Environmental Management and Policy 2020

[prokem]

On 1/10/2020 at 2:36 PM, sage1234 said:

Super cool! I am applying for People, Equity, and the Environment at F&ES and Environmental Justice at SEAS! I'm mostly interested in environmental justice research and policy

very nice! Is this a career change for you or a continuation of what you're already doing!

[MKharod]

Hi! I have applied to Yale FES and UM SEAS. Has anyone heard back from any of these? 

[WatercolorPainter]

On 1/22/2020 at 3:57 AM, MKharod said:

Hi! I have applied to Yale FES and UM SEAS. Has anyone heard back from any of these? 

I applied to both of those as well! I'm also waiting on Duke and UC-SB Bren.

I talked with an admissions person at UM SEAS and they said that they were hoping to get all the results out by mid-February  

[tillyk]

Hi everyone! 

I'm new to the forum. Applied to Yale MEM, UMich SEAS, UCSD Climate Science and Policy, and CU Boulder MENV.

For UMich my specialization was Behavior, Education, and Communication (one of the tiny ones that no one chooses haha) and for Yale I'm interested in Climate Change Science and Solutions or Ecosystems and Land Conservation and Management.

Yale is my top choice because I'm from New Haven so I could live at home and save $$$, and also because of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (I want to be a journalist) but I'm applying straight out of undergrad so that's probably a long shot.

Excited to anxiously wait with y'all!

[tillyk]

On 12/9/2019 at 1:15 PM, EscapingBrexit said:

Not applying this cycle but noticed that Michigan SEAS is waiving the application fees for some or all of their programs this year. Makes it a free shot for most of you, so why not have a go? I live in Ann Arbor- it is pretty nice here. I also continue to be impressed by afar from the apparent resources put in to Duke's programs. I don't know whether that is felt 'on the ground' so to speak, but they seem a lot better at social media at least than some other departments across the country. 

It's great that SEAS waived the application fee, but they were the only program I applied to that required the GRE  ?

So I would have rather paid an $80 application fee than having to spend $200+ on the GRE just for one school

[EscapingBrexit]

5 hours ago, tillyk said:

It's great that SEAS waived the application fee, but they were the only program I applied to that required the GRE  ?

So I would have rather paid an $80 application fee than having to spend $200+ on the GRE just for one school

That's really interesting, who didn't need the GRE this time around? When I did a cycle a couple of years ago, everybody needed them- but that was for PhDs. I'm so glad people are dropping that requirement!

Edited January 24, 2020 by EscapingBrexit
Missing text

[tillyk]

9 hours ago, EscapingBrexit said:

That's really interesting, who didn't need the GRE this time around? When I did a cycle a couple of years ago, everybody needed them- but that was for PhDs. I'm so glad people are dropping that requirement!

Yale FES dropped the GRE between last year and this year. CU Boulder and UCSD also did not require it.

I think more PhD programs require it still as opposed to Masters, but I may be wrong about that.

I'm really glad, too, because it is such an unnecessary and expensive burden. And I feel like it is really not used in the decision-making process of most programs, even when they require it.

Edited January 24, 2020 by tillyk
mistake

[monkeycat]

woo hoo first acceptance to U of W's school of marine and environmental affairs. Anyone else apply/going to admitted students weekend?

[monkeycat]

2 hours ago, tillyk said:

Yale FES dropped the GRE between last year and this year. CU Boulder and UCSD also did not require it.

I think more PhD programs require it still as opposed to Masters, but I may be wrong about that.

I'm really glad, too, because it is such an unnecessary and expensive burden. And I feel like it is really not used in the decision-making process of most programs, even when they require it.

In the Yale financial aid webinar, they said to submit your GRE scores because it factors into merit based funding. They weren't very clear on it because time was running out but I submitted mine anyways. They said it would NOT affect your decision to get in though.

[tillyk]

3 hours ago, monkeycat said:

In the Yale financial aid webinar, they said to submit your GRE scores because it factors into merit based funding. They weren't very clear on it because time was running out but I submitted mine anyways. They said it would NOT affect your decision to get in though.

Good point! And congrats on your first acceptance!

[scalmanac]

First acceptance to Columbia's SIPA MPA-ESP just came in and they want a response by the end of February ?, anyone else applied there??

[EscapingBrexit]

Congrats to both of you for your acceptances to two great programs!

[MKharod]

On 1/23/2020 at 8:44 PM, WatercolorPainter said:

I applied to both of those as well! I'm also waiting on Duke and UC-SB Bren.

I talked with an admissions person at UM SEAS and they said that they were hoping to get all the results out by mid-February  

Great! thank you!

[monkeycat]

On 12/23/2019 at 1:06 PM, sage1234 said:

Now it's a waiting game - best of luck to you all! What specializations are you applying for? 

I want to study holistic approaches towards ecosystem based management for coastal/marine resources that focuses on connecting economics and science to people. So at Yale, the water resources track is a good fit but so are some aspects of the ecosystems and land conservation and management specialization and the people, equity, and the environment specialization. With the flexibility of the program, it seems like I can really make my own interdisciplinary path, which I'm really drawn to. Because I am interested in ecosystem services, Duke is probably the best fit because of the number of researchers there that focus on ecosystem services, but I could really see myself liking all the programs I've applied to because they are all quite interdisciplinary. It does seem to me as if Duke has a younger cohort as the results postings from last year indicate that many were accepted straight out of undergrad, where as I spoke to a current Yale FES student and she told me that's more rare. No idea what Bren's cohort looks like--any insights? 

Edited January 28, 2020 by monkeycat

[zuph123]

On 1/28/2020 at 12:04 PM, monkeycat said:

I want to study holistic approaches towards ecosystem based management for coastal/marine resources that focuses on connecting economics and science to people. So at Yale, the water resources track is a good fit but so are some aspects of the ecosystems and land conservation and management specialization and the people, equity, and the environment specialization. With the flexibility of the program, it seems like I can really make my own interdisciplinary path, which I'm really drawn to. Because I am interested in ecosystem services, Duke is probably the best fit because of the number of researchers there that focus on ecosystem services, but I could really see myself liking all the programs I've applied to because they are all quite interdisciplinary. It does seem to me as if Duke has a younger cohort as the results postings from last year indicate that many were accepted straight out of undergrad, where as I spoke to a current Yale FES student and she told me that's more rare. No idea what Bren's cohort looks like--any insights? 

Very interesting! I think Bren might be a great fit for that area as well. I went to UCSB for undergrad, and I got the impression that master's students were on the younger side. Here is a link to an admissions stats sheet: https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/documents/stats/ESM_Grad_Profile_Final.pdf

It says appx. 60% of the 2019 class was between 21 and 25  

[WatercolorPainter]

I got a nice email from the Duke Nicholas admissions team last night. Looks like anyone who applied early only has a few weeks left of waiting!

"If you applied by the priority deadline, we are on pace to release your decision in mid-February. If you applied later, we will release your decision in early March, sooner if we are able."

Good luck, everyone!

[monkeycat]

18 hours ago, sage1234 said:

Very interesting! I think Bren might be a great fit for that area as well. I went to UCSB for undergrad, and I got the impression that master's students were on the younger side. Here is a link to an admissions stats sheet: https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/documents/stats/ESM_Grad_Profile_Final.pdf

It says appx. 60% of the 2019 class was between 21 and 25  

oh wow this is super interesting. thanks!

[LazarusRises]

On 1/24/2020 at 6:26 PM, scalmanac said:

First acceptance to Columbia's SIPA MPA-ESP just came in and they want a response by the end of February ?, anyone else applied there??

Anybody know if this is for spring or fall 2020? Seems like a crazy fast turnaround if it's for fall--the EA deadline was November 1. 

 

EDIT: It looks like Early Action applicants are indeed notified around 6 weeks after submission. That's an awesome turnaround, I'm jealous of those folks! As for the rest of us, we'll have to wait until mid-March ?

Edited January 30, 2020 by LazarusRises

[monkeycat]

Side question... are admitted students weekends usually in March or April? U of W's is the first weekend in April. I'm really hoping that's the only one in April because I won't be in the US for the next 2 weekends... Scanning forums from previous years, it looks like Duke's is in March, but I have no idea when Yale's or SB's is.

[tillyk]

5 hours ago, monkeycat said:

Side question... are admitted students weekends usually in March or April? U of W's is the first weekend in April. I'm really hoping that's the only one in April because I won't be in the US for the next 2 weekends... Scanning forums from previous years, it looks like Duke's is in March, but I have no idea when Yale's or SB's is.

I know Michigan's is in mid-March, which makes sense because that's a month after acceptances come out. Yale's might not be until April to give people a month after acceptances to make travel plans, but I'm just speculating!

[alaqua]

Hey guys! I'm new to the thread!

Applied only to SEAS. Anxiously waiting for the result.

Btw, does anyone know anything about Arizona State University's School of Sustainability? I know that it's not exactly an environmental management/policy school, but I'm applying there,too. It is not mentioned much on this site so I would really appreciate it if anyone could provide some insights! Thanks in advance.

Good luck everyone!!

Edited January 31, 2020 by alaqua

[scalmanac]

22 hours ago, LazarusRises said:

Anybody know if this is for spring or fall 2020? Seems like a crazy fast turnaround if it's for fall--the EA deadline was November 1. 

 

EDIT: It looks like Early Action applicants are indeed notified around 6 weeks after submission. That's an awesome turnaround, I'm jealous of those folks! As for the rest of us, we'll have to wait until mid-March ?

Hi, I applied on the normal January timeline for the Summer 2020 session, not early action but I submitted around mid-December so maybe I got thrown into an early-ish bucket? 

Did you apply for the MPA-ESP program (different program than the MPA)?

 It starts in the summer instead of the fall so the whole process after application seems like it's on an accelerated timeline. I was very surprised at the quick turnaround, probably around 6 weeks, so  maybe that doesn't just apply to EA and they're doing things on a rolling basis for all applicants? Hope you hear soon as well!

[LazarusRises]

33 minutes ago, scalmanac said:

Hi, I applied on the normal January timeline for the Summer 2020 session, not early action but I submitted around mid-December so maybe I got thrown into an early-ish bucket? 

Did you apply for the MPA-ESP program (different program than the MPA)?

 It starts in the summer instead of the fall so the whole process after application seems like it's on an accelerated timeline. I was very surprised at the quick turnaround, probably around 6 weeks, so  maybe that doesn't just apply to EA and they're doing things on a rolling basis for all applicants? Hope you hear soon as well!

Oh I see. Nope, I just applied for the regular MPA. Thanks for the info and congrats on your acceptance to a great program

Edited January 31, 2020 by LazarusRises

[kcovt]

Did anyone apply to Water Management programs at Tufts or U Wisconsin? I haven't been able to find a decision timeline anywhere 

[EnvPolicyHopeful]

Applied to 8 total programs either in environmental policy or in policy/public affairs with an environmental focus/certificate. All applications submitted by early/mid-December. Only heard back from one so far and it's an admit.

UW Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs MPA with a certificate in Energy Analysis and Policy

U Mich Ford School/SEAS Joint MPP/MS in  Environment and Sustainability and Public Policy

Washington MPA with the Environmental Policy program specialization

UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy MPP with the Environmental Policy specialization -- ADMITTED 1/29

CU Boulder MENV Environmental Policy Specialization

CU Denver School of Public Affairs MPA in Environmental Policy, Management, and Law

UC Berkeley Goldman School Concurrent MPP/ERG

U of Minn Humphrey School Master of Science in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (MS-STEP)

I'm pretty below-average academically, at least according to my academic record.  I went from pretty much straight As throughout all of high school to solid Cs and even a D in college due to quite frankly having no idea how to study and some very bad test anxiety. Fortunately, all those Cs and Ds where chem, physics, biochem, etc.

Undergrad degree (BA Zoology, Spanish, Latin American Studies) from a top public school. GPA 3.0X. Took the GRE twice (151 Q/162 V/5.0 AW, then 154 Q/160 V/6.0 AW). However, I'm 5 years out of school with some very relevant experience in the environmental regulation/planning sphere for both energy and land use projects. I also have extensive wildlife field research experience, including at the intersection of wildlife management, land use regulations, and agencies. I'm also a very strong writer, which I believe helped me a lot with my SOPs.

I tend to think that Berkeley and Mich are both long shots, but the other schools -- plus my UCSD admit -- seem promising. I'm a bit worried about CU Denver, though. Their website says that applicants will hear back 2-6 weeks after applying. Tomorrow marks exactly 6 weeks since I applied -- I'm thinking of emailing tomorrow to check in. I feel like it isn't poor form to do so given that I've paid attention to their timeline.

Any other Env Policy hopefuls hear back from any of these schools?

Edited February 3, 2020 by EnvPolicyHopeful