SpS4

What schools did you apply for? You mention that you didn't apply to any safety schools, but I wonder if all your schools were top ranked programs? In any case, I can't imagine anyone "begging" their way into a program. Best chances are for you to get some feedback from the AdComs as to what you can do to improve your application. Keeping in mind that it was a tough year for admissions, are you absolutely sure that you're out at every program you applied to? Some schools don't release decisions all at once, so unless you've received a rejection letter there might still be a possibility to hear good news..

Congrats on your acceptances! The strategic studies program at SAIS is run by a neocon, which I've heard to be a make or break factor for applicants considering the program. I've heard really good things about Georgetown's security program, though I'd expect there to be more military types/mid-level professionals in there program.

Definitely a good sign from the sounds of it..I found out I was admitted to a grad program by logging into my account. Saw two new links at the bottom of the page (stating: Accept Offer of Admission/Decline Offer of Admission) so I checked with the school and they confirmed my acceptance (this was a few days before I received an official e-mail/letter confirming the acceptance). I can't imagine your log-in page being updated with such a clear indication of an acceptance if they didn't intend to make the offer. Best wishes! Hope you find out soon

Thanks Natalou, I received that e-mail as well. Hopefully the next e-mail they send out will be admission decisions!

Looking at the "Results Search" page, it seems that the earliest an applicant was notified of admission decisions (for Elliott) was March 19. Also, it seems that last year they sent out e-mails around March 4th that an applicant was "likely to be accepted and receive partial fellowship/funding...has anyone received an e-mail like this??

Congrats on your acceptances! Do you know where you're going yet?

I'm graduating this spring from a state university and have applied to 3 MA programs (in IR), so will be straight out of undergrad if I begin any program this fall. So far, I've been admitted to the Korbel School (Denver) with funding. I can't imagine having gotten into this program without having had any relevant work experience -- I've completed internships with World Affairs Council, Afghanistan Embassy, Hudson Institute, State Department and U.S. Senator's office. But I guess it really comes down to what kind of program you're applying to and what kind of undergrad experiences (both academic and professional) you have to offer? Every program will consider straight-out-of-undergrad applicants if they seem well-rounded/have enough to contribute to the program (as professionals with several years of work experience do).

I also received e-mail notification on the 15th for International Security. Congrats to everyone

Program Applied To: MA Schools Applied To: Korbel School (Denver), Elliott School of International Affairs (GWU), The Fletcher School (Tufts) Schools Admitted To: Korbel School ($15k/per) Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: Elliott, Fletcher Undergraduate institution: Public university Undergraduate GPA: 3.90 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 4.0 Undergraduate Major: International Studies w/ a concentration on the Middle East GRE Quantitative Score: 680 GRE Verbal Score: 560 (ouch!) GRE AW Score: 5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): Zero Years of Work Experience: About a year and a half combined full-time work Describe Relevant Work Experience: Internships: World Affairs Council of Oregon, The Embassy of Afghanistan in DC, Hudson Institute (DC), U.S. Department of State, U.S. Senator's state office + 2-year internship at a bank (unrelated to field of study) Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Obviously I can't offer an objective description here, but I think they were fairly strong. I spent a lot of time carefully researching the programs of interests, faculties, research opportunities et cetera and did my best to tie these potential opportunities with my undergrad experiences. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think that I had strong LORs, but they weren't anything above and beyond -- I have a couple from faculty that know me/my academic and research interests pretty well and a couple from previous supervisors from internships. Other: Studied language skills: 5 years of French (w/ an internationally-recognized certificate) and about 3 years of Farsi. I know that the weakest parts of my application are my GRE scores and my lack of study abroad experience. Also, @ Elliott I applied for the Security Policy Studies program, not Int'l Affairs. Good luck everyone!!!

I had the same concerns as you and called Admissions last Thursday -- the person I spoke with told me that they had received so many applications this year that the admissions office is essentially "behind schedule." So instead of getting all admission decisions out by early Feb. for those who applied by the priority deadline, they expect it to take until the end of the month (again, for those who applied by Jan. 15). Hope this helps with the waiting...it definitely helped me since I thought I might be out since I didn't hear anything from them in "early Feb."

Thanks!

One last question: Does it matter if the links/buttons aren't active yet?

Thank you thank you SO much!!!!! I really appreciate you looking into that!!

Thanks so much, really appreciate it!

Any ideas what it might mean?

As you pointed out, it would definitely be a plus to have been published as an undergraduate but it's no way expected by grad schools. For most Masters programs, the emphasis will be on your GPA, GRE score, SOP, LORs and related experiences (i.e. internships, study abroad etc). It's difficult to say which "part" of one's application is most important..depends on the adcom itself and varies student to student. If your GPA is mediocre, having a strong and concise SOP can do wonders. Adcoms typically look at the application as a whole.

Hi there! I had a question regarding offers of admission to Korbel. I applied for Fall 2010 (by the priority deadline) and haven't yet heard anything via e-mail (apart from the e-mail notifying me that my application was being processed). I just logged onto the website to see if there was any update in the "Decision" section, but it continues to read NOT AVAILABLE (as it has since day one). However, at the bottom of the page, there are two buttons that read ACCEPT OFFER OF ADMISSION and DECLINE OFFER OF ADMISSION. Again, I understand that Korbel notifies accepted applicants via e-mail and I haven't received any e-mails from admissions. I'm reluctant to click on the ACCEPT button because I'm not sure what doing so would entail.. So I guess my question is whether it seems like I've been offered admission or not? Is it rare for this type of update (w/out changing the status on the Decision line, that is)?? Thanks in advance!

I've only been checking the online status for the applications that have specified a "Decision" section. Figure there's no point checking it otherwise, and I'd actually expect an e-mail notifying me of the decision before they updated the website... HOWEVER, I just checked one school's website and although the "Decision" line still reads "NOT AVAILABLE" (as it has read since the application was processed by the school), now at the bottom of the page there are two buttons: ACCEPT OFFER OF ADMISSION and REJECT OFFER OF ADMISSION. I'm trying not to get too excited because I haven't received an e-mail yet...but what does this mean?! I'm hesitant to click the "Accept" button because I'm not sure what will come of it (....still waiting to hear from other schools/this particular school I'm referring to is my back-up).