Current Korbel Student

I'm not particularly interested in quantitative analysis - but I know within Security at least we're required to take beginning and advanced analysis and methods classes where we do learn quantitative methods and analysis - at least to the point of being conversant in that methodology, if not fluent.

I think if the standard is being unhappy if you "continuously didn't get the classes I wanted" you're going to be disappointed in whatever school you choose. All schools have waiting lists for popular classes. I had waiting lists for popular classes as an undergraduate and I went to a highly selective private university. That being said the terrorism and MIE studies classes at Korbel at not usually the classes which have waiting lists. I took International Terrorism last term and I was a 1st year in my 1st term - which meant I got to register last and I still got a place in it.

Your first language, which you must be fluent in - speaking, reading and writing - qualifies you for the language requirement. If you can only speak the language you will not fulfill the language requirement. The office of Student Affairs at Korbel can require any student availing themselves of the first-language exemption to take a language test at any point. It's important this exemption be respected. In regards to the second question. No - graduate students may not audit any undergraduate language courses at DU. I agree this is unfortunate but this is the policy. If you want to take language courses at an undergraduate level at DU those will be included in your graduate instruction tuition - even if you audit them. Korbel does offer other means of refreshing oneself with language courses - including online instruction. But it is not an option to audit an undergraduate language course at DU without paying tuition.

Hey everyone - here's a message to your from the admissions office. I hope this helps. Greetings from the Josef Korbel School’s Graduate Admissions Office, It has been brought to our attention that many of you would like an update from our office regarding the review process and we are happy to provide additional information. Perhaps we were overly optimistic in November/December when applications began accumulating by setting the goal of notifying applicants of the committee’s decision by early-mid February. While many applicants have received notification, there are quite a few of you out there awaiting an email/letter…an update of some form or another. We can imagine that this is an incredibly stressful time for all of you but rest assured that our committee is maintaining an impressive pace in reviewing the record numbers of applications we’ve received. One area that may need some clarification is what constitutes a complete application. This not only means you’ve submitted your application but all of your supplemental materials have also been received and processed. This includes test scores, letters of rec, transcripts, etc. While time seems to be standing still, we respectfully request that you hold tight and know that we are conducting thorough reviews which, while time consuming, is well worth the effort as we shape our incoming autumn cohort. You will be hearing from our office in the not too distant future if you completed your application on or before our priority deadline. Kindest regards, Brad Miller, Director of Graduate Admissions Nicole Vilegi, Associate Director of Graduate Admissions

I hope to have more information for you all later today or this evening. Thanks for everyone's patience.

I did list on this thread back in December that we had a huge increase in applicants and this year would be more selective than previous - but we all agree the situation with increased applicants could have been addressed better. Rest easy knowing Admissions is doing everything they can to get everyone's decisions out to them as soon as possible. To be fair all schools are running behind - this has just been a crazy year with so many more applications than everyone expected. Regardless - I wish you the best of luck. Let me know if I can help.

Congrats! I hope I see you here and make sure to join our Facebook fan page where you can get updated on everything going on at the school. http://www.facebook.com/josefkorbel

Still waiting for a reply and the admissions page doesn't have an "accept" or "decline" button? Don't panic - decision are still being made. Those that have a choice of "accept" or "decline" have been extended an offer of admission. Those that don't are still in process.

No. The admissions process is continuing. Please be patient for an answer either way and I promise to update here as I find out.

Admissions decisions are on-going. We had a huge increase in applicants this year so things are in process. I promise to update here as I find out.

No. Don't stress. You've got an offer of admission and right now that's all that counts.

And for you - the same thing my friend, direct from admissions: As I said to the other applicant - word. I hope you join us this fall. And congrats :-)

Direct from Admissions, for you :-) All I have to say it - word. I hope you join our school this fall. And congrats :-)

Please see my reply above. Will post an answer as soon as I get it.

Checking on this now. I will post a response as soon as I get it. Thanks for letting us know.

$20,000 is a nice chunk of change, it's more than 50% of tuition. But I totally understand the need for additional monies and there are resources out there, particularly if you want to live on campus. Reach out to the person you spoke with before in Korbel admissions and stay tuned as the time draws closer where you have to make a decision.

There's always a shot but they usually go to second-year students (NOT Ph.Ds as a chronically misinformed commenter suggested) with whom professors are familiar. As I stated before - I know a first-year who received an RA position but she already had a MA degree, which I believe gave her a leg up. RA positions aren't really that lucrative either. We'll be in touch on additional funding opportunities as their deadlines come closer. I'd also suggest reaching out to Nicole Villegi directly.

Hi, When you use "RA" are you referring to Resident Assistant in the dorms and other housing or Research Assistant at Korbel? Keep watch on the housing office's RA positions as they're separate from Korbel - if they have open positions, and I know they do from time to time, they'll advertise those separately from the school. As far as Research Assistants - those are hired at the beginning of every academic year and are generally given to second-year students with whom the particular professor are familiar with their work. But it's not unknown for 1st year students to be given them - I know a 1st year who was hired as an RA. Hit me back if you need further info and I'll also reply privately further once I get guidance on additional financial opportunities from the school.

That's prolly a valid point - except the same criticism being voiced here was voiced at the panel last year as well as at orientation in 2009. At the former by both current students and administration and the latter by administration. This is not something which is: A. Being hidden B. Unacknowledged I repeat - the likelihood every student will get every single class they want their first term is not high - it's dependent on the class and the rank (graduation date) of the student. This is not something unique to Korbel, but also quite common at most other schools. There was a long report on NPR today about these same problems in the UC system too. I attended a prestigious undergraduate program in New York City and I didn't get every class I wanted every term either. With the increase in graduate applications this year at Korbel (40%) as well as other top-ranked schools this is not something unique at our school. The school's administration will work with students who feel they're being shut out of popular classes, that's one thing I know for sure because this term, my second at Korbel, I got every class I wanted after working with Student Services to make sure that happened.

Hi "Aunuwyn," As I've stated before I'm a full-time student at Korbel. I believe all my answers to this point have been ethical and honest in an attempt to provide a student's perspective on the school and the admissions process. It's unfortunate that you consider answering a poster's questions on Korbel's language requirements for graduation as presenting "a candy glazed picture." I'm not sure if you're aware of this but most ASPIA schools have a language requirement. Georgetown does not - but otherwise most other schools do, some require it before graduation while others, as in the case of Korbel, require it before a degree is rewarded. Again, I urge all admitted students to attend the Discover Korbel event in April where you'll be given a chance to speak with students whose names to which you'll be privy, face-to-face, without staff or administration present. Feel free to ask any of the questions "Aunuwyn" has posed here - the students on the panel, which may include myself, are given complete freedom to answer all questions as honestly and clearly as possible. Thanks again everyone. If you have any further questions please feel free to post or PM me.

Foreign language experience is required for most Korbel MA programs - except the Homeland Security degree. Students aren't required to have a language upon admission but they are required to either pass a language test which shows mastery of at least two years of college level instruction, or to achieve intermediate level through an immersion program like the one offered at Middlebury. If a student majored in an undergraduate language program their language requirement is already filled using that information. So long answer short - a foreign language isn't required for admission (however it's strongly suggested you have one before starting) but it is required for graduation.

It's important that I acknowledge the concerns of students who don't receive their 1st choice classes - this does happen and to the school's credit the incoming class, of which I am a part, was specifically warned about this at the Discover Korbel event in April 2009 as well as during orientation in September 2009. Personally I have known both law and graduate students not at Korbel who were forced to enter lotteries in order to be able to chose classes - and sometimes didn't get the ones they wanted for over a year. So I didn't regard this as that unusual. However I understand for some this is a major issue and I wanted to describe some of the steps Korbel is taking to alleviate the situation - some are long-term and some a short-term. One of the things that sets Korbel apart is the personal attention paid to individual students. Having attended a large east coast school with 29,000 students I can tell you it makes a difference to be able to walk into the office of the Director of Student Services and ask for your registration time to be changed so you would have a better chance of registering early - because last time you were on the bottom of the list - and she says yes. Or to receive personal help from staff in working through waitlists - I've seen these things happen. And it's also important to note the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in adding additional classes - this takes an enormous amount of coordination. Professors must be located who are top-tier in their subject with along record of accomplishments and publications - this can't be done on a dime. Classes are rarely canceled except for extenuating circumstances and the past two terms we had a professor out who was extremely ill, so filling that spot wasn't easy. The school is a great school, it didn't receive a top-10 ranking because it wasn't. But nothing is perfect and the concerns expressed here have been passed to the administration who are taking note of what the students said so hopefully the problems described will be of far less concern to the class entering in Fall 2010 than they were to some this year.

It's unfortunate "Aunuwyn" has not had the great experience at Korbel that myself and other 1st year students have had. I can say with authority, being a 1st year student in the most popular concentration at the Josef Korbel School, that I have never been given the advice to "find courses in other graduate colleges on campus." I also got all the courses I wanted and which were required by my concentration in both my 1st and 2nd terms. Anyone with additional questions should feel free to ask the admissions office or any of the students at the Discover Korbel event in April about their experiences. It's important to note that the student panels at the Discover Korbel event will take place with only prospective students and current students present, no faculty or staff will be in the room during this time. The reason for this is to encourage total honesty and transparency and allow both prospectives and current students to have an open conversation. I urge everyone to take advantage of this event and also to PM me if you have any questions. Thanks again for reading.

Hi, Please excuse the tardiness of this reply. We were on break until the 4th and I've been occupied with the first week of school. If you still need an answer to your question please e-mail me directly and I promise I'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Hey Everyone, I wanted to thank you all for the many private messages you've sent and I hope I answered all of your questions. I also wanted to let everyone know who is applying or has already submitted their applications to the Josef Korbel School of International Studies that applications are up considerably over last year. As such admission is increasingly competitive and we urge everyone to submit their applications as soon as possible. Again - PM me if you have any questions. Have a wonderful holiday season!!