CharKel27

Thanks for the help!

Hey all, While I took a stats course during my undegrad career, USC requires you to take a statistics course within 3 years of matriculation...and I'm an old bag at 28, thus I need to retake stats. I'd rather not do it through USC considering it'll be expensive, but I also have a very intense summer job that will not leave me much free time at all. Any recommendations for online courses / intensive courses / courses that won't burn a hole in my wallet? THANKS!

I spoke with a professor and two students about the NPO course offerings, and indeed there are courses that are 1) not listed but most likely will be offered (like fundraising) and 2) courses outside of Price that are applicable. Sooo....I JUST COMMITTED! USC here I come!

Ahhh this is so hard! I loved the campus, the admissions/career services/student affairs people were great, and I plan on being out west in the future...but I was just eyeing UPenn's curriculum vs. USC's and I prefer UPenn's nonprofit specialization by a mile. I emailed my potential advisor at USC asking a bit more about the curriculum and maybe she will sway me one way or the other, but I still feel stuck. USC's nonprofit specialization seems incredibly broad/unspecific, while UPenn offers courses in marketing, grant writing, fundraising, etc. which is more appealing to me. What to do, what to do?

Going to check out the school tomorrow then making my final decision between USC and UPenn...someone decide for me, please!

I called and they told me first round funding decisions were starting to go out last week. They also straight up told me on the phone that I wasn't getting any $$, so I say just give them a call but if you haven't heard now, you probably didn't get anything.

I was accepted via email with the line about aid being an ongoing process and I would receive an email if I was selected, but I heard from another accepted student that their original acceptance email included the $5,000/year award in it; so it seems to me if no aid offer was in your first email, you weren't selected for first round funding. I emailed asking if they were going to have a second round of funding but haven't heard back.

Thanks for the response, MPAStudent. 1) I am looking to specialize in nonprofit management. I like the sound of the electives in that concentration offered by Penn but I also get the feeling that the school is very gov't oriented. 2) I believe the UPenn name would really help any career...but I'm looking to work in the nonprofit sector. I would think it'd help? 3) I'm originally from CT but I currently live in UT and imagine myself out west. But to me, UPenn is nationally recognized, although I could be wrong... 4) I have a full ride from UConn but it isn't my fav program at all. I just can't decide how much $$/name should play into my decision. I also have a 1/2 scholarship from USC and I'm into the University of Washington, which may be better options considering they are ranked higher and out west? But then again everyone says the rankings don't mean much, and if I did decide to return east I'm not sure UW would mean anything to anyone. Someone decide for me! Kidding...but any advice is helpful, thanks!

So I haven't read anything on here about Fels lately, but I got in yesterday with $16,000 a year, which only puts a dent in a really expensive program. I know everyone says not to pay much attention to the rankings, but it can't be denied that Fels is super low; it also can't be denied that the UPenn name is clearly prestigious. So the question is: is it worth it?

I've had two schools today alert me that while I didn't receive funding during the first round, I am very competitive to receive funding IF there is a second round of merit aid. I feel like I'm just being kept on the hook but who knows... Anyone know about when schools typically do a second round of funding? I need to buckle down and pick a school, especially since one of my schools wants to know by April 1, and I'd like to know if I should count the schools out that gave me nothing during the first round or if I should keep them in the back of my mind just in case this elusive second round of funding actually goes down. Thanks for the help!

Yeah I hear that....oh well!

Skemp, did you get two separate emails from UW, one about admission and one regarding funding? My admission email mentions that financial awards are ongoing but I feel like I'm not going to get anything if you found out about funding in the same email or at least the same day as you were admitted. Thanks for the help!

Any other SPA MPA applicants hear about aid? I wish I could relax and stop checking my inbox every three seconds...

MPPgal, when did you hear from SPEA? I'm in but haven't heard anything about aid. Getting on this forum is great for info but also nearly gives me a heart attack every time considering there are a bunch of schools other people have heard from that I haven't (American, SPEA, UW, etc....)

Just got the email saying they can't offer me any merit aid. Looks like they are off the list...too bad! Good luck to everyone else!