ZacharyObama

An application fee is a fee charged by the renter to simply process your application and no you do not get that money back - it's generally used to cover the renters overhead and cost for a credit report and a background check on you. By pre-lease they generally mean that they will hold the apartment for you for a fee (sometimes refundable). In short, the rental process in America sucks. Is this some sort of student oriented housing or a major apartment complex? These are all things generally done by corporate type places so if you rent from an individual landlord you probably won't have this sort of stuff to go through. They're mostly looking to see that you're not in significant financial trouble and are not a criminal, but if you have no credit history then I'm not quite sure how that works.

Don't expect air conditioning. But yeah - that's pretty bikeable/walkable (10-15 minutes) to campus presuming it's not too far up Palolo Ave. That's really the Palolo side of the street, but people advertise places like that as Kaimuki because they think Palolo is kinda hood. I lived in the back of Palolo and in Kaimuki proper, really Palolo is not that hood, maybe a little bit country, but I lived above the housing project in the central part of the valley for like a year and the police were only there like once or twice. It's not a bad area at all and you'll be close to groceries/food/town/bus lines.

I think it depends on what you're trying to do with your degree - are you hoping to work in the US or abroad after getting your degree? What area of international studies are you interested in: business, NGOs, government, development, human rights? While the living aspects are important, I presume you're not going to graduate school to end up working as a waitress full time with an MA in International Studies. I'm not too familiar with the details of these programs - but you probably want to do thorough research on how they meet your academic/professional interests. Also - when is the deadline for decisions? I can't imagine you have too much longer to make a decision - so I would start poring through everything you can find on what courses you will take, who the professors will be, what internship opportunities you will have both during school and during the summer, and the fine details of your plan to pay for your education.

Kaister is right about some places not being what they seem. I would take up that offer to check things out. There's actually quite the cottage industry in ripping people off with high rents for shit holes (the student housing buildings in Waikiki especially). So yeah, do as much research as you can before agreeing to anything. I would actually probably try to find roommates to rent a house with or do UH Grad Student Housing (I'm not quite sure what the situation is with that, but it's better than getting scammed on a roach pad.)

I would try to get a place arranged before you move. I've pulled off finding a place in a week in Honolulu before but if you want to be really close to the UH the rental market is competitive. I'd say in terms of neighborhood my order of preference: Manoa, Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Palolo, Makiki, Moilili, Waikiki. Are you looking to rent a studio/apartment or go the roommate route?

I liked your rant.

By 40,000 does that mean tuition at Santa Cruz for two years out of a 4-5 year program? Would he have stipend or be able to TA? If the picture at Santa Cruz fills out he should probably take the offer. He would take on major debt to go to USC (100k) and it's probably not worth it in this field.

Freak Weather

You could be looking at five years of that.

U mad bro?

CalTech itself may not be happening. But Pasadena is a cool town with lots of things to do (I grew up there) and you're in the LA area so Downtown is just a 30 minute train ride away. It's not like UCSD is all that bumping either. I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor, if you're the socially outing type you'll be fine, if you want a social life on a platter, well that isn't going to happen even at the smallest liberal arts colleges.

So it's kinda the familiar vs. something new.

I'd say it comes down to research interests and opportunities along with chances to reduce your debt load while in school via TA/RA positions. Doing those two things is going to make you a more attractive PhD candidate than someone who manages to do an MA without coming out with a publication or two and doing work for the institution. Are you in LA or somewhere else? I'd think your living expenses for New York would be slightly higher on rent and food.

I presume you're instate for UCLA - Columbia is what twice is much? Do you want to go on to a PhD? How are you going to pay down the loans? How would either school affect your research interests?

Calculate how much debt Harvard will put you into using this: http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/understand/plans/income-based/calculator - and then ask yourself is it really worth it. Do you think the Iowa State program is a solid one that will get you where you want professionally? If the answer is yes, I would say take the money.

Well getting an ambassadorship isn't as easy as picking the right school, you're either a political appointee or a career Foreign Service Officer for the most part. From what I can tell in the Government Affairs forum: http://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/11-government-affairs/, the Georgetown MSFS is trying to be that, but at the same time getting into the Foreign Service isn't so easy unless you speak a desired language and have the appropriate background. So that's not a safe bet. I don't know enough about the Chicago program to comment, but generally speaking you're well served to be in proximity to the organization you wish to serve in and Chicago isn't exactly an IR hub. I've read mixed reviews on the LSE programs. I think if you're interested in going overseas in a non-US government capacity long-term it's a good option but also potentially a low paying option. I don't think you've got an easy option here - you could take on a substantial amount of debt going to Chicago to not get what you want, you could take on a crap load of debt at Georgetown and not get what you want, and you could take on a crap load of debt in Europe and not get what you want. It doesn't sound like you have a substantial IR type background and it also doesn't sound like you really have a plan for what you want to do with this degree and you're probably getting pretty short on time. No one here is going to be of too much help in this regard. I think you would need to tell us more about yourself in terms of long-term interests and your background than you've posted here. So...

No.

2 years vs. 5 changes things. What are your deadlines for responding and when will Indiana tell you about funding? It sounds like you prefer the Florida program over Davis. Would you be okay with it if you don't get into Indiana for your PhD?

Woot! Congrats and Welcome to the Family!

Take the money? I mean it's not like New York area is lacking for internship opportunities for IR students.

I made a USC Price one since no one else had done so: https://www.facebook.com/groups/283063438493234/

I made a Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/283063438493234/ - it's open membership for now.

Is money a big factor? Do you want to end up working in New England or California? I tend to think that for programs like social work and public administration (my field) proximity to a desired professional network is a big plus. I don't think you'll be able to make high quality decision until you know what funding is going to be like at Simmons.

Just gonna throw this out there - you can the syllabi for many classes on the USC Schedule of Classes: http://web-app.usc.edu/soc/ - you should also look at the course listings for the Marshall School of Business - they have a class on everything you listed: I agree though looking at the Price course listings for the non-profit track it does seem vague. I know for the MPA program our director was pretty much like if it has relevance he will approve it. I know for the sustainability track I'm looking it (which is being revamped) that there are relevant course listings in the environmental studies program as well as architecture and geography departments. The MPA/MPP Labs also have more sort of more programmatic offerings too for enrichment purposes. Hope that was helpful.

Taking on the debt might not be so crazy considering your field, but keep in mind that you would be taking a substantial risk. Have you done research on exactly the type of jobs you want? I'd check out the Denver program well and good. Did you go and visit the New School? Are you looking to end up in New York? What type of funding have they given you? Double check your finances including upfront moving costs. Good luck.