bongin

Hi, tralala I think it depends on your future goal. If you've got a bachelor degree in political science, and want to work in international org or NGO etc... NYU may not be your choice owing to it's theory and methodology focus. Elliott would be more pragmatic, which emphases more on how foreign affairs work.

I will attend in this fall! I applied the International Politics and International Business program. Really look forward to my life in THE city.

I got the same message and decided not to wait for UCSD, anymore!!!

I sent my application in early January, but since then I haven't received any interview notification or updated news... It's just like that I didn't apply the school... I hope that I can know the decision in the end of March, no matter it's admission or rejection.

Got the admission of MA in International Politics and International Business about 2 hours ago!

So we still have to wait decision from NYU for 2 weeks...? sigh....

I applied the MA in International Politics and International Business program. Haven't received any decision, either. so pannnnnic!!!!!

Peterson's reports some program's admission rate. You can go to http://www.petersons.com/ I remember that SIPA receive more than thousands of applications... Yale is relatively competitive.

Hi, I had major in Journalism and Communication in college. I'm now preparing to apply IR or MPP with IR concentration program for 2011 fall. With a year professional experience and 2 internship in media, I think journalism background has both strength and drawback. For strength, our experience is very different from those working in public sector or NGO. That means if we know how to link it with public affairs in SOP precisely, we could be somehow outstanding and unique. For drawback, our theoretical foundational is not enough comparing those had major in Politics or Economics. Therefore, I took some courses in these two fields to show my interest and ability to study in public affairs. I think switching track is a tough work when it comes to admission. However, once you know how to "market" yourself, it would not be a barrier but a advantage.

Hi, first of all, thanks for the advices! I don't have enough time to retake GRE, that's the reason why I'm so worried about that BIG name schools will reject me directly. I'd like to use my TOEFL score to prove my ability in writing. But I'm not sure whether it works or not. Besides, do you think my Q score may be a obstacle to get into school emphasizing quantitative research, like SIPA? And is the quantitative courses I took enough? Thanks again!!

Hi everyone here, I'm a international student for 2011 fall IR program, but I really can't decide which school to apply. My status is pretty "ambiguous". Here's my background. Under: Top private university in my country, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Communication GPA: 3.8 （No.3 in 58 graduates) GRE: V540/Q670/AWA3.0 (oops) TOEFL: Taking next month, must be above 102. Quan courses: Economics (Introductory Micro and Macro), Intermediate-Macro Theory, Statistics in Communication. LOR: one from department professor, one from department dean, one from previous ambassador of Holy See, one from a chairman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs SOP: Perspective combining Communication Studies and International Affairs. WE: 1 year media workshop in school (does it count?), 2 months internship in electronic media, 11 months in Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Awards: A documentary contest with No.2 in 300 groups, a debate competition No.1 in 9 groups), a scholarship. Publication: one in the most famous newspaper in my country, one in a non-academic oriented journal. I'm not a test taker as you see my GRE score is mediocre. Also, although my WE is highly related but short. So should I skip BIG name school like KSG, WWS, Yale and Stanford IPS for fear of wasting money? lol And do I have chance in SFS, SIPA, Fletcher and IR/PS? Thanks for advising!

Hello, I'm an international student looking for 2011 fall IR related program. I'm now working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in my country, but the job will be ended this July. I took the GRE last summer, the score, V540 Q670, which is not that good, however, not too bad to international student. So I'm considering whether to spend about 3 months after this July for retaking GRE, or find another job to reinforce my work experience as soon as possible? My college record is pretty good, GPA 3.8, some internships and leadership experience, few awards...(ha) the particular one is that I had a 3-week military training. (Gosh, it's so tough...) Still, I will get a recommendation from a previous Holy See Ambassador of my country. So, please just give me some advices, I'll appreciate it very much. Thank you!

SAIA>KSG>Fletcher

Hi everyone, I'm Chinese from Taiwan, considering which second foreign language to learn. My first choice is Spanish, because I think the relationship between Pacific rim would be frquent as the rise of China. But when I studied Italian before, the pronunciation "rr" really frustrated me... So I'm thinking about learning French, which has no "rr" problem, and French is also the official language of many international organizations. However, Spanish is still my top choice because of my studying interest. Please give me some advices! Thanks a lot!!

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate it.

I'm from Pacific Asia preparing GRE these months, and it's very frustrated to memorize lots of "weird" vocabulary that sometimes even English native speaker never use it! If I can get 500 on V, that's just fine, 550 better, 600 above is just like a dream for me! So I'm wondering why some applicants who got about 600 or above on V still worry it's not high enough? Does admission committee may consider every applicants' native language and adjust the evaluation of GRE verbal?? PS: Welcome everyone who feel frustrated on preparing GRE, just share your mood in this thread.

I think that this FPA is not the magazine--Foreign Policy--which rank IR school...(?)

Thanks for your reply first I've compared the two programs. I think MA in IB/IP emphasizes political science, and the MS is GA is similar to the members of APSIA because of the curriculum planning, although the later is under continuing and professional school, which seems like for mid-career(?) But how essential to being a member of APSIA? Some programs or schools are not the member, perhaps only a affiliate, still rank top by the Foreign Policy. Maybe the rank doesn't matter because of the methodology is more like a reputation survey...?

I thought master degree of Department of Politics in NYU is academic-oriented, but last week I just found the website said that it's a stand-alone and professional training program! When it comes to NYU, we only think of Wagner and MS in Global Affair, however, there is a "MA in International Business/International Politics" in the Department of Politics. I'd like to know anyone who had applied it? What's the difference between MA in IB/IP and MS in GA? Which one resembles for instance MSFS in Gtown, MALD in Fletcher etc...?

But according to Peterson's statistics of admission, MIT IR is relatively low when it compares with SIPA, IR/PS. However, I'm not sure the accuracy Peterson shows, just see it as a reference.

Thanks for the advice you guys shared. However, I major in Jounalism and Communication studies, which is a half-professional department. It means that I've acculmulated some intern-like-professional experience in the past four years, but not related to IR. Is it helpful? or I have to look for works associating with IR? Thanks again:)

I noticed that people accpeted by the Big 6--SFS, SAIS, KSG, Fletcher, SIPA and WWS--has strong work experience, at least 3 years. I know schools above are all professional direction, but I'm still curious about anyone has few work experience, maybe 1 year even none, but accepted by the Big 6? Could you share your details? Thanks