Steve

For anyone interested, HNC is doing an online information session tomorrow at noon (US EST). I'm on their email list which is how I found out, but I imagine the link is on their admission blog as well. No registration as far as I can tell, just click the link at the established time.

Sorry everyone, some of the disagreement here is because I didn't use the term "forum" correctly. Yes, school-specific threads should be more than sufficient.

Hmm, I see your point. I think some schools' applications (like SAIS) can be so complex depending on what specific program one is applying to that a dedicated forum might make sense. Plus it might be good if there are some past applicants who are now attending these schools who can give feedback, as occasionally happens on here. Otherwise, it seems that school-specific threads would be more useful after people start hearing back from schools if they want to "meet" future classmates before starting school, etc. But I guess we can just keep an eye out because people are bound to post some school-specific threads anyhow. Thanks for the input.

Yes, it's about that time. There's already an HKS thread up and sort of one for Sciences-Po, but it might be worth setting them up for WWS, SIPA, Fletcher, SAIS, Georgetown, GW, and so on... Anybody second?

Hey all, I'll most likely be applying for the MPP program, though I might be able to apply to the MPA since I'm 6 years out from my BA at this point. In any event, I want to do IGS, with a focus on China/East Asia. I know a couple people who have gone to HKS and I can say they both had 2-3 years work experience before applying. I don't know their grades, GRE, etc, but I assume they were pretty good. Some info about myself: my undergrad GPA was a 3.5 from a top 50 US university with majors in history and international studies and my grades in grad school have thankfully been better. My original GRE scores are out of date, but I'll be happy to get to the 70th percentile on the Math section when I retake next month. I'm working on a PhD in History with a focus on China and this has been the bulk of my post-undergrad career. I lived in China last year and have pretty good language skills, so this is my strongest selling point. I really want to go to HKS, in part because I've heard good things about it from my friends, but I'll also be applying to WWS, SIPA, probably Georgetown, and maybe SAIS and Fletcher. I would like to second what Namash said above. Everyone I've talked to says that getting in seems to be partially about your background, and partially about your ability to make a case for yourself. I don't think any of these schools have some kind of algorithm that computes your GPA, GRE, etc. and this determines your fate. I believe them when they say they consider every application thoroughly (as long as there are no glaring typos or other oddities). Especially if you have a masters degree and/or work experience, no one is going to care about the grades you got when you were 18 years old. Good luck everyone. Let's stay in touch and hopefully we'll see each other next year.

You should probably look at the "Am I competitive" mega-thread. Everyone I've talked to gives you the usual speil about how it's only one factor, and it's true. I'm kind of in a similar boat, but felt reassured after talking to admission people from various schools that work experience and other factors can offset a poor Quant score. Your grades in econ and this stats course should help allay their concerns. I've been through a few info sessions recently and was pleasantly surprised to find that even top programs middle 80% included people with GRE Quant scores in the high 40s low 50s percentiles.

I think it is fairly well respected by those who know about it - I think is has the best rep in the US of all the Canadian Universities by far. In New England at least, I would imagine that most in academia know and think highly of McGill.

Still waiting...

I got in there for History PhD. I really loved it when I visited. I was able to talk to some grad students, it seems like about half of entering students get money while the rest do not. But tuition is cheap, especially if you are n in-state resident. Furthermore, some of the students I talked to said that a part-time job provides enough money for school and living, and that CUNYis good at connecting you to jobs related to your field (i.e. archives). After the first year, I think most students teach within th CUNY system, which seems to cover expenses. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to choose a program I liked less but which has more money :cry:

Hey Kate, Glad to see a fellow Clevelander. No, I haven't heard a thing since they confirmed that my application was complete about 4 months ago! I was thinking about calling. You would hope that someone wouldn't be yanked from a waiting list for asking about their status, and I don't think that would actually ever happen, but its just unbelieveable that hundreds of people are waiting on OSU, many of whom have to make decisions by April 15 and need time to consider if they do get in, and they are taking this long to respond! It seems like things get sent out often on Fridays, so I'm hoping that OSU and a couple other schools I am waiting to hear from finally got their shit together; seeing as its almost April already. Then again, yesterday was Good Friday, so most universities were probably closed! :evil:

With regards to the New School, they aren't known for being generous with money. The problem, at least for the New School for Social Research, is that you can't apply directly to the PhD program but have to go for a MA first. If you already have an MA form another school, then you can apply directly to the PhD, but I think they still aren't very good about money

ksgrad - I haven't gotten anything either, it may be a good sign... Good luck!

Please dont get the impression that Case is in the ghetto. It abuts a couple of poor neighborhoods that are inhabited mostly by friendly and perfectly law-abiding people. Travelingartmuse is right about Little Italy. I would say its probably the best place to live for the price, proximity to Case, and neighborhood feel. I lived in Little Italy for a year and a half and parking wasn't and issue. There are resident passes for like $10/year, or you could take your chances that you'll get ticketed the few times a year they check. Also, many apartments come with parking spots. Parking at Case is a little harder, but there are few tricks of the trade. Not sure about parking at Cleveland Clinic, but they have a veritable empire on the east side of Cleveland that is constantly expanding; I'm sure they have plenty of parking lots/garages.

I mostly attended the open house for info on housing, health insurance, etc. and to meet with faculty and students. I was admitted to the MA program last year, but decided not to attend for financial reasons; so I am pretty well acquainted with the program by this point. There are a few profs I am interested in working with there in modern European history (Binion, in particular), but I really liked the openness and approach of the program as a whole. I'm not really sure how the process of being assigned an advisor works there. I think the program director might just advise everyone (???) Let me know if you have any other questions, and definitely let me know if you end up there.

Heard back from CUNY today, accepted too; but no word on stiped (biggest concern there)!!???

to get an acceptance? Seems like March 15 is the final deadline at most places. Still waiting to hear from OSU, NYU,and CUNY. I'm guessing these are rejections now (although CUNY may be a different case)? BTW, anyone accepted/enrolling at CUNY Graduate Center? I changed my mind so many times when trying to decide whether to apply here or not - the program is difficult to gauge.

Well I hope you get in, all my interactions with the department have been very encouraging.

Someone mentioned SAD (seasonal affectiveness disorder). If you are not from the east coast, be warned that the sun goes down at a ludicrous hour in the wintertime. I moved to Boston in September and was shocked. On the other hand, I have gotten used to it and now that winter is almost over, I am a bit nostalgic about the dark, wintry nights (Boston has a strange aura that just seems to fit with that type of weather).

Hey everyone, thought I'd chime in here. I am a Cleveland native and recent Case grad (BA). It seems like the three most common concerns are 1) places to live/ cost of living: - Cleveland is cheap as hell. I would suggest Little Italy - its about 5 minutes from campus and you can find a decent apt for $400-500. If you are looking for something a little nicer, check out Cleveland Heights right at the top of the Cornell Rd. hill. If you have a car, you could really live anywhere in Cleveland/University Heights. Coventry isn't far and Shaker Square is probably 10 minutes by car. 2) safety/ transport - - You will probably want a car, just to get around at night (I would NOT suggest walking between Case and Cleveland Clinic at night). Public transporatation is okay, but gets a little sketchy at night. Luckily, parking is free with many apts, and street parking is easy and cheap. East Cleveland and other areas around CWRU aren't the greatest, but as long as you are smart, there's nothing to worry about. I thought living in such close proximity to several poor neighborhoods enhanced my college experience by keeping a sense of reality about things, but that's jsut my opinion. It might be a little intimidating if you are from a small town though. Far more intimidating is the weather. Nothing like the icy breath of Satan blowing off Lake Erie on a chilly winter's day in Cleveland. 3) entertainment - The arts, especially around CWRU, are unrivaled. If you end up at Case, go to the Orchestra, at least once a month! I didn't even like classical music when I first went there, and I loved the orchestra each time I went. Also, the art museum should be opening up again soon at twice its pre-renovation size. Night life is a little lacking, but not completely absent. Coventry has the Grog Shop (concert-venue) and the Wine Cave, right next door to each other. I hear the university is trying to get more bars, etc. on Euclid Ave. to develop a "college town" of sorts. Cleveland itself has a lot of great neighborhoods. A lot of the people at Case like to bitch that there's nothing to do in Cleveland, but they never made any effort to explore the city. Hope this helps, If you have any other questions, let me know!

Might be heded there for history, did you go to the GSAS open house?

Any news? BTW, any other Ohio natives here?