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Carnegie Mellon - Heinz Current Student


scholl43

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I hope admissions results are going well for everyone.  Since I got a lot out of these forums in the past, I just wanted to offer to talk to anyone about life as a first year at CMU/Heinz College if interested.  I can also talk about my decision process, but that's probably less relevant since it's so subjective.

 

Just PM me if you're interested.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just got a letter this am detailing my financial aid package, but still haven't heard from admissions... :) Spoke with the Financial Aid office and they said I am in fact in, so that's pretty great.

 

I was looking at GA/TA positions - and none of them offer tuition waivers, which was surprising.  Current Heinz student @scholl43: how do people pay for Heinz? Does anyone get a full tuition plus stipend deal or is everyone on loans?

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I think there's a full range of tuition assistance, but I honestly don't really ask too many people about it.  That's mostly because I have a very good financial aid package (large % of tuition waived, stipend, work study, and loans were all in my financial aid package).  I haven't been able to keep up with as much work study work as I had initially hoped so I won't max that out, but I've unexpectedly been able to borrow a little bit of money from my parents (sub-$5k) and stay debt free when it comes to bank/govt. loans so far.  That will likely change in my second year.

 

I'm generally unfamiliar with the TA positions.  Some first year students end up becoming their colleagues' TA if they have experience or you can become a TA after taking a class (and doing well).  I think the full tuition in exchange for constant/full time TA positions is something reserved for PhDs.  That doesn't mean that you can't get full tuition, but you need to have the right package (great letters of rec, great statement, great GPA, preferably some relevant work experience).  Since I have nothing to do with admissions, I couldn't tell you what mix of those things you need (they don't all need to be great), but the more you have, the more Heinz will want you.

 

I was looking at GA/TA positions - and none of them offer tuition waivers, which was surprising.  Current Heinz student @scholl43: how do people pay for Heinz? Does anyone get a full tuition plus stipend deal or is everyone on loans?

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Got a note this am from admissions confirming my acceptance to Global Track :)  but saying they can't give me my formal admissions letter until they have confirmed the first date of classes in Adelaide per some regulation of the Australian government. What a strange week this has been!

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Got a note this am from admissions confirming my acceptance to Global Track :)  but saying they can't give me my formal admissions letter until they have confirmed the first date of classes in Adelaide per some regulation of the Australian government. What a strange week this has been!

Congratulations!  This is my number 2 choice so I am really worried that I haven't already heard anything. 

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  • 10 months later...

First of all, thank you very much for this.

 

  1. Can you tell us what profile you applied with? I am currently working as a policy researcher in India but would apply in a few years after gaining some more experience.
  2. What kind of work ex did you have?
  3. How are the job opportunities, in particular, for international students?
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1.  Mid-20's, a few years of experience in international work with a social sciences background.  Did not go to a prestigious university (went public), but did a lot, had above a 3.5 GPA, and held many part-time jobs and a fellowship to help me out.

 

2.  NGO operations work domestic and abroad.

 

3.  You'd really have to ask an int'l student since it's such a different situation.

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Thanks for taking the time to do this scholl43.

 

I applied to the regular four semester Pittsburgh track because I thought I would be more competitive for funding that way. Do you think doing that track will hinder my job prospects compared to the DC track? How do you feel overall about your chances of landing a good job when you graduate? 

 

Also (and feel free not to answer this very personal question), what were the specific details of your funding offer? For example, how much did they offer to take off of tuition, how much did the offer in stipend, etc... 

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Hi MJA,

I don't think that your job prospects are hurt by doing the 4 semester PGH track at all.  There are plenty of people that do the 3 or 4 semester track there and then go to DC.  Obviously the DC track will give you 1-3 experience (Summer before, Fall, and Spring) that could then set you up for a job offer during or after your second year.  On the other hand, you have a lot less freedom in terms of course selection (no choice 2nd year, limited based on class exemptions in first year).

I don't have feelings about job prospects because I have a job offer and that's not uncommon.  Many people already have job offers from federal agencies, Deloitte consulting, NGOs, think tanks, and IBM.  That's just what I know of (for PGH and DC MSPPM).  Those offers probably range in pay from a GS-9 Step 1 ($52k/year, great federal benefits) to $100k (Deloitte, but more so IBM, with great benefits as well).

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Is/Was anyone else in AmeriCorps? I was told by admissions that a couple dozen apply, half enroll and all will be honored with the ACorps/Heinz partnership funding. Haven't heard anything back yet. C'mon Heinz!

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Hi Everyone,

 

I just got an admission offer from CMU with a 30% tuition waiver :)

The letter says that I have been accepted for the two year Pittsburgh Track however i wanted to go for the data analytics track. What I wanted to know was whether we can select the data analytics track afterwards. My application was not filled by me as I have been selected through Fulbright and the Fulbright people completed the application on my behalf.

To the people who filled out the application form, does the data analytics track appear independently of the two year track? do you have to specify that you are applying for the data analytics track?

Please help me as I am going nuts! :P I want to go over for the data analytics track and not the normal MSPPM two year tack. 

Best,
Turab

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