sankd

I think using an undergraduate thesis is overrated. Or more accurately, I think using it depends on its specific nature or value. Primary documents are really nice. Demonstrating that you can use them is great, especially if they are in another language. I did that, but it was really token, like quoting Milit

Ditto to all of that, other than retaking the GRE. I didn't need to do that.

Out of curiosity, what kind of writing samples are you all thinking of using? What kind of revision process are you using? I ask this knowing two things. One, that everyone says that the writing sample is the most important part of the application. Two, that my writing sample got me into graduate school.

Yeah, good luck if you do anything US and insist on only trying to be a professor. Unless you write the next Battle Cry of Freedom.

I think my point was (and I was digging for a PhD program that likes to style themselves as more economics oriented and hence, greater emphasis on quant, but point taken) do you really think that your GRE score was the dealbreaker? You already admit to being within the range, except you were rejected. Trying to get blood from stone seems like wasted effort and $.

Profile said poli sci, hence my comment. So, SAIS would be: The average GRE Quantitative score is 710, with the middle 50% ranging from 650 to 750.

I got mine for 7.9%. While I have excellent credit, I don't think it was worth shopping around for some loan with adjustable rates.

Yeah, I think you need to work on non-GRE stuff. Don't waste your time and effort. Anything above a 1400 is money.

Wow, now I know a good way to make easy money off of people. Sweet.

Next year I am also going into a MA program in a humanities discipline, unfunded. There are a variety of reasons why I am doing this, the biggest one being that I need it in order to have a better chance at Ph.D. funding in the same discipline at a great program. So yeah, right off the bat, I chime in with everyone else in that you have to know exactly what you want and be completely confident in that decision. I received offers from three fine programs. In the end, I picked the one that had the lowest cost of living. On top of that, I'll be working at least 24 hours a week to help defray costs. Manhattan's cost of living is ridiculous. NYU is not cheap. You're going to be paying double in tuition than me and three times the cost of living expenses at the very minimum. I encourage you to work for a year and then do an MA if you can afford it, or work on improving your Ph.D. application. Or find a cheaper MA option.

Trying to earn as much money as possible. I have enough money for next year but an extra couple thousand will make things comfortable.

You said the MA program is 'flexible' but at the same time ask the question about burning bridges. So which is it? Either they care or they don't. My guess is that they probably would care unless it is a continuing education Masters degree (example, the 'Masters in Writing' from Hopkins) where the classes are at night and they don't really care about your timetable since it is just a supplement to the job you already have. I agree with the first reply, applying in the 09-10 cycle won't amount to a significant change. Getting an MA would be a significant change, though.

I agree. After a round of rejections last year, I made a lot of changes this cycle. Considering that the economy has only gotten worse, my increased success is heartening even if funding remains difficult. Apply to as many schools you can afford. Make sure you know everything there is about them, and how best they fit with you. For what it is worth, I did not apply to any of the schools from last year. In some cases, I realized that the advisor I wanted could not or would not take on any more graduate students. In other cases, I noted imploding departments.

Welcome to my world.

Finally accepted the offer last night. Now I need to find housing..

I was going to write a reply based on the lack of funding at this point, but theen I saw that you haven't taken the GRE yet. It's May. Your score turnaround is a month anyway, so I would say that June would be pushing it and July is probably scraping by. At that point, my first point becomes valid. Funding is nonexistent at this stage and graduate school is not cheap. While it may be theoretically possible for you to get in (I have on post-4/15 deadlines) funding will be hard to get. If I were you, I would wait so you wouldn't rush taking the GRE or the whole application process (materials, SoP, LoRs).