NBR: grad school

ashnoelle

For mommies who are in grad school or who have graduated with a master's:

How did you decide where to go to school? How did you decide on the particular program?

I'm getting ready to apply to grad schools for Community Planning. Right now I'm only looking at two schools, but I need to research more (especially since one is super hard to get into). I started toying around with the idea and looking into things months ago, but I still feel lost at sea.

I'm trying to make a list of things I want out of grad school in general...They are:

 A program to compliment my theoreticalSustainable Development knowlwdge.

Application/experiential/skills- I'dlike an internship or something along that line

To be able to go straight into a careerafter graduation

Develop a good network

To be in a position, within my career, where I can helppeople/communities and not sacrifice my personal values/beliefs

To never have to work in a salesposition- now I'm just getting snarky.

Sorry this is long and rambling. I said I was lost at sea.  

LeapDayLinsey

I chose the University of Phoenix because they have classrooms very close to my house.  I go once a week and classes are 6 weeks long...so, if I hate the class it won't be long until it's over and because then I only have to concentrate on 1 subject at a time.

I have a BS in Business Admin so I am getting my MBA with a concentration in Health Care Administration because I think that industry is interesting and will always be around and with a variety of job duties in it.

 GL!

ashnoelle

this is going to be a major life change for us. I hope to go full time while SO works (we will be sooo broke) and we will have to move to go to a college that has my program. There is one college in state- UNC chapel hill. 

IrishBrideND

For my first degree, I chose Hopkins because I was living and working full time in Baltimore. The City paid for my program and Hopkins had a great program. I knew I wanted to do Secondary Math education because thats what I taught

 

For my second degree, I chose Notre Dame because a) i love the school, b) they had a program for DH too, but most importantly c) they are the only one who has the specific program I am doing (Not For profit administration within a business school)

laurieb602

I ended up applying to Clemson and the University of SC. I chose Clemson because USC required driving 1.5 hours away 2 Saturdays a month. I'm working on my MBA and at the time Clemson had a slightly better ranking, not sure if that's still true. Also they have a satellite campus where I live.

ashnoelle

I guess my list was what I generally want out of my grad school education. You ladies are listing the technical stuff, which is good. I have those considerations too. Maybe this isn't as big as I feel it is and I'm just getting nervous.

IrishBride, Notre Dame was really the *only* school with your program? That is really surprising. Not many schools have mine either though. Most planning programs are focused on urban planning.

IrishBrideND

ashnoelle:

I guess my list was what I generally want out of my grad school education. You ladies are listing the technical stuff, which is good. I have those considerations too. Maybe this isn't as big as I feel it is and I'm just getting nervous.

IrishBride, Notre Dame was really the *only* school with your program? That is really surprising. Not many schools have mine either though. Most planning programs are focused on urban planning.

The only one with a not for profit admin program in the business college. Some have the program, but its in the arts and letters college (or other such places)

ttimmerman

Well, I went to Michigan State for the lamest reason ever - because my boyfriend at the time had a research position there, so I followed him. Totally stupid. We didn't end up together and I actually really disliked the program. I finished my master's degree, but I think I would have really enjoyed a different program somewhere else. My point is, make sure you research what exactly the program entails and what courses are expected - although it sounds like you're doing that.

ETA: I should mention that I met my husband while I was in grad school and now we have a gorgeous daughter, so it was all worth it in the end!

missyjg

I chose my school based on four things:

1. Reputation: Based on people I talked to and interviewed.

2. Price: I would have preferred a state school, which is much cheaper, but the reputation of those places were poor.

3. Size: I didn't want a huge school where I'd be lost.

4. Location: I wanted to be near home but was willing to compromise on this issue.  

The degree I got was a dual degree in Physical Therapy, BS/MS so it was a package deal. I didn't have to reapply for grad school.  Now I'm doing my PhD...and I'm honestly wondering why I'm doing this to myself:-)

ashnoelle

missyjg:

I chose my school based on four things:

1. Reputation: Based on people I talked to and interviewed.

2. Price: I would have preferred a state school, which is much cheaper, but the reputation of those places were poor.

3. Size: I didn't want a huge school where I'd be lost.

4. Location: I wanted to be near home but was willing to compromise on this issue.  

The degree I got was a dual degree in Physical Therapy, BS/MS so it was a package deal. I didn't have to reapply for grad school.  Now I'm doing my PhD...and I'm honestly wondering why I'm doing this to myself:-)

price is def on my list!

How'd you find out reputation? Who'd you interview? I know chapel hill's program is very well known, but I am less sure about the others.  

carrotcake06

Don't know if you'll come back to this thread or not, but I just graduated from DCRP at UNC-CH. I'll page you, but if you have any questions about the program, I'd be happy to answer them

BelleIsa

If you want guaranteed income after you graduate, you could always become a plumber.  Those people make serious $$$$. (At least they do in Canada, don't know what it's like for trades right now in the US...)

blissfully_caffeinated

I researched the top 20 schools in the US for my desired field of study. Then I looked at which of those had the focus that I'm interested in. There were only a handful. Most of them were in terrible places to live or at a super expensive private school that I could never afford. So really I was left with 3 choices. The programs and tuition were all comparable so I chose the school in the city I liked the best and where I knew dh could get a job.