swimchris111

I am applying to Master's programs at: Harvard Columbia NYU Hopkins SOAS GW Chicago Maybe AUC Low GPA, solid GRE scores, great letters of recommendations (harvard professors), hopefully a great SOP. Its really hard to gauge how selective these programs are specifically as well as more broadly. I specifically didnt apply to schools that seemed to place more emphasis on GPA like the state schools (particularly UT) and Georgetown.

Hello Grad Cafe: Grad school admissions information for Middle East Studies programs are proving really difficult to come by, I am planning on applying this January for Fall 2015. My story is pretty different, which is making it even more difficult. I graduated with a 2.8 gpa (anxiety issues that have now been resolved) from a top 50 university back in 2010 with a degree in political science and a fair amount of coursework in Middle East related classes. I have been working at Harvard, where I will have taken 7 graduate classes (9 by end of spring) in Faculty of Arts and Science/Kennedy School related to the Middle East with a 3.5 GPA, including completion of Intermediate Arabic (4 semesters total) by the time I apply. My old GRE expired so I will need to retake, but last time I got a 780 in Math, 650 in Verbal, and a 4.5 in writing (I know the test has changed a lot since then). Programs that I am considering applying to include: Harvard, Chicago, Columbia, GW, Georgetown, Hopkins, NYU, Washington, and maybe George Mason. Do we think these schools are out of the realm of possiblity? Will I immediately be rejected due to low undergrad GPA? Are admissions standards significantly relaxed for MA programs? Thanks for all of your insight!

Hello Grad Cafe: Grad school admissions information for Middle East Studies programs are proving really difficult to come by, I am planning on applying this January for Fall 2015. My story is pretty different, which is making it even more difficult. I graduated with a 2.8 gpa (anxiety issues that have now been resolved) from a top 50 university back in 2010 with a degree in political science and a fair amount of coursework in Middle East related classes. I have been working at Harvard, where I will have taken 7 graduate classes (9 by end of spring) in Faculty of Arts and Science/Kennedy School related to the Middle East with a 3.5 GPA, including completion of Intermediate Arabic (4 semesters total) by the time I apply. My old GRE expired so I will need to retake, but last time I got a 780 in Math, 650 in Verbal, and a 4.5 in writing (I know the test has changed a lot since then). Programs that I am considering applying to include: Harvard, Chicago, Columbia, GW, Georgetown, Hopkins, NYU, Washington, and maybe George Mason. Do we think these schools are out of the realm of possiblity? Will I immediately be rejected due to low undergrad GPA? Are admissions standards significantly relaxed for MA programs? Thanks for all of your insight!