trogdorburninator

oman. has anyone else suffered the absolute terror of talking to faculty via phone? i think it almost took the life right out of me.

haha, thanks! is there a particular reason you want to do the dual degree instead of just the MPP? Schools such as SSA and probably similarly situated MSW programs (maybe Michigan in particular) definitely accept people who do not want to be in direct practice.

I can say that I got into the MSW and MPP programs at UChicago with less experience than that! I ultimately decided not to do the dual degree (partially because I got a scholarship from SSA but not Harris, so it would have been v. expemsive in my eyes) but I only had 1 americorps term between undergrad and grad.

@joynow your topic does sound fascinating. why just those two programs? its one thing to have financial or time constraints, but another if you are psyching yourself out. go whole hog, I say! a somewhat nonlinear journey to grad studies can definitely be a point of strength.

Nice reads y'all. The numbers game is hard- I'm only applying to 4 programs and I had a faculty at my MA seriously tell me that was only half as many as a should apply to if I'm serious abt this. But, as I'm super broke, its just not an option this year at least. On the other hand, I had a different prof. tell me anything more than 5 made her skeptical students had spend enough time evaluating fit. So, 6 one was 1/2 dozen the other.

Ugh- I'm so in your boat right now! Just finished my MSW in june, applying to medical/psychological anthro programs with emphasis on science/technology studies and feeling VERY SOL re: writing sample options. The longer papers I wrote last spring with the hopes of using for applications are not quite topically aligned or as good as they need to be, and one other option is only 8 pages, and from my first year. I don't have a lot of feed back except to say, I feel you, and if its any consolation, unlike my partner in philosophy who got into programs I think mostly on the base of his writing sample, I've had faculty tell me (somewhat sheepishly) that no one is "really" going to read that much of it, and they are much more concerned with the research project outlined in your personal statement. So, I've been trying not to forget that.

Bullying myself into reaching out to interesting and impressive faculty is pretty rough way to spend most of the day; especially when one considers that they can like you plenty, think you have great potential, experience, (etc etc) and it can still go down the toilet because thats the game. I'm going to stop pulling this thread into the dark depths of insecurity we all have; since I'm also have a terrible time applying for work right now, I'm just taking hits alllllllll over the place. more interestingly, anyone got any good reads?

hello everyone, if anyone is like me, its the heat of drafting statements/CV/tracking down faculty. I feel like it is draining the life out of me. Anyone else out there feel silly putting together a relatively empty CV, esp. in light of the competition? (@smg?) anyone else applying to Northwestern, UC San Diego, Michigan? U Chicago? (Though I'm mostly interested in the Comparative Human Development Program).