nm16

I heard back about the scholarships. But no news from internship interviewers.

Seeing as I did not get any emails from HGSE today, I'm guessing I did not receive one either? ._. oh well.

I inquired about this when I called Admissions for a separate issue. They said they can't give us housing tours for a number of reasons -- school policy, privacy of students who live in HUH, residence hall renovations (I'm guessing they were referring to Cronkhite). I think this is a really great way to put it. I am in a different situation where I can still get that same kind of "promotion" at a different Master's program for zero debt, but it boils down to the notion that for many of us (myself included), making this decision goes far beyond present/future monetary value. If anything, if I do end up choosing HGSE and embracing the debt, it'll certainly have to be for the enrichment of my life in ways that other programs certainly could not offer.

So if the year at HGSE costs approximately 65k (including living expenses), and if you account for CQE's post above... that means at least 54k of it has to be out of our own pocket. Bah. I guess it's not THAT much compared to my friends' and sister's 350k+ loans for med school, but still... you can buy a decent home in Nashville w/54k. So I was offered a free ride at Michigan, as well as a scholarship at Vandy, which will also make Vandy a free ride if you count in the assistantships they offer... and now I'm so SO torn. I want to love Harvard but right now it's kind of difficult... HGSE, YOU BETTER WOO ME HARD AT OPEN HOUSE.

Echoing HigherEd2013's question to Airwick. The location and everything else seems decent; coming straight from undergrad, I'm sure I can deal with one more year of on-campus housing. With that said, however, my university has absolutely spoiled me with really great, healthy, vegetarian-friendly, and diverse food in the dining halls. Think parfaits, luna bars, breakfast crepes, and lots of fish. Not sure if even Harvard will compare ha. Also, what kind of renovation are they doing for Cronkhite??? I tried googling but it doesn't really say much about any big improvements going on in residence halls. Also, I am studying an education-related major as an undergrad, and as I do my assigned research/readings my heart does huge skips and leaps on occasions when I read things along the lines of "According to Harvard University professor so-and-so...", or "Research conducted by HGSE professors A, B, and C concluded that...". There are many such occasions. Just throwing that out there. I also should start looking for a roommate... bah.

edyoukateor - I'm thinking Cronkhite too, or some other housing option that Harvard offers. Seems like there's no huge difference in costs especially if I end up having to live on my own as well. It's also not worth the hassle for me since I'm already relocating from coast to coast this May and I don't want to worry about yet another relocation... If it was a two-year program it'd really be a different story...

Thank you to all current residents of the Boston area + HGSE students/alum for the helpful advice RE: Housing! I have a specific question for all of you, though -- how feasible is it to get a place just on your own (aka without roommates)? How much should I expect to dish out per month? I'm asking this just in case because I don't know a single soul in Boston + it just seems easier after having a space of my own for the past three years. Plus I might have a cat w/me; not sure how others will like that, heh.

They only gave me two interviews but then again, I only had a few hours to spare on the cover letters and only sent out eight. Excited to see all of you there!

Haha CQE, that's hilarious. I'm sure my Asian relatives will be all over framing my acceptance letter.

Hey admitted folks -- what does it say in regards to when we find out about potential financial aid? The admit website is really difficult to navigate via phone, my only method currently available for browsing. thanks in advance!

Omg.. I see an acceptance letter... What????!! WHAT IS LIFE WHAT

Thanks so much for the consolation, lbessmer! I couldn't even move up my flight since it costs so much. Apparently I may have a fracture in my foot! Luckily I'm staying right in the city, right next to the British Museum and all the action, so I shouldn't have to walk much. The tea has indeed been a huge comfort... That, plus the retail therapy, yikes. wish Her Majesty would grant this poor tourist a wheelchair... I've been seeing pictures from Boston friends of all the snow that they've been getting... So I'm not TOO hopeful that it'll be today.

Seriously, congratulations ASzofer! I haven't heard back yet from Peabody on any financial assistance, and Michigan just sent me an automated email about how much it'll cost to go there per year. with that, plus being in the UK where it has rained/been cloudy ALL WEEK, PLUS injuring my foot, PLUS not hearing back from HSGE still... It has not been the most enjoyable vacation. Hopefully we get our decisions ASAP, as in next Monday. Meh.

Wow! Haha thanks to ALL of the current students for your moral support and tidbits of information. It's keeping us sane! I have an early start to my day tomorrow so I have to be off to bed not sure if sleep will even come, but I shall try! You guys are all so awesome.

Greetings from the UK! Kept refreshing my email everywhere I had wifi, but I guess today is not the day.

How important would you say geographic location/school area is? I'm debating between UCLA and Michigan and cannot really see myself staying in Ann Arbor/the Midwest beyond grad school. At the same time, I know Michigan's two-year program that I applied to is supposed to be really really excellent. I'm hoping to eventually end up in the Bay area, or around DC.

Wow, I've been gone from GC two nights and I've got a full four pages' worth of pre-decision anxiety here. nonetheless, you guys are so great and I'm so glad we're sharing this experience together. Not sure if anyone else in real life quite understands what my career goals are, ha...

UGH HGSE, Y U SEND ME SILLY EMAILS TITLED "APPLICATION STATUS UPDATE"? Haha just had a crazy moment of panic and then read the title again to realize it was about Financial Aid...

It really does suck, I know. We've been dating for about 3.5 years and have spent about half that time two time zones away from each other (PST & CST). Hopefully the transition goes smoothly for the both of you! My boyfriend hasn't quite put a ring on it yet so he'll have to stay put for now Haha. I am really trying to go back to the West Coast! I see you have automatically eliminated USC from your considerations, haha. Good call! Unfortunately UCLA might not be too kind to me in terms of assistantship/internship prospects... bah, we'll see...

Thanks that is definitely comforting. I'm over it, I just get bummed out for a moment from time to time. My boyfriend and I were both really hoping for an acceptance, since it would mean we can finally maybe have a normal relationship without any time zone separations! Haha so it was more of a personal disappointment, I think. Ah well-- only a few more days of waiting, folks!

I think it is. At least it seems like the 9-digit number I got when I first registered for an HGSE online account... there was an email that said something like this: Not banking too much on HGSE though... my confidence level tanked after the spectacularly generic rejection from SUSE! Hah.

So they can technically be like... "Congrats! You're accepted! Now come visit us next week"? Hahahaha I love GIFs. Reddit is my life

I'm going to the Michigan visit day too! Have they told you yet whether they'll let you crash at a grad student's place? I signed up and I'm waiting... and still waiting... heh. Also, I've been checking the weather in Ann Arbor since getting admitted and it has literally snowed there at least 3x a week for the past month. As a native Californian, this scares me.

Rejected, bah! POLS was pretty much my dream program, so I was bummed for a little bit (plus that app fee, ouch!)... but now I'm over it, I suppose. Ha! We'll all find the right places to go regardless. A sincere, heartfelt congratulations to everyone else who was accepted, though!

Yeah, because I pretty much submitted at the last minute. Bah, it's now lunchtime on the west coast, so maybe I should actually get some work done.