Quigley

Dude I went somewhere that waitlisted me undergrad. I got over it. you can too. All that matters is that you get in somewhere.

Bingo, on the signature blocks. 
 
Some people might Facebook stalk you, I suppose. I don't. Hadn't occurred to me, to be honest. None of my business what you do in your spare time, for one thing, and for another, I really doubt there's much correspondence between personal habits and professional aptitude.

For those of you also waiting indefinitely for Minnesota, my application is finally under "final review" whatever that means.  Anyone else?

I'm not really sure I understand the question.  I don't see that the opportunity costs for applying a second time are any higher than the first time.  Indeed, they're likely lower, as the basic framework for one's applications has already been set, and simply needs to be tweaked.
 
Why apply a second time?  Without trying to sound glib ... because when you want something, you persist and work for it.  Many people don't get accepted their first time around; it's not necessarily due to lacking qualifications.  Sometimes another year of experience, an additional publication, or perhaps a slight tweak in one's scope of work is all that's needed to hit the mark with the committee.
 
Academia is full of rejection.  Heck, all high level professions are.  As an academic, if you're not willing to get rejected, then you're not going to make it very far in terms of publications, grant proposals, job interviews, etc.
 
So, to answer you question ... why did I apply a second time around?  Because I am dedicated to pursuing a career in academia.  I want to spend my life researching, teaching, and publishing.

I think everyone needs to keep their heads up. I just am so glad that I have options (kind of) because 3 months ago, I was going to apply for a MA and just take the loans and go for it. However, one of my LOR's said try for a PhD. And that if you dont like it, you can always trade up or leave. While I may not be applying to the top 20, I still got into decent schools and have yet to hear from the rest. And with my stats (they are NOTHING like you all), the only thing that really sets me aside is that I am a URM and I have an economics degree. Anyway what I did:

1. Search diligently for programs where you can find atleast 2 POI's. I went through number 25-100 on USNWR.
2. Email the DGS and introduce yourself to the program, share your stats, research interests and gauge how competitive you are with the program. Over 1/2 of the schools I applied for I did this. The ones i didnt..well those are the ones I am having problems with. Its like getting a job. When they get to your file, you want them to remember "Oh yea, thats the guy/girl that emailed me about the program and said his research interests were XYZ. Lets give him a close look. Its better than being a file in a stack.

*I REALLY wanted to go to Pitt. Good Poli Econ program. I emailed the DGS twice, and never got a response. so I didnt apply. Whereas I emailed another DGS at another school and was pleasantly surprised and wanted to talk in length about the program and inquire about my background

3. SOP - My SOP was short, a 1.5 pages. It was direct and to the point. I read that MD's have to limit their SOP's to a page so I felt that writing some long paper would do more harm than good because THE MORE YOU WRITE, THE MORE YOU CAN CONFUSE THE READER OR EVEN TALK YOURSELF OUT OF A SCHOOL THROUGH A LACK OF FOCUS IN WRITING.
4. Make sure your application aligns with your research interests. Your transcript, resume, etc. should become one big story to why you are applying to the program.
5. Stay in touch with your contacts through the process. Once you finish it, let them know. Touch base every so often. etc. Make them feel like you want to go to their school.

I feel like if you do this from Harvard all the way to Southern Illinois - Carbondale, it will help your admission prospects. Hopefully this helps someone. Whether this cycle or someone going back through previous cycles next yr to read it.

I trust that good news awaits. All it takes is one acceptance, then you're all set!
 
Even if things don't work out as you'd hoped, just keep in mind that a lot of people went through multiple cycles, and were pretty successful in the end. Don't worry too much over the weekend. 

Browsing PSJR for help in making decisions. hot damn that forum is mean.

It's depressingly immature and nasty.  The vitriol makes it almost unusable as a source for reliable information, but also really turns me off to the profession as a whole.  I hope to god that it's just an echo chamber for seriously insecure academics and trolls; otherwise, it's a sad commentary on the immaturity of PS academics.

"Show me the place" by Leonard Cohen

I feel like I am waiting outside the Vatican waiting for the White Smoke to appear to know that a decision has been made...

Did you really green arrow your own post? Lame.

I am just trying to help everyone stay optimistic. Its too early to be pessimistic. If you get into Stanford, Ohio State and UVA, you cant go to all of them. So therefore if you are on the waitlist at 1-2 of the institutions, then a spot will open up. Its that simple.

Just remain positive everyone.

Congrats to the Stanford Folk.

Look at the bright side. You can only choose 1 school and those that Choose HYSP are going to open up all the UChicago, NYU, etc. acceptances for everyone else.

Its gona be a long ride till Tax Day

That's not entirely correct. Chicago, NYU, etc. already consider the fact that some of the people they admit will not attend. First, they do not accept some of the applicants that have a really high chance to be accepted by HYSP (why should they waste a spot for someone who will certainly not come?). Second, they consider how many people they had to admit in previous years to get the number of new students they wanted. Therefore, they have a pretty good idea of how many people they have to admit in the first place. Only if their calculations don't work out, will they take people from the waitlist.

Sigh.  Can someone please claim a Stanford admit already if they are legit?  
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing is related to someone having the guts to ask about Stanford admissions on PSJR yesterday:
 
http://www.poliscijobrumors.com/topic.php?id=87007
 
So if it is a troll, I'm sure I speak for at least some others that you succeeded in causing the reaction you were probably hoping for, so good job.  You apparently also have no life.

just one bottle?

just one bottle?

Hang in there.  

Ditto, except for 203. Actually, my mother just called me and I almost irrationally yelled at her because she wasn't Kalyvas or Sambanis.

Really big / really low

Really big / really low

I will say, though, for anyone considering a MN admit:
 
1) Winters blow. Truly.
 
2) Minneapolis is maybe the best city in the country for grad student living. The cost of living is lower (far lower) than any major media market I can think of. But the arts and food scenes bat way above expectations for the size, and the economy is white collar, so there are a fair number of interesting, attractive 20 and 30 somethings meandering around.

Congrats!  Glad you finally got one!

Oh man.  I had a dream I got into Stanford last night.

Minnesota update.  Gone from "Awaiting Program Decision" to "Final Review" to "Decision Made".  Alright, so let's have the decision already... NOPE... "Please allow one business day to view your decision once your status below has been updated to Decision Made."  For the sake of all things good and decent in this world, why are you driving me to consider drinking heavily at 9a in the morning?!?!