cupofnimbus

What is the group's sense about LORs? I'm 5 years out from my Master's program, 8 years out of my undergrad, and have had a heavily research-oriented career. I am applying to primarily policy-oriented programs. I have a strong reference from my graduate program, but due to the structure of the school (dozens of faculty, many adjuncts or visiting professors), never had the chance to build up strong working relationships with any other faculty. I can seek out another reference there, but it won't be as strong as the other. Would programs look down on a LOR from an undergraduate professor (who personally and academically mentored me, for whom I did undergrad TAships, is extremely familiar with my research, work habits, and whom I have stayed in contact with) I haven't had a class with in 8 years? Or should I ask for another professional reference who can speak to my more recent research?

Reviving this topic a little bit for my own purposes. I'll be retaking the GRE in the next month or two, and really need to beef up my quant scores (verbal was great). Are there any recommendations for study programs? Is it worth the couple hundred to invest in a tutor or study course, or are there web resources that would work as well on my schedule?

This is exactly the reason I didn't reach out to anyone last year. On one hand, it's good to hear that my instincts were correct, but on the other, if this board is any indication, it's common enough. Thanks!

What's the conventional wisdom on reaching out to POIs? Should I come armed with questions about the program, about their research, and a little bit of information about myself as a potential applicant? I didn't speak to any at all last year, and I'm not sure how much that helped or hurt.

Oh goodness, I guess it's already that time again. I'm still working out if I'm going to participate in the 2014-15 cycle, though I'll be making a decision in the next few weeks, before I start reaching out to my LORs (I've met with several of them since the 2013-14 cycle ended for me in March). Hopefully together we'll be able to figure out if I can strengthen my application! I welcome feedback and suggestions and the positive environment I found here last cycle. A bit about me: I'm interested in post-conflict policy addressing the reintegration and civic participation of ex-combatants. I have an MPP and experience working with this issue in the international context, but have also been lucky enough to work with returning vets in the US, as well (strictly in a policy-research capacity, though). I'm pretty sure my interests fall somewhere in the comparative/IR camp, though with an obvious policy slant, given my history, and some American and a heck of a lot of methods in there, too. I'm also planning to adapt the framing of my research question by the areas of strength in the programs I apply to. I'm looking at a slightly different list of schools this year, since I worked out some better programs to apply to after I'd finished applying last cycle. My grades from my time in school are just okay (I'm seriously impressed by all you folks!), and while my GRE scores are respectable, there's plenty of room for improvement. So, best of luck to everyone this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all around the boards.

Last rejection from Maryland came this morning. No surprises, but that closes out my cycle. Can't say I'll totally disappear, since I'm already planning for next cycle, but I'll be taking a couple of weeks to rest off the emotions from this one. Huge, huge congratulations to everyone with good news this time around, and best of luck in the fall! And thank you to all of you, for being such a great support group during this process.

Hey, it's way more diplomatic than a wide majority of internet content! And I think you're right, which I didn't communicate very well! Congrats on your outcomes this cycle!

I get it. Every time I see posts like that, I try to think that people are probably stinging from the rejection and trying to rationalize their feelings and confusion about the process. But I definitely get that it stings when someone puts down a program that someone else might be really excited about, and it's not a very nice thing to say. (The process is starting to get to everyone, I think.)

I think your chances of finding work in think tanks after either program are good, especially with networking and hard work. It's not easy to give strict probabilities, because applying to jobs is even shiftier than applying to PhDs. At least with PhD applications, you can sort of guess by GRE/GPA/etc whether you're likely to get in somewhere. Not so with jobs, since it's not always clear what an employer wants the most. (I once landed a job not because of my research experience with the subject, or my technical research, but because I had experience doing a very specific administrative/organizational task, and because I'd worked with the military before.) If you can demonstrate to an employer that you have the skills and aptitude for what they want, and if the programs you're evaluating can give you the skills you need to do that, then I think you stand a good chance of getting a job somewhere, even if it's not somewhere like RAND right off the bat. FWIW, and knowing it may not help your decision-making because I don't know all the details, I've known several people out of LSE who have been extraordinarily successful in the think-tank circuit.

If you're a US citizen, I'd check the programs affiliated with Peace Corps. It's not the same as teaching, but I believe the structure is very similar. The School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason is one such program, IIRC.

You may not get a ton of feedback--but being at APSA means you can go to panels and posters and network that way, too. If you're going on the market this fall, sign up for the interview service. They're not really formal interviews, but still a bit better than Skype interviews.

Penn rejects are up on ApplyWeb!

Publications help a lot. I assume that with your background in international law, you'll be doing something similar with a PhD? Aside from the GRE scores, write a banging SOP and provide a good writing sample and let it be what it'll be.

Good heavens, no. You hardly know me at all, and only through some words and a ducky avatar on the internet, but please let me assure you that no matter how bad things seem, you are intelligent and hard working and you have a great deal more to live for than a graduate acceptance in a single year. I have seen my own version of rock bottom and, trite as it may be, it really does get better. Don't forget that.

Not me, but this post on the board: University Of Pennsylvania Political Science, PhD (F14) Rejected via Phone on 11 Mar 2014 ♦ A 11 Mar 2014 Saw results here from 3/4, called number on the website, woman who answered checked the list and said she was sorry but I'm not on it, & should be "receiving an email shortly". Expected result but the lack of notification very unprofessional. Guess it doesn't matter if rejecteds are mad, tho.

RE: Penn phone call rejection on the board and all "you will hear shortly" messages from programs, I truly wish that "shortly" had a standard meaning.

I think there were quite a few American acceptances in that batch, so I'm sure there are perfectly good reasons to hang onto the rejects. Just the waiting!

Thanks! I've been banking on a reject from Maryland because of the big round of acceptances a couple weeks ago (historically, it looks like rejections and wait lists go out together and a few weeks after accepts), so I'm not too heartbroken. Just, you know, waiting for the official word so I can clean up this cycle. Comparative/IR (depending on where the school likes to put their conflict people), with some side servings of policy, methods, and a garnish of everything else for good measure.

Good to know! (I'm waiting on UMD.)

Congratulations! Since I just saw your last post in the thread was expressing concern about hearing nothing, this is such great news!

I didn't even know SPP did full funding for PhD students! Edited: Also, duh, huge congratulations!

It's not very new or revolutionary, but if you're a comparative or IR person, I think Anderson's Imagined Communities should be required reading. It was for me as an undergraduate.

This is what's keeping me from applying to the War Studies PhD at Kings College London--funding isn't there, and I'm not sure my time isn't better spent on doing other things with my application (studying and retaking GRE, etc). I think taking a little time at this point will be good for all of us. Get this cycle out of the system, even if preparing for the next one. I'm not going to start rewriting my SOP tomorrow, but I can start making connections in the next couple of months with POIs (because that's one thing I didn't do this time, out of concern for their schedule). But for now, take a few days, or a few weeks, clear out your head, and get in the right place so you know what it is going to be right for you

Now, the dumb questions: How do you maneuver that without connections to academic institutions? Without affiliation to a university, what stigma is attached to your work? Can you get in to present at a conference with it? I'm long past presenting at things like NCUR, and without graduate student status, how likely is it that I can compete with current students/PhD-holding researchers to present research? I'm not even thinking much of publication, that seems like a difficult wish to grant unless it's co-authored with someone else.

On the research bit: how do you recommend going about this if you aren't in an academic setting at present? Do I just... write research with no particular end in mind? The GRE thing is my big goal this year, though it will be really nice to bang out some research that demonstrates I have an idea of what's what.