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PhDhopeful2013

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Posts posted by PhDhopeful2013

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Been a pretty quiet week. Was hoping my remaining schools put put me out of my misery by the weekend.

     agreed.  i thought this week would be the busiest one yet, but instead it's been one of the more quiet weeks in the cycle... these adcomms sure know how to keep us guessing.... i'm ready for closure!

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Thank you all for the support and laughs through this process.  Looks like I'm a bust across the board.

     

    I took a lot for granted, didn't develop POIs, didn't get my matches to schools ("fit") lined up very well, and perhaps worst of all I didn't sufficiently clarify my research area or subfield; coming from a Master's in another field, so many subfields and research areas sounded good to me!  Having 3.7 in MA, GRE composite of 324, and some other pluses, I figured some program would take me... but that's just not enough at this level!  Learned a lot from you all, and I have a great respect for what it takes to land a good spot ~ congratulations to those of you who pulled it off. 

     

    I'm going to put my search results addiction to rest, but I'll check in to see where you've all gone... perhaps later this year I'll start a "round two" thread, haha.  Best of luck to you all!

     

    I'm sorry to hear about round 1 for you... but it sounds as though you are already looking ahead to round 2 with concrete ways to improve your app.  I'm sure you will succeed next time :)  Good luck!

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Well, so far, grad school's a lot of fun, and way better than undergrad. I think this professor was being hyperbolic, or at the very least, had experiences that are not necessarily generalizable to many graduate students in our field. My high expectations for the experience have (so far) been met.

     Good to hear!

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Yeah I see the points your making. Not sure about the xxx point, though it may be valid in this case, it seems a number of people got rejected from UCSD later than the monster first batch, which does maybe suggest that they may have been in the mix a little longer?

     i was half (only half!) joking about the XXX email address getting rejected from someone's email account. :)  and yes, depending on the timeframe of a rejection or group of rejections you may be able to discern how far you may have made it in the process, but even then, you never know.  I was specifically thinking this wouldn't be the case for MIT because the turnaround time between acceptances (slightly over a week ago) and committed matriculants would be too short... of course i can't pretend to know the ins and outs of this torturous process!

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Question in relation to the recent MIT rejection. I was dinged in the first slaughter, and then people seem to be rejected together a bit later and in lesser numbers. Would it be safe to say that this is reflective of a 'round' system to reduce numbers, and that us dinged in the first instance didn't  get very far?

     (I was also dinged in the first round) But I wouldn't read too much into it, in my opinion.  One of the rejections posted today says he/she received the email on the 13th, same as everyone else.  As for the possibility of a blind waitlist, the department probably wouldn't have enough info yet to reject the second round.  i doubt enough people who were admitted have already committed to going there, so the dept may not know yet if it has to admit or reject people from the wait list.  plus the original email may have gotten kicked back from some people's emails.. it was from XXX@mit afterall!

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted · Edited by PhDhopeful2013

    I guess I have little hope of going to NW as well. 

    Even now, so late into the game, I haven't received a single reply from any school.

     

    don't despair! from your list of schools... no one has heard from Brown, Harvard, or Princeton.  I think it's safe to assume that Duke is done with acceptances, but I wouldn't completely rule out UNC just yet.  I can't speak to LSE or Oxford.  Still a ways to go!

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Although there are few schools I've yet to hear from, I can articulate a decent reason for each that I'm rejected.  So, I'm starting to become reflective.  Decent GREs, decent grades, nothing to be ashamed of; the question looming on my horizon... knowing what I've learned this cycle, is it worth going through another cycle?  I think I made some critical errors: didn't develop POIs, haven't narrowed my subfield interests sufficiently, SoPs were all over the place, applied to several poor-fitting schools and didn't apply to several that I should have.     Getting to know you all in here a bit, I'm truly very happy for you that have been accepted!  And obviously, I feel for those who haven't been getting the news they have been hoping for. 
    Same to you, Wemayet! You may still hear some good news! And even if you don't you've already identified areas to improve for next cycle, so you're already ahead of the game :)

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Yup, this is what I want to do. I'm passionate about this field. I was just thinking that if I do go to a Master's program, by the time the next cycle starts I wouldn't have done much at the new school so would it make a big difference? Or maybe I should finish and then apply. Or work for a bit. At this point, I want to do as much as I can to ensure I get in when I apply next. Granted I haven't heard from a lot of schools yet so I might just get in this time.

    If this is what you love, then don't give up! You may still hear good news before the end of this cycle! Even if you don't, just remember how much you have learned about the process this time - it will be invaluable next time. And take comfort in the fact that many many applicants go through at least two cycles before having success. This is my second time and i remember how horrible i felt striking out during the first time. But looking back, it was the best thing.... And i remember some advice I got that is very true - "you have more time than you think." Waiting two years to do an MA may seem like forever now, but it will go by in a flash and you'll be better for it. Two or three years in the grand scheme of life is really minimal... So there are my two cents! Good luck :)

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Thanks for making the call.  I'm assuming the graduate secretary didn't answer the phone, but when reading your post I had in my mind an comical scene of someone asking the question you would have posed and then just hearing silence on the other end - made me laugh a little. :)

     haha ok.. that's what i thought too... and it was comical.  yes I'm guessing she didn't answer the phone... makes much more sense :)  i can't wait to regain my sanity... this process is too much!!

    Welcome to the 2012-2013 cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted · Edited by PhDhopeful2013

    I tried calling Cornell to see if those who have not hear should assume that they have been rejected. Their graduate secretary did not answer. Maybe they are busy preparing more acceptances? :-)

     OK let me overanalyze this... how exactly did she not answer?  what did she say? or did the phone line go dead when you asked? :)

    "If you have any questions..."

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Great thread! I also would like some advice about what to ask, and what not to ask in case any certain questions would give a negative impression. I was so excited to get the acceptance phone call that all of my semi-planned questions were nowhere to be found. I'm hoping my excitement didn't make me sound foolish... But anyway, i'm also working on putting together a list of questions and info that I would need to make an informed decision. Any advice would be much appreciated... Especially from the current grad students on here maybe? Anything you wish you had asked during the decision process? Thanks, all!

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