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TakeMyCoffeeBlack

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Posts posted by TakeMyCoffeeBlack

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    I'm guessing that at the top, schools are competing for many of the same students with very similar funding packages. If you go down a bit, you end up with great schools with very high variations in funding, so that schools with good funding policies will have a higher yield, I'm guessing.

     

    Very good point. This makes a lot of sense, especially since the programs I'm thinking of usually guarantee funding.

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    From the acceptances thing:

     

    •  
    • I have three years of research experience, 3 national conference paper presentations, 2 publications, and 1 national research fellowship with the Harvard Institute of Politics.

    AND a 4.0 GPA.

     

    Whoever you are, I hope we didn't apply to any of the same schools!!!!!

     

    Take comfort in fit. ;)

     

    full disclosure: that is not I!

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    In 2012, Princeton had a 54% yield, according to the spreadsheet. Stanford apparently admitted 32 for a class of 14, so 40 for 20, assuming yield hasn't gone up a lot, seems very plausible!

     

    Some of the more competitive lower ranked programs have tremendous yield compared to these elite programs. I find that very interesting.

     

    I wonder how attrition rates compare.

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    NYU sent out on Friday, Feb 1 last year, so I'm guessing/hoping it will send acceptances on Friday, Jan 31 this year.

     

    I have recently been watching lots of trashy TV as a distraction, like "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!", "Life UneXpected" etc.

     

    Listening to the SoU address right now, and also Chancellor Merkel's "State of the Nation".

     

    I just started watching Malcolm in the Middle. Very funny. 

     

    I'm thinking Pitt will still announce tomorrow or Friday, although I've gotten it from the inside that the committee is still "reviewing files." Whether that means they're in final rounds or just beginning is hard to say. I'm not sure which I'd prefer... :)

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    And I don't watch the Bachelor, but have a guilty pleasure of my own. My boyfriend got me a full set of Game of Thrones books for Christmas. 

    While waiting for the new season, I've started reading them.

     

    I'm near the end of the first book... Eddard Stark just talked to the Queen Cersei. You know what's gonna happen next!  :unsure:  

     

    I'm on A Feast for Crows, but haven't been very motivated to read lately. Great series. The show's pretty good too, though I think it was never better than in season 1.

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    It is doubtful that at a youthful 28 years-old you can classify yourself as an "old man."  ;) ...and we should question the implicit premise here that sagacity holds a positive correlation with age.

     

    If you have the requisite financial resources, familial/professional support, academic/extracurricular record, and desire, then by all means move forward with your graduate applications while still in your undergraduate career.

     

    While I was fortunate enough to eventually find positions that provided the relevant career perspective I needed, I definitely recognize that not all manage to do this. After graduating I worked in full-time low-wage jobs, as I did during my undergraduate career, riding public transit/walking to and from my rented room. It was only after multiple attempts that I finally "got my foot in the door" at relevant research institutions. In sum, I have taken several years off, but not for luxury, and I found that it was not so simple to get a research position at a major University.

     

    I think the sentiment of your original post was that students should seek experiences to foster emotional and intellectual strength. That is good advice. However, it is best to continually work on emotional and intellectual resilience regardless of where you are in life. Being able to appropriately handle failures, dissenting opinions, rejection, success, etc. without compromising your values and losing your humility is what is most important. And the ability to do so will not come from something you experience, but rather your willingness and concerted efforts to grow as an individual.

     

    **Edit: Additionally, not all dissenting opinions come from those who cannot handle criticism. As someone who has been incorrect many times, and criticized even more, I am coming to realize that dissent is not always personal, but typically is concerned with the ideological/factual.**

     

     

    This. Everyone is different, of course, but the same life choices that give you maturity and perspective may also impose constraints. If I am fortunate enough to get into a PhD program this year, I'll be taking a whole family with me. New jobs, new schools, new friends. That is an enormous amount of inertia to overcome.

    Not everyone is ready for grad school at 22. God knows I wasn't. If you are, there will never be an easier time to go.

     

    We have a tremendous range of experience on these forums, and that's one of the great advantages of even having GradCafe. Of course life experiences at 28 for one person may be very different than 28 for another. And maturity and wisdom do not always correlate with age (let's be real, how many older people do we know who listen to *insert offensive radio host name here* and repeat their arguments word for word), though I can only hope that all of us future (and current) political scientists are mature and wise (well, let's hope we're not too mature). I think most of the advice given here tonight is valid - but it is not universally applicable. That's the nature of advice based on personal experience.

     

    There is never a perfect time to begin a Ph.D. in political science. The best any of us can do is work to beat the odds regardless of our age.

     

    And drink red wine. Yes, that too.

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    With a heavy sigh of relief, I claim one of the Duke admits. Thanks to the many posters who have shared words of encouragement, and I hope that the roller coaster ride I've experienced today can provide some encouragement to others: a first rejection doesn't equate to a lost cycle!

     

    Ha! I love this! Many congratulations. :)

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Third, I have a huge problem with the email they sent you. How can UMD's committee be meeting if they are still accepting applications until Feb 1? 

     

    Did they extend the deadline? I seem to remember it being Jan 1 or Jan 15, but I see on the website that it's Feb 1 now (I ended up not applying there)

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted · Edited by TakeMyCoffeeBlack

    What we keep hearing about the process is that these "cut-offs" aren't really used in the process unless you are egregiously subpar in a specific category. I think order of importance probably works like this:

     

    1. SoP

    2. Fit (can be helped by how you write your SoP or what writing sample you submit but largely out of your control)

    2b.*** Intangibles (your fit might be great but your POI isn't taking new people or your subfield had absurd applicants) 

    3. GPA (grad GPA definitely trumps undergrad GPA in importance if you have one)

    4. Reputation of your school(s)/program(s)

    5. GRE (if you are within a 25-75% range it will probably not be a huge factor)

    6. LoR (if they are amazing or a writer has sway with a POI this is probably way more important than I'm factoring it... also different programs feel very differently about the weight of LoRs)

    7. Writing Sample 

     

    Just some thoughts! 

     

    I'd probably disagree with 4, in general, and 6 - from what I've gathered - has less to do with your writer's reputation and more to do with the content they include. I'd also think that for a lot of programs, writing sample will carry some weight. Otherwise, a good list of things to think about for graduate applications.

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Hey everyone, I'm a longtime lurker who just created an account. I am here to claim the UNT acceptance and ask a question.

     

    I received an email last week from a member of the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland (College Park) that said something like:

     

    "Our admissions committee is very interested in your application. There are a number of funding awards that you may be eligible to be nominated for. We need a copy of your transcripts for the admissions committee to look over because they are meeting now."

     

    Apparently there was a mixup between the department and enrollment services (where I had my transcripts sent). So anyways, I sent them a copy of my transcripts, and since then, enrollment services has scanned my transcripts onto my application. I haven't heard anything since then, and I was just wondering how everyone would assess this message. Any input will be appreciated!

     

    Remain skeptical, of course, but this is, if nothing else, a positive sign. Typically when they talk about "nominating" for fellowships, its in regard to top candidates.

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    Hang in there xuejia!  Even if those two schools don't work out, I can tell from the way you talk about your interests that you are a candidate many schools would love to have.

     

    Also, if that's your post in the results, xuejia, your GREs are phenomenal. Between your passion and stats, I imagine you'll get a very good offer very soon.

    How do I talk myself out of having to translate my Latin diploma

    in Applications

    Posted

    OMG, it looks like I’ve stirred a hornet’s nest. I emailed the department I am applying to to get an exemption or deferral of their notarized diploma translation request, and they e-mailed me back saying that they now require an official version (i.e. not the “issued to student” copy) of my transcript as well. AAARRRRGGGGH. They gave me until February 5 to get them both the official transcript and the notarized diploma translation. :-(

     

    Edit: Thank God my alma mater is fierce and decided to deliver a shotokan blow of awesomeness to the douchey department I am applying to. They’ll mail them an official transcript tomorrow and have already e-mailed them a letter certifying that I actually graduated. Hopefully, that will be enough…

     

    Best of luck! And despite the trouble they're giving you, I'm still jealous of your Latin diploma. ;)

    Fulbright 2014-2015

    in The Bank

    Posted

    Nope! I am a current German ETA. No interview or language certification process beyond the language evaluation form you submit with your initial application.

     

    In years past, Germany ETA grantees did have to translate their materials in the second round, but that changed last year. We did not have to do anything extra beyond indicate our preferences for Bundesländer via an online form.

     

    I stand corrected. Thanks for clarifying, Torrid. Hope you're enjoying Germany (I am)! :)

    How do I talk myself out of having to translate my Latin diploma

    in Applications

    Posted

    When, from 1500 to 1850? At what point did US schools stop issuing degrees in Latin? I have trouble imagining this being a recent switch. Let me know quickly before I lose myself to googling on the topic.

     

    EDIT: I have evidence of optional latin diplomas from some Canadian universities within the last decade...not a default, but apparently someone can choose to have their diploma printed in latin. The threads discussing this also mentioned having trouble getting a notarized translation. Nothing from Britain...and heresay but no images or statements regarding US institutions. I'll keep digging.

     

    EDIT 2: And Harvard appears to have switched to English in the 60s, Yale in the 80s. BU gives medical and law degrees in latin, but not undergrad degrees.

     

    Edit 3: OK, WUSTL appears to offer some (but not all?) BAs in Latin. I'm going to stop now, but I am really curious if there are any US universities that still confer BA/BSs in latin without a graduate specifically requesting it. Anyone who knows more, please do post. Or help the OPer with their original question, sorry to highjack the thread, but I do think my assumption in my response has been born out (ie, degrees written in latin seem to be very uncommon in the US, and have been for decades).

     

    EDIT 4: A final note for the OPer--the only schools currently or formerly granting latin degrees that I can find post translations directly on their websites.

     

    I think most schools phased them out between the 60s and 90s. Religious schools were slower (for obvious reasons). A lot of my youngish professors had some Latin and some not Latin degrees (because of changes between their MA and their PhD).

    Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

    in Political Science Forum

    Posted

    I'm starting to second-guess every part of my application. Did I shoot myself in the foot by having both a regional and a substantive specialization? Or possibly by not fitting squarely within either IR or CP? Was my SOP too future-oriented and too light on past accomplishments? Should I have added a fit paragraph, instead of ending most paragraphs with a fit sentence? etc. etc.

     

    I think the things you're double guessing are all good things to have done. Of course, who knows how good my advice is (we'll know by the end of March?). :)

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