Fell4Ever

He asked for opinions and thoughts and I gave him some, and yes they may be different then yours or his, but I don't think its worthy of the -1 I recieved on my post haha. Would I take on 100K of debt for my MPA? Probably not. But he asked for thoughts so I gave him some (and obviously most of these posts are negative 'no', so I gave him a positive 'yes' idea). Again, if you live for non-profit work or you really feel inspired to serve your country within its bureaucracy, then take on the debt. Will your life be harder? Perhaps. Probably even. But as an adult you have to make certain decisions and live with them. You (the origional poster) would have to ask your self, if I am given the option of taking on 100K of debt but getting my degree and pushing my career to the level that I really want or just the option of never getting my MPA, which would you prefer. Will you look back 20 years from now and be upset about what could have happened?

On the last day of my undergrad, a week before I left Japan to go back to the United States, my professor, who had written me a letter of Reccomendation for grad school, pulled me aside. He told me he really hoped I went on to get my Masters, that I really showed great Graduate School potential, and to not let my mind or passion go to waste. I laughed and said "All I have to do is find a way to afford it, and make it worthwhile." He talked to be a bit more and then said something alone these lines: "When I was young, just graduating from undergrad, I told my friends I was going for my PhD (masters first)in Sociology. They all laughed at me and said "what are you going to do with that? YOU'LL never find a job with that. I replied: "Exactly. YOU'LL never find a job with that. I WILL!" His point was that if its something that you want - something you're willing to sacrifice for and willingly take on the debt for, and have no other important obligation like a child or sick parent to take care of - then do it.

I got accepted to one school - Seton Hall - because they have rolling admissions. I'm still waiting on others, though.

They're not pressuring me, surprisingly. They're sending me things - like welcome e-mails and the such - but I've already told the heads of both departments that I have to wait to Fall (they wanted me to start in the Spring). They don't release GA positions until march, which is when UBC tells me too. So Basically, I have to wait wait wait until March and then cry cry cry.

Congrats!

I actually have heard nothing really solid about Financial Aid. I know if you're an American, you should fill out the FAFSA. If you have a B.A., you can fill it out as an independent, even if you live with your parents. If you want the US Grad school loan, you will have to fill this out. One school I am applying for just awards money once it awards your acceptance. So everyone finds out the last week in march if they got in, and how much they got in with. Another school I'm applying for as rolling admissions. But you still have to wait until March to apply for Graduate Assistantships. Do not be afraid to just e-mail your school with questions. They'll answer, and it wont hurt your admission chances.

I only researched SHU and the University of British Columbia for my grad school options, because my funding is limited and I have limited professional experience. But I have definitely heard of Washington, GW and Pitt, for sure. Pitt is a great school. But you'll have to ask other people haha, sorry.

If you want to go to Program A, but they wont give you money, BUT you can secure external funding, go for it. Graduate School is SUPER optional. You go if you want to go - to better your life opportunities AND to better your life. If you really want to go to a school that didn't give you any or enough funding, but you can get external scholarships, please, by all means, go for it. The important thing is to consider: Is the scholarship for only 1-year? How long will I be in school for. What happens if I do not get the scholarship again for the next year - will I be forced to drop out? Does the external funding cover EVERYTHING? Will I need to take out the Graduate Stafford Loan? Am I comfortable with that. I will tell you the only situation that I would not go to a school even if I could secure external funding. I am applying for the Masters in Asian Pacific Policy Studies at the University of British Columbia, and they say clearly on their website that all admitted candidates are RANKED by their perceived value, and given funding based on their ranking. They only accept 20 students (but luckily only get about 80 applicants!) so if I do not get funding, then I know that I must have ranked in the bottom of my incoming class. I would/will(god I hope its will XD So want to go to this school) be very discourages to try to go at it.

The Whitehead school of Diplomacy in South Orange New Jersey has a solid reputation, great location and isn't AS competitve. And it has rolling admission.

From what I remember from other posters, the problem with working in the Private sector but wanting an MPA is that you have to prove that you care about the public sphere? Just put something in your cover letter - stress the kills u've learned in your Private Work Experience and how they've helped prepare you for a career with an MPA. I'm applying straight out of Undergrad so my work experience is super limited. But you just have to roll with it my friend.

Because you've done way better at your new school, you can simply explain that in your Statement of Purpose/Cover Letter. Just kindly mention that youve done much better at your new school and its rapidly prepared you for improvement/working better. They're going to care a lot more about your last 2 years then your first two years. Important though: UBC typically wants TWO copies of EVERY transcript, so make sure you have 2 copies from your first school when its time to apply.

In my personal opinion, a lot of people have a "go giant or go home" mentality and only apply to the top top schools. I really do not agree with this mentality, because it implies that only the professors and administrators at 10 schools (The 'top 10') in the country are capable of teaching you the skills and knowledge related to an MPA. Obviously, that's not true. I personally do not believe that going to a school not in the TOP TEN will hurt you in the long run. Maybe you wi get more networking experience at a top ten school just because be famous or useful people with busy schedules will only have time for these schools, but if you're a hard worker and interview well, I personally believe you have just as much chance to get hired at a government office then a SIPA graduate. And then once you get hired, its not about your school - its about your work ethic, experience and ultimately luck. Have faith in your ability and your school choice. Apply, get in, learn, live your life. Often time, the people on this forum freak out over the littlest thing ("Omg the envelope I sent my Personal Statement in had a smudge - will they not accept me?"). We all admit that this is a big deal in our lives - we ALL want to get in and help make the world a better place - but we should remember we're all human, even our potential teachers, and should do our best to enjoy our lives before we die. There is NOTHING wrong with your school choices. Power through, my friend.

I so hope we get in

By one percentile point? If one percentile point is the difference between you getting in and you NOT getting in, then what's the point really. You're stressing yourself out over something as simple as one percentile point. Either do as the first poster said and bite the bullet, send an e-mail, and just say "I wanted to give you the best representation possible, here are my fixed scores, I'm sorry" or go out, buy a coffee, and relax.

I only filled out two applications because of finances and the such I just found out literally 30 minutes ago that I got accepted into Seton Hall's Asian Studies Master's program. Still need to see if I get accepted into their International Relations program too because I want a duel degree. If I do not get into their IR program, I'm not sure if I'll go to Seton Hall because I don't know how well known it is XD Oh well... but I really want to go now that I've been in XD XD XD I'm still waiting for the University of British Columbia. I wont find out about them for like... 3 months though! Its crazy! Best of luck to us all!