HerrDBoo

I know Pysch, Philiosophy (I'm a philosophy minor) and even their business school are top notch. I just ALWAYS hear people ripping on it. Always interesting to hear that often times people outside of NJ are in awe when you say you went there haha

Sage advice once again, NPRjunkie!

Oh, I see. Sometimes the overlap between people posting about PhDs and MAs can send you spinning. That's where I got confused.

Is sub-310 a benchmark? Not to sound ignorant

What's everyone's take on Rutgers? How do other people see it outside of New Jersey? The world? I've always heard people are really impressed with a Rutgers degree, but as an in-stater from Jersey and an alum, we always rag on Rutgers.

SAIS has an oline program that does micro- and macro- That's what I'm taking and just adding that info into a supplemental doc so that the adcomm knows and can take it into consideration.

Does FS = foreign services?

Good points. I guess in my case, a school like Northeastern is probably one that I could get rid off. Their program for IR is in its first year and not that it CAN'T prepare me for a job in the field, but I believe even in comparison to the mid-tiered schools, it would not help as much. The number of schools I am applying to, and the caliber, also has something to do with the fact that I believe that I didn't push myself enough in undergrad. It's sort of personal thing that I need to accomplish. Either way, I think that it would be highly improbable (fingers crossed haha) that I could get rejected at all 10-12 and even striking out at ALL of my higher tiered schools. But hey, shoot high and see what happens, right?

Given that, I understand your reasoning. I wasn't trying to offend by any stretch. Like you, I want to go to a higher ranked program for sure (who doesn't?). Georgetown is my dream school. It's followed by GW, American, Fletcher and UT LBJ. Korbel, NYU, BU, Northeastern, Seton Hall (I'm from NJ and this school is right around the corner) and Maryland round out the list. These aren't in any particular order, more like clusters. The first are on the higher end, the next are in the middle and the last are lower tiered. I was teetering on Texas A&M as well. I am open to any suggestions, thoughts, whatever.

Seems like a good problem to have if you ask me! Hedong, my opinion is that two is too few. I am definitely on the other end of the spectrum, so maybe somewhere in the middle is the best.

I posted this in the main thread and someone suggested to post it more specifically here. How many schools is too many when it comes to applying to IR programs? I have 12 on my list. Is this too many? Can it take away from me focusing more intensely on a few schools and thus hamper my applications? Thoughts?

I'll make a seperate post there, but thank you for your input!

Is there such a thing as applying to too many schools? I have approx. 12 on my list. The only reason I would say it is too many would be simply because it might dilute your focus from a few specific programs that you are pulling to get into. Although realistically, I want to get into all of them, or they wouldn't be on my list. Thoughts?

I would consider myself someone that went into unemployment upon getting my undergraduate degree. While it isn't fun here is the little I have learned. I am luckyily gainfully employed now though. 1. You need to be quick on your feet. Be adaptable. Take chances even if you are not doing something even remotely related to what you studied in undergrad. 2. Think about what you want to do. I guess to quote others, soul search. I've found out a lot about myself through this process and it's often kinda fun. 3. Never give up. I've seen too many of my friends kind of roll over and die, figuratively of course. We are all full of potential and sometimes it takes some time to realize it. Sure busing tables is fine for a while, but if you settle and don't aim high, then you are cutting yourself way short. Hope my advice helps! Just be positive, it is often the best medicine.

Well I do appreciate the insight. I have heard many more experienced professionals lament about how their classes are full of professionally inexperienced students. I guess it would be quite frustrating. Well I will weight what you said and think about it going forward. I'll probably apply this cycle anyway and see how it goes.

I have heard that, but then there is a good chunk of people going to some of these programs straight from undergrad. This is not to discredit your point, it is well taken. So if I do go to the lower tiered schools, you are saying, in essence, that it is not worth the time? I've always subscribed to the notion that it is what you make of it. In other words, if you bust your ass at a lower tiered school you could just as easily succeed (or have the chance to succeed) than if you coast through at a higher tiered school (of course, within reason). If you can't tell, I have a hard time just saying thanks. I'm always up for discussion.

I agree with Loric. Not that I recruited for long, but when I did, I saw tons of resumes. Some were horrible, others were okay and few were actually good. (HAHAHAHAHA clearly I'm the most Interesting Man...though I don't like Dos Equis) Bullets instead of paragraphs, make sure you are detailed yet concise, the more recent your job was the more bullet points it should have (and vice versa...unless it is really relevant to the picture you are trying to paint). ALSO, consistency and grammar. Keep one style all the way through (i.e. periods at the end of every sentence or not, certain style of bullets throughout, etc.). Hope that helps.

I'm going to be pushy. If anyone could go back a page and look over my profile, it would be much appreciated. Never got any responses (not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing! haha).

Thanks to all that chimed in! Again, if anyone needs some critiquing on theirs I would love to help. If anyone else would also like to take a gander at mine, please let me know.

Would anyone be so kind as to possibly look over my SOP and give me some idea, suggestions or comments? It would be greatly appreciated. It's a work in progress, but I am trying to finalize it. I am applying for International Relation programs. Thanks in advance.

Programs: MA in Security Studies/an IR MA that is focused on something of that nature Potential Schools: GW, Georgetown, American, Fletcher, NYU, BU, Seton Hall (really down on the list), Maryland, Texas A&M, UTexas, Fordham (more business/finance oriented, however) Undergraduate institution: Rutgers Undergraduate Major: Political Science; Minor in Spanish and Philosophy Undergraduate GPA: 3.81 GRE: 162 V / 152 Q / 4.5 AW Years of Work Experience: by the date at which I apply, 7 months Describe Relevant Work Experience: Not relevant at all 5 months interning at an environmental consultancy firm 4 months as a business development intern at an environmental education firm 3 months as an executive recuriter currently working as an executive assistant/real estate consultant in a commercial real estate firm since September Other Experience (mentioned in resume or SOP): traveled abroad in Europe for a month after I graduated in May 2012 Rowed 2 years on the varsity heavyweight rowing team at Rutgers (probably irrelevant) Languages: English: Fluent Spanish: Conversational and comprehensional (need some refreshers though) Romanian: Fluent SOP: Work in progress, but I think I am putting very good effort into it and I hope that it will show LOR: Two professors My supervisor at the environmental consultancy firm Questions: Am I competitive? What other schools should I apply to and why? Do you have any other advice for me? Does my GRE quant score hold me back? How much weight is put on the language requirement? I haven't taken an econ class, but I am trying to apply to take one at a local college, however, I won't finish the class before applicaitons are due...any advice on how to notify the adcomm of this? Maybe in the SOP? Ideas?

That was great! Thanks a lot for that post.

I'm curious about this too. I have limited work experience post-grad (working as an executive recruiter for a few months and now as a real estate consultant). How much does this negatively impact my application? Specifically, I am applying for IR/Int'l Relation programs.

I noticed that there is a separate "professional" group for some IR/Int'l Affairs posts. I wanted to know is there a difference between the professional MA and the MA that are discussed in this section? Does that question make sense?

MA I have 3 in top 10 I would say and the rest are probably top 40 (i.e. GW, Georgetown, American, Maryland, BU, Northeastern, NYU, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Fordham to name a few).