#GradSchool Thoughts, Part 1

Assalamualaikum,

I’m going to make this an ongoing blog series, with random updates and posts as I navigate through my graduate school applications, going to interviews (if I was invited or if it’s required) and everything else in between.

So, to start things off, I’m currently working on my graduate school applications to four different universities, namely: University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Rochester, Colorado State University and Michigan State University (in no order of preferences). My application to Rochester was already submitted (I applied for the October 15th deadline), and I have just recently submitted my application to Michigan State University (last weekend). I am currently working on my statements for CSU and Madison and should be submitting them before my Thanksgiving break (end of November).

For all four universities, I’m applying to their Student Affairs program (they have different variations of the program, but essentially they’re all related to Student Affairs), with an additional Human Ecology program at UW-Madison. So that’s five different Master’s programs at four different universities. All of them are for next year, so they would be starting either in August or September 2017 (so I’ll be going to my Master’s right out of my undergraduate studies).

Two weeks ago, I went to Rochester, NY for an admissions interview with the Warner School of Education at University of Rochester. To be honest, I was surprised since I submitted the application itself on October 14th, and received an email invitation for the interview a week later. That being said, the interview went well. I was given an option to have a Skype interview as compared to an in-person interview, considering how Wisconsin is hours away from Rochester. But, seeing as how I’ve never been to Rochester, going for an in-person interview gave me the opportunity to not only visit the university but also to meet up with other faculty members and current students, as well as touring one of my prospective schools. One of the professors that I met up with even invited me to join his research discussion group meeting with his doctoral students, which was an awesome experience!

I also took the chance to take a look at some of the graduate school housing options that UoR has to offer. I was thinking that if I were to attend schools other than UW-Madison, it may be easier for me to choose to live in the university apartments for graduate students, considering how I wouldn’t be there in person to visit off-campus housings, sign a lease and whatnot. But if I choose to study in Madison, obviously it would be easier for me to find a place off-campus if needed (plus I would already know where is easier for me to commute to campus, the neighborhood I’d like to stay in, etc. Definitely running away from the noise at State Street for my grad school life).

That being said, I did record the trip to Rochester (it was my first trip on the Amtrak train, which was suuuuuper comfy and exciting), and it is up on YouTube for you to watch. It is also attached down here if you prefer to watch it here.

So, yeah, I think that should be it for now. If there are any updates or anything, I will let you know. Do pray for the best for my future endeavors! 🙂

Until next time, stay awesome people! 🙂