Christen712

Thanks for the advice TakeruK!

I would greatly appreciate any advice on how much I should disclose about "trying" personal situations in the optional section of grad apps. I am applying for a MA in International Affairs at top 10 schools. The average admittance GPA for the schools is 3.6, while my undergrad GPA is 3.1 (albeit from a top 4 ivy) and I'm concerned about getting a strong third letter or recommendation (three are required). The rest of the app (GREs, other recs, experience) is good. I came to undergrad after 10 years living alone with a mentally ill parent, and then 1.5 years in foster care (add to this economically disadvantaged public school, and low income household). I was admittedly distracted during my undergrad, working through a lot of issues. I then took a year off (at the urging of the school's advising office) after a situation arose with my parent in my junior year. My GPA isn't a reflection of what I am academically capable of, and I have grown a lot and resolved many issues during three years of professional work experience. After looking at a lot of advice here, I know to frame this disclosure in a positive light, how it has made me more resilient and focused on achieving goals, etc (all true, actually). However, not sure how much to disclose. Is alluding to "family problems which were significant enough to prompt the Dean of Academic Advising to recommend that I take a year off" too vague? Alternatively, I believe one of my recommenders is actually mentioning my parent's mental illness (in the light of impressive things overcome). Is this too much to disclose? Thanks so much for your thoughts!

For terminal MA: I'll caveat this by saying I have no expertise to comment on this, and I'm looking exclusively at DC, but I personally prefer the Georgetown and SAIS programs. Georgetown has an MA in Security Studies, with a really well developed curriculum and concentrations. SAIS program also seems very strong-- although they don't have an MA in Security Studies, but an MIA where you can concentrate in Strategic Studies (closest approximation, unless you count Conflict Management). However, the SAIS concentration seems pretty US defense heavy, but I heard the faculty director has amazing connections that he does use to students' advantage. If you are interested in DC, GW and American also have good programs.