Clay Made Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 A lot of admitted students' days are coming up in the next two weeks. I'm headed to Yale, SAIS and GWU but will probably miss out on Fletcher, Chicago Harris, etc. So I figured I'd make this thread so everyone can update it with their thoughts as and when they've simply visited their chosen school or attended an open day. I really think this open thread will be of great use now and for those in the future so PLEASE, PLEASE share your thoughts after your visits! I'll update when I get back from GWU, SAIS, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolution Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 (edited) I'm actually going to be at the SAIS open house, only because i'm going to be in DC that week to visit a friend. So I'll just drop by. Really looking forward to it. Edited March 24, 2013 by Revolution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlove Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I'm still debating whether I'm going to go as DC is on the opposite side of the country from me but I think I'm going to make the trek out. I'll probably go to GW Elliott, SAIS and MSFS (If I get in). As someone who has never been to the east coast or DC, any advice for where to fly in and also where to stay? I'm on a pretty tight budget but I'm also having nightmares of trying to figure out DC public transportation the morning of the open houses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MollyB Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I'll be at the admitted student days for CMU Heinz in two weeks and Chicago Harris the week after, so I'll report back on those two. If there's anything in particular people who can't make it are looking to find out about Heinz or Harris, let me know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolution Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I'm still debating whether I'm going to go as DC is on the opposite side of the country from me but I think I'm going to make the trek out. I'll probably go to GW Elliott, SAIS and MSFS (If I get in). As someone who has never been to the east coast or DC, any advice for where to fly in and also where to stay? I'm on a pretty tight budget but I'm also having nightmares of trying to figure out DC public transportation the morning of the open houses. I'm guessing Dulles airport is the only place to fly into? Too bad it's like 30 minutes away from the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPPgal Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I'm guessing Dulles airport is the only place to fly into? Too bad it's like 30 minutes away from the city. Much better to fly to Reagan as it is on the metro line, BWI is far but also better connected than Dulles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolution Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Much better to fly to Reagan as it is on the metro line, BWI is far but also better connected than Dulles Ah, forgot about reagan. That's more of a regional airport though right? I have to check and see if my city even has flights to reagan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Made Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 I'll be at the admitted student days for CMU Heinz in two weeks and Chicago Harris the week after, so I'll report back on those two. If there's anything in particular people who can't make it are looking to find out about Heinz or Harris, let me know! I guess with Harris, I'd be interested in hearing about how the faculty is. I have two friends in the program right now and one raves about the faculty and the other indicates that the faculty is not interested, not approachable and basically he regrets accepting the offer. So a little confused!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadisha Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I guess with Harris, I'd be interested in hearing about how the faculty is. I have two friends in the program right now and one raves about the faculty and the other indicates that the faculty is not interested, not approachable and basically he regrets accepting the offer. So a little confused!! I'm sure that's faculty dependent. It's the same with undergrad. You had professors that you could have a discussion with easily where others were a pain in the ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Made Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 I hear BWI is pretty bad in relation to lines/security etc so I probably would steer clear of that. I'm flying into Dulles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Made Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Anyone headed to Fletcher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolution Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I hear BWI is pretty bad in relation to lines/security etc so I probably would steer clear of that. I'm flying into Dulles. Thanks for this. I guess I will stick with Dulles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingjellyfish Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I second MPPgal on Reagan. It's so convenient if you can find a cheap flight there. Hop off the plane and on to the metro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatsby8724 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 10-year DC resident here... Dulles is terrible because it's the major international airport and not connected to public transportation. Reagan is by far the best but at least with BWI you can take the train into the city then metro from there to wherever you're staying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Made Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 10-year DC resident here... Dulles is terrible because it's the major international airport and not connected to public transportation. Reagan is by far the best but at least with BWI you can take the train into the city then metro from there to wherever you're staying. Thanks for this! I have to fly in from London so I think my only options is Dulles..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatsby8724 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Thanks for this! I have to fly in from London so I think my only options is Dulles..? Yes, unless you fly to DC via another international airport (e.g. JFK). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhodeislander Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I'll be headed to Chicago on April 8th and SAIS on April 10th, and will try to get to Fletcher for at least some of the events on the 7th. If not, I talked to the admissions office and they hold admission sessions every Monday which also allow you to sit in on a class, so I'll hit one of those up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatsby8724 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Thoughts on whether it's appropriate to bring your spouse to Admit Days? We've been married for nearly 3 years and he's making the move with me, so while it will ultimately be my decision as to which program is the best fit, his involvement is important. I sent an email to one of the schools with this inquiry but haven't heard back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkman Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Thoughts on whether it's appropriate to bring your spouse to Admit Days? We've been married for nearly 3 years and he's making the move with me, so while it will ultimately be my decision as to which program is the best fit, his involvement is important. I sent an email to one of the schools with this inquiry but haven't heard back. Not sure why it would be inappropriate. Your decision completely. If his involvement is important to you, you should definitely bring him along. Pinkman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatsby8724 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Thanks both! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniCM Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I hope it's not weird that I'm bringing my mom. It's entirely my decision but would like her feedback since she's helping me with funding. I'm headed to Fletcher, SIPA and SAIS. Maybe we'll see each other? Should we have a code word to identify each other (revolution?) Hey Seekay, could you please provide me some feedback on your thoughts about SIPA and SAIS? I'm going to Fletcher's open house, but I don't think I can swing the other 2 because of work commitments. I would love some insight from those able to attend! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biscuits Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Thoughts on whether it's appropriate to bring your spouse to Admit Days? We've been married for nearly 3 years and he's making the move with me, so while it will ultimately be my decision as to which program is the best fit, his involvement is important. I sent an email to one of the schools with this inquiry but haven't heard back. To be honest, I think it would be a bit odd. I'm all for the spouse coming down with you and checking out the school, the city, possible neighborhoods to live in, etc. But I think it's a little weird for the spouse to attend the actual admitted student panels and events. What questions are they going to ask? Is the spouse going to introduce themselves as "Spouse of Admitted Student"? Are they going to be eating food/picking up swag that the school has budgeted for admitted students? (The last point is not terribly important. I think these schools can swing an extra sandwich.) I'm getting a faint whiff of helicopter parent (spouse?), though I'm sure that's not the case for your situation. I just am confused about how the spouse's presence for the admitted student information sessions (as opposed to, say, the admitted student dinner or other social events) is going to help you make your decision. My future-spouse and I are weighing the pros and cons of each school together, even though we are applying to different sorts of programs. Our final decision will be a mutual one. But future-spouse can't really tell me whether or not I'd like the intricacies of one MPP program over another - he's not me, he won't be taking the courses, and frankly his academic-brain works very differently from my own. It's up to me to make a program-based decision (yea/nay/possibly) - naturally, he'll make similar decisions on his own programs - and we'll make the overall decision by factoring in our personal program preferences, money, location details, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacanadiense Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I hope it's not weird that I'm bringing my mom. Wait, like you're going to bring your mom around campus? Or to the actual admitted student day events? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123seekay123 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Wait, like you're going to bring your mom around campus? Or to the actual admitted student day events? Around campus while I go to the events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biscuits Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Around campus while I go to the events. I think that's totally fine, particularly if you really value her input when making these types of big decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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