Calvin_xc1

For me it's a 4-month wait. Rather nerve-wracking. As if the application waiting wasn't enough! (-: August 21 is my last day at work, with a few weeks in late July/early August to get everything in order beforehand (I'm not bringing much). The following morning, I step on to the train for a relaxing 4-day ride across the country (California to Boston) and a start on my new life! I'm actually glad to keep working through the summer, I really like my job (Dean's secretary at a community college), so I'll be bummed to leave it. I'm gonna be taking Calculus 1 over the summer as well, as the math's is my weakest point right now. That runs June-July. I'm one of those perpetual busy people, who's always able to find time to relax (-: A big part of working right up to the end is money. I won't be starting with much (grad school is my next step after a disastrous marriage), but it'll be enough to get things done, and as such I need to keep the money coming in right up to the last minute. Plus this gives me the chance to really say goodbye to everyone on the west coast.

I can relate, my friend, I can relate indeed. I have the added cost of my daughter as well. I had to sit down and do a TON of calculations to even see if it's possible for me to pull this off. Worst case, I'm looking at about 115k of debt after my Master's, and another 45k on top of that after a Ph.D (kids are expensive!!!). Almost everyone thinks I'm crazy, I'm leaving a $50k/yr job to do this. The problem is, that $50k/yr is about the top of the income potential in my current field (secretarial). Calculations for $160k of debt scare the bejesus out of me, even divvied over 25 years and/or with income-based repayment, but the income potential of the field I'm going to is ~$150k at the top. It's gonna hurt, a LOT, but I'll get there. I have 7 years of education (2 Master's, 5 Ph.D) to get everything lined up job-wise to make this happen. More importantly, though, I'll be doing something I love doing, and not 'settling' just because of challenging life circumstances. I couldn't live with myself if I just sat around and did nothing with my life.

Previous Schools Diablo Valley College (Community College) & John F. Kennedy University (4-year) Previous Degrees and GPAs:, AA, Graphics Design, 3.7 GPA. BA Social Ecology, 3.9 GPA GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 160/162/5.5 Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): Community College Dean's Secretary, 6 years. Math/Econ Background:Taking Calculus 1 over the summer, just finishing the intro econ series this semester. Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): N/A Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Family Policy Long Term Professional Goals: Ph.D, then family policy research working for state/federal government. Schools Applied to & Results: Rejected: Duke, Princeton, Harvard, Northwestern, U. Michigan - Ann Arbor Waitlisted: U. Chicago, U. Mass - Boston, Accepted: Brandeis, UNC Charlotte Ultimate Decision & Why: Brandeis University, one of the best Family Policy programs in the nation. Advice for Future Applicants: My situation was rather unique. I shot waaaaaaaaaaaaay high in my applications (Ph.D programs), with the rejections I received I started asking if it could be FW to the MPP programs for consideration. Some sad yes, some no. To be fair, UNC Charlotte did accept me to their Ph.D program, but the education I'll get at Brandeis will be far better for me. Best advice I can give. If you think you're good enough for a Ph.D program, go for it, but put some Master's applications in the mix too, don't need many, just 1-2, and don't hesitate to ask if they can FW your rejected Ph.D app to the Master's program!

Hiya! I'l be going to Brandeis for their Master's in Public Policy this fall! Looking forward to going, as it'll be quite a move for me, living in California my whole life (-:

Hi everyone, Well after spending several several months stressing like crazy over my applications, I finally got acceptances! Two on the same day even! Here's the conundrum I'm in though, I have two very very good choices to work with, which are: Brandeis University Heller School Master's in Public Policy Partial funding (~20k/yr of the ~60k/yr I'll need) University of North Carolina - Charlotte Doctorate in Public Policy Full funding + 14k/yr stipend I'm interested in family policy, and Brandeis is top-tier for that. Not scoffing UNC Charlotte, but Brandeis' program is much more robust in that area. If I get my MPP at Brandeis I can get a Ph.D later from pretty much anywhere, but I'll be up to my neck in debt (95k at worst, 55k at best), and will be on a slower track to the kind of career I want, which would be researching state and/or federal family service programs on effectiveness, improvements, etc. On the other hand I can go to UNC Charlotte and jump straight into the thick of things (which is actually kind of intimidating!) with little-to-no financial worries, and come out with a Ph.D, ready to jump into a career. I'm inclined towards Brandeis, if nothing else than that their program has a much more solid focus on family policy studies, but I wanted to ping GradCafe and look for advice as I'm not totally sure. I just found out about these acceptances two days ago, so I haven't had the chance to really talk with either of the program directors. Thankfully I have spring break this coming week, so I'll be able to then, but I'd love some feedback. Thanks everyone!

" - $10,500 cost-of-education allowance to the institution (anticipated to increase to $12,000 for 2012)" Most likely means more funding as well as more offers. If you think about it, since funding is for 3 years, and there's ~2,000 applicants who receive it, an increase of $1,500 per applicant per year would cost an extra $9,000,000.

Yeah, applied to 9 schools, nothing definitive yet, so I'm a nervous wreck... I sailed through January and February no problem, but for some reason March has proven to be an emotional slugmatch. I wanna curl up and sleep for a year :-(

LOL, I've been a nervous wreck about this since I first submitted in November (like many of us). It's refreshing to know it's so close to the end of the run, but yes, I've got my fingers crossed. I've got 4 more places to hear from, and damnit, I'm getting in to one of them! (-:

fort knox

I would think it would qualify, if it's connected to your education and perspective in some way. Myself for example, I'm polyamorous, and included that in my SOP's, however I'm also interested in studying polyamorous populations, and I tied my personal experiences in with a summary of the existing data on the field to drive the point home that not only am I knowledgeable about my field, but I've got a personal interest in sticking with my field. It really depends on how your experiences tie to your education. Does being raised by a poly lesbian give you a unique perspective in your field? Is that something you can leverage in your studies? Just my 2c.

I've shifted all over the place with my anticipation. It's hard, really really hard. I'm ready to move on with my life, and it's in the hands of people I don't know to decide what will happen. I dread the idea that I'll get rejected everywhere, or worse yet, get rejected everywhere and get my scholarships! That would be a nightmare! On the same note, I have moments of overwhelming confidence, imagining myself shopping around between universities to find the 'best pick'. Reality, as always, will be somewhere in the middle. I'm confident that no matter where I go that I'll be able to make the program work for me. I remind myself that, yes, I am reaching in my applications, but I'll get in somewhere, and I'll make it work. That helps. It also helps that I have a crazy-busy schedule, and keep myself occupied with everything that's going on! (-:

Poofh, well got my application in. That, combined with having gotten my grad school applications in last week just means I need to start harassing my recommenders (-: Either way, it's nice to know that I don't have to do anything else with my applications. I just hope I can handle the stress of waiting the next several months to get a verdict. Good luck to everyone!

With my GRE scores posted last Friday, I spent the weekend getting as much done as I could with my nine applications. Aside from a few things I need to mail hardcopy, it's all in. Duke, Northwestern, Princeton, Harvard, Brandeis, UMich Ann Arbor, UChicago, UMass Boston, UNC Charlotte. Applied to Public Policy PhD programs. Now I get to sit around and pray for the next several months. (-: I'm just glad I have classes, work and some independent research to keep me busy until then. Best of luck to everyone!