HerrDBoo

I just checked back in on this and I wanted to thank you guys for the input! I am not discouraged so much as I just want to get this done. It is basically the last piece of the puzzle before I start school next year.

Yeah, I am looking in the DC area too as I will be going to Georgetown in the Fall. If anyone can point us in the right directions it would be much appreciated. I've made very little headway.

So is there any Facebook group/any other group of the sorts going for attending students?

I'll be there myself! Next thing to do is finding a place to live.

Anyone else attending the admitted students day on Tuesday the 8th?

That's what I am wondering too

I am from NJ and live here now, so if I were to elect to go to the New School I would probably just commute. However, I'd prefer to not be at home as I feel that limits your growth in many ways, but that is just me.

Just got a great tuition scholarship! Check your emails, you might have a happier day too.

Update: I got a sizeable offer from Pitt ($23K per year with a tuition of $33K). As noted above, most jobs straight out of school are going to fetch between $50-60K in the field in which I am pursuing the degree. Just something to consider if you are not familiar.

I want to work in an intelligence analyst/security analyst type role whether it be in the DoD or the Department of State etc

Thanks for the thoughtful input! I have 3 offers with funding, but the offer from Korbel ($12K/yr), even with the funding still seems exorbitant. The other two are from Syracuse with $5K a semester and New School at 40% of tuition. The only thing with the program from the New School is it certainly sets you up better for a career in an NGO and Syracuse is held back by the fact that it is in a location that does not offer much in terms of professional opportunities during the year. Just lots and lots and lots to consider! Boo...

MA

Not sure if this is the right place, but it does factor into everyone's decsion as it does into mine. I got accepted into two great programs unfortunately without funding at either. Is $100K in debt worth it? I will of course try my best to secure as much outside funding as I can, but the debt figures will still be quite large. I'd be interested to hear what others have to say and moreover, what others have done in similar situations. Any and all advice is appreciated. If this forum exists elsewhere, please direct me that way.

Got into both, no funding at either. In terms of perstige, career opportunities, etc. which would be the one to go with? I will be funding this mainly on my own and will try to muster other funding opportunities as I go along, but as for right now, what are your opinions on these schools and which you would choose if you were in my shoes?

Yeah, I'm shocked too. I am waiting on GW and GT. I know a wave of letters went out yesterday, so I would imagine it won't be too much longer until the next set gets sent out.

I'm out unfortunately. Congratulations to all that got in!

I was also accepted into their MAIA program. It is a relative unknown to me as well even after all of the research I did. If there are any current students or alumni lurking around and could help us out, I am sure we would all appreciate it!

I'm in! Global governance, politics, and security program! No funding, but this is exciting nonetheless.

Just got my email today! Accepted!

With their right hand on their holy book of choice

The schools should use this as their guideline to word count. Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee. In 500 words or less, balh blah blah. Please also review this statement before beginning to draft your statement: This business is well ended. My liege, and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, Were nothing but to waste night, day and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief...

Touche, but I think I elaborate that in the next two sentences. I might not have first hand experience, but I have studied topics like that in class and you can infer similarities. However, that's what brings me to my naive comment. I don't want to seem like a jerk making that connection if there isn't one to be made. It would hurt rather than help. In any case, thanks for that point of view!

I am applying for IR masters programs. I am finishing up my SOPs, but had a last minute question. I don't have substantive relevant work experience in the field and in total with internships (5 mos in school 4 mos in a post-grad internship) and professional jobs I have something like 16mos of working experience. Some of the prompts ask how my professional background has prepared me for graduate work. Though I haven't been at my two professional gigs too long (3 mos as an executive recruiter and 4 mos currently in commercial real estate) I have learned a lot about contract negotiations and why leverage is important. Would it be naive to briefly mention this in SOP? Something like "My experiences both as an executive recruiter and as a real estate agent have shown me the importance of negotiation and deliberation. There are similarities that contract discussions have with negotiations between nations. All parties must state their needs, but each party’s respective voice does not carry equal weight. Likewise, while some decisions might seem favorable in the short term, how they play out over time is often difficult to determine." Or should I just leave it out all together? Any thoughts would be helpful.

Just a thought, if you only plug in a university's name where you have the Xs your SOP might come off as not being focused enough. That's my opinion though. I would suggest tailoring each SOP to the specific school it is going to making it look like you did your research. Does that mean more time spent researching, yes, but ultimately I believe it to be worth the time! Otherwise, it is well written.

American is considered a tier-2 school?