StephanieJ

Got the email from Rachel yesterday! Accepted to Poland ETA Also, I am more than willing to share my two essays with anyone who wants to see them. Just message me your email address and I will be happy to send them your way.

So I went to Indiana University to tour the program and meet faculty/students. Absolutely fell in love with SPEA and will happily pursue my Masters of Public Affairs there. When I got home and checked my email, I was ecstatic to find I had been awarded a Fulbright ETA to Poland for next year. Excited to defer admission at IU for this opportunity. It's so funny how a day ago I had NO idea where my life was going.

I know in the past Poland has has an orientation for ETA grantees. However, according to that email, we're excluded because we're part of the EU (at least I assume that's what they mean by commission/non-commission)

I would...and not worry for a minute about paying for it!

I just want to knooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. Seriously, I'm so happy for everyone who's found out, but now that notifications are rolling in, I'm significantly more freaked out about the whole waiting thing.

I think that's a well-worded inquiry.

Still waiting on an ETA to Poland. There's never been a Fulbright winner at my school and with the S. Korea decisions, the other student who applied was rejected. I'm the last hope this year. And getting N-E-R-V-O-U-S!

I'm doing UChicago and Indiana University

I'm going to MPP open houses too! My mom was going to go with me, but the IU program was very specific that guests couldn't attend the events. So I'm making the 6 hour drive solo. Where are you going to be touring?

I'm in a similar situation with Public Policy programs. I've contacted student affairs and asked about departments that offer GA positions. I've applied to the Career Services and student activity center.

Thought I'd chime in. (a) I'm also a PhD applicant at Wayne State. ( I grew up in the suburbs and go to church near campus. Detroit gets a bad rap. The downtown area is being revitalized by young people. I love the city. You have to be smart sometimes, but it's not a bad deal.

I'm waiting to hear about an ETA in Poland. Not hoping to hearing anything until April. Just trying to be patient.

Bump. I'd like to get this out today.

I got a LOT of funding at my second choice school and next to nothing at my #1 school. My advisor told me to email the school and see if all the final merit decisions had been made and mention another school offered me a large financial aid package. I'm not entirely sure how to broach the subject...comments on this note would be appreciated. Mr. ___, I was admitted into the ___program to pursue a xxx. I'm incredibly excited about this opportunity. Obviously finances play a big part in my decision making process. I was wondering if final decisions had been made on merit-based aid. ___'s program is my first choice, but I have a very generous offer that includes tuition remission and large stipend at another university. Understandably, funding is limited. Any other suggestions you have on funding at __ would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for the opportunity to pursue my graduate studies in your program. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Stephanie

I bought a book on Amazon for $15...

We just upload unofficial transcripts (at least I did). They're not officially official unless they're delivered somewhere from the university in a sealed envelope.

Is anyone else concerned with what happens if they accept a grad school offer and fellowship and then later on receive a Fulbright offer? Obviously, I want to do the Fulbright at any costs. I also realize afterwards, I'll be a more attractive candidate for grad programs and more likely to get funding. I'm scared to accept a good offer from an okay school in case they won't let me go because it's "legally binding." It's SO FREAKING HARD to deal with this because I have no idea what my chances are in this competition. Both schools have said funding isn't deferrable. So this whole process is extremely confusing, maddening, worrying, and frustrating. I need to know about this dang fellowship!

I have a friend who's thinking about coming to the US for a PhD in BA. I don't have any knowledge in that arena, but I told him I'd feel out the possible funding opportunities. I know in many social sciences, PhDs are entirely funded with a stipend and such. Is that common in this field? Any advice for international students?

You would only have to pay in-state tuition in this case.

Not even developing countries...Poland is awful about keeping things together. The first time I went there, the embassy lost my passport for a solid month and found it in the mailroom waiting my visa.

No one in my group of friends understands in the least what I'm going through. Thank God for having found this place.

So like this? ___is currently a top choice for graduate studies next year. However, I am still planning to visit one more university before I make a final decision. They are hosting me on March 30th. I realize that this would place my decision outside of the three week window that was originally offered me. I am hoping that ___ will be willing to extend the deadline on this fellowship until I have had the opportunity to visit my last program. Thank you, Stephanie J....

I was awarded a fellowship at a small state school and asked to respond as soon as possible, preferably within three weeks. The end of this week is the end of the there weeks. I was recently reading over the documents and the university adheres to the April 15th and it says that I don't have to decide until that point. Next week I'm going to visit my first choice school. Obviously I don't want to commit to the smaller state school until I've visited with the professors at school of choice #1. Should I email my contact person at the small state school and reassure them that I'm considering the fellowship and that I am waiting to visit another school? Or should I just let the offer continue to chill out in my inbox until they initiate a conversation?

Statistics don't lie. Ever.

Tomorrow's a new day for emails!