SocGal08

I get what you're saying, hardkore. As I understand it, your tuition for the year is $30k, but your total expenses, including books, room and board, etc. is $42k. Thats why your financial aid package, which includes the $6500 scholarship, your work study, and your loans, totals $42k. Engguy, I think you might be mistaken in your understanding of what a "financial aid package" is. The scholarship would just be one component of a financial aid package. That said, I am in a somewhat similar position with a masters program and I chose to go. Like yours, my program was a perfect fit for what I wanted to do, but meant taken out more in loans than I wanted. I thought about what the degree would get me in terms of my interests and career, and what it would cost me. How much in loans will you be taking out? How much will you make with this degree? How long do you think it will take to pay them back? Have you looked at all of the scholarship , TA and fellowship opportunities? To get some perspective on this, I talked to a current student in my program who had great advice. I'm sure someone from your program would be willing to talk to you. Then, think about the program and what you might get out of it. For me, the bottom line was that this was what I want to do and it's worth it to me. Take your time, and think about it. Since you're coming straight from undergrad, might you be able to defer for a year to work? Hope that helps.

Thanks for the advice. The university did offer me a scholarship, but with living expenses and the high tuition, I'm still looking at a lot of loans. I think that getting more information about the size of my monthly payments, the amount of time it will take to pay off the loan, etc. as you're both suggesting, is a good idea. I've heard good things about that Suze Orman book. I saw her on Oprah and found her quite grating, but maybe I'll pick up a copy. I definitely agree that it is likely worth it in the long run because at the end of the day, I'll (hopefully) be doing what I want to do. After punching the clock for a couple of years, that means a lot. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I've been accepted to a master's program that is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for, except that it's quite expensive. I would likely have to take out $30k in loans to cover everything. It's only a one year program, so that would be it, but it still seems like a lot of money. I'm trying to remind myself of all the arguments for going: that it's a good fit academically and personality wise; that it's at a top university; and that it will help me achieve my goals. It seems like other people are in this position as well. What did you guys decide, and how did you decide it?

I second that! I got really sick of reading my SOP, but I'm glad I did. It actually really helped me to print it out and mark it by hand. For some reason it helped to see it on paper, and I welcomed the chance to get away from my computer. I've got to disagree with the no personal stories though. I think telling a story is a good way to differentiate yourself, and for me it really gave me something to build my essay around. If you can avoid the cliches, and you really have a stron personal motivation, I think it's really worthwhile.

I am headed to UPenn this fall as well. Any more housing tips?

As I mentioned in my post, I wasn't just responding to that comment, but also the one you made about diversity essays. I would hardly call my post a rant, quite to the contrary, I wanted to explain in as measured a way as possible why I think diversity is about more than whining or beating up on the white guy. It's obvious that you resent these programs and I just wanted to throw in my two cents.

Is that comment really necessary? I would normally bite my tongue, but you made a similar comment in reference to diversity essays in another discussion, and I really don't appreciate it. I was really excited when I found this board last month because people are so positive and supportive. When I was applying to undergrad, some of the boards I read were full of vitriolic racial comments. While most of that was from racist trolls, I also think it reflected some of the strong emotions and frustrations that people feel going through the admissions process. It's stressful to put all of your accomplishments before some admissions committee that will seemingly decide your fate (to put it dramatically!). I get all of that. That said, the comments about diversity essays just being whining contests and this other comment are out of line. I'm a minority, I'm poor, and I'm a first generation college student. While I have faced many obstacles in getting my degree, so have others, and my point here is not to argue for or against affirmative action. Applying for college (or a job) is about showing who you are and what you have to offer. My background and life experiences are a major part of that. The point of the diversity essay is to elaborate on that, not to whine. Throughout the admissions process, I've never been made to feel like I'm just a number or the [optional] box I check in the racial category. I'm sorry to go all cornball after school special on you, I just think it's really simplistic when people reduce the notion of diversity to just being about whining or beating up on the white guy.