CarefreeWritingsontheWall

That's what I read on their website. Their intake for an MA in political economy is max 30. Hrm. I don't want to send in an app before I know about SFS. I know it sounds silly. It may well be that I really do need to take a year off to work. I've just always felt that I can't get a job/internship/or place to volunteer related to my field (IPE) without having an MA...I also don't want to apply and request my profs send in additional LORs without running the idea by them first. Based on last year's results, SFS should be sending out acceptances/rejections this week which makes tomorrow and every additional day terrifying. We'll see. I'll keep you guys posted on the results and what I decide to do. Again, I can't say thanks enough for all of your help.

As a Canadian, I'm looking to a career outside the US job market. I would only consider a position in the states if it was research based. The problem for me is that I'm still stuck between an academic oriented career (going from an MA to a PhD, from there to teaching) as opposed to a policy/research job in the field (wherein an MA is enough to get my foot in the door in most places). But that's excellent to hear. I'm worried though - KCL's MA program in political economy only takes up to 30 students a year.

KCL might actually be a great option the more I read into it. Basically, my background is in international trade law and state behavior within the WTO, with a focus on China and the United States (less so on others). I've also spent a considerable amount of time focusing on the history of financial crises in my studies. Given that my ultimate end game is a job in the US or Canada in trade law/litigation or policy analysis, reputation unfortunately matters for me as well - my first inclination was to look toward the US given that I studied under the best Canadian PE scholars during UG. I don't have many Canadian options - the schools I would be interested in are stronger in ME comparative politics and security studies (NPSIA, GPSIA etc.) I do want to expand my knowledge of languages wherever I go. I really appreciate all of your advise. You guys really are so nice to take the time to talk about these options. I'll definitely be doing some reading into these programs and deadlines.

I thought about it. I was primarily interested in the WTI - World Trade Institute in Bern but it's very German in that part of Switzerland and I'm only bilingual (English and French). My advisor directed me to IHEID as a result. I'm a little worried that studying political economy/international trade law at a European university won't give me the opportunity to keep focusing on North America and SE Asia. But thanks for the tip! I'm definitely going to keep looking into other programs.

Thanks Kittythrones! I'm still waiting on SFS, but I will be meeting with professors and advisors in the coming week to sort out what they think I should do next. With some of the UK schools still open because of rolling admissions, it might not hurt for me to try and apply for this season. I appreciate your feedback. Definitely worth considering.

Does anyone know how LSE's rolling deadline works for their MA in Political Economy? Their website says they're still accepting applications. My UG advisor said it wasn't a good fit for my research interests as a program and I saw that for myself when I read up in their department, but now I'm curious.

Thanks Curious_Grad. I really appreciate it.

Just got rejected from SAIS. Very personalized letter, which isn't what I expected. SFS is a longshot at this point. Guess I can tell my Mum to start preparing the basement suite at home...

Just got my email to check the ApplyYourself portal. Second rejection today. The email was surprisingly personalized.

Thanks! I truly appreciate that. It is what it is. I'm definitely trying to stay positive. :] My GRE scores are a story in and of themselves. I had a family crisis and one of my friends had a breakdown the week of my test date. I couldn't postpone it, and then when I did it, a power outage happened right after I submitted my second essay. Had to sit for 30 minutes while everything rebooted, not knowing if I had to restart or leave or what. They wouldn't tell us anything. I was able to finish, but my nerves were shot and my scores - especially my quantitative section - suffered severely as a result. I submitted the scores anyways because I couldn't afford to write it again, and as I'm writing an undergraduate thesis this year, I had no time to re-do it either. My LORs explained this, but it still feels like a sore spot. Luck has been far from on my side this year in anything I do, but you never know unless you try. :]

I heard from IHEID this morning - unfortunately I was part of their mass email glitch and was rejected. If I hear from SAIS tonight, it'll be two schools in one day. I suspect SFS will be after the weekend but I really have no idea when we'll hear back from them. I felt like my app to SAIS was the weakest so I don't expect good news. Definitely going to be watching romcoms and eating cookie dough this evening. xD Congrats!~ I thought we would hear back tonight - now I'll be sure to keep an eye on my email all day.

Thanks all. I'll still kick around here. You are all so kind and such sweet people. I do still have two applications, but I'm not hopeful about them. My GRE was a trainwreck (complete with technical failure in the middle of it - temp power outage to the building in the middle of writing it meant I had to sit for 30 minutes in dead silence not knowing what was going on). My LORs addressed it because I had to accept the scores because I couldn't afford to write it again (and some personal things were going on at the same time). Ever since that happened, I've just been filled with dread. Desperately trying to stay optimistic.

Ah true, that definitely makes sense. Seems like they're doing emails in batches then? I believe there are definitely still acceptances to be given out. My mind doesn't want to work for me. Waking up to this whole this is just killing me. Johns Hopkins SAIS will be sending out admissions today too (likely in 6-8 hours, early evening EST) which just has me shaking in my boots. You all have such amazing profiles, work experience, language skills. I'm starting to think I was a fool to apply right out of undergrad - or more so for letting my undergraduate thesis advisor persuade me to. I have no doubt that most of you will hear back soon.

Paola posted on their facebook page that they're literally going through every application one by one, and sending them their decision regardless of whether it's an acceptance or rejection.

Ah terrifying! I'm going to hear from two schools in one day, and after the IHEID fiasco this morning I hope my sanity can take it. Thanks for the update! Very much appreciated.

I didn't realize how many of us were in the same boat until I read back through the many pages I missed overnight (er...overnight for me lol). I still can't believe it. Now my mind is just going crazy.

I had the same issue! Emailed and told I was accepted. Two hours later, I receievd a second email saying I was rejected. Website says rejused. I feel like someone dangled a carrot in my face and then yelled psyche! D:

I was a second round applicant (January 15th deadline). I'm still really confused by my emails - Paola's second message didn't come in until two hours after the first one. I applied for their MA in International Law.

I woke up to an email...two actually. The first said I was accepted...the second a 'correction' and a rejection. Website says refused. So hurt by this.

I'm on the East coast of Canada, but I'm still 5 hours behind. But same! My phone is my alarm clock at school, and it's linked to my email, so whenever I wake up I check it hoping to see something. I really nervous about tomorrow - and potentially going into a third weekend with no responses from any of my applications (only applied to three programs, all 3 release early to mid March, and this year all are sticking to the 14th as a release date it seems). I would love to hear from at least one before Monday. I haven't been able to do any work at all and I have term papers that desperately need my attention. xD

AH! I kind of want to wake up to an email, but part of me will be staring at my computer all night.

Let's hope there isn't a group of people waiting for Monday.

IHEID has stated in answers on their facebook page (by Paola Eicher) that each application is being processed one by one, both acceptances and rejections. Could it be that they're going alphabetically? Or maybe by submission date? - which seems weird since some of you applied for first round admissions. We're all theorizing - it's so hard no to.

Yep. I agree with the funding size. TAships are commonplace though, especially because of the size of our undergraduate program. Even if it's not offered with your package, it's not hard to talk to professors and get a place if you know them well in your later years (for senior level classes, a number of our faculty hand pick their TAs so they're familiar with the course content and the relationship is tighter for marking/handling assignments). If you don't get direct funding from the university, you'll have the option to apply for SSHRC grants from the government. Plus there are a ton of other options they're trying to build up precisely because of provincial budget cuts (even as an undergrad, I have funding opportunities I could apply for). Hope this helps. :] Also: if you can claim residency (as a French national, as a born native, or if you live here 12 months without being a full time student, or you're married to a local) you'll get local tuition rates, which are greatly reduced as opposed to out of province (if you're from the rest of Canada) or international students.

I'm still under consideration. Looks like all three of my applications will get back to me within 1-2 days, which only makes me more on edge and less able to focus on work. >< I feel so counterproductive right now.