killerbees

Good point! I forgot to mention that I'd already done some independent study and learned a fair amount of the alphabet before I began using RS. I was able to hit the ground running, so to speak. If I had been starting from scratch, especially with something like Mandarin, I think it would have been a different story. I was studying Thai, so I did have the tonal language but a much simpler (?) alphabet.

Same here. Haven't heard a thing and don't really expect to until sometime later in the summer, if at all.

Hi, I've used Rosetta off and on in the past, but not specifically for IR programs. I was living in a country and had picked up a fair amount of the language, but I really wanted to take my reading and writing to farther. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I learned a fair amount of grammar, too. With regard to preparing for IR programs, I think it might also depend on what kind of vocabulary (if any) they would prefer you to know. From my memory, most of the vocab I learned was along the lines of house, dog, and other basics. I should add, however, that I never even finished level 1 of the language I was studying (lazy, lazy) so there's not telling what might have been coming. It did seem like the grammar was becoming more and more complex though. All in all, I found RS helpful, and much cheaper than private language classes. Good luck!

I think my complete application and other materials (recommendation I was waiting on) were all in on the 9th of March. I received notification by regular old Pony Express mail on April 10, a good two weeks before I expected to hear anything.

My patience was rewarded today when I received an envelope from Georgetown containing a nice... rejection notice. Hahaha. Excellent.

Ha! "Proof-read"? Not sure what to do at this point. Earlier today, I had decided to email them and get it over with but now I think I may try to exercise a bit more patience. All signs seem to point to "NO" but I'd like to get the official notice. Apparently, there were some late acceptances last year so who knows? It makes it tough to get on with life, however, and doesn't leave much decision-making time.

Not sure if I remember this correctly or not, but... I think I remember reading something in Korbel's info about spending either a second year or a semester during your second year in DC. While you wouldn't have the benefit of being in DC for two years, you would still get some exposure to the city and an opportunity to intern while you studied. In addition, you could also intern or work in DC during the summer. Proximity to DC is helpful. That's why I applied to a load of DC schools and ended up passing on DU. In hindsight, I wish I had explored Korbel a bit more. Denver's a great city. DC is... interesting, but if I had to pick the more fun city, Denver would def. win. Good luck making your decision!

Still no letter. Next week I guess. I am starting to annoy the hell out of everyone I know, my family, my friends. Now I might as well annoy the hell out of perfect strangers on the internet as well.

^, ^^Thanks for your replies. I keep thinking today's Saturday for some reason anyway. There's still another day left for mail delivery... WTF, you know. Keep hope alive! Best of luck.

Well, it's April 2 and I still haven't heard anything from Georgetown. When I called last week, I was told that they were hoping to get all of their letters out by April 1, so I should hear something this week or early next week (I live just outside of DC). Is anybody else still waiting? Is there any chance in hell that I'll get in or even get wait-listed at this point? Due to the online chats for accepted students and other things of that nature, I'm not holding out much hope. Still... I am holding on to a minute shred, no matter how unlikely.

Eh, what the hell. Why not contact them?

Not really sure what to say. Did they give you any sort of timeline? If not, it may not hurt to contact them again.

Thanks for all the replies. I agree about the extra letter of rec... doesn't seem like it will do much good. I also agree that getting it from the Big Boss could look ridiculous. I just reeeeeally want to go to my first choice/dream school. I'll write them a nice short email tomorrow to let them know.

Hi, As you can see from my signature, I'm on the wait list at three schools. I've yet to be accepted anywhere. I would really, really prefer to get in to a school this year and wait to reapply for fall of 2011. With that in mind, are there any successful strategies for improving one's chances on the wait list? My supervisor has offered to write me a letter or even get one from the politician for whom we work. My supervisor's letter would be personal and detailed. The politician's, not so much. Would this sort of thing (though unsolicited by the school) help? Or would/could it actually work against me? If doing nothing and simply waiting is the best option, that's fine. I can do that. However, if it's simply a matter of getting another (really good) rec. or visiting the school, I'd happily do that as well. Many thanks, and good luck to all in similar positions. And for those of you who got accepted, congratulations. Now if you wouldn't mind finalizing those decisions . Cheers.

Well, congratulations. You seem to have done pretty well this year! What did you do in the interim that made such a difference?

GRE: about 1400 GPA: about 3.3-3.4 Undergrad: completely unrelated to IR (but 3.4 GPA in major) BG: last four years overseas (but not really working in an IR-related field) Rec: two great recs, one wildcard (never got to read it; prof. never sent it to me) I'm also a couple of years older than the average MSFS student. Good luck to everybody!

I'm still waiting, too. I live about ten miles away from DC. Shouldn't take that long for a letter to reach me. I applied to the School of Foreign Service for an MSFS with an International Relations and Security focus. Anybody else heard back from them? Good luck to everybody still waiting, btw! If they can put a man on the moon, surely I can get into grad school, too.

I also applied to GMU's School of Public Policy for F2010. I checked with the Admissions people and was told the same thing, within 6 weeks from the point at which the application is complete. I started mine last year (!) but never submitted it until recently. As I'm still waiting to hear back from Georgetown (not holding out much hope at this point) and I've been waitlisted at the other schools to which I applied, GMU represents the last, most realistic chance I have of getting in somewhere. My GPA is about 3.4, I've got a few years of overseas experience, and my GREs were good (nearly 1400), so I think I should be fine for GMU, but... I suppose there's always the chance that I won't get in there either. Chilling.

^Yup, I'm in the same boat. The way it's gone for me so far this year, I've gotten emails and letters on Mondays and Fridays. Nothing yesterday from Georgetown, so maybe it will be this Friday. Looking to actually get IN to a school at some point but these waiting list notices are getting deeper and deeper... I'm not sure what Georgetown's method is. Are they sending out notifications in waves (acceptances first, then wait list, then rejections) or are the waves mixed up? (I also live just outside of DC so it's not like the letter has far to go.)

Got my (small) envelope in the mail today. Wait list. Nice, extremely short letter from Director of Grad. Admissions. Does anybody have any idea how many people are on the wait list? It would be nice to know if I have some chance in hell of making it in off the list.

Still waiting to hear back from SIS. Definitely fighting the urge to email the person I met with in the admissions department a few months ago. Literally ran to the mailbox after I heard the mailman come today. I don't think I cared this much about undergrad admissions. I feel like a retard. I think once I get in somewhere (if? hopefully?) I won't be as stressed. At this point, I'm riding the waiting list wave at two schools.

Mine are on my ribs and upper arms. I had to be careful at my last job because if I didn't wear an undershirt the tattoos on my arms were visible through the shitty uniform I had to wear. It didn't really matter, but I would rather keep them under wraps just the same. I plan to get more in the future but for my intended line of work (politics or gov't work or whatever...), I think visible tatts on hands or forearms or neck would be a no-go. I'll save those for retirement.

Blarg. Waitlisted again. Does anybody know how GW works it's waiting list? Does it rank students or what? Thanks.

Hey, don't sweat it too much. One out of four is still good, and you might get in off the waiting list yet . I live just outside DC in Virginia and haven't heard back from Georgetown yet, one way or the other. Had a letter from SAIS waiting for me when I got home today... brief fantasy of an acceptance later extinguished when I realized (as I think I knew already anyhow) that it was just a hard copy of the waiting list email I got on Monday. WTF GT, just let me know.

Waitlisted, as well. Not the best news but it could obviously have been worse. BTW, I applied to the Southeast Asia program. Anybody else?