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Sovetskaya

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Everything posted by Sovetskaya

  1. I was accepted to one decent school in DC for Fall of 2009. I wanted to apply to a few more schools for 2010, asked if I could "defer" and they said no. I reapplied the next year and got into same DCs school unfunded MA. They will likely not accept you. I had my lawyer brother draft the letter explaining why I was going to work and why I will be better prepared when I reapply to enter the PhD program. I had a good chat with my PA but I think they knew I wasn't jazzed on their program (otherwise I would have taken the offer). I gambled the next year and I did get better offers, but phew, it was a gamble. My recommendation: if the advisors are good, and the funding is good, take it. You can always transfer after your MA.
  2. Sorry I overshot the figures, but ultimately there are several schools that offer funded MAs (partial or full). In fact, I was seriously considering a funded MA from a top 10 program, but I received an offer for a PhD. I'm sure GW is a great fit for some, and if that's the case, more power to you. I just think it'd be worth exploring other MA options (provided you have a plan B for the year).
  3. Is that for free-standing MAs? If not, this is a joke. Take some of that undergraduate tuition you guys make bank on and put it towards your graduate students. There are some great faculty at GW but this is ridiculous. I hope you guys think really hard about taking this MA unless you have cash to burn. It seems like 120K+ in debt is not worth it.
  4. I was admitted to 3 schools (one a Masters, though).... Area Studies just DID NOT have any spots! But we WILL get jobs at the end of this. I am fluent in 1 Middle East Language, and I have about 2.5 years of Arabic. I heard from one particularly big name at Columbia that they really want people who have lived/worked/studied in the ME (in addition to all the other stuff).
  5. Quite possible -- but, GW admitted me VERY late in the game, after the 4-15 deadline (I d only applied to 3 schools straight out of undergrad, I applied to GW at the very last minute, was accepted to GW and MAPSS funded but decided to reapply to more schools this year). I thought they might be a bit angry but honestly, this is part of the admissions game. I thought I was crazy for turning down a fully funded offer (even if it doesn't begin to cover cost of living in DC) but now I'm glad I did, as I was (miraculously) admitted to a fully funded phd at a better school (a large, well known state school). My research interests did change significantly, and I think that's what made me more competitive this year. I spent a lot of time reading about my region(s) and figuring out what needed to be done, and what was marketable. My grades, GREs, LOR, and languages stayed the same. PhD programs are crapshoots, bottom line. Some times they'll have a spot for you, sometimes they don't. I highly recommend attending a University that gave you at least some funding. If not, don't waste your money. Work, make at least some money, travel, and reapply. Yes, things will be bad next year, but not bad enough to go into debt. And DO apply to schools that are less well known... a PhD from Harvard will NOT guarantee you a job. This application process has been by far the most bizarre experience of my life. I've never doubted my self-worth more in my entire life. I project way too much of myself into my scholarly endeavors. I need to take up yoga.
  6. Well, I was accepted by GW last year (didn't take it to reapply) and my offer was $18k/year, plus $1000 towards health insurance. And now, just an MA. Wow. I am likely to take another offer so hopefully if i did receive funding it will kick back to you guys.
  7. I'm curious to hear about funding also. I wonder if they accepted anyone to their phd? This seems totally bizarre.
  8. Sovetskaya

    GW History

    So, what is going on at GW? I applied to the phd and was intead given a congratulatory letter telling me I was admitted to their MA? Was anyone accepted to the phd? Anyone have answers? According to the CCAS administrator, this is a terminal MA. Thanks, but no thanks.
  9. I would take the offer. If you find out after the first two years that you cannot work with this adviser or anyone else in the department, take your paid-for MA and reapply elsewhere for a phd. The funding situation is not going to get better next year, and at least this way you don't go mountains into debt for a history phd.
  10. I've been accepted off of a waitlist, and while I don't know where my spot was, I will tell you that after I received the e-mail, I immediately 1) Responded to the e-mail with an enthusiastic "yes, please keep me on the waitlist, this is my first choice, I will notify you if I receive any better offers" 2) Wrote the same thing to my POC / PA, stressed my enthusiasm for the program/department. I was admitted from the waitlist, and the department told me it would match all other financial offers. Obviously, I was not there first choice candidate, or perhaps not their priority...but I eventually made the cut and the department returned my patience with a solid financial package. Stay enthusiastic, stay in touch, and best of luck!
  11. Sovetskaya

    History 2010

    Good to hear some intellectual historians out there! I LOVE intellectual history, especially American, and will likely include it in my own graduate work. At the end of the day, it's all just cultural history anyway.
  12. This does not seem to make sense -- even if they only have one spot, wouldn't they accept more than one? three maybe? What if the Chosen One prefers a different Ivy?
  13. Sovetskaya

    History 2010

    I heard from UW last week (Feb. 12) -- accepted with funding. They said they would be admitting people this week... I'm doing Russia and the Modern Middle East, for what it's worth.
  14. Ohhhh, crappy. I think that someone should work up the courage to call again and ask about their specific applications. For what it's worth, I met with potential advisers in the Fall and the cohort will be SMALL. Also, the East Coast should be a bit behind because of the snow.... Case in point: someone call. I can't handle a rejection today.
  15. I sure hope it's true. Honestly, I would question anyone who cares about basic geometry and its ability to determine performance in graduate school.
  16. Not necessarily. It depends on the department. You can study Russian history with the Europeanists, or you can study Russian history with the Russian/Eurasionists, or you can study Russian history with a comparative Cold War group. Possibilities are endless. Depends on the objective of the department and their approach. Sometimes you will compete against the "Europeanists," but often you will not. This used to (and still is in some departments) be the case with Middle East Studies. Now there are plenty of approaches and diverse departments that cover all basis and one does not have to become an "Orientalist" or study under the Orientalists to work on the ME.
  17. You definitely sound like you're in good shape! I'm applying to similar programs, although I am not concentrating on Romania and am instead doing Central Asia and the Middle East. My own issue seems to be that I am not a Sovietologist by training, my background is more in cultural and social history. I hope that this will make me methodologically interesting, but who knows. At this point I'm preparing for the worst.
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