figuringitout80

That's about the age I'll be.

I didn't realize that I had touched on a topic which seems to elicit so much discussion. I really enjoy this additional thread. I really like this attitude as well.

This thought was in my mind as well -- on top of that I am woman which I think can be more challenging since I do want to have a family life. I kind of want to do it all, and I do know a woman whow is in her early 40s on tenure track at harvard with two small kids. She finished her phd at age 33. So it can be done I think.

Does anyone have concerns about trying to raise a family? Granted I'm single at this point but I fear the potential balance of school and family life. Any thoughts from those who are/have been there?

Riz, that's very interesting. So you didn't just apply for the January deadline?

I have a question regarding grad school applications -- I have a lot of experience in foreign affairs, but I would like to switch my focus to more domestic and economically oriented studies for grad school and beyond. Either way I will have to leverage my experience when applying to programs, but I wanted to know if I should be direct and state that now that I've done "X" I would like to pursue "Y." Or would many schools frown upon such a track?

Does anyone else have additional info about this program? Its website is so out of date and no one has returned my phone call.

Hello! Thanks for offering the advice! MY question is then you have already applied? How did the admission process work for you?

Thanks! I wish more universities offered spring admissions.

Does anyone know of graduate programs accepting students for spring 2010 enrollment? I know Columbia is one, but I am not sure about any of the others. Anyone have some insights?

Is Columbia the only university with a January admissions? Or are there other major universities?

I apologize if this question is too elementary, but I am interested in pursuing a joint -program through GPPI. I am qualified for one program (public policy) but I lack background in the potential other field (econ or psych). Does it make sense to try and apply for one and then take classes in the other and try to work into the other program that way? Or are the departments there generally aware of this strategy and thus actively frown upon it? Any thoughts are much appreciated!

Hello -- I hope you are still answering questions about Harris, which really pertain to my unique circumstance. I started out as a history major with illusions of becoming an historian (or lawyer) but ended up at a think-tank instead. Long story short, I am interested in pursuing a PhD at Harris (among other possible schools), but lack the quantitative background of many other students. Will Chicago even consider me for admittance in this case? Do I have to go through the MPA route first? I'm getting close to 30 and don't want to be in school forever. BTW, I have decent GREs - 660V 790Q, good professional experience, and a less stellar GPA (3.3-3.4).

Thanks to everyone for their comments -- it is helping me garner a wider perspective on this issue.

I apologize if this question is too elementary, but I am interested in pursuing a joint -program. I am qualified for one program (public policy) but I lack background in the potential other field (econ or psych). Does it make sense to try and apply for one and then take classes in the other and try to work into the other program that way? Or are departments generally aware of this strategy and thus actively frown upon it? Any thoughts are much appreciated!

Hi -- I'm new to this forum and I suppose my question is of a more personal nature than many of the subjects in this forum. I'm 28 now and planning to apply to graduate school. I had applied to a number of IR ma programs when I was 25, but I was in the midst of being unfairly fired by a very emotionally abusive and manipulative boss and I couldn't handle the applications (low gre scores, no focus to my personal statement etc.). I was basically being pushed to apply by my parents and friends when I had such low confidence from my really terrible work experience (quasi-academic/public policy work) and I didn't believe I was ready. I was very disillusioned, leading to a bit of an existentional crisis. I stayed in my current place, but am I working with someone else in a field that I know will not become my field. My question is, how to explain in my application why I stayed somewhere for so long in a field that wasn't quite what I wanted to do? How do I explain my age? I have my confidence back, but am afraid that I won't be able to pursue academia because I am now a late bloomer and I could be juggling family and school responsibilities. I have stronger GRE scores now (790 math, 670 verbal). I'm looking at public policy/econ programs now, although I don't have much of an econ background (but I have the genes for it . I'm now taking classes at one of the universities I want to apply to. I realize this is a bit of a more personal post (and maybe even a bit more vague than others in terms of what I am asking here) as opposed to the usual queries listed here, but any thoughts/comments are most appreciated.