curufinwe

Seriously, it is not like there is competition with this exam and sending out scores to pull the prices down. Isn't there like a board that regulates competition in the market? Isn't this monopoly?

Hah, a return ticket for me would cost $1000. I do not think they would be willing to fund that. But if they actually were willing to do so, that is awesome. Maybe all schools that accept one individual should chip in for the across-the-atlantic tickets.

Since my current Fall 2009 grades were announced recently and my GPA got better, I wanted to update my file by e-mailing schools my unofficial transcript. When I told this to Northwestern, they sent me this reply: "Unfortunately our admissions process is now completed; our committee has already reviewed all files. If you are offered admission, we will be in touch to collect the updated transcript information. Best of luck"

I think the formula I can derive from that is... first they set aside a good chunk of people that has good GPA's and GRE scores. Then they read the SoPs and try to understand who studies what and who would be a good fit. Finally they read the writing samples in order to see which one of those scholarly-talented and fit-for-faculty students actually can produce good stuff and analyze well enough.

you are welcome.

UT Austin, having a deadline on the 1st of December, received my files on the 27th of November (according to FedEx) and STILL they show some of my materials missing. I asked twice about it via e-mail and once on the phone, so I confirmed three times that they have all of my files. But they STILL do not update the system How reliable, innit?

I found this e-mail I received a while back when I was getting ready to pick schools and was asking few people what they care about most. This is the one I received from Columbia... "We are often asked what we consider important in reviewing applications. First and foremost, we are looking for evidence of scholarly talent and achievement. Grades and GRE scores are, of course, helpful in locating such evidence, but they are not the only things we consider. What you say in your personal statement can be very important, and your writing sample is often the decisive factor in our decision"

with less people applying there due to the crisis and lack of funds, and them not being financially obligated to accept you, yeah it seems you have a better chance. However, I don't think Fulbright funds you completely, they tend to co-fund you with the school. Or at least as far as I know, thats the case.

Ugh, I just read on Georgetown's website that they accept 27 comparative students whereas they only fund 2! Meh... http://government.georgetown.edu/57323.html

hehe suits your nickname Don't worry about it. Even UT-Austin, with a deadline for December 1st, accepted my offer to update my transcripts

Well, my materials reached there 3 weeks ago, so I wont be able to give specific tips on that. But here's another experience with them: This friday, my Fall 2009 grades were announced from my current MA, and my gpa went up to 3.71 from 3.61. I wanted to update my info so I asked them if I could update my transcript with an unofficial copy I got from the Student Information System of my current school. The coordinator told me to e-mail it and it was all fine. They added the new transcript on file. Now, this is a kind behavior I did not really expect. So they might be understanding if you talked to them about this. If they won't review the files starting tomorrow, and if your files can go there in, say, 2 days... it would be ok. But keep in mind that you can't send electronic copies for review purposes. They have a lousy system that requires you to send even the LORs in hard copy and no place to upload them.

I do not know your stats, but I strongly want you to be overqualified actually. So that you will get in to Yale, Princeton or Berkeley and leave the Northwestern, Brown etc to me ^^ hehe

hehe it is like studying "aliens living in mars" I know, I know, I didn't mean to provoke anyone

hehe I study Middle East and I perceived it as if the number of faculty that studies East Asia was much more than those who study Middle East But I might be wrong.

cpaige, brouhaha is in the same situation. As I said before, if you dont get acceptance from any Yale-class program, and if money isnt an issue, take the masters program so that you can beef up your resume, and have more chances of getting into a Yale-class phd program next year. Since you are fresh out of undergrad and dont have a masters degree, you wouldnt be wasting any time anyways. So... -wait for the other big boys to announce their decisions about you. -if they reject you all, don't settle for a lower-quality program. you might curse yourself when you start looking for a job in the future. -and pursue that scholarship thing, so that you wont have that kind of liability over your shoulders.

congrats AP.. nice package by the way hehe. You are doing pretty good so far.

then the only concern would be the money. I mean, yeah you should consider your other offers too. My thinking is that, if you cannot get accepted by a phd program this year that is as good as Yale's, you probably would get into a better phd program next year, with this Yale thing on your resume. And the better phd program you graduate from, the better chances of getting a job after you graduate, especially in the academia. So if you are perfectly OK with one year's partial tuition, I would say this is a great opportunity. And you are 20?? You sound... bright or an early starter

- If you are currently right out of undergrad (no masters degree so far) - If you are already interested in that region - and if you are willing to pay for education (you said there'd be partial tution awards).. I'd say don't even hesitate to take that offer. Of course, that is, if you cannot get an acceptance from a proper school. A masters degree from Yale would increase your chances of getting into a good school for phds when you apply for'em, and you wouldn't really waste time anyways. Good luck

I am glad to see very few comparativists and sad to see those few are really qualified

oh I see. Makes much more sense

I assume Northwestern's acceptances would be out this week, based on last year's trend. the horror...

I heard that the reason as to why they ask if you are a Ltino/Hispanic or not on every application I've come across is for such reasons. But then again, I am not from the US, so I don't know.

I've heard the same thing as well. The idea of spending time in Europe is absolutely fun. But my professors told me that the chances of getting a decent job in the US is really hard with a phd from Europe. But then again, it is not impossible. I have seen few examples of it. If you study Europe, I think your chances would increase.

I would assume it is the list of people that are good for the program, but they will have to reduce the number for funding purposes.

I only mentioned it in my diversity statement for Northwestern, and being from Turkey, I'm hoping it will increase my chances but yeah, I dont think my professors knew about this so I am pretty sure it doesnt change anything for my LORs.