon State University of Washington and my safeties... University of Denver Northeastern