Valdosta State DPa program FAQ

Same here! haha
I was told that they have several hundred applicants and that it would be a while before decisions were finalized, so I am REALLY trying to be patient. Wish I knew what my odds were, but I suppose you never know in a case like this!

 

I also applied for Fall 2011. I am certainly hopeful about getting in. I have found no other program available online that meets my needs in the way Valdosta's DPA program does.

 

I got this email today:

 

Like I said, it will take you a month or longer to hear from them. Keep emailing them though, I am sure that will make them hurry up.:lmao:

In all seriousness, I know it sucks but they have a lot of applicants and the field has become more competitive as the word about the program has gotten out. The PA department is small and they are task-saturated at any given time. You are also competing for the time with all of the other work of the Graduate School which will be the hang-up in the speed of notification. Combine that with the fact that this last week was the end of the semester, today is commencement, and there is all sorts of other work that they need to get done that takes priority.

 

Thanks Truckie,
Yeah my email to them was just a general ~could you provide a quick update on the process~ not demanding a decision right away. I was just curious about a timeline, and you were spot-on with your approximately one+ month warning to us
I'm not necessarily in a hurry - I have teaching commencement tomorrow and I also walk for commencement of my MBA on Tuesday. I'm enjoying the couple of weeks without having to study or worrying about school

 

Enjoy your break. If it gives you any perspective on their workload, I defended my dissertation almost a month and half ago and my grades have not yet been posted and my transcript has still not been updated. Since classes ended on Monday 5/2, I suspect everyone is going to be busy getting this semester wrapped up before working on anything else.

 

Still no news?

I figured that admissions letters would have arrived by now...

 

I have not heard anything yet either. Not to jinx the my prospects, but the waiting is making me nervous and Truckie, since you seem the resident expert on public administration, will you confirm my research and observations from reading through past posts on all possible doctorial options in the field.

Unquestionably, the Valdosta program is the best because of the costs and B&M status. If it proves too competitive, and I do not make it in, my other options are:

NCU – PhD option, no residency requirement, but also dl only, and the dissertation process is almost impossible for all the work required, fin aid is also difficult.
Walden – PhD option, residency, also dl, but with more handholding, possible group work, more expensive.
Capella – DPA only, residency (possibility to take in the Atlanta-metro area?), also dl, perhaps the best-regarded dl, but most expensive, fin aid process easy and possible to triple-up on courses.
Nova Southeastern – canceled their program several years ago.

Am I missing anything? I would like a B&M school with some residency and mostly dl but Valdosta seems to be the only one out there.

Thanks.

Mike

 

No guarantee but the online system (BANNER) will likely be updated first. There's a process once marked accepted to kick off the letter generation if automated. They may do something a bit nicer as way of notice, but the SIS will still probably be updated first.

I work elsewhere in the Georgia uni system with the same SIS. And yep, I've applied too and waiting too.

 

I'm beginning to think the selection committee was raptured this weekend.

 

The way they are torturing us, I don't think they are going up...

 

From my discussions with them, it sounds like they are overwhelmed with the number of applicants.

 

Wow. I'm a bit concerned if they have so many applications and only let so few people into the program. I really wish I had applied when I first thought about it two years ago...

 

Spoke with the graduate admissions office today because of a change on the application status page (changes to the BANNER SIS). They had right at 120 applications. So not hundreds but a fair amount to wade through since they only take 25. The person in office didn't give an ETA on decisions though, unfortunately.

 

The banner registration system at VSU is now updated with the admissions status for the DPA program...

https://banssb.valdosta.edu/pls/prod/bwwkasck.p_getssn

 

Lucky you; mine hasn't updated yet.

 

Mine was updated but with a cryptic message; "decision being processed."

 

Well, hopefully they will enter everybody throughout the day. I figured that the fact that my admissions status displayed meant that everybody had their decision. Obviously, that assumption was wrong.

 

That must have been the "verify lawful presence" requirements change in banner?

The number they gave me was 111 apps for this year. Truckie has been very successful in promoting the program!

 

Well I figure mine is a nice way to say the "no thanks" letter is on its way....lol. Whatever the outcome, I will be content.