RCtheSS

I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday break! As much as I should have, I didn't work on any applications while I was on vacation with family. Last night I managed to submit my MSW apps for Minnesota and Washington, leaving me with UT-Austin, Michigan and UChicago. I'm going to hunker down and get all social work and public policy apps submitted by this Friday so I can truly be done with this application cycle!

I think that could work. I know I've thanked all my letter writers at least 5 times in person or via email since I first asked them, so it's not as if they already don't know how much I appreciate their support.

Are you all sending gifts to your letter writers? I want to write out thank you cards at least, but I can't think of an appropriate gift to send along with them...perhaps chocolate.

I'm not sure if you've come across this website in your research of programs, but I found it helpful when comparing program curricula. http://portal.publicpolicy.utoronto.ca/en/MPPMPAPrograms/Pages/index.aspx

I don't see anything wrong with listing when you first started volunteering with the organization. Technically, it's been an ongoing activity for you even if the amount of time has varied. I don't know how else they would verify how often you attended, unless a volunteer coordinator is one of your LOR writers.

I've totally slacked on the MSW applications, but I'm happy to have submitted all but two of my MPP apps. Once I solidified my SOP, it was much easier to get through the MPP apps. On the MSW side, I still need to draft my "Social Problem" responses. My last full day at work is Friday and I'll be spending two weeks away for the holidays, so I intend to use my down time either writing or playing on the beach with my dog!

You should definitely ask each department/program you are applying to. Some programs ask for not only your cumulative GPA but also your major GPA and/or your upper division GPA (last 60 credit hours taken). I assume you will have to submit the transcripts from both the satellite school and the main campus as part of your application.

Oh geez, you are completely right...it is December 15!! Now I feel like a chump for stressing out over my rec letter when he has plenty of time to submit it. I need to start thinking of gifts to send to my writers for dealing with me.

For anyone else applying to University of Chicago SSA: I just received a call from their admissions' office. They are extending the early admission deadline until tomorrow, December 4, 5:00pm local time.

UCLA's MSW app was due December 1, and my professor was the last LOR I needed for that application. I had to submit the complete dual degree application even though the MPP materials aren't due until January 10 (so my last LOR for that program also isn't submitted yet). I've sent a reminder email from me on Sunday, and a reminder email from the application portal on Monday. I'm trying to stay positive and not think about it too much. My materials are in, and I do have a third LOR (from the MPP program) that I could potentially utilize.

@kbui, I do have a third recommendation writer on deck. My thought process going into this was: I'm applying to 6 schools, 12 programs total, and each program wants 3 LORs. I have my current supervisor and one former professor writing LORs to each MPP and MSW program. Then I have the executive director at my job writing the third LOR for the MPPs since she'll have a stronger policy-focused recommendation. The last LOR (the one who is slipping) is another former professor who advised my undergraduate thesis, so I asked him to be the third LOR for the MSW programs. In the event of the professor completely slipping on the recs, I may have to ask my executive director to submit LORs to the MSW side and hope she doesn't mind the extra and unexpected work... I hope it doesn't come to this, but we shall see.

Congrats, morlvera!

That's what I'm thinking as well, @shrimps. Since it's nearly finals week for undergrads and my last LOR is from an associate professor, I realize that he's probably swamped with his own coursework to grade. I've received confirmation that my application materials were received from UCLA and Texas, so I'm not going to sweat it too much for the moment. And I'm with you on finalizing all applications before January! I chose not to apply by many round one/early action deadlines to give myself more time (particularly with the MSW programs), but I'd rather not come back after the holidays and have to stress about this process any more than necessary.

Today I submitted my application to UCLA's MPP/MSW! In total I have three out of 12 dual degree applications submitted. Meanwhile, my three LOR writer for my MSW applications has yet to submit letters or acknowledge my email reminders. I'm not sure what else I can do besides submit the rest of my apps on time and hope he gets it together! I realize that it's close to finals week for undergrads, so he's probably swamped.

As of today I've submitted to UCLA Luskin (MPP and MSW) and UT-Austin LBJ (MPAff). Next up: Minnesota Humphrey by December 15, then back to MSW admissions essays since the rest of my applications are due between January 4-15. All but one of my LOR writers has been timely with the recommendation requests so far. After three email reminders, I'm not sure what else can be done. I hope the admissions' offices will give leeway on this so long as my application is officially submitted by the deadlines!

Ah, gotcha. It doesn't hurt to email their office for clarification, but I assumed their deadlines were "hard" as they've outlined them.

From the SSA website: December 1, for an early admission decision by February 15 January 15, for an admission decision by March 15 April 1 http://www.ssa.uchicago.edu/deadlines

I'd like to work in policy analysis evaluating social safety net programs and their effectiveness in alleviating poverty and promoting self-sufficiency for low-income families. Honestly, I could do this work with either the MPP or the MSW degree, but I figured:

I'll PM you!

Yeah, graduation school applications are my main source of stress right about now. Applying to six dual degree programs means double the essays and double the hours of sleep lost from now until December.

I really think questions like this come down to "your mileage may vary". If you have the educational background, relevant work experience, and practical skill set, I personally don't see what would prevent you from working in DC (other than finding open positions, of course!). I graduated from UF in May 2014 and got job offers in NYC, Philadelphia and DC within 3 months. I took the DC offer and now work in social policy advocacy, my dream job out of undergrad. I've seen other posters really hone in on the prestige of degrees and being "outsiders" to DC... but it is totally possible to move here and work in the policy field so long as you advocate for yourself and why you can do the job well. edit: Just wanted to add that my org has also hired out-of-staters with master's degrees + work experience, including Kansas and Michigan!

Congrats on finishing your applications! Last week I secured my final LOR, so this week is my deadline to send all letter writers my relevant application materials. I have been focusing on my MSW applications up to this point since most of their deadlines fall between December 1-15. However, I have drafted an outline for my MPP essays and feel fairly confident in the structure.

I share some of your concerns, LAT, albeit from a different perspective. I currently work in a national non-profit working on social policy advocacy within income and work support programs. I was actually staring at some of these admission essays prompts last night feeling like I wouldn't be able to answer the questions because I don't come from a direct service background (although I have 3 years of volunteering experience). There was a question on one app about whether you have a year of paid human service experience and I was stumped... does my job fall within the scope of "human services" even though it is not directly dealing with clientele? Blech. I feel as if I have valid explanations for my educational and career paths and why I want to pursue social work as it related to policy, but that I'm also at a disadvantaged for having a macro focus. I've been reassured that this isn't the case within programs, but it feels that way when I try to answer these prompts!

I also scored a 4.5, which was in the 80th percentile at the time I took the exam last year. From what I've gathered as I've researched these programs, 4 seems like a general cut-off AW score so we should be in good shape! Plus, we also have the admissions essays to showcase our writing ability.