Springtime in the City

The days of blizzards and the polar vortex are long behind us - IT'S SPRINGTIME!

Official Countdown to Graduation: 25 Days

(that sounds like party time if I do say so myself...)

I always know it's spring when the trees are in bloom and the outdoor seating opens up at the local bars and restaurants! Now that the weather has been in the 60's and 70's, the sun is shining, and the sun doesn't set until well after 7:00 PM, it's officially time to do some of my favorite spring activities! Weekend walks through Rittenhouse Square, strolls along the Schuylkill River, and evenings spent outside by a fire at a local bar/restaurant are some great ways to enjoy the gorgeous weather. Because we only have a few weeks left together before we go our separate ways, maybe I'll try to get some of my cohort-mates to celebrate the gorgeous spring weather with me at some of these places...

See, there IS nature in the city!

Trees in the park near my apartment.

On another slightly related note - Happy Earth Day!!

Hopefully you're celebrating today (and every day) by practicing the three R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! 

Love the Lorax!

How cute are these Earth cupcakes?!?

"Earth" made out of recycled crayons!

Decisions, Decisions

It's almost time for many of you accepted students to submit your deposit and commit to Penn GSE for next year! Just a reminder, the deadline is April 15th for most of you (if you received your letter after March 15th you have 30 days to decide). If you're still deciding whether or not Penn GSE is the right place for you, feel free to reach out to me, Wesley, Rebecca, or any of the other graduate assistants who are keeping blogs (on the right side of this page). We're here to help you! We can also put you in touch with other students in your program if you want another perspective.


Our final WEB CHAT of the semester will be taking place this Friday, April 11, 2014 from 7:00-8:00 PM (Eastern Time). We have lots of students registered already so please join us to chat about life at GSE and if it's a good fit for you! RSVP here.


It's not too late to apply for some of our programs if you're still interested in admission for the 2014-2015 school year. Many admit on a rolling admission basis so you can still apply here!


We've also revamped our campus visit processes. We are hosting a session called "Penn GSE at 3" every day at 3:00 PM. The visit includes an admissions/financial aid overview as well as a campus tour with one of our current students. RSVP is strongly encouraged, although walk-ins are welcome! If you're interested in meeting with a program specifically, fill out one of our program meeting request forms and be sure to let us know in the comments if you are attending "Penn GSE at 3".


We are also offering online webinars all spring and summer to give you an overview of the admissions and financial aid procedures. RSVP here to join us at lunch-time or in the evening!

Hope to "see" you or hear from you soon! 

To the 2014-2015 Higher Education Cohort...

...you all are awesome! It was such a pleasure to meet many of you this weekend between mingling and interviewing for the GSE admissions position! You have a fantastic year ahead of you!

It's hard to believe that it's already been a year since I was in your shoes. Everyone will keep telling you, it goes faster than you think, and they're right! I wanted to share some quick words of advice (since many of you said you read these blogs!)

• Take advantage of every opportunity you can (personal and professional) - it might not come again.
• If you're not happy with something, be proactive and take steps to change it. The one year program is too short for you to spend unnecessary time in a bad situation.
• Diversity is more than meets the eye - take time to get to know your classmates, and learn from them. Everyone has unique experiences and perspectives to offer.
• Be nice to your cohort members, they will be your real-world colleagues very soon.
• You know the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"? In higher ed, it's more like two or three degrees. The world of higher education is actually very small, so any job you want to apply for or person you want to connect with is likely only a few degrees of separation away from you. Make lasting connections with your supervisors, professors, and every one you meet, and don't be afraid to ask if people can use their connections to help you! 
• ...but don't burn bridges! Treat people with respect because they will remember you!
• Learn to listen. You can often learn more in class by considering what others are sharing rather than dominating the conversation yourself.
• Don't take things too personally. Classmates will say things that upset you or might offend you. Don't judge people by how they phrase things when they might not be fully considering their words, but feel free to question or challenge their assumptions - respectfully, and not aggressively. 
• Don't shy away from situations that make you feel uncomfortable or challenge you - it's these moments where you can learn and grow most. 

Enjoy every minute of your time - even the difficult moments! Use your cohort members for support and celebrate together when you graduate!

I'm sure I'll come in contact with many of you again, but in the meantime, don't hesitate to email me any questions you still have (even after a long and informative weekend). 

Good luck! 

51 Days Left...

Whew. Sincerest apologies for the unexpectedly long hiatus! It has been a B.U.S.Y. few weeks in the life of Amanda. Amid all of the chaos of planning web chats, on campus open houses, and trying to keep up with school work (senioritis has hit hard) there have been some really exciting things happening!

First, we're in full swing and preparation for welcoming many of our accepted students to campus this week! Hopefully many of you reading this will be in attendance - I can't wait to meet you! It's strange to think that there's a whole new cohort of GSE students coming in the summer or fall and I'll be an alumna!

Remember when I mentioned "the dreaded comps" about a month ago? Well today the results came in aaaaannndddd... I PASSED! That is a HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders, and it means I am OFFICIALLY graduating! Which brings me to my next point...

We graduate in only 51 days!!! I picked up my cap and gown last week and the official count down has begun. As exciting as that is and as much as I'm looking forward to it, that means it's officially crunch time (as if it wasn't already). Now that most of my requirements to graduate are out of the way, I just have to push through the struggle of the final six weeks of the semester, and FIND A JOB!

Job hunting has become one of my favorite pass-times and modes of procrastination, but it can quickly become very stressful! It's incredible to see the huge variety of higher education administrative jobs that are out there, and it's been really great to do some soul-searching and figure out what it is that I truly want to do, but it can also be incredibly disheartening to see some of the minimum qualifications for my "dream job" and realize that I still have a looooonnggg way to go before I can reach that point. And don't get me started on the depressing "Sorry you're not the right candidate for the job" emails. Those suck.

Along the way, I've encountered some great resources for finding and securing a job. One of the great parts about Penn GSE is the dedication and connectedness of the alumni. Many of them work on campus and have been kind enough to host workshops or networking sessions for the current students. These are great ways to connect with professionals (who you have something significant in common with) and get some tips and insider information. Most of these people were in our shoes not long ago so they remember how we feel and are enthusiastic about helping us to be successful! I've also been really blessed to work my GA in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at Penn GSE, where my supervisors and co-workers have been amazing in helping me (and my fellow graduate assistants) along the journey. I'm so excited to be able to call all of these individuals colleagues eventually!

Hopefully there won't be a long break between this post and the next one, but in the meantime, keep the questions coming! I love getting messages from people reading the blogs! If there's something you want me to post about, just send me a note!

Until next time :-)

Ask Amanda

Hello Blog Readers!

This week is Penn's Spring Break, and boy is it different from my spring breaks during undergrad. I'm not doing anything terribly exciting - no road trips, no vacation getaways, no binge-watching my favorite shows, just a quiet week at home with my family. Most of my time so far has been spent trying to do some work before the remainder of the semester picks up (only 66 days until graduation!) but unfortunately, my brain thinks it's on vacation, so not much is getting done.

As a productive means of procrastination, I figured I would answer a few of the most frequently asked questions I've been receiving through the blog throughout the year. Hopefully the answers are helpful, and if you have any other questions for me, feel free to submit them through a comment or the "Contact Me" box on the left side of this page! Here goes...


Q. I'm a senior in college now. Should I take a year or two off before applying to grad school?

A. This was a question I got a lot at the beginning of the year, but the answer might be helpful for some of you who are still considering applying this year, or thinking about applying next year. I think the answer to this question relies heavily on what you want to do. I applied to grad school right out of college but I knew I wouldn't be doing anything really productive or helpful to further my career during a year or two off, so I decided to get the degree right away. I know many people who take a few years off to do national or international service programs, teach in the U.S. or abroad, or try to work in early level positions for a few years to build some experience before applying to grad schools. It really depends on who you are and what you want. I knew I needed the degree to get where I want to go in higher education, and I was afraid if I didn't complete it right after undergrad, that I wouldn't want to go back to school later on. I also think my graduate assistantship is more beneficial to me now without a lot of higher ed experience rather than if I held the position after several years of working in the field.


Q. I think I want to apply to Penn GSE this year. Is there some way I can come see the campus and talk to some people before I decide to apply?

A. This is another question that was more prevalent earlier in the year, but the answer is YES! We offer a comprehensive campus visit program for prospective and accepted students to help them figure out if Penn GSE is the right fit! We offer the campus visits between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. During the visit you have the opportunity to meet with the program managers from the program(s) you are interested in, meet with a representative from our office of Admissions and Financial Aid, take a tour of our campus, sit down for coffee with one of our current students, and even sit in on a sample class session if it's available. You can find the form to register for a campus visit here. Indicate any particular requests or notes you may have in the comments section.

Please note: we ask for at least two weeks' notice to arrange any campus visits and cannot guarantee availability for your requested day. You will typically receive a response within 24 business hours of submitting your online request. To avoid inconvenience, we recommend that you do not book any travel until  the date has been confirmed.


Q. I'm coming to Penn in the Fall. Are there any options for me to live on campus, or do I need to find my own apartment? Where do most GSE students live?

A. This is one of my favorite questions to answer, but it can be challenging because there is so much information and so many resources and options available to students at Penn! From my experience, I would say most students at GSE live in the University City/West Philadelphia area. These are the neighborhoods where you can easily walk or bike to campus in 15-20 minutes. Some students live further away in Center City (across the Schuylkill River) or in neighborhoods outside the main part of the city like Manayunk, East Falls, or Roxborough. You can easily get to Penn from these neighborhoods by driving or taking one of the Regional Rail SEPTA trains. Many students also opt to live in Sansom Place - the on-campus housing option for graduate students. These are essentially furnished apartments on campus which are perfect for students who are coming from mar away or who don't plan on staying in Philadelphia after graduation. Sansom is a little pricier than most apartments in West Philly, but the leases cover the duration of the school year and you don't have to worry about buying your own furniture and moving it in and out. Plus, it's only a 5 minute walk to GSE so you can sleep later in the mornings! Here is some information about living in Sansom Place. Penn also offers some really great off-campus resources like student submitted reviews of landlords, help locating apartments close to campus, and surveys to find potential roommates. Before you start your search in Philly, definitely explore the off-campus services website. As a final housing resource for you, the Graduate Student Center offers online housing orientations throughout the Spring. Check out the dates and register for an event here!


Q. Where can I apply for Penn GSE scholarships or financial aid?

A. Graduate financial aid and scholarships at Penn are a lot different than what typical undergrad schools offer, and maybe different from a graduate school you previously attended. Penn GSE offers merit-based aid in the form of scholarships. There is no separate application for this merit-aid, you will automatically be considered when you submit your application. You will receive notification of your award in your acceptance letter. If you accept the offer of admission and the award, make sure you sign and submit the supplemental form! Unfortunately, there are no need-based financial aid awards or supplemental scholarships that you can apply for. You may be able to find an external scholarship that could be used, but if you have any questions about your award email finaid@gse.upenn.edu. Also note that funding and financial support for doctoral students can be very different, so this information might not apply.


Hopefully this helps some of you! Keep the questions coming!