[How many schools are you applying to?]

I'm shooting for 6-8 as well. This is too big of an investment to go somewhere just for the sake of going somewhere, so these are only schools that I would be willing to attend and pay for (hopefully not sticker price).

[Practice GRE scores vs. real GRE scores]

Magoosh: 154-159Q, 160-165V

 

Actual: 161Q, 166V.

 

Can't believe I managed to crack 160 on the Quant, there are no words for how happy I was. Didn't do anything too radical study-wise, just plugged away for a few weeks to relearn all the math I had forgotten since high school.

[The 'Am I competitive' thread - READ ME BEFORE POSTING]

Schools: UCSD IR/PS MPIA, SAIS, Korbel, Yonsei (APSIA member; in case I want to keep my life in Korea going), Texas A&M (Bush School), token Ivy, open to suggestions (including schools abroad)!

 

Career Goals: Private sector analyst or working in a think tank (different paths, still sorting out what I'd like to pursue). I know I'd like to focus on the Pacific if at all possible.

  

Undergraduate Institution: Well-regarded state school
 

GPA: 3.48 (3.60 last 2 semesters)
 

Majors: International Relations (graduated with honors; had to write an undergrad thesis)

 

Poli Sci Coursework:  Micro, Macro, US Foreign Policy, Theories of IR, Asia in the Global Setting, Thesis on leadership transition in North Korea

 

Quant: Took up to Calculus in high school. In undergrad, just took micro and macro (received Bs in both).

GRE Score: 166V, 161Q. Projecting 4.5-5.0 on the writing (just took it yesterday).

Work Experience: 2.5 years abroad, teaching English in Korea.

 

Language Skills: Korean (intermediate), Chinese (was intermediate, very rusty. With some work could get it back up there.)

 

Overseas Experience (work, study, and teaching): I’ve traveled to Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, as well as lived in Korea and China (study abroad; Shanghai).

Statement of Purpose: Going to start this in the coming days.

 

Letters of Recommendation: Thesis supervisor, another professor, and a sure-to-be glowing letter from my supervisor at work.

 

Concern: My so-so GPA is going to do me in.

 

Thanks a lot!