kellyjean

I think it's safe to say it wouldn't hurt your career, and if it supports a life long dream/goal, I think that's the best sign out there that you should do it!

Oh that's great! Where/when did you serve?

I think many factors will play into the ability to get hired and fulfill the service requirement. As a returned peace corps volunteer, I've known many other volunteers who had the same federal hiring preference that the Boren provides, and they still faced months of employment searching and waiting, even if they already lived in Washington D.C. Luckily I have a bit of a niche degree (geographical sciences) and will focus in developing a network in country that may be able to assist in hiring back in D.C. I think in general, the more you are able to take advantage of strange opportunities and go where many people rather not, the more unique you will make yourself as an applicant and hopefully improve your odds of being hired. On the flip side though, some people have told me if you don't get a standard fed job, you can always be hired be a string of federal contractors and that will count towards the service requirement. A couple people also told me it was fairly easy to prove that you couldn't get hired by a fed agency and that being placed with an educational agency wasn't that tough. I don't know how much I believe this though.

I called and it looks like I got it! They said there were problems with their e-mail being sent out - I think I'm still a bit in shock and won't believe it until I see an e-mail... but I encourage others to call if still awaiting a communication.

I applied to the Mozambique fellowship. I still have not heard anything... is this also the case for anyone else? I read a post previously that claimed in past years, Boren sent no communications to people who were rejected...

I applied to the Mozambique program and also received the two budget updates, as well as a personal communication from an AFLI person who wanted to confirm my lack of response meant no changes/updates. I guess I'm taking that as a favorable indication?? This is all so stressful.

Hi @kafcat! I am! I like to think the Ford will be announcing any day now. They definitely say in their solicitation that it will be in March. The NSF though could be in April...

Thanks MPPgal.. nothing to do now but sit back and wait I suppose!!

Hi All! Thought I'd throw my stats on here too. Any of you with low gpas, feel free to chime in!!! Programs: Intl Dev, MBA, Geography Schools: Johns Hopkins SAIS - Intl Dev; Georgetown - MSFS/MBA; George Wash. - Intl Dev/MBA; American - Intl Dev/MBA; Univ Maryland - Geo PhD (Random, I know) Undergraduate institution: University of FL, "public ivy" Undergraduate Major: BS Business Admin - Economics Undergraduate GPA: 3.29 GRE: 161 V 157 Q. 4.0 AW Language: Conversational Portuguese Years of Work Experience: 4 years Describe Relevant Work Experience: 2 years retail banking/financial planning 2 years Peace Corps (Worked with two NGOs and participated in surveys/evaluations funded by USAid) SOP: Vary considerably, I'm afraid... demonstrated good writing ability, answered what was asked, used details from my experience w/dev work in the PC... felt like they lacked a certain polish, though. LOR: I feel they are pretty strong. 2 professors, 1 ngo program manager, 1 Peace Corps country director My gpa has me so so so worried! I also have a failing grade on my transcript from a class I wasn't even aware I was registered for. Luckily it was a random African American studies elective class having nothing to do with my major/requirements, but it still conveys a certain sloppiness on my part... if it hadn't been for that failing grade, I would have had all As and one B for the semester... hope admissions is forgiving... *fingers crossed*