Done! Done! Done!

DONE! 1 month ago

With the huge assistance of my sister and wordsmith-friend-extraordinaire S, I have a compelling statement of purpose, which makes the rest of the application EASY.

I have all the parts uploaded and ready to go, if only my academic advisor from college would let me know if he could or couldn’t write me a letter of reference. It’s ironic that after all the mental hurdles I had to jump through to get to this very moment, that a man whom I deeply respect and have good rapport with is now my one tripping stone. How many times do I have to hunt him down? (I’m on attempt #3 in a month…and all he has to do is say no, and I’ll ask someone else. I’m hung up on him, because he’s the only academic reference I feel I can ask, and I think having that perspective would be really helpful for my application.)

That aside though, I’m pretty much there! The submit button is the only thing left.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I’ve practically done it! 1 month ago

A few weeks ago I met with the student services coordinator (the person that helps students succeed), and she actually thought I might be a better fit for the M.P.A. program.

I entered another whirlwind of doubt, questions, and fear, and the dust is just beginning to settle.

I’m doing my due diligence and looking up everything I can on the program now that my initial “what the heck?” has calmed way down. It seems I could still do “community development”/”city planning” type work and might even be better for that sort of thing than what the M.S. offers, since the M.S. seems to most focused on research alone. The M.P.A. isn’t ONLY about public policy, like I erroneously believed when I first considered it. And my background in non-profits really does make the M.P.A. program a slightly better fit than the M.S.

So I’m closer. I’m closer to applying, and I don’t have that sick, icky feeling that I’m never going to figure out what I’m really supposed to do with my life. 2 months ago

I drafted my statement of purpose, and barely like a lick of it. Sigh.

This shall get better, right? 3 months ago

Because today is the day I make strides with my statement of purpose. After lunch I’ll join my sister to go to her office and work on it while she is in class.

I want to do this with joy. I want to do this without stress and biting all my nails. I want to be released of the doubts that have been plaguing me all these years and keeping me from even dreaming big. I have a better feeling this could work out, and I don’t want to blow another opportunity because I’m riddled with worries that people won’t take me seriously, and worse, that I’m not taking myself seriously. I am. I am excited about the prospect of community development. If for no other reason, just to finally learn about it in a community context (i.e. classes, faculty, and fellow students). I’m not learning enough by reading on my own. And I keep looking at jobs and worrying, man, I don’t have those skills. And then I look at the jobs I COULD do and get the worst shackles-on feeling.

I want to pursue this goal freely and joyfully, and I believe I’m already halfway there. I did hear back from the program coordinator, and though I took calculus and microeconomics ten years ago, it still satisfies the requirements. Phew!

Everything’s finally lining up. And I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other to get it all done and submitted. I can do this. I have to do this. With joy, I do this. 3 months ago

I’m doing it! I’m singly focusing on Community Development & Applied Economics. I requested my GRE scores be sent, I will be mailing my request for my college transcript, I will be asking my references-in-waiting that I’ve decided a direction (and I’ll figure out how they should send in letters), and I’m going to craft the most compelling statement of purpose I can. No more being wishy-washy about what I want. I want to have my hand in building up healthy communities, and I know the future of that is through strong economics, a topic I’ve long avoided. I don’t want to do social work, I’m not necessarily interested in a masters of non-profit management, I’m forgoing counseling this application cycle, and an MBA never felt like the right fit.

The application deadline for this is April 1, with a suggested deadline of March 1, to be considered for funding opportunities (i.e. research assistantships). Now that I’ve worked through what’s been making me feel hazy for months, I think I can get my pieces in by Feb. 15th. That is my new goal.

Yay! I’m even feeling joyful about this. 3 months ago

only 14 days until I get notification… 5 months ago

There’s a lot to do, and I’m getting nervous! 6 months ago

I have begun compiling (and really studying) the different requirements for each program I’m applying to.

I created a profile today on the online application site and filled out all the generic information stuff. (So far I haven’t figured out how to apply to multiple programs….)

I will need to be in touch with references this week, and get them the appropriate forms. (I can tell this is one place where I’m dragging my feet. I wonder who exactly I’m going to ask. I wonder if bosses from years and years ago are the right ones to ask. I wonder if I’m supposed to get in touch with my archenemy. I am still worried about this 2-year gap in my employment. Ugh. Can’t get past this unless I push right through, right?)

I will request my college transcript and submit my GRE scores.

I drafted up some statements of purpose, and just need to really hash out what I’m trying to say in a clear, concise way.

Ok, those are some clear steps of what’s left to happen. I can do this. 6 months ago

been received and I am officially in the line to be considered for the course of study that I want. The acceptance notices will be posted on their website on Dec. 12. Until then, there is nothing more I can do now except pray. 6 months ago

about to send in my additional documentation. Now to wait for them to receive it, check the documentation and make a decision. 7 months ago

first day for applying for the grad school program I want. I have done the first forms on the website and have ordered my transcipt sent from UT Austin. Now I need to send a cover letter with my Swedish person number and a copy of the page from my passport. I am unsure how I have to provide proof of English language proficiency. The link on the site for that info wasn’t working, so I need to check it later. Then I shall check to make sure that I have sent in all the required documentation. This is a little scary and alot exciting! 8 months ago

opens for applications on Sept. 14. I am excited! 8 months ago

about this for quite a while, and i have finally decided that I am ready. 9 months ago