Wisconsin - La Follette School

[bzcww3]

Hello! Has anyone here applied to and hear back from Wisconsin? I received an email today telling me I was accepted but there was no mention of funding opportunities. Are there anyone in the same situation as I am?

[jameyer]

Yep, I am. Although looking at the results postings, it appears as if someone else already got one full funding offer there. Not sure if the others are yet to come, or if we got in but got no help to pay for it!

[skeedy]

Yep, I am. Although looking at the results postings, it appears as if someone else already got one full funding offer there. Not sure if the others are yet to come, or if we got in but got no help to pay for it!

That was me... It looks like there are more full/partial funding offers though (I did a little Googling). They sent my financial package in an email attachment, so maybe your $$ award will come soon! What are your thoughts on La Follette?

[jameyer]

I think its a great school - I did my undergrad there - with a solid program. It does not have the 'zing' to the name of many of the schools that people are clambering to get accepted to here on this chat board (thinking ivy or the big washington dc schools), but depending on what your long term goals are, I think there is a good chance that it could be a great fit for you. It would not hurt to attend the upcoming on campus day they are hosting to talk with the professors and current students to see if it fits your needs. Where else did you apply and what do you want to do with your MPA?

[jameyer]

Also, if I remember correctly they have 10 or so of the Follette fellowships each year. I was assuming if they attached your notification of the fellowship to your acceptance letter, it probably means that because my acceptance letter had nothing attached I will get no aid. I could be wrong though.

[jameyer]

Lastly, I forgot to tell you. Congrats! Thats awesome you got the funding (seriously)

[skeedy]

Lastly, I forgot to tell you. Congrats! Thats awesome you got the funding (seriously)

Hahaha. Thank you - I just PMed you with a longer message. I applied to George Washington, Cal (Berkeley), U Mich, U Penn, Carnegie Mellon. I've only got an unofficial acceptance back from George Washington so I'm biting my nails wondering if the REAL letter will come... Or if I will get any money. Le sigh. What about you?

[jameyer]

Hahaha. Thank you - I just PMed you with a longer message. I applied to George Washington, Cal (Berkeley), U Mich, U Penn, Carnegie Mellon. I've only got an unofficial acceptance back from George Washington so I'm biting my nails wondering if the REAL letter will come... Or if I will get any money. Le sigh. What about you?

i just PM'd you a novel for your personal enjoyment

[esha]

HI everyone.

I also got an acceptance from wisconsin on 15th feb...NOt reallys ure of the funding as there was nothing attahced telling about the funding....

Let me know how we would know of that...

[mdhutson]

Got into Wisconsin, but not funding

Maybe some will become available when people start responding to offers

[state_school'12]

While we stew in anticipation for the pending results this week, I'd like to revive this thread. Did anyone else apply/get in to La Follette? What do you think about the program? Strengths, weaknesses, etc. Anyone going to the visit day later this month?

I understand that it's not a terribly well known program, at a solid university known for strong departments in economics, education, and sociology. My sense is that it's a tier below Umich, CMU, and Cornell. However, I think their social/education policy and state government emphasis would put them above places like UCLA, JHU IPS, UW Evans, American (ignoring the Fed Gov pipeline), and maybe GW Elliot.

It's my only admit so far, and I was lucky enough to get a tuition fellowship, so La Follette is pretty appealing so far. I'm 100% confident that it's the best funding offer that I'll get, so I'm anxious for feedback on the program. Are there any current/former students that could chime in? The school doesn't seem to get a lot of discussion, similar to UM Humphrey.

[state_school'12]

update: I did find this, from 2009:

THIS IS WHERE I'M GOING TO ATTEND: University of Wisconsin - Madison

OTHER SCHOOLS I CONSIDERED: CMU

WHY I CHOSE MY NEW SCHOOL:

1. I loved Madison. State Street is awesome. The Capitol building is amazing. The food was fantastic. I could definitely see living there. It is quite different from Florida in climate, but I'm sure I can deal with it.

2. I got a generous fellowship and I told myself when applying (since I applied to only a few schools) that I would go anywhere that gave me full cost of attendance. This fellowship works out to that assuming I keep up my grades and get a project assistantship next year. I could potentially get an assistantship my second semester which would be an even greater benefit.

3. The faculty was really great. I met with three faculty members and really liked all of them. I emailed with another who was also really receptive. They seemed really passionate about their subjects and to really like Madison. One of them, my future advisor, is from Syracuse and he said as my advisor he could put me in touch with Syracuse alum and I'd have a link to the Syracuse Mafia. I figure that is an excellent connection to have.

4. They are excellent for education policy and state government, which is what I want to do.

5. The school is home to the Wisconsin Innocent Project. Criminal justice is my secondary interest and I am really excited about the opportunity to volunteer with an innocent project.