TheGnome

I emailed the DGS at Boston College today (because I'm impatient and I couldn't stand not knowing how much longer I'd have to wait since there's a huge dearth of information on the results page re: BC POSC) asking for a timeline as to when I might hear an admissions decision. Expecting a terse 'calm down, we'll tell you soon' reply, he told me that I'm wait listed for the PhD, but accepted to the master's program. Which is actually really awesome news seeing as I applied to the master's program and was asked about my PhD intentions later. So without even applying for the PhD, I still might get it. 
 
What a day, folks. What a day. 

Claiming a Notre Dame acceptance.
 
In case this helps - Seems like a form e-mail. Funding etc. info came attached. IR subfield. Oh also, I didn't interview with them, just got the acceptance. So if you didn't get an interview that apparently doesn't mean anything. 

Exactly how I'm feeling right now:
 

 
But seriously, congrats to the those of you who heard good news from Princeton today and to all those who will hear good news from Michigan. Both fantastic programs.

Ha. I got to the point where I have them on a computerized post-it on my home screen. I have no ND acceptance, but my interview with them was incredibly awkward, so I'm not expecting anything really.
 
In a nutshell:
Them: "So, you've done a lot of methods work"
Me: "Well, yes, my undergraduate research advisor is one of the best methods guys around these days."
Them: "We don't do that here."

Sometimes I think I do IR theory.  Then I read the things that people interested in IR theory say.

If you use this search term (politic*|government) you will see everything that pops up 

If you use this search term (politic*|government) you will see everything that pops up 

Claiming a Cornell rejection... and a Berkeley JSP acceptance.

Chococommunism?! No ma'am/sir, if you deliberately construe a cry for choquality and justice as chocommunism, what does that make you?
 
Chocolate McCarthy!

Nay! Merely an advocate for the utilitarian distribution of chocolate and the champion of chocovidualism! Call it ChoCarthyism! Call it whatever you like, but give me (my very specific preferred) chocolate or give me death!

Chococommunism?! No ma'am/sir, if you deliberately construe a cry for choquality and justice as chocommunism, what does that make you?
 
Chocolate McCarthy!

Don't apply to PhD unless you are a hundred percent sure that a research career in Political Science is what you absolutely want to do. In this sense, working for a few years after your college education might help you figure out where your true passion/obsession really lies. On the other hand, as far as admissions are concerned, I don't think there is empirical evidence (and anecdotal evidence suggesting both directions) establishing work experience as a key factor for higher likelihood of acceptance. It might improve your chances through things like taking more time to write a SOP, succeed in your GREs, meeting more powerful mentors who will support you, etc. However, they won't accept you just because you have more non-academic experience than ordinary undergrad candidates do. Note that any kind of experience outside an academic institute is at best mildly related to what you will want to show in an SOP. 

Claiming a UCSD acceptance as well. However, I'll have to talk to them about finances, since the letter I got states that I am expected to establish California residence in my second year. Any internatials having the same problem?
 
I am hoping (hopeful) that I will be able to talk to them about having my external fellowship pay for years 1-2 of my stay, and them then using part of the savings for fees and tuition (in years 3-5). Otherwise, I don't think I'll be able to enroll.
 
My funding package is lower than the numbers floating around here, though, and includes 5 years of TA-ing (1st: 25%, 2-5:50%). I'm assuming I can get out of year 1 and 2, because of my fellowship, otherwise it looks intense!

Claiming a Washington admit. SO HAPPY!

Ever since, I can never set foot on a White Castle.
 
 
 
I can claim one, thanks! Seems like the notifications are not going out all at the same time, so I would caution anyone to jump to conclusions if you haven't received one yet.

Ever since, I can never set foot on a White Castle.
 
 
 
I can claim one, thanks! Seems like the notifications are not going out all at the same time, so I would caution anyone to jump to conclusions if you haven't received one yet.

Here in America, it is easy to afford a replacement of that book.  Our purchasing power parity is so good.

Just to throw my 2 cents in, for the first question I don't get the impression that TMCB was suggesting that there is one, unanimously accepted, objective definition of the "real world".  Instead, this lack poses considerable ontological and epistemological challenges for scholars. Based on how broadly defined this "real world" is, the nature and purpose of your work can vary widely. 
 
For your second question, I get the impression that you're trying to lead TMCB towards saying that the purpose of understanding and predicting is to affect change or to have some "real world" ramifications. Maybe that's the result of academic inquiry, but it doesn't have to be the purpose. It is quite possible, and I believe highly probable, that for many scholars understanding and predicting is intrinsically valuable and they don't particularly care what happens beyond that. It is perfectly fine to want to conduct inquiry for the sake of conducting inquiry. The same worth can be ascribed to wanting to engage in policy relevant research. This all depends on the guiding philosophy of the researcher, and no side should dismissively discount the other. 

Xanthe, I understand what you are going through. I know that it is tough and it sucks. It also sucks that everyone has to deal with it himself/herself . Even when there are people around you who care about you and trying to console you, they will likely have no idea how it really feels. 
 
That said, you are not alone in this. Many people, including a number of the members of this community, have gone through the same phases and felt the same pain. You are not the first or -unfortunately- the last one who has to handle such emotions. I am not saying this should necessarily alleviate the pain, but it is something. 
 
I am sorry about the (presumed) rejections. Sorry that you had to relive the disappointment. Unfortunately my -or anyone's- words are not going to help you mend the wounds, it is you who has to find a way to move on. Still, there are three important things that you (and everyone) should be reminded of:
 
1) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
2) Not getting into grad school is not the end of the world. It sure as hell not. In fact, even in the worst case scenario, there is a pretty high probability that you will be really glad you didn't have to live through the long and impoverished years of grad school, the abysmal job market, and the tenure marathon. Life goes on, and no one apart from the academics, grad students and us hopefuls gives a damn about this process and what comes out of it. 
 
3) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
Chin up!

Xanthe, I understand what you are going through. I know that it is tough and it sucks. It also sucks that everyone has to deal with it himself/herself . Even when there are people around you who care about you and trying to console you, they will likely have no idea how it really feels. 
 
That said, you are not alone in this. Many people, including a number of the members of this community, have gone through the same phases and felt the same pain. You are not the first or -unfortunately- the last one who has to handle such emotions. I am not saying this should necessarily alleviate the pain, but it is something. 
 
I am sorry about the (presumed) rejections. Sorry that you had to relive the disappointment. Unfortunately my -or anyone's- words are not going to help you mend the wounds, it is you who has to find a way to move on. Still, there are three important things that you (and everyone) should be reminded of:
 
1) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
2) Not getting into grad school is not the end of the world. It sure as hell not. In fact, even in the worst case scenario, there is a pretty high probability that you will be really glad you didn't have to live through the long and impoverished years of grad school, the abysmal job market, and the tenure marathon. Life goes on, and no one apart from the academics, grad students and us hopefuls gives a damn about this process and what comes out of it. 
 
3) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
Chin up!

Xanthe, I understand what you are going through. I know that it is tough and it sucks. It also sucks that everyone has to deal with it himself/herself . Even when there are people around you who care about you and trying to console you, they will likely have no idea how it really feels. 
 
That said, you are not alone in this. Many people, including a number of the members of this community, have gone through the same phases and felt the same pain. You are not the first or -unfortunately- the last one who has to handle such emotions. I am not saying this should necessarily alleviate the pain, but it is something. 
 
I am sorry about the (presumed) rejections. Sorry that you had to relive the disappointment. Unfortunately my -or anyone's- words are not going to help you mend the wounds, it is you who has to find a way to move on. Still, there are three important things that you (and everyone) should be reminded of:
 
1) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
2) Not getting into grad school is not the end of the world. It sure as hell not. In fact, even in the worst case scenario, there is a pretty high probability that you will be really glad you didn't have to live through the long and impoverished years of grad school, the abysmal job market, and the tenure marathon. Life goes on, and no one apart from the academics, grad students and us hopefuls gives a damn about this process and what comes out of it. 
 
3) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
Chin up!

Xanthe, I understand what you are going through. I know that it is tough and it sucks. It also sucks that everyone has to deal with it himself/herself . Even when there are people around you who care about you and trying to console you, they will likely have no idea how it really feels. 
 
That said, you are not alone in this. Many people, including a number of the members of this community, have gone through the same phases and felt the same pain. You are not the first or -unfortunately- the last one who has to handle such emotions. I am not saying this should necessarily alleviate the pain, but it is something. 
 
I am sorry about the (presumed) rejections. Sorry that you had to relive the disappointment. Unfortunately my -or anyone's- words are not going to help you mend the wounds, it is you who has to find a way to move on. Still, there are three important things that you (and everyone) should be reminded of:
 
1) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
2) Not getting into grad school is not the end of the world. It sure as hell not. In fact, even in the worst case scenario, there is a pretty high probability that you will be really glad you didn't have to live through the long and impoverished years of grad school, the abysmal job market, and the tenure marathon. Life goes on, and no one apart from the academics, grad students and us hopefuls gives a damn about this process and what comes out of it. 
 
3) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
Chin up!

Xanthe, I understand what you are going through. I know that it is tough and it sucks. It also sucks that everyone has to deal with it himself/herself . Even when there are people around you who care about you and trying to console you, they will likely have no idea how it really feels. 
 
That said, you are not alone in this. Many people, including a number of the members of this community, have gone through the same phases and felt the same pain. You are not the first or -unfortunately- the last one who has to handle such emotions. I am not saying this should necessarily alleviate the pain, but it is something. 
 
I am sorry about the (presumed) rejections. Sorry that you had to relive the disappointment. Unfortunately my -or anyone's- words are not going to help you mend the wounds, it is you who has to find a way to move on. Still, there are three important things that you (and everyone) should be reminded of:
 
1) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
2) Not getting into grad school is not the end of the world. It sure as hell not. In fact, even in the worst case scenario, there is a pretty high probability that you will be really glad you didn't have to live through the long and impoverished years of grad school, the abysmal job market, and the tenure marathon. Life goes on, and no one apart from the academics, grad students and us hopefuls gives a damn about this process and what comes out of it. 
 
3) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
Chin up!

Xanthe, I understand what you are going through. I know that it is tough and it sucks. It also sucks that everyone has to deal with it himself/herself . Even when there are people around you who care about you and trying to console you, they will likely have no idea how it really feels. 
 
That said, you are not alone in this. Many people, including a number of the members of this community, have gone through the same phases and felt the same pain. You are not the first or -unfortunately- the last one who has to handle such emotions. I am not saying this should necessarily alleviate the pain, but it is something. 
 
I am sorry about the (presumed) rejections. Sorry that you had to relive the disappointment. Unfortunately my -or anyone's- words are not going to help you mend the wounds, it is you who has to find a way to move on. Still, there are three important things that you (and everyone) should be reminded of:
 
1) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
2) Not getting into grad school is not the end of the world. It sure as hell not. In fact, even in the worst case scenario, there is a pretty high probability that you will be really glad you didn't have to live through the long and impoverished years of grad school, the abysmal job market, and the tenure marathon. Life goes on, and no one apart from the academics, grad students and us hopefuls gives a damn about this process and what comes out of it. 
 
3) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
Chin up!

Xanthe, I understand what you are going through. I know that it is tough and it sucks. It also sucks that everyone has to deal with it himself/herself . Even when there are people around you who care about you and trying to console you, they will likely have no idea how it really feels. 
 
That said, you are not alone in this. Many people, including a number of the members of this community, have gone through the same phases and felt the same pain. You are not the first or -unfortunately- the last one who has to handle such emotions. I am not saying this should necessarily alleviate the pain, but it is something. 
 
I am sorry about the (presumed) rejections. Sorry that you had to relive the disappointment. Unfortunately my -or anyone's- words are not going to help you mend the wounds, it is you who has to find a way to move on. Still, there are three important things that you (and everyone) should be reminded of:
 
1) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
2) Not getting into grad school is not the end of the world. It sure as hell not. In fact, even in the worst case scenario, there is a pretty high probability that you will be really glad you didn't have to live through the long and impoverished years of grad school, the abysmal job market, and the tenure marathon. Life goes on, and no one apart from the academics, grad students and us hopefuls gives a damn about this process and what comes out of it. 
 
3) Hang in there, the cycle isn't over. You only need one. Postpone the pain until the end of the cycle. 
 
Chin up!