mmclean0260

It really depends on which program in Maxwell you are applying to.....MPAs tend to have higher scores and flashier profiles. As for the MAIRs, you seem like a great fit, I actually had no 'real' work experience coming in (one internship aboard with State and another at the OAS in DC). As long as you have a polished personal statement and good recs, I don’t see any reason you don’t get into the MAIR program at the very least....you would probably even get funding, I did.

I had pretty similar stats (520v, 530q, 3.5w, and 3.8gpa) and I got in.....however I'm doing the dual MAIR and MS in Public Relations program, so I'm not sure if acceptance stats are different for my program than say the dual MAIR/MPA program......I would give Nell a call in PAIA (Public Administration International Affairs) Department, she's always willing to answer questions and is super nice!

I Graduated from SU with a BA in IR in 2010 and will be returning for the Public Diplomacy Program (MA IR and MS PR) this summer. I also grew up in Manlius. The burbs of Syracuse are very nice (all my undegrad friends were floored when I brought them home haha they never thought Syracuse could be so nice haha) however it is a little more of a drive. When I transfered to SU from Penn State my junior year I lived at home my first semester and commuted in and it would take me about 20min with traffic, although once you get the hang of the back roads and if you get lucky wiith traffic and lights you can make it from manlius to campus in about 12mins (i've clocked it haha) If you want to live within walking distance to campus but dont want to be inundated with rowdy undergrads, I would suggest the wescott area (roosevelt, allen, end of euclid) but be careful about renting in this area and make sure you see the place first before signing anything, cause although there are really nice places in this area, you also come across some dishonest landlords that take advantage of out of towners. there are some nice apt complexes a little further off campus but are on free SU shuttle routes like; claredon heights, nob hill, vincent apts, and a handful of others. These are nice because they are cheaper then on campus and you get more space. However if you like walking to class and want to be in the thick of things (football/basketball games) then I would suggest staying on campus. Another option is downtown. If you have the extra cash and a car, I would highly reccomend the downtown area (Armory square, clinton square, franklin street, the lofts at willow). you would be close to all the night life of downtown and the city is really trying to upgrade it's image. There has been a huge expansion of really cool lofts in all of the old factory buildings (thanks rust belt haha).....I am looking into this option cause I got a full fellowship however it might not end up being in my price range.....this area is $700 min if anybody has any questions, feel free to private message me, im always happy to help! Good luck -Mike

Just got an email that I received the FLAS for Hindi!

Thanks DevDoc, it actually makes me feel slightly better that no one actually got the award and we're all alternates. Makes me feel like I still have a chance hahah. Well I hope we both end up getting it!

So I was named as an alternate for the FLAS, but the way they worded the email it seemed that funding wasn't secured (whole federal budget crisis and all). I am under the suspicion that they might not have given out any awards and are waiting on funding. Telling candidates they are alternates so they don't get their hopes up. Anyone else offered the FLAS and not just an alternate position?

Just got a rather blunt email from Pickering.... usually I hate those long "you're great and there was a lot of competition this year" emails, but they do dull the blow of rejection. Pickering's email seemed pretty cold.

yea I was a little upset about that as well. Im sure we'll get a "thanks, but no thanks" email on monday at some point. God I hope the FLAS comes through or Im screwed haha.

Have any straight IR or public diplomacy people found out about funding yet? Im not sure how many PD people are on this thread but just thought I would ask.....also, have many of you guys applied for the FLAS? and if so what language? I applied for hindi thanks!

hey amj6c, are you a MPA or a MAIR? also, if a MAIR, is the assistantship for the IR undergrad office? thanks! and congrats!

Thanks for the info....just a quick question. What did the test consist of (basics, I dont want you to get in trouble or anything). Is it like the FSOT or is it more of a test to gage your writing skills?

Same here Lets hope the pickering or the FLAS comes through.

I'll be on campus starting in July as well...orientation for the PD students is on July 5th. Im pumped to be back on campus.....did my undergrad at SU. Trust me you'll love Maxwell, its a great place!

I applied last year and in those spaces I just wrote a little blurb, and I got in.

Yea Im hoping to at least get an interview seeing as I am way better in person then on a test. I took the FSOE last year as a college senior and failed. Expected, but I think it was kind of a blessing because I signed up to take the test as political cone and I have come to realize that PD is defiantly the better choice for me. The crazy thing is that my Boren contact at IIE told me that as a Boren Fellow I have preferential gov't hiring and that I am able to bypass the FSOE, which is amazing me because I test horribly. Im just not sure how that works yet, like do I just go straight to the orals or do I have to submit an application or something? Im just not sure. But I really need to prepare a response for my low scores either way, seeing I get an interview hahaha I might be getting a little ahead of myself good luck to you man, and it will defiantly be interesting to see how things play out

Hey, Just wondering if anybody else is applying to the Rangel or the Pickering? I am applying to both and was just curious if anybody else on here was as well. Also, I have been having problems with the recommenders section of the Pickering application (my recommenders have not received anything and I have fully submitted the application) anyone else have this problem. I applied last year as well and didn't even get an interview for either. I was straight out of undergrad and have relatively low GREs (v520 q530). Since last year I have been accepted into Syracuse's duel-degree MAIR and MS in Public Relations program (Public Diplomacy). I deferred my matriculation until fall 2011 because I won a Boren Graduate Fellowship and am currently in Brazil enhancing my Portuguese at a local university and volunteering with a NGO in the favelas. This time around I highlighted my learning disability in language arts and being dyslexic in order to align with the Rangel and Pickering's mission to "incorporate less commonly represented minorities into the Foreign Service" . As a white male from a low income background, does anybody have any insights into my chances at either fellowship? GRE- v520 q530 w3.5 Undergrad GPA- 3.8 Internships- Summer internship with the State Dept at the consulate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a semester internship with the OAS in DC I am also a current David L. Boren (NSEP) Graduate Fellow in Rio de Janeiro and was a 2009/2010 Fulbright ETA finalist for Macau Last question..... Do you think Pickering and Rangel require the reporting of GRE scores because they want to make sure their applicants are competitive for grad programs? seeing that most applicants apply to grad school and these fellowships at the same time. Do you think my low GREs will not be looked at as closely because Im already in a program? Thanks and good luck!

Syracuse has the #1 MPA program in the country and a top 10 MAIR program. This summer the two programs are moving into the same office space to further integrate the two and to "internationalize the MPA program". About 20% of the incoming class already are dual MAIR/MPA students, I anticipate this to increase with this new push to internationalize the MPA program.

This question was brought up on the spread sheet but maybe the main board may have some insight. Are Macau and China funding/selection process connected in anyway or are they independent?

Did you email them directly and ask or was this a form email? thanks!

Hey, just looking at the new stats and was wondering what the percentages were for finalists compared to the number of grants? I seem to remember it being like 25% more finalist are recommended than there are grants available but I’m not sure, any insights?

Well thats depressing......Keondra, kick ass in the interview!

So this is a long shot, but I was looking through the spread sheet (thanks again Sally!) and one of the Macau finalist posted "4/2 I was told decisions were snail mailed today or yesterday".....in my excitement I called Fulbright and got Mr.Ackley's secretary (he's out on business today), she informed me that they still haven't even heard anything from Macau yet. Im not sure if she just wanted to get me off the phone or she wasn't allowed to tell me, but I was wondering if the person that posted that on the spread sheet could clarify? Did Mr.Ackley tell you this directly? Thanks!

I think it will depend where in Germany you are placed. I studied abroad for a semester in Freiburg (close to the Swiss and French borders) and it was a little pricey, but have heard bigger cities like Berlin are cheaper (go figure right, not sure if that's just bad intel). I'm hoping they provide you with housing, which would be huge because, in Freiburg at least, a flat in a good location was very expensive. I lived in university housing and had about $700 USD to work with each month and I had to really live frugally, but I was over there when the dollar first tanked (about two years ago now. Wow, didn't realize till now how long its been haha) so that might have had something to do with it.

Hey, I applied as well. Wasn't expecting to hear until mid to late April. Let me know if you hear anything different. Also, just wondering what other kind of candidates have applied to Pickering...Im going to post my stats, if you feel comfortable posting yours, awesome but if not don't worry about it. I am a graduating senior from Syracuse University, BA in International Relations and minor in Spanish. GPA-3.84 GRE- Verbal: 520 Math: 530 Writing: 3.5 (awful scores I know, Im sure they will be my downfall) I got accepted to Syracuse's Public Diplomacy program and rejected from SAIS and Gtown. (should we contact Pickering and let them know we we're accepted into a grad program?) I lived in Brazil for a year of HS and am fluent in Portuguese, also spent a year abroad in Europe in college. One semester on an EU studies program in Germany and one semester in Dublin on a peace and conflict studies program. This past summer I interned with State at the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro (this rocked and solidified my goal to be an FSO). Spent last semester in DC on my schools DC semester program, interned with the OAS under an ambassador. I thought my essays were solid (but after my Gtown and SAIS rejections Im not so sure) and I got two recommendations from current FSOs who used to be Pickering fellows. So thats my life in a nut shell, i hope I am competitive enough to get it because I def cannot afford grad school without it and it would be a huge helping becoming and FSO....but like you said, Im not going to hold my breath. -mike PS- Im white but very poor hahah....not sure if this matters but I think it did for the Rangel

Hey, Im a SU undergrad and also have been accepted into the PD program here. Since it is my only acceptance (prob for the best, I would have floundered in an econ heavy SAIS program) I will most likely end up here, depending on funding of course. I may defer if I end up getting Fulbright (I am an ETA finalist for Macau) but trying not to think about it. As for funding, from my understanding they will notify us by April 1......I think it takes a little longer because both Maxwell and Newhouse have to review students for GAships/funding, Newhouse is usually pretty slow with everything. Are you planing on coming to 'Cuse?