Chamberlain25
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Posts posted by Chamberlain25
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Not to keep adding fuel to this particular fire (though, I suppose I am), but I'm finding myself in this situation right now. I could take a lesser offer after getting 9 demoralizing rejections, but I'd be doing so with the idea that I would at least attempt to apply elsewhere next year. I'd be content (even excited) to finish my degree at the first institution, I wouldn't move across the country if that wasn't the case. However, it seems self-defeating and needlessly loyal to not at least attempt to better position myself for an academic job later on.
Now, the alternative is to sit around for a year and take the risk of not getting in anywhere again. But I then lose yet another year with no guarantee that I'll get in somewhere. The idea of taking a fellowship for a year and jumping ship does seem somewhat jerkish, but I'm not sure it ought to. I mean, my 'punishment' as it were, would be to essentially repeat a year of grad school since anywhere I'd apply to probably would be unlikely to accept transfer credits. And if I don't get into a really choice program that would be both better from a prospective job perspective as well as a better fit, then that's cool too.
Plus, the 'dilemma' presented on these forums seems to assume too much with regards to how much professors really care about their advisees - especially before the ABD phase. I've been in two master's programs and my general take away is that professors are only willing to invest so much time in students and away from their more pressing concerns (research, etc.). Surely this is different in the latter stages of a PhD program, given that grad students become more of an investment than in MA degree-mills. Yet, from their perspective, you probably aren't worth much effort until they can be reasonably certain you won't simply wash out (or transfer out).
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Just heard from Yale via the website. That's 9/9 for me and I guess I'm tapping out for this cycle. I'm wondering what schools would be my best bet with regards to getting some good feedback (Maybe UT or UW?). If nothing else this cycle strengthened my resolve to pursue an academic career. On the plus side I get to stay where I'm living for another year and put off all of the sad goodbyes. Also, knowing definitively I can actually get back to my regular life (after a satisfactory amount of consolation drinking, of course), and back to working on my master's thesis.
Relatedly, does anyone know a good open online course(s) for statistical and/or quantitative analysis, maybe also formal theory?
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From the looks of the board, it looks like we're pretty much at full capacity (ie it'd be hard to foresee a lot more green coming, given how much is already up). I think IR decisions are definitely out, as myself and a few others were notified and I know they have an IR subcommittee review the apps
I'm inclined to think you're right. Though, looking at last year, there were 13 acceptances and 2-3 waitlists over the course of the cycle. I'm comparative with a Middle East, North Africa focus, so Im not sure if Susan Hyde is the POC for that or not.
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Any idea if all of the Yale acceptances went out today?
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Waitlisted at GW. Could be worse.
Any change on the website?
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I'm slowly coming to grips with the necessity for a plan B (not that it never occurred to me, it's just that the idea of going back into think tank or government work is pretty unattractive to me at this point). I was wondering, are there any good programs that do rolling or Spring admissions? Or, if I get shut out am I better off just waiting another year?
I was chatting with one of my professors about using this year to teach at community colleges, etc. and he said that if I'm going to try again the best thing is to get further research experience. Where I'm living currently has like zero research opportunities and moving somewhere to just jump back into applications again a year from now would really suck. Any insights?
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Poorly worded on his/her part perhaps, but I don't think it's terribly inappropriate for someone to regret not having highlighted structural obstacles that a person may have had to work especially hard to overcome. That would not have guaranteed admission --- we all know that, including the person who wrote that. But it might have shed light on why that person seeks to study political science. Having omitted that from a personal statement could be a very fair mistake. I spent a lot of time contemplating whether to state in my SOP that I identify as a minority in terms of sexual orientation. In the end I decided to include it because I felt it was relevant to my desire to study invisible power. So in that sense, I can relate to whomever made the post in question. I doubt it did anything except perhaps tie together my SOP in a manner that showed readers that there is a reason that I seek to do what I seek to do.
Hmm, I read it as a non-minority making a glib comment that they should have identified as a minority in order to get whatever supposed benefit that would yield w/r/t admissions. Maybe I'm just jumping to the more cynical conclusion at this point. Your reading is certainly giving the poster the benefit of the doubt.
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Well, after Northwestern and Stanford today, things are looking pretty dire.
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I emailed UW about whether or not they had sent out all offers of admission: "We are getting all offers out as fast as we can." was the response.
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I noticed the University of Washington sent out some rejection notices via mass email. I was neither accepted nor officially rejected yet. Does this mean I've been wait-listed?
Hard to say, I emailed them yesterday and have yet to get a response. Time will tell, I suppose.
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Well, today hurts, but at least I heard something from somewhere. Rejected at: Emory, UT - Austin, UM, and Princeton. ouch. My already cynically qualified optimism is waning by the minute. Congrats to all who got good news today; and a commiserating pat on the back to all who got bad news...
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A single propeller airplane with a banner behind it?
Only if Shia LeBeouf was DGS
Congrats on Vandy and ND. Looks like Georgetown is calling in acceptances. I like that method, because I can't constantly refresh my phone (not that I applied there)...
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Fax? Or a mis-click?
I was thinking: singing telegram
- Targy and strangepeace
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I'd like to propose a new topic as the Cornell rejections come in. For those already attending programs or know people who are attending or are currently on their 2nd+ cycle... what is the craziest "rejected there but accepted there" story!? (i.e. - rejected from West Topeka State, accepted Yale)
Not as extreme an example, but when applying for IR Master's programs I got into the IR and MPP programs - the latter which only admitted 4-6 people a year - at the University of Denver, while getting shut out at all of the State school programs I applied to.
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Congrats to all the UT admits (and all the others)! Two questions for any of you: those who posted recently, was the email from earlier this morning? Also, have you noticed a change on the website?
edit:
Looking forward to hear news from Upenn,Notre Dame, Vandy, Florida
I check my inbox 10 times in a day...
I'm pretty sure I checked my inbox 10 times during the time it took me to write this post. Trying to read Nozick while keeping on eye on my computer is at least improving my peripheral vision skills. -
Apparently UT-Austin is closed most of the day due to weather.
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No status change on the website that I can see.
No status change for me on the website either, but the acceptance letter said to expect a formal acceptance letter from the graduate school soon.
Thanks! I'm trying to decide if they just blasted emails to all the admits or not, it's hard to gauge from last year's info. I suppose I'm not the best fit there, seeing as Ellis Goldberg's MENA interests and mine only tangentially intersect, but I was still hopeful. Staying in the PNW is a huge plus for me. Congrats again.
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It said, "You are one of 12 highly talented students who we hope to enroll in our program this coming autumn." I interpreted that as the target enrollment, not the number accepted to reach that enrollment.
Another potential is that 12 is how many students they offered funding to - i.e. the students they actually hope/expect to enroll. It's pretty odd wording, though, given my (albeit quite limited) understanding of the process.
edit: To those claiming admits to UW: is your status in any way changed on the website? Congrats to all the acceptances, by the way : )
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My portal also said the same thing, glad I'm not to only one! I couldn't figure out what they could be missing since it looked like all of the pieces were in. Echoing your sentiments, I'm not particularly optimistic about my chances there, but it would have been a huge bummer if they didn't even look at my application...
I had this scare about a month ago. I looked and it said 'incomplete' and then I noticed that it also said they hadn't received my official physical transcripts. I then looked at the application instructions and, contrary to anywhere else, it said they needed both electronic and physical transcripts by the due date. So... I frantically emailed them and got a response that basically said this was not the case and electronic copies were fine for their current purposes and that everyone's application, including mine, was currently under review. Consequently, fret not about incomplete status at the UM portal.
edit: damn, beaten terribly on the last page. I got interrupted by a (1) popping up in gmail, only for it to be one of my current professors.
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A very authoritative voice told this forum a while ago there wasn't a chance on stanford til after the 13th.
pretty sure we were all too scared to question it.
Yea, I saw that. I couldn't remember what date it said. Though that still puts next friday in the scope of the possible; assuming the veracity of that statement, of course. Also of note: apparently trying to grade papers while also refreshing grad cafe every five minutes really drags out the process.
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Michigan should be early next week.
This is helpful, but I'll probably still be checking my phone all day tomorrow, regardless. The thought of another weekend without having heard back from anywhere is kind of a bummer. What else is likely next week? By my count it looks like UT-Austin, Emory, Northwestern, and Stanford are all possibilities (and Michigan).
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I bet I'm not the only person going, "Wow, every school that I didn't apply to is notifying right now..."
It's funny because it's not just schools I didn't apply to, but schools I almost applied to but decided not to. UC Berkley, Chicago, and NYU being the biggest offenders in this regard. It's weird because the only reason I'm now regretting not applying to those schools isn't that I'm suddenly thinking they are a good fit for me, but rather just that the waiting for some kind of response would be over with.
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What is the consensus about interviews - namely, for Emory or UW? Is an interview a necessary but insufficient requisite to receiving an eventual offer, or is it possible to still get an offer even if they never contacted you for an interview?
Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle
in Political Science Forum
Posted · Edited by Chamberlain25
Well, like I said, I'd be happy to complete my PhD at this program - it's an exciting opportunity in many ways. Not to mention, unlike anywhere else, they seem to really want me. The program is just not highly ranked; and their placements are good if you take that into consideration but certainly not at the level of a top 10 school. Consequently, I simply think that it would be in my best interest to attempt to apply again to some of those higher ranked programs that a) I believe I might fit better at; and b ) have demonstrably higher/better placement histories. However, it's not a guarantee that I'll be able to get into those programs and, if not, I would just complete my PhD where I'm at. It's not a cynical decision, it's just an honest one. I don't think anyone who got into a program ranked 20+ would necessarily pass up the opportunity to go to a HYPS-level program, except in very idiosyncratic circumstances - i.e. you're already working with your dream advisor. Or maybe that's just me. The TT job market already seems like such a huge risk - even with a top 10 PhD - that I owe it to my future self to attend the best program that I can get into that best suits my interests. Essentially I just want to reserve the right to try if I feel I ought to in a year, and I think that's fair.
With regards to PhD vs. Master's advisors, I agree with what's been said. There are surely good reasons why MA students shouldn't expect anywhere near the same attention as PhD students. That said, my point was that a first year PhD student probably doesn't rate much higher- and shouldn't expect to. Accordingly, I don't see it as some huge betrayal and waste of my future advisor's time to transfer at such an early stage. It's simply the student doing what's best for themselves at a stage in their development that is justifiably (in my eyes) individually-focused.