Hunter College

[nky14]

Hi everyone:

I'm just in the midst of finishing up my application to CUNY Hunter, and I am just really anxious/stressed about getting in. It's the only school I applied to because I haven't taken my GREs yet and I just wanted to see if I had a shot in hell getting in. I also don't know how they look upon international students (I'm Canadian). Anyone be able to tell me about my chances of getting in? I have a 3.2 GPA which is not awesome, but from a reputable school (UToronto) in Poli Sci, but now have a 4.0 upgrading classes in urban studies at a decent school. I've been doing that while working full time, and I've also been volunteering a lot too. My problem is that I don't have a reference from my undergrad since I finished like 5 years ago and my profs most definitely wouldn't remember me. But, I do have a good reference from a volunteer position with a planning project, and from a city planner that taught a class last term. do you think all this combined with the fact I've been out of school for a while give me good chances of getting in?

Thanks!!!

[jenmicah]

I'm just wondering why you aren't applying to Canadian schools. None of them require the GRE, and all of them would be cheaper than Hunter by a fair margin. Not that there aren't good reasons - I'm just curious.

[nky14]

Well, there's only a handful of Canadian schools that offer an MUP program. there are MLA programs, but I prefer MUP just because I think there is a higher employability possibility. I'm also more interested in the policy side, although I am choosing Hunter for its practical program. Also, I would prefer to do an MUP in a large city because it would be beneficial to studies, and I do not think I'll get into any schools in Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal just given my GPA. Also, I spent 5 years in Toronto doing my undergrad, and I'd like to go somewhere else anyway. I am still a little nervous about potentially moving to NY, but it will be good for me! but please tell me if it's a bad idea haha. As for financials, Hunter is quite affordable, by US school standards.

I know rattling off stats doesn't do much good, but any idea on my prospects of getting into Hunter? Is it a super competitive school to get in to?

[OfficialPlanner]

"My problem is that I don't have a reference from my undergrad since I finished like 5 years ago and my profs most definitely wouldn't remember me."

I would contact them anyway. I served on the admissions committee for my MSP program. There were a handful of times where a reference letter from a professor stated up front that did not remember the applicant, but they checked their grade and attendance records. In my opinion this is a far better alternative than not including any academic references when the application processes explicitly asked for them.

[nky14]

Thanks for the advice!

I do have an academic reference, but this person is not a professor, but rather an instructor who is also a transit planner with the City. This person will give me an awesome reference and I got an A in that class. But, I am wondering if it is worth it to get a reference from someone who doesn't really remember me but got a good grade from 5 years ago, so probably won't give me a great reference. Or, I could wait until Spring admission when I'll likely get an academic reference with the courses I'm upgrading with at the moment, which I don't really want to do.

what do you think about my other credentials?

Thanks again!

[OfficialPlanner]

You exceed the minimum requirements for Hunter, and apparently they allow academic or professional references. So best of luck! Also, I would not worry about being an international student. BTW, I'm also from Toronto and went to an American school.

[nky14]

Thanks, @OfficialPlanner. Just have to see what happens! Good to see that a fellow Canadian made it down there