Jump to content

carrar

Members
  • Posts

    26
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Not Telling
  • Application Season
    Already Attending
  • Program
    Political Science

carrar's Achievements

Decaf

Decaf (2/10)

1

Reputation

  1. In the native language. I also wrote a more formal letter of introduction with a project summary in that language (had a native speaker with knowledge of the topic look over it for me). The only time I wrote to someone in English was when I emailed the U.S. embassy in that country for possible contacts and when I emailed a couple of other Fulbright recipients (who were VERY helpful) in-country for info. So basically, target language unless I was writing to Americans.
  2. The above advice is good, so I'll just share my recent experience. I'm 30, and I was accepted to three good (and good fit) schools, but none were elite (top 50-ish). I did get full funding at all. The most important thing is to articulate in your SOP why you want to get your PhD. I briefly mentioned my previous career and what skills would add to my success in grad school, but it was a minor part. I just got back from a school visit, and the department was VERY encouraging to me. One professor explained that they liked my application because I was very clear about what I wanted to study, stemming in no small part, I believe, from the fact that I had not been in school for a while and had time to think about why I wanted to give up decent pay and go back to school. Another professor mentioned that I was right to see a PhD program as somewhat of a career training program rather than an end in itself. As far as recommendation letters, I emailed the professors, asked if they would STRONGLY recommend me, and offered to send them my transcripts from their school, a paper from their class, my CV, a draft of my SOP, and any other materials they would need. While I wish that I would have been able to start my PhD a few years ago, there are positive aspects to being slightly older. A big one: barring unforeseen circumstances, I plan on finishing as soon as possible rather than extending my TA-ship for 7, 8, 9 years because I know what real(ish) money is. I'm really happy with my results this year, and my campus visit was also a good ego boost. PM me if you'd like more info. Best of luck!
  3. As a bonus, your friends will think you're really smart if you return to school after having been out a few years. I'm in an unrelated field to political science/politics/policy, so when people learn that I'm getting paid to go to back school, they're totally impressed. (This will help counteract the dumb feeling I know I'll have when I start because I'm not as recently steeped in the discipline as fresh-out-of-undergrad students.) One other point: Working for a few years before not only helped me get in, I think, I'm also considering it a hedge against what might happen if I'm not finding a position after the degree. I always have my other "career" that I can do to make ends meet, even if I'm not thrilled about it. And to the topic of the thread: Before I applied, I had three fall-back plans, just in case grad school didn't work out. I know it's harder when you're just coming out of undergrad (trust me, I know), but it makes the disappointment easier when you've already looked into teaching English abroad or helping your grandpa sell his antique tools on ebay. (And it's funny, I'm working on a promotion at my current job that would make me much happier here--too bad I'm only staying 6 more months.) I knew if I didn't get in, I'd be sad, but something would be in the works to fulfill my life. I'll be a bossy know-it-all no matter what my job is.
  4. Thanks for the distraction! I will not mock anyone's choices here ... except who selected "too young to vote"? Whoever you are, you must be a bright kid. (And then I hope you will not be in my program because I will feel like I have more grey hairs than I really do.)
  5. One year I looked into working for National Parks during the summer; my mom said she did it in the '70s (knee socks and brown shorts!), and a college friend worked at Mount Rushmore, I think. This was 10-ish years ago, so maybe the jobs have changed, but unless you have a skill, it's usually distributing maps, working the gift shop, being friendly.
  6. Thanks to both of you! I've been looking around for these to help justify my nascent decision ... want to make sure I'm not deciding based solely off personal life but also on actual facts. Now if I would just hear about funding ...
  7. USC concerns me. I've seen two acceptances in the results forum, but they were spread apart by a week or so. That's been my favorite program since I started thinking about a PhD, and my campus visit last fall was encouraging. We'll see, I guess. And in other, non-Harvard news, I received a phone call yesterday (Saturday) from a professor at Arizona gauging my interest in their program still. He said their committee is meeting this upcoming week, so we'd likely find out late in the week.
  8. Yes, I think two of us claimed acceptances to UMass yesterday. It was a personalized email.
  9. Congrats! The first acceptance is the best feeling. I'm in at UMass as well with the same offer and nomination for a university fellowship. I was cool with my first acceptance (especially since I already live nearby), but this unexpected one is throwing me. You mean I get to/have to make a decision? In the end, I may label a couple of Dentabones and let my dog decide. (I'm not diminishing this--I really have a hard time with decisions, even obvious ones.)
  10. I went to the APSA website: http://www.apsanet.org/content_6947.cfm Then I customized a spreadsheet with my primary fields, subfields, and special interests, as well as city, funding, and other notes. Then I had a drop down menu next to each with Yes/No/Maybe. I visited every website (seriously, every one)--some are easy to say yes or no to. Then with all the maybes, I checked program descriptions and faculty bios if they had all or most of what I wanted to study and narrowed them down further. Lots of winnowing, but I ended up with an okay list. Additionally, for books or articles that were particularly interesting or influential, I looked at the authors'/editors' bios to also help me find if I overlooked a school. I think I added one to my list this way. Here's an example of a VERY detailed spreadsheet: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mooreks/downloads.html I didn't go this detailed, but it is a good example.
  11. I did IR at Bristol a few years ago and loved it. I thought about staying another year but ran out of money.
  12. I'm going to assume you're male. Heh. I ran a half marathon this weekend, which was an excellent distraction. For a few days, I was stressed about finishing that rather than grad school. Now I'm thinking about a 50-mile bike ride in Baja in April. My friend told me her rear was sore, but the fish tacos and beer at the end were totally worth it. Oh, wait, summer plans? Work at my full-time job until two days before I go and pick up as much freelance work as possible to steel myself for the oncoming poverty. Also, I'm starting to panic that I've forgotten all of the literature in my several years out of school, so I'll be boning up on the basics. Pulling out my MSc books and reading the tables of contents and introductions. Maybe take a summer Spanish class. Or maybe I'll just enjoy the beach with a book over my face.
  13. That's amazing that they reached out to you both! I have no advice, really, just congratulations! Watch it with this, though. Some of us will be starting our PhDs at 30 or 31.
  14. Some things to think about for you: -I have read on some schools' pages that there is time in residence (or whatever it is called) required. This may vary. Some schools also offer reciprocal relationships with other schools, but that's on an individual school basis. -If you do take summers or semesters off or defer, think about both financial and opportunity costs. You might lose out on a fellowship or assistantship. And the longer it takes for you to finish your PhD, the longer you will be living as a grad student and delaying your career. -Depending on where your girlfriend is posted, you might not be able to go. Usually FSOs (I'm assuming this is what her interview is for) have to serve in a hardship post early in their careers where family cannot accompany them. If you were to accompany her, you'd have to be married. Even if you were married, you might not be able to go where she is. And even if you were married and could go, there might not be a university around for you to study at. Those are just brief thoughts, but you may always be able to explore your options and work together. It might be okay with you to take longer as a grad student. Or you might be able to spend only one year apart because you both find great places to study/work. But make sure you know about the life of an FSO (move every 2 years, sometimes to unsavory places), because if you are married, her career will definitely affect your career prospects, even when you do have your PhD. Think about what you want in 10 years, not just in 1-2. (I'm not being unsympathetic, but the FSO question is one I had to tackle a few years ago and wanted to look at starkly. I'm now also examining a long-distance thing, too, so I really feel you.)
  15. Subfield: IR Interests: Gender, IR theory, peace studies, security, role of organizations in these
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use