TropicalCharlie

Without a science background, I think that you should approach an interdisciplinary program like MS environmental management/policy. Even though the program is labeled environmental, there are so many paths to take from here including but not limited to geology and geography. You'll most likely have to take some pre-req science courses depending on the program. Lots of job possibilities in this arena, especially in consulting which can be quite lucrative.

I totally concur. Don't play their games. Life is too short to waste it on pleasing others. Keep your head up and don't let their vitriol get to you.

attack

My husband and I are both 30ish, no kids. He is 3/4 of the way through his doctorate program, and I will begin my MS program this fall. Prior to grad school, we both had good paying jobs with awesome benefits and lived a very comfortable life style, taking frequent vacations and such. When my husband entered his program, the shock of the life style adjustment was quite jarring. Our savings were whittled away to pretty much nothing by relocation expenses (moved from mainland to the middle of the Pacific ocean) and loss of full-time income. I am not complaining about these changes but merely acknowledging how difficult the transition can be at first. For us, it will be slightly worse this fall as both of us will be in school at the same time (plus another move back to the mainland). It is a good thing that I like ramen, because it looks like I'll be eating a lot of this in the next couple of years.

Since it has been less than a month, I don't think you have much to worry about. Now being admission response season, I'm sure you will hear from GT sometime next month. Good luck! Btw, nice photo choice. Anything with Putin makes me chuckle, especially when he poses with a puppy! Have you seen the one where he posed topless while riding a horse? That one cracked me up.

I applied to two MS programs with rolling admissions. I received an acceptance from both schools within 3 months. When did you apply?

Applied to 3 MS programs. Accepted to 2 (12/1 and 1/31) - both rolling admissions. The last school will send out their acceptances in mid March (app was due 12/15).

Bionerd - Don't fret. I'm sure you will hear something soon. Think positive. Good luck!

absolute zero

Only you would be able to determine which program is best and most suitable to your personality and background. Of the three programs listed, MPP and MPA appear similar and suited for someone desiring to 'manage' disasters; someone with strong leadership qualities and able to respond quickly with solutions. While the MS sounds more like an interdisciplinary program which integrates policy, management and research. What do you find most fulfilling about your peace corps position now? What draws you to this field? 3.1 GPA is above the minimum cut off for most schools, so you should have no trouble getting admission to a program as long as it's not super competitive. Your work experience in the peace corps will greatly strengthen your application package, especially if you can get a very good LOR from it. I recommend checking out the public health service website. It's under the US Dept of Health, and they have student programs that you can apply for while in grad school which provide tuition coverage, work experience in public health and such. They offer great employment and benefits package after you graduate. Definitely worth checking out: http://www.usphs.gov/student/

august23, with your background, you can definitely apply to grad schools in cs. I recommend actually speaking with the graduate coordinators at each of the school you are interested in applying. Right off the bat, they can tell you what you can do to strengthen your application. While you have great work experience in the field, keep in mind that the schools you are interested in are tier 1 schools. This means that you will be going up against a very tough pool of applicants. Generally, most grad programs impose a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. Just because you meet the minimum GPA and have work experience doesn't mean that you will automatically be considered for admission at these tier 1 schools. I'm not discouraging you from applying to these schools at all, but just want you to keep an open mind about the process and what to anticipate. Also, don't pick a school based on prestige. While the tier 1 schools may be eye-catching on your cv, most employers don't give much weight to where you got your MS as long as you are qualified. I am not knocking on any tier 1 schools as I attended one for undergrad, but you can get just as good an education at other schools with reputable cs programs. You have to find a school that is a good 'fit' for you. Some schools have a very competitive environment while others are more laid back. You have to determine what suits you best, because it will help you decide ultimately where you will be most successful. To find out about 'fit', first contact the grad program coordinator at the school to get more info. Then get in touch with current grad students in the program (often times, their names and contact info are listed on the dept. web page). Check out the cs web site and contact faculty members that you would be interested in working with. This is key to admission, especially if the school requires it. As for costs, UCLA is going to be the most affordable option as it is a state school. USC and Cal Tech are private, so your education costs are going to be astronomical here. Cal Tech is the creme de la creme of cs on the west coast, so you will be competing against ridiculously uber-accomplished applicants. Depending on the program, you may get a tuition waiver in exchange for TAship. Though finding a fully funded MS program is not as easy as it used to be as funding sources continue to shrink in this economy. Of course, you can always fall back on student loans. You mentioned having strong LOR's. Make sure that these references are willing to write you fresh letters when you apply. Most schools will not accept outdated letters. Since you live in the LA area, check out other state schools in addition to the aforementioned. Gather as much information as you can. Being informed will help you with the decisions ahead.

Paradisaeidae, you definitely have a chance at grad school and will get admitted somewhere, though it may not be UCSB, UCSC or UCSD. UCSB is my alma matter, and I also have a degree in marine science. UCSB's minimum GPA for grad school is 3.0. Even if they round up your GPA to 3.0, you will be competing against applicants with very strong GPA, test scores and similar work experience. I have strong ties at the the marine science institute there and have personally witnessed conversations between professors on the admission committee about borderline students. If it comes down to your package vs another student with a stronger package (grades, etc), admission is going to be given to the other student, because UCSB's marine biology program is highly desirable and competitive. Similarly this applies to UCSD (world renown Scripps Inst. of Oceanography) and UCSC, both exceptional marine biology schools. Also these schools typically will not take into account post-baccalaureate grades as part of your GPA calculation. Now if you can network and establish a strong connection with a professor that you are interested in working with, they may be willing to overlook some of your weak spots and waive certain admission requirements. Though this is seldom done. While your chances at these top tier marine biology schools may not be as sunny as you had hoped, there are many other state schools in California with great marine biology programs. Check with San Diego State University, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Northridge, San Francisco State University, and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (associated with Cal State Schools- so you can apply through any Cal State). Part of applying to grad schools is managing your expectations and working with the assets that you have. Don't look back at and dwell on things you can't fix. Just look forward and work toward what you can accomplish now. I highly recommend that you check out the other state schools, if California is your destination. I realize that my advice is raw but I don't want to sugar-coat it because it would be a disservice to you. If you have further questions about UCSB, feel free to PM me.

GradHooting - Going off of information you provided, your grades don't seem to be a major issue considering you graduated with honors. What does the rest of your application package look like? Strong LOR's, SOP, and relevant work experience will greatly strengthen your application. I did not have stellar grades, though not terrible, but I had very strong LOR's, work experience, and a decent SOP. I also had extensive communication with professors in the programs that I was interested in prior to applying. So far I have been admitted to 2 out 3 schools that I applied to. One of them is my top choice, and I'm still waiting to hear from the third school. I believe that what helped me the most was research and finding the right schools to apply to. I looked for schools that gave more weight to LOR's and work experience than grades. Another key factor is establishing a connection with a professor in the program you are interested in. Even if the school doesn't require you to make contact with a potential adviser, it is always a good idea to make contact. I know several people with perfect grades and test scores who were denied admission merely because they did not take the simple step of making connections. Without having more information about your case, I'm afraid I can't dispense further advice. I suggest that you do a bit more research into aerospace programs and schools. Don't be discouraged. Fiat lux!

My two cents... Maintain your LOR connections long after college. You may enter the work force and be there for a while before deciding that you want to pursue graduate school. Keep your potential LOR writers apprised of what you are up to in a few simple emails each year or a christmas card. Doing so will help you greatly when the time comes where their help is needed in your application process. Don't base your decision on a school's prestige. Just because a school is well-known and established doesn't mean that it equates 'good fit.' Do your research, talk to professors and current grad students in the program you are interested in, as well as their colleagues at a different school. Most of the time, you can get a fairly good idea of the internal environment and use it in your pro's and con's list for each potential school.

Fall admission is probably better as schools typically allot more spaces for fall enrollment. Spring spaces are usually more restricted, therefore lowers your chances of admission. As for your second question, in this economy, you just never know when the right time is.

EffNine, the relevance of GPA vs GRE scores vary from school to school and program to program. A school may place more emphasis on GPA than GRE scores and vice versa. Sometimes the best resource is your potential advisor in the program you are interested. Make contact with a professor whom you are interested in working with and ask them about this. Most professors are candid and often times will provide you with helpful information which you can then use to strengthen your application. Don't bother asking a graduate program coordinator, because they are trained to hand out generic answers since they are not involved in the admission decision-making process.

Sunflower, congratulations! In your opinion, what factors led to your admission to these wonderful schools?

mate

Supergradgirl - I get where you are coming from. When you are on the receiving end of these nasty, resentful episodes, how do you respond? Have you asked these people why they are directing these issues at you? Frustrated people find ways to lash out, and maybe so, because no one has ever asked them why. Sometimes all it takes is to ask where they are coming from, and their answer may surprise you. Put yourself in their shoes, and you might learn something new about them and/or yourself.

Thanks for the laughs. Poor techs! I have been there, so I know how it feels.