MGrubs Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 MCRM, still nothing! I'll let you know whenever I find out.
MCRM Posted March 2, 2012 Posted March 2, 2012 Hey MGrubs, Thanks! I talked today with the director of admissions, and he was super nice and told me I was 100% in, so I shouldn't worry, and that the delay was because he was waiting for the schorlaships committe to give him the ammount that we will be awarded, so I guess that must be your case as well! @bsgrok, I'm in the same situation, just trying to be hopeful, but I applied to the MEM. I did contact them once, and they said that meaningful research experience, would be taken in to account if you didn't have much professional experience. So hopefully they think that way with our applications.
jbr00ks9 Posted March 2, 2012 Posted March 2, 2012 By the way, I see people admitted or rejected to UNC ESE master programs, but I'm still waiting for it, seems admission for this program is on a rolling basis this year Good luck for everyone! Good luck bsgrok on UNC! I attended the open house and there were a few people who were waiting to hear back, too. Do you have a top choice?
xiongmaomao Posted March 2, 2012 Posted March 2, 2012 @MCRM They may transfer me to the MEM pool if I cannot match a faculty advisor, so we are almost in the same boat. As I have acquired, Yale FES admitted approximately 7 Chinese students each year, about 3 or 4 among those were undergraduate seniors from top universities with excellent academic credentials without work experiences. Competition is so fierce, hoping for the best... @jbr00ks9 It's great for you to be admitted by UNC-CH! As for MS programs I just applied for Yale, UNC-CH and Waterloo( applied because of the scholarship), Yale MESc is definitely my top choice, but I will choose considering $$$. Now I'm desperately waiting for my first offer, nearly driving me crazy By the way, have you heard anything about financial assistance for UNC? I knew several Chinese students admitted by MS of MSPH with full funding in the last few years.
jbr00ks9 Posted March 2, 2012 Posted March 2, 2012 @jbr00ks9 It's great for you to be admitted by UNC-CH! As for MS programs I just applied for Yale, UNC-CH and Waterloo( applied because of the scholarship), Yale MESc is definitely my top choice, but I will choose considering $$$. Now I'm desperately waiting for my first offer, nearly driving me crazy By the way, have you heard anything about financial assistance for UNC? I knew several Chinese students admitted by MS of MSPH with full funding in the last few years. Yeah, the financial assistance is 99% based on what the advisor has from what I've heard. Unfortunately, my advisor doesn't currently have anything, so I'm waiting to hear back on the NSF fellowship or hoping he gets something. It's rather unfortunate because it's my top choice, but like you, I will choose based on funding.
LHL Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Hi All! I'm jumping in a bit late here, but I've been following everyone's responses. Out of curiosity, what is everyone's area of concentration within MEM/MS Env Studies? Mine is environmental economics and policy, with emphases in chemical and hazardous waste management policy and trade (especially at the international level). Are any of you attending admitted students' events? I'm not sure that I'll be able to attend any on the account of work...
xiongmaomao Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 @jbr00ks9 Good luck to your fellowship~I see so many people around support their education by themselves, that seems crazy... @LHL I'm also new here, ha...Actually, I'm not at all a M.E.M student. My interest lies in EnvChem and EnvHealth. Desperately waiting for Yale FES MESc and UNC ESE MS. Surprised that almost everyone here applied to Yale...
tiredwaiting Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Just got into Bren School @ UCSB. Woot. Congrats Biggytre
curlie-sue Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) hey LHL, I'm thinking about finding time and $ to get to a couple of the student's days, maybe. But I also think that I'll just go to Duke if I don't get into Yale. Duke seems to have the 2nd best reputation, Durham is only getting better these days (I hear!), and they are the only ones that have offered funding -- so what's the point of flying around (time, $$, carbon emissions)? Edited March 3, 2012 by curlie-sue
cunninlynguist Posted March 3, 2012 Author Posted March 3, 2012 I don't anticipate going to any of the admitted students days, either (for me, current family issues supersede everything). My decision is predicated on: the curriculum of each program, the skills acquired in said program, the reputation of the school and alumni network, and finally, costs. Factors like location, climate, and campus all matter but they're not as significant. If anyone reading this thread is currently at Nicholas, SNRE, Bren, FES, etc. please feel free to add any first-hand insight.
iwbishop Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 just found out Bren is a no-go. meh. i'm curious to know what opinions people might have about CU-Boulder.
jbr00ks9 Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 Out of curiosity, what is everyone's area of concentration within MEM/MS Env Studies? Mine is environmental economics and policy, with emphases in chemical and hazardous waste management policy and trade (especially at the international level). Are any of you attending admitted students' events? I'm not sure that I'll be able to attend any on the account of work... I attended UNC's open house, so I visited Duke the day before on my own. I also have a friend that currently goes there, so she showed me around. Do note that Duke will reimburse $200 for attending their open house. (I'm sure not about attending at another time.) It's kind strange to me that Duke, Indiana, and Yale have their open houses on the same day. Especially for Yale - we won't even find out about acceptance/rejection until 2 weeks before their open house. Theoretically, if I was torn between Duke and Yale and hadn't already visited Duke, I would be more tempted to go to Duke that weekend because I'd already be able to book a ticket at a lower cost. Anyway, I will wait to find out about acceptance/rejection at Yale and if they offer a travel reimbursement. I have to be in NYC on the 1st anyway, so it would be somewhat convenient. As far as concentration - international water management.
fraek88 Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 hey guys, just got my accept from Duke for the MEM program anyone here planning on doing their internship before joining?
akl_cat Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 @bsgrok: For FES I am also in the same boat as you - fresh out of undergraduate with no professional work experience (only research + internships). So I know how it feels. But you mentioned 3 or 4 out of 7 admitted from China were straight out of undergraduate? That's a surprisingly high percentage. I wonder if you have any insight as to whether that figure is exclusively to Chinese applicants, or is also applicable to internationals from other countries. All I know is that the overall percentage of students admitted directly from undergrad is usually a lot lower. Anyway fingers crossed! @biggytre: Congratulations!! Maybe we won't have to wait till April to hear our verdicts this year. @LHL: My intended specialisation is along the lines of energy and/or industrial environmental management, given that I am a chemical engineer. I probably will not have the luxury to attend any of the open-houses events, since even the closest one will still be more than 7,000 miles away. So hypothetically if I am admitted to more schools, I will have to weight-up the merits of each programme against the net costs of attending - hopefully there will be a clear winner!
akl_cat Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) hey guys, just got my accept from Duke for the MEM program anyone here planning on doing their internship before joining? Congrats fraek88! I have not heard a word from Duke regarding their internship opportunities. How did you hear about the relevant information? Edited March 4, 2012 by akl_cat
cunninlynguist Posted March 4, 2012 Author Posted March 4, 2012 hey guys, just got my accept from Duke for the MEM program anyone here planning on doing their internship before joining? Congratulations! Internships are "highly encouraged," but not compulsory. The window to complete one while at Duke -- and receive any funding and/or placement assistance -- is the summer between the first and second year. This summer is in your hands: do with it what you feel is best. I'll be fulfilling at least 1 of my 2 prerequisites and saving some money for moving expenses.
xiongmaomao Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) @akl_cat What I know is that Yale FES admitted 3 or 4 students from Peking University(No.1 here) last year and at least 3 were undergraduates, but I'm not quite sure how many Chinese in total they admitted in 11Fall and how many attended in the end. That's kind of weird, but true according to records from pku bbs. My 3 or 4 out of 7 data was from a girl admitted in 09fall, and that maybe a typical situation for her year. Sorry that I don't have any insight for the world wide situation, but I guess China has quite a big group of undergrad applicants to FES, thus the admitted number seems relatively bigger. Notice, my data is for MESc+MEM+MF Anyway, good luck to us all.. I'm kind of worried about myself, but trying to be positive and waiting in patience~ Guys~I'm wondering how people view GRE scores in the US. I have a very low V (56%) and good Q(98%), which part is more important in your perspective? Edited March 4, 2012 by bsgrok
cunninlynguist Posted March 4, 2012 Author Posted March 4, 2012 GREs aren't really that important. We, as applicants, place added emphasis on them because it provides something we can measure; you can't "measure" how well you did on your personal statement, letters of recommendation, experience, etc. Yale uses holistic admissions, so the only way your GRE would be a key factor is an exceptionally high or low score. And as an international applicant, your verbal score is fine.
akl_cat Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 Thanks bsgrok. Yeah I second what cunninglynguist said. Yale really doesn't place too much empasis on your GRE scores. I had a chat with their Admissions Director Angela Kuhne about this once, and she said GRE will only swing your fate one way or the other when the overall strength of your application is on the borderline. The more important factors (if you are coming directly from undergrad) are your academic standing and your commitment to the field of environment. I personally think these elements alone are sufficient for the AdCom to have a strong enough opinion on you - so don't dwell too much on your GRE scores.
MCRM Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 Hi everyone! I won't be attending any open houses since I'm outside the US and my tourist visa is expired so I couldn't even go anyway... @LHL, On Yale's MEM I choose the sustainable urban and industrial systems specialization, though I really like Energy and the Environment, which is the one I choose at Duke. My focus will be on sustainable industry development, emphasizing on Energy industries. My top choice is Yale, so hopefully I will hear good news, though like I said before I don't have the luxury to choose the program I like the most, I'll go the one that gives me more financial aid. Being an international student, funding is very limited and my family can't support me at all... This week there is a talk of Yale F&ES in my country, so I will ask more about the % of admitted students with very minimum or lack of work experience, and will let you all know what they say, though is only 11 days until we know the actual decision! To all of you admitted to SNRE... I've been trying to find financial aid for international students, but it seems to be almost impossible, I really their program, but I can't believe how expensive it is, even more than Yale... Anyone has info about this? Btw, anyone here applied to MIT Master of City Planning with Environmental Policy and Planning specialization?
jbr00ks9 Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 hey guys, just got my accept from Duke for the MEM program anyone here planning on doing their internship before joining? I tried to multi-quote, but it didn't work, so this comment is in response to akl_cat as well. My general understanding of the internship requirement for Duke is that almost everyone does it during the summer in between the two years. I think the goal is to learn skills during the first year in coursework to become competitive for a consulting internship, apply those skills in an internship, and then consult again or additionally (?) in the Master's project. I'm not sure how closely linked the summer internship and project are... If I remember correctly, you can choose two different things (= more diverse experience) or continue to build on what you've done. The message I continually got at my Duke visit is that you can make whatever you want to out of the program to fit your goals. Also, the project can be a group project or completed alone and with faculty. An internship before going to Duke would be great, of course. It's more experience for your resume! You may also want to do an internship in between your two years, as well. I believe Duke collaborates with some organizations or you can find an internship yourself. Some of them are paid and for those that aren't, you can apply to a fund in the Nick school to get money to make it feasible. cunninlynguist 1
cunninlynguist Posted March 5, 2012 Author Posted March 5, 2012 Very helpful, jbr00ks9. I just found the 2011 internship map for Nicholas. So, if anyone is curious about a particular area, you may find that Duke has previously established a connection there. Has anyone received an e-mail from the coordinator of their concentration at Michigan? I got a very nice one from Dr. Yaffee (Environmental Policy and Planning) and was curious if all of the faculty coordinators send them out in the hopes of luring students there.
xiongmaomao Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks @ cunninglynguist @akl_cat . Kind of relief I think I'm a bit too anxious, take it easy, take it easy...
fraek88 Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Congrats fraek88! I have not heard a word from Duke regarding their internship opportunities. How did you hear about the relevant information? Congratulations! Internships are "highly encouraged," but not compulsory. The window to complete one while at Duke -- and receive any funding and/or placement assistance -- is the summer between the first and second year. This summer is in your hands: do with it what you feel is best. I'll be fulfilling at least 1 of my 2 prerequisites and saving some money for moving expenses. @akl_cat - Thanks and congratulations to you too . I haven't heard from Duke regarding the internship opportunities as such. This was mentioned in my letter (acceptance) - "An internship is required for the program. If you have graduated and are currently working, this experience can generally be utilized to fulfill this requirement by basing your internship report and presentation on a suitable project from your work experience. If you have not yet graduated, it is recommended that the internship be completed before the coursework if possible. Please note that internships completed during your undergraduate experience are not eligible to fulfill this requirement. In general, due to the timing of obtaining your visa, if you wish to complete the internship before the coursework, you should consider internships in your home country if you are not already in the United States. If you cannot complete your internship before entering the program, it can be completed after your coursework using a Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Note that this will delay your graduation until the semester following completion of the internship. " More information regarding the same can be found at their website - http://memp.pratt.duke.edu/interdisciplinary-courses-and-curriculum/internship @ cunninlynguist - Thanks and congratulations to you as well . As far as I know, an industry internship is compulsory as a part of the MEM program. The "highly encouraged" internships are in all probability for other programs at Duke. Please do correct me if I am wrong. @jbr00ks9 - Very helpful indeed. Does anyone have an idea about sponsorships for international students. The website mentions that they aren't eligible but also that there are ways around it. What kind of jobs can we apply for and how? The overall tuition fee and costs isn't exactly very cheap.. LOL
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