Accept a Safety School Offer or Wait a Year and Reapply to My Top Choice???

[nameynamename]

Got rejected from the Berkeley MDP Program, but got accepted to the Emory MDP Program. 

 

I really had my hopes set on Berkeley, and when I contacted the department to gather some insight on their decision, they responded with something along the lines of "We think you are a very interesting and bright young man and a great prospect for our program. While we cant accommodate you this round, we feel that with some minor improvements in your application you would make a stellar candidate for 2015."

 

Im weighing the prospect of waiting another year, improving my application a bit, reapplying and hopefully getting in next round, against the safer option of just sucking it up and going to Emory now. I know Emory is supposed to be a decent school and all, but I really had my hopes set on Berkeley and think the program, the location and the general atmosphere are more my style and would be a better fit. There is obviously the risk that I wont get into Berkeley next round either, and the even scarier risk that I might not get in anywhere next round at all. 

 

I feel really lucky to have gotten into Emory in the first place. I have a rather low undergrad GPA, but a lot of field experience in international development and have worked extensively in the non profit sector, which I think is why Emory is interested.

 

Has anybody had this sort of experience before? Any stories of being rejected and reapplying? Is it worth taking the risk to shoot for my number one choice again and deny an offer that I have already? Super confused as to what to do... Help!!!

[KW58D]

IMO if you were willing to apply to Emory thinking you would go if you got in then you should go. It sounds like a serious role of the dice to apply again next year and hope for the best. Like you said, you could end up with no options.

[kcyc]

If Berkeley is your dream school you should probably try another year, but apply broadly.

How about bringing up your GRE score if GPA is low?

 

Is having the master's degree really important in your career field? If not, then you have time to wait another year.

Edited March 27, 2014 by kcyc

[bsharpe269]

Can you defer at Emory for a year and reapply?

[nameynamename]

My GRE score is actually fine, though improving it would obviously not hurt my case... My problem is really with my uGPA, which I was considering trying to counterbalance by taking some graduate-level classes this year to try to show that I am serious and capable, etc. I feel like I dont know whether the Berkeley admissions people were being sincere or just polite when they said I would be a 'stellar candidate for 2015'. I would hate to deny a spot at Emory simply based on a hunch or off-hand suggestion that I might have a better chance next round at Berkeley... ultimately it would be a big gamble. 

 

I dont have the option of deferral at Emory, unfortunately. And its not like Emory's a bad option or anything... I think doing the Development Practice program there would have its benefits (CDC, CARE, Carter Center, Amnesty Intl offices all in the Atlanta area), and the intimate size of the program is attractive and the professors seem great. But at the end of the day, Emory is no Berkeley, and I know I would be happier lifestyle-wise living around the Bay, and potentially not so happy in Atlanta. 

[Vene]

It would be quite a risk to wait another year, how comfortable with risk are you?

Or, here's another question, let's look at the worst case scenario with both options. Will you be more likely to regret going to Emory and always ask yourself what would be if you waited a year and tried again at Berkeley, or will you regret not going to Emory and then getting rejected next year?

[nameynamename]

If I turned down Emory and never got into Berkeley, I would obviously be crushed... it would be a year wasted. On the flip side, if I go to Emory I probably will always wonder what could have been... I know it seems really risky, but the program at Berkeley seems a lot better, the location is head and shoulders above that of Emory, and having a degree from Berkeley could open more doors than one from Emory I feel... not only because of the name recognition factor, but also because the Bay is such a gravitational point for development organizations and people in the sustainable development world. In the end I just want to do the best thing for my career... they say a lot of grad school is all about the connections you make and the people you meet there, and I dont want to stoop settle for less than what I think I am actually capable of if holding out for what I really want could prove to be worth it in the end. 

[starofdawn]

In my opinion - the application process is very fickle and you might not be accepted to either program next year. If you are fine with that possibility, go ahead and reapply. If not, I would stick with Emory. You might be qualified to be accepted to Emory this year, but anything can change that would make you unqualified next year.

[juilletmercredi]

It's a master's program - whatever location you choose, you'll only be there for 2 years and you can always move to the preferred location after you finish your program.  So I wouldn't choose based on location; two years flies by really quickly and Atlanta's actually a pretty great city.  (Biased, though.  I'm from there.  But there are a lot of development organizations in Atlanta, especially if you are interested in health at all.)

 

I also doubt that you will always wonder what it was like to go to Berkeley.  If Emory is a good school in your field, you will take great, engaging classes; you will work with bright professors and you will network and get an internship and get busy, basically.  Then you'll get a job, and you'll work.  Emory has pretty good name recognition nationally, too.  If 2-3 years from now you're still holding onto wondering what it could've been like to go to Berkeley, I think other things would be at play.

 

So here's what I think: if you want to work in development in general, and Emory is a good program in your field, then you should go there.

 

If it's very important to you to specifically go to Berkeley, and you don't think you would be able to work in the field the way you want to work if you don't specifically go to Berkeley (like they offer some special thing that only they have) - then don't go to Emory and wait a year to reapply.  But do yourself a favor and don't apply anywhere else.  If it's Berkeley or bust, what's the point of applying anywhere else?  (I'm saying this not to be snarky, but as a thought exercise.  Consider how that feels.  If you turn down Emory this year, you are basically saying that nowhere but Berkeley is an acceptable alternative for you.)

 

Also consider that at this point you only have about 4-6 months before you would have to reapply; what adjustments would you be able to make to your application that would improve it?  It would be essentially the same as it is right now, unless you're doing some great internship/program right now that would bump you into the accept box.  But you've already said that you have a lot of field experience and extensive work in the non-profit sector, so I doubt one more year of the same is what kept you out of Berkeley this round and will get you in next round.  Did Berkeley give you any feedback about what minor improvements to make?  Because if they didn't, their response is almost as bad as nothing.

[nameynamename]

In my opinion - the application process is very fickle and you might not be accepted to either program next year. If you are fine with that possibility, go ahead and reapply. If not, I would stick with Emory. You might be qualified to be accepted to Emory this year, but anything can change that would make you unqualified next year.

 

That is a great point, starofdawn, and definitely a possibility I have been considering. Like I said before, I feel lucky to have been accepted to Emory, or anywhere for that matter, as my grades in college are probably (embarrassingly) among the lowest of any applicant pool of which I am a part (I had a tough time in college with personal family things... not really relevant to the discussion here, but suffice it to say that I dont look that hot on paper, GPA-wise. Not proud of this, its just what it is.). So I know I cant count on getting into Emory next cycle as if its a sure-shot... the program is becoming more popular every year from what I hear, and I imagine there will be a larger applicant pool every year from here on out, and they only accept 15 cohorts annually. 

 

 

It's a master's program - whatever location you choose, you'll only be there for 2 years and you can always move to the preferred location after you finish your program.  So I wouldn't choose based on location; two years flies by really quickly and Atlanta's actually a pretty great city.  (Biased, though.  I'm from there.  But there are a lot of development organizations in Atlanta, especially if you are interested in health at all.)

 

I also doubt that you will always wonder what it was like to go to Berkeley.  If Emory is a good school in your field, you will take great, engaging classes; you will work with bright professors and you will network and get an internship and get busy, basically.  Then you'll get a job, and you'll work.  Emory has pretty good name recognition nationally, too.  If 2-3 years from now you're still holding onto wondering what it could've been like to go to Berkeley, I think other things would be at play.

 

So here's what I think: if you want to work in development in general, and Emory is a good program in your field, then you should go there.

 

If it's very important to you to specifically go to Berkeley, and you don't think you would be able to work in the field the way you want to work if you don't specifically go to Berkeley (like they offer some special thing that only they have) - then don't go to Emory and wait a year to reapply.  But do yourself a favor and don't apply anywhere else.  If it's Berkeley or bust, what's the point of applying anywhere else?  (I'm saying this not to be snarky, but as a thought exercise.  Consider how that feels.  If you turn down Emory this year, you are basically saying that nowhere but Berkeley is an acceptable alternative for you.)

 

Also consider that at this point you only have about 4-6 months before you would have to reapply; what adjustments would you be able to make to your application that would improve it?  It would be essentially the same as it is right now, unless you're doing some great internship/program right now that would bump you into the accept box.  But you've already said that you have a lot of field experience and extensive work in the non-profit sector, so I doubt one more year of the same is what kept you out of Berkeley this round and will get you in next round.  Did Berkeley give you any feedback about what minor improvements to make?  Because if they didn't, their response is almost as bad as nothing.

 

 

Julliet, I sort of did think it was Berkeley or bust when I started applying... I ended up last-minute applying to other schools with the MDP program in the event that I got rejected (wise decision, as fate would have it...), but always had Berkeley in my sights as the school for me. I suppose I might have my priorities out of whack a bit... choosing a program based on the city is probably not wise; you're right, its only 2 years. And I might be weighing the Berkeley brand a bit too heavily into my decision - I would be lying if I said that I didnt care about the personal pride I would feel telling my friends and family that I got into Berkeley, but I also believe this brand to have value once you hit the job market, not to mention that the Bay is just a great place to network for developmental work. 

In terms of the adjustments and improvements that I could make, I am still yet to hear back from them about exactly what these might be. I have a phone call scheduled for next week with the program admin, who through email has told me she would be happy to help me with advice in strengthening my application for next round. I am actually currently working as a coordinator at an NGO in Guatemala, which might strengthen my case a bit, but as you said, I have a ton of this type of experience already and I am quite certain that what prohibited my acceptance in the first place was GPA-related more than anything. I was considering maybe moving back to the Bay and taking classes at the Berkeley extension school in Oakland to prove that I have what it takes to do well in their program, or something similar to show that my poor performance in undergrad was more situational than an indication of my intellectual abilities. 

[MastersHoping]

In my honest opinion, I think you should go to Emory.

It's a big risk. 

And if when you applied to Emory, you applied thinking you'd be just fine going, then what changed?

If you applied knowing you didn't want to go, why'd you bother applying?

 

And it's not exactly like Emory is terrible place to be...and master's are only 1 - 2 years.

[smpalesh]

To be honest, it sounds like you are focusing more on the brand that anything else.  If you can live with the fact that you can reapply next year and still not get in, and possibly get in nowhere, then go for it.  Otherwise I would be happy you got into what sounds like a great program and worry less about the "brand name" of your school.

[Icydubloon]

I don't believe Berkeley's response. As in, they say that to everyone.

[m-ttl]

It honestly sounds like you have a great choice with Emory! Berkeley is nice, and I understand why the Bay area would have such an appeal. But Emory is a Brand Name. Honestly, looking at the Emory site and the explanation of the degree you were accepted for, it looks like an amazing program. You consistently intern and have two summers of fieldwork in your field. Honestly I can't see any reason why going to Berkeley would be bad for your career at all. I would go...it's not Berkeley but it doesn't have to be. 

[nameynamename]

I don't believe Berkeley's response. As in, they say that to everyone.

My fear exactly. Hard to tell where politeness ends and reality begins. 

 

It honestly sounds like you have a great choice with Emory! Berkeley is nice, and I understand why the Bay area would have such an appeal. But Emory is a Brand Name. Honestly, looking at the Emory site and the explanation of the degree you were accepted for, it looks like an amazing program. You consistently intern and have two summers of fieldwork in your field. Honestly I can't see any reason why going to Berkeley would be bad for your career at all. I would go...it's not Berkeley but it doesn't have to be. 

I agree, Emory would be a good choice. The more I think about it, the more absurd it seems to pass up a good option for the (remote?) possibility of eventually obtaining something slightly better (subjectively speaking, of course...). The two programs are actually far more similar than they are different, with the biggest difference being location, and there are definite upsides to the Emory option. The more I ponder, the more I lean towards going with Emory. I'll be chatting with some of the current cohorts to get their insight soon. I appreciate all of your insight and feedback, kind people of the interwebs... 

[m-ttl]

My fear exactly. Hard to tell where politeness ends and reality begins. 

 

I agree, Emory would be a good choice. The more I think about it, the more absurd it seems to pass up a good option for the (remote?) possibility of eventually obtaining something slightly better (subjectively speaking, of course...). The two programs are actually far more similar than they are different, with the biggest difference being location, and there are definite upsides to the Emory option. The more I ponder, the more I lean towards going with Emory. I'll be chatting with some of the current cohorts to get their insight soon. I appreciate all of your insight and feedback, kind people of the interwebs... 

 

I decided to look through both programs, because it seemed interesting and I'd never really seen that program before. Honestly, I agree - it looks like there are a lot of similarities between the two, and I'm also really fond of practicums/fieldwork/practice. Emory is going to offer you two complete summers of fieldwork in the same location, which would give you the follow through on your original work and practice. Honestly, chat with the current Emory cohorts. See if you like what they say. 

 

I'm a big believer in things happening for reasons, or working out in the end. Even if you wanted to go to UCB, there's a definite chance that Emory has something amazing to offer you, and if you go, you'll absolutely enjoy it and being immersed in the program. Names and locations aside, ask yourself if you'll enjoy the process of learning, you'll find your studies fulfilling and applicable, and if you think you'll leave the program having learned what you wanted and able to work. Keep in mind as well, Berkeley is not in San Francisco, it's in Berkeley. It's close by, but about 40 min to an hour by public transportation, or if you take a car, you'll have tolls and traffic to fight. That's not unbearable, for sure, but don't over-romanticize and disappoint yourself over something imperfect to begin with. UCB wouldn't be a perfect choice anymore than Emory would be. But Emory, as far as I know, is directly in Atlanta, and is much more central to the rest of the city. 

 

Sometimes one of the mistakes we make is making ourselves miserable because we believe our secondary options will never be as good as our first choices, which simply isn't true. It honestly looks like half of your battle is just approaching your second choice on a level playing field and clean slate. If Berkeley isn't in the picture, does the Emory program hold up for you? Can you enjoy it, or will you honestly allow yourself to regret one thing forever? Getting over hopes being dashed takes time (I ended up going to a safety school for UG because my top choice withdrew funding) but in the end, I realized I could really enjoy where I was at and still benefit quite a bit if I didn't constantly regret something that simply wasn't meant to be. 

 

Good luck!

Edited March 29, 2014 by m-ttl