Last Thursday after a rough week dealing with car trouble I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email informing me that one of the schools I applied to has decided to accept me. In the email I was given some preliminary information on what the next steps would be and the things I should be looking for in the next couple weeks and months.
In light of these developments I would like to reflect on what is coming next and how this year and application cycle differs from last year. Last year I was muddling through waiting to hear from schools, going back and forth between should the packet be thick or thin. After all a thick envelope means there is more than just a letter expressing their regrets for my rejection.
Now I am trying to decide if I receive more than one acceptance how to choose. Do I choose based on location, cost of attendance, or reputation? I understand that these questions are in many ways moot. I have only received one acceptance but I am still struggling with what will come next. Will I need to move across the country? I am ready for the adventure. Grad school comes with a large portion of debt and moving does not reduce that debt one iota. At the same time, acceptance into an in-state school reduces the amount of debt but that may not be an option and is not at this point and time. I also am trying to figure out more about each school. Are they more clinical or research, which school am I the best fit for and which is the best fit for me?
I applied to a total of 5 schools, One in my home state, 2 on the east coast, one in the Midwest, and one in a state with no state income tax. Except for the in state school tuition is about the same at each school. Decisions decisions.
I will try to keep posting my thoughts and any news I receive from the schools I to which I applied. I hope this blog will give others insight into how at least one other person handled this stressful time in life.
