cooperstreet

congrats! Any word on funding? What is your field? also: do you mean eric davis?

first rutgers admit is up. Who will claim it?

Do you treat them as transfers or are they in the same applicant pool as all the other applicants? Do they usually communicate why they are leaving in their SOP?

Wanting a tenure-track position most of the time means being willing to relocate anywhere in the country, FWIW. What are your research interests?

I'm still waiting on Rutgers.

I went to Temple, got accepted to the History PhD program, and declined. Their funding situation is abysmal. If they can guarantee funding, then it may be worth it. But if it is a year-by-year situation, then be prepared to have your funding cut off in the middle of the program. Pennsylvanians hate higher education apparently and the state has cut the schools budget. Tuition jumped up dramatically in the past couple years.

Wow, that is just so late. What's your field?

Say I get into the Columbia MA program, how much would that help in future applications (and secure funding)? My grades are good, but my undergrad institution is far from the same level as Columbia. How important is prestige?

Also, no one has heard from Rutgers. AHHH! what gives!?

Congratulations! I'm in the same exact boat.

One more question for faculty: I worked part time while doing my MA, full time while researching my MA thesis, and full time while taking math and language classes after graduating and looking to build up my skills. Is this relevant information to include in an SOP?

I would like to second this emphatically. For someone with no familial wealth or outside financial support, its really really hard to go back to a PhD program, especially in your late 20s, when things like starting a family start entering your head. You also have every incentive to leave the program for a job that pays the bills.

I think you should have the ability to check your application status online. Then, only admit people who checked their online status over a thousand times. You'll be sure to admit the most neurotic, obsessive, and passionate students. Probably as good a rubric as any!

You have a 3.72 from Chicago, you're fine.

Building on this, what other factors in an applicant make GRE scores more or less important? For example, will a low GPA make a high GRE more valuable or essential?

Thanks Dr. Nexon. Fortunately, community college classes are cheap and online, and useful for things outside of PhD programs. I can take one and stay at my day job without disrupting my life too much.

I've done this. It helps. Some people may not respond, some do.

Dear faculty, If I am going to re-apply next year, what should I do differently? Rework my SOP and re-take the GREs obviously, but would it benefit me to take more math classes at my local community college? A political science graduate course at my local Ivy would be hard to pay for (and I already have three of them on my transcripts). Just wondering if staying in school (I work full time) would be a bonus, especially if it is an advanced undergraduate math course. Thanks.

Keep complain'. I don't know why we haven't heard yet. Whats your field?

For all the faculty: I have a question about SOPs and stated fields of interest. So, my stated research interests are firmly in the comparative field. But much of my research experience and graduate coursework is on IR and diplomatic history. Does this disconnect harm me? Its not like the IR/history topics I studied are unrelated to my stated interests--I am interested in studying the Middle East, and my past work has been on US policy toward the region. Also, for people whose research interests are located on the border of two fields, does that harm them in the admissions process? Thanks!

Anyone have any info on Rutgers? Based on previous years, the usually admit people around the third week of Feb. It is now March, and it seems that no one has heard anything!

BFB- Thanks for all your help. I just have one question. I didn't go to a great school for undergrad, and I did poorly my first 2.5 years. I then got my act together and averaged a 3.8 for the last year and a half. I then did a cheap MA at a local state school, again not highly ranked. I thought if I wrote a kickass thesis, it would make up for my poor first couple of years as an undergrad and the lack of prestige. The thesis got published at a highly respected journal. I know for a fact that it is being taught in a political science seminar in in one school. Still, I'm on my second round of applications and have yet to receive an offer! What gives? Am I doomed? does my publication not mean as much as I thought it does?

Also, Did anyone apply/get in/ get rejected to/from Penn for Middle East/Comparative? Thanks.

I hope. Its weird. I even checked the website: nothing.

whats the deal with Columbia? why haven't some of us heard yet?