someoneoutthere

From my experience, this is definitely true. I have no publications, but some research experience, and I'm very happy with my results. I would say, though, that you should ensure that you have sufficient quant background (calc, stats and probably courses, maybe game theory), unless you want to do theory, and definitely try to get a quant score above 700.

UChicago!!!

I'm sorry!! That sucks. You have some great options, though.

Yes, you can back out of an offer if you receive written consent from the school you are declining. If you are waitlisted at a school you really want to attend, though, wait until Thursday afternoon to email the school whose offer you'd accept if not for the school at which you've been waitlisted. If you haven't heard from the school at which you've been waitlisted at that point, call that department to check on your status. If they say they can't tell you yet whether you'll be admitted, accept at the other school as late as possible (check with their office to see whether they have a 5:00pm or midnight deadline). If you get off the waitlist at the other school, you can then request written consent from the first school to accept that offer. It's not ideal, but schools understand that you have no choice.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one in the waitlist boat! I've been waitlisted at what is now my top choice program and I'm so anxious! One question I have for all of you: can we assume that, if we haven't gotten a rejection email, the school has not yet reached its target cohort size, so there's still hope for getting off the waitlist?

Good luck with Princeton! I'm in my own waitlist purgatory over here ...

I do. Got the email at about 7:00pm today.

I agree, though I didn't not submit my scores because they were bad (I had 680Q, 700V, 5.5A and i'm in the social sciences), but because i couldn't even take them before the deadline. Am I now screwed?

So I'm screwed then?

Quick question for all of you: I didn't submit GRE scores because I hadn't taken the GRE when the applications were due. I couldn't take the GRE until after the applications were due for personal reasons. I know the GRE is optional, but will the fact that I didn't have scores to report sink my application? Of course, I have GRE scores to report now, but I assume it's too late.

Graduate PLUS loans can be used for anything other than tuition (housing, food, books, etc.) as long as it's related to the cost of education. And I completely understand your concern about roommates; I'm planning on either renting a studio or going for on-campus housing (depending on which school I end up at) because I'd like to have a quiet place to study and sleep. I don't want to be bothered by someone who might be getting up early/going to bed quite late, having people over all the time, etc. And being somewhere that isn't roach-infested is nice as well. I understand your concerns.

Do you guys know what percentage of applicants get honorable mentions? In my field, I counted 8 successful applicants and 23 honorable mentions. Also, is getting an honorable mention still a really big deal? Could it even change a waitlist into an acceptance at a program (i'm waitlisted somewhere i REALLY want to go)?

What if you think your career will likely be more in govt and/or think tank work (and, yes, a polisci phd is still useful for these tracks)? Does name recognition then trump rep among academic circles?

Agreed, but what in the OP's description indicates that neither of the schools are in the top 10? For example, UCLA has a good, recognizable name, but not an OMG name like Columbia. Anyway, I second what the above poster says.

I feel ya, though I am sure that by April 15th or 16th you will hear from them. I am waiting to hear from two schools and it's quite maddening! But I understand that they are also at the mercy of people who might be sitting on acceptances and haven't yet declined, even though they eventually will. I'm sure it's frustrating for them as well! I do have a question, though: Let's say a school receives notification from an admitted student that he/she has declined his/her offer on April 15th at 4:30pm. It seems ridiculous for the school to then have to decide who to take off the waitlist, email that person, and get a response back by 5:00pm. Moreover, waitlisted people who have acceptances elsewhere have to commit to a place by 5:00pm on the 15th, right? So what happens if you commit to a place but then get off the waitlist somewhere after you've already committed? Can you withdraw your acceptance of that offer without incurring penalties?

1. You can't know that much about me because I'm no longer in undergrad. 2. I didn't apply to any Ivy league schools for undergrad. I applied to two schools I really wanted to go to early decision and that's it. How's that for being a "prestige whore"? 3. I have my reasons for wanting to do the MA. They have nothing to do with trying to get into a better Political Science PhD program later on. They are my own personal reasons that I don't care to share with random people on the internet. 4. I don't believe that I will come to regret having accidentally--and indirectly--divulged where i went to undergrad to people bored enough to try to figure out who some random person on the internet is. If it ever comes up (and I doubt it even will), I think I can accurately say that I stupidly asked people on an internet discussion forum for advice and my motives, character, and intentions were completely misconstrued by several people who decided to start hating me.