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DogsArePeopleToo

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  1. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from neur0cat in Living away from your spouse for grad school?   
    Just saw this topic, and since it applies to my situation, here's how we're handling:
    My significant other and I have been together about three years and have been long-distancing it for the most part. When I start grad program this fall, it will be intercontinental. It will not be easy, but we've made it thus far and will continue to do it in the future. There's no other way. She's got her own specialist physician training and I have mine. Our plan is to spend as many holidays together as we can and spend our vacations together as well, so that'll be a few times a year, hopefully.
    Obviously, it won't be easy or cheap. But it's easier than if we had children. Good luck to everyone who has to deal with this situation.
  2. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from DBear in Travel Ban   
    You've probably seen the news already, but the Trump administration has reassured the Canadian government that Canadian dual nationals from one of the seven countries will be allowed to enter the US. The British also took this up with the Trump admin and came up with this clarification, which is the same that the Canadians got. The only possible hang-up, according to the British:
    The only dual nationals who might have extra checks are those coming form one of the 7 countries themselves -- for example a UK-Libya dual national coming from Lybia to they US.
    So if Pakistan gets added to the list, it's reasonable that you can expect the same treatment dual Canadian nationals of these other seven countries get. So, no biggie. Unless Trump decides to add Pakistan and impose stricter rules on dual Pakistani-Canadian nationals. Then it's a biggie.
  3. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from sturdyelm in Hopes, Dreams, Guesses (2017 Gov. Affairs)   
    Applied: Duke Sanford, Georgetown McCourt, UMd College Park, Cornell SIPA (Fulbright applied me to these schools without much feedback from me)
    Dreams: I'm torn...CIPA/Sanford are good, but McCourt and UMd are located in/near DC.
    Hopes: That I get in. Anything is better than nothing. Hope springs eternal.
  4. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from AlbertaUndergrad in GRE actual test vs Mock tests   
    This is true. I used Magoosh and found the content, especially quant, to be very helpful. In the end, I was able to improve my quant by 4 points. That's not much, and I'd have liked it to be more, but the modest increase wasn't because Magoosh videos were bad; it was because I didn't do enough practice questions. So the bottomline is that while test prep material is important, equally - if not more - important is what you do with it.
  5. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to dagnabbit in GRE actual test vs Mock tests   
    Not sure if you saw it already, but there is a really extensive thread about mock tests vs. the real thing already:
    Might be useful! I think the consensus is that ETS' PowerPrep tests are the best predictors of your actual scores.
  6. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to GreenEyedTrombonist in I support international grad students   
    As a US citizen, I just want to say I hope this gets resolved soon. Our borders should never be closed to someone because of their race, religion, country of origin, etc. <3 to all of you international applicants who are dealing with this on top of the anxiety of waiting to hear back from programs and planning out your futures.
  7. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to Mr. Government in Program ranking vs university ranking   
    Just to stir the conversation a bit, I am currently enrolled in SPEA's MPA program. For starters, none of the students I have talked to, including myself, actually think that SPEA carries more weight than HKS or WWS. The MPA rankings are flawed to a degree because not only are they opinion based, but there is no standardized metric as to what constitutes an MPP/MPA degree. Most programs offer two separate degrees, an MPA (public administration) typically offered to mid-career professionals and an MPP (public policy). However, some programs such as SPEA and LBJ offer only one degree, an MPA, but it is public affairs rather than administration and students choose whether to focus on policy analysis or administration. Likewise, WWS calls their public policy degree an MPA. The confusion is compounded when incorporating IR, which is included in some schools' public affairs programs, whereas other schools like GW and Georgetown have separate public policy and IR schools. 
    Having said that, the rankings do carry a degree of weight in determining the quality of the program. While Indiana is a good but not elite public university, SPEA is without a doubt a top MPA program. The school attracts students from top undergraduates (Northwestern, Cornell, Notre Dame, Berkeley) and the faculty is as good as anywhere,  but whether that equates to top 10 or 15, who knows, and to be honest it doesn't really matter. These aren't law schools. I know people here who turned down Chicago and Northwestern's MPP/MPA programs because SPEA fit much more with their goals for a quarter of the debt they would have taken on from the more brand name schools. I personally had looked into the MPA programs at both Brown and UPenn and determined both were pretty crappy and provided zero reason to choose them over Indiana. It really comes down to personal goals, how the program fits into what you want to do, and if you can achieve it at an affordable price. 
    I will give Indiana praise in two specific areas, however. First of all, unlike many of the other policy schools discussed on these boards, SPEA is not a cash-cow program. I'm actually going to graduate with no debt and I didn't even receive a scholarship (I did work for several years before coming back to school though, so I had some money saved up). Second, the program offers a tremendous amount of flexibility to tailor your program to your personal goals. Many policy programs require a ton of core classes and little flexibility for electives, but SPEA lets you personalize almost everything, including independent studies with professors and courses in other departments. 
    So go with what works for you. I would argue that location isn't as big a deal as others are making it out to be. Plenty of SPEA students land internships and jobs in DC  (it has the largest public affairs alumni network), and don't have to deal with paying an extra $10k a year in rent while in school. I lived in DC for four years before going back to school, and I can tell you first hand that many non-brand name policy programs place people in DC (ex: Maryland, Texas A&M, Rutgers). Also keep in mind that these are programs designed for public/quasi-public positions, and going $100k+ in debt just to say you went to ___ is going to do more harm than good. Read through the forum here about how people took out massive loans for SAIS or SIPA and it's become a huge burden as they try to get their lives going post-grad, especially in an expensive city like DC. Keep in mind that these are professional schools, and you shouldn't even be applying to programs if you don't know what you want to do with the degree, so finding a program that suits you shouldn't be a hassle (given you have options). 
    There are only a handful of other highly ranked programs that would have provided me the same specific curriculum that I'm tailoring at SPEA, and they all would have left me with some debt. If I could have attended any program debt free that provided me the same specific curriculum, I probably would have gone elsewhere, but for my specific situation (career goals and financing) Indiana just worked. Having said all that, if you want to go into NGO IR or go the PhD route, the brand name schools will give you a noticeable leg up. I'm not, so it doesn't matter for me. 
  8. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from BellaAung in I support international grad students   
    Thank you for starting this thread and sending your support, @SarahBethSortino. We international students are going through a lot of uncertainty and there's nothing we can do about it - no amount of hard work, good grades or better scores can help. But solidarity helps! Thank you.
  9. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from stereopticons in I support international grad students   
    Thank you for starting this thread and sending your support, @SarahBethSortino. We international students are going through a lot of uncertainty and there's nothing we can do about it - no amount of hard work, good grades or better scores can help. But solidarity helps! Thank you.
  10. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from Amanda87 in I support international grad students   
    Thank you for starting this thread and sending your support, @SarahBethSortino. We international students are going through a lot of uncertainty and there's nothing we can do about it - no amount of hard work, good grades or better scores can help. But solidarity helps! Thank you.
  11. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to SarahBethSortino in I support international grad students   
    Hey I didn't really know where to post this, but I just wanted to give a shout out to every potential grad student out there who is dealing with waiting for decisions AND having their plans potentially derailed by the immigration order yesterday. I'm NOT trying to make this political - I'm just throwing out some support during what has to be a difficult time for our fellow "waiting gamers."
  12. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to DBear in Policy essays - what use?   
    No worries! 
    As for statistics, definitely not needed, I think I should have used the word "evidence". If it's a recognized issue, then maybe a line or two about who recognized it: According to the 2014 UNDP report on refugees, this is a prevalent issue. 
    Maybe the issue is prevalent but seems to not have gained a lot of attention: The government of Dcountry has been trying to address this issue for decades but has been unsuccessful in attracting foreign aid/ investment. 
    I guess the main thing is to be specific if possible. "Poverty is a big problem" needs to be substantiated. How is it a big problem? Why is the problem there? Since this is a policy paper, citing policy-making bodies, laws, and institutional framework will give you that depth. The hard part about policy papers is doing all this while keeping it short. Good luck! Depending on when it's due, I may be able to take a look at the draft or outline, if you'd like. Shoot me a PM if you want
  13. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to DBear in Policy essays - what use?   
    If I were you, I would do something that can be wrapped up in one page - as the typical policy memo is 1 or 2 pages. 
    I'd choose a topic that is simple enough that you can explain in a page but something that YOU noticed in real life - like the essay prompt says. You need to be able to demonstrate that even if you're in a mundane, everyday situation, you notice things. So for example, let's say a ban on plastic bags. 
    1) problem: I noticed there are a whole load of plastic bags that are just floating around on the street etc.... this is a problem because they're ugly and studies show that they have XYZ environmental impact (this is where you'd use evidence)
    2) recently, a law has been passed to limit the sale of plastic bags. This is great because XYZ, but has limits because ABC. 
    3) I think 1,2,3 should be done to address the limitations in 2) and fundamentally address 1).
     
    >> make sure to address law, economy, local communities in developing a solution and use evidence (statistics, government studies) etc. 
    I wouldn't get too creative - I'd keep it simple. It can actually be as larger issue like poverty or security issues because policymakers need to know how to condense complicated issues into a short format without leaving out too much. My professors used to call it the written version of the 'elevator pitch.' I personally think it'd be easier to a more micro level issue, but something sophisticated enough. If you have a particular policy area you would like to pursue (health policy, enviro policy etc) it might be strategically beneficial for the issue to be on that area. 
     
  14. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to DBear in Policy essays - what use?   
    The way the question is stated is very standard policy analysis - not really "theory" question, but more necessary to see if you can identify a policy issue, assess it, and make policy recommendations. 
    So you need to choose an issue - a real life issue that you've thought about before. You need to identify a particular problem and explain why this is an issue. Then the info about what has been done - this would be a fact based analysis (laws that have been passed etc) then your assessment - that is the key. The recommendation should take into account the facts that you discussed in the previous section and fill in any "gaps"
    If you turn the question into a list of bullets and just address issues in that order, you should be fine. In my experience in Policy grad school and as a practitioner, it's always been more an issue of one's ability to assess, analyze, and address policy issues. So relevant cases and comparison (for example, what did country X do about the same problem you're trying to solve in country Y) are more useful than plain theory. So you need to show that you can think about policy things the way a policy person would and it should be well-written. Writing is the central form of communication for policy so being able to write policy papers that are concise and have a clear logic while putting forth your analysis is necessary. Good luck!
     
  15. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to Wanumman in Welcome to the 2016-17 cycle!   
    I think some people may be using this forum solely as a straightforward message board, but there is a special tool for acceptances and rejections. If you mouse over the green/red dots, you will see GRE scores and UGPA. E.g., http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=Political+Science+Columbia. It might put some of your GRE worries to rest, as there are plenty of people getting into top programs with modest scores and even rather low UGPA. I shudder to think about their epic LORs and writing samples.
  16. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from oqowa in TOEFL Reading & Listening scores   
    Yeah, I understand the feeling. I hope things turn out well for you. Do let us know how you did when you get the score!
  17. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from mrs12 in GRE, or a nightmare for minorities and underprivileged groups?   
    Your struggles are probably bigger than mine, @Staara304, but they're not dissimilar. I also have a full-time job, am the first in my family to go to college, and haven't used any math in 8 years. Nobody in my circle of friends and family spoke English when I started, and nobody knew how to guide me through any of it. But I did get a break for college from my alma mater, for which I'm forever grateful.
    My verbal scores are good enough, but quant needs a lot of work. I share your anxieties about not making the cut because of this, even though I have a "good story" (grew up a refugee, returning to work in my country after a BA obtained abroad, etc.).
    I'm sharing all this (probably more than I should have) in order to show that there's anxiety about grad school admissions all over the world It doesn't help that the less privileged probably have higher levels of it. But that hasn't stopped me (or you either, apparently) from trying. Onward we forge!
  18. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from Sigaba in How important are internships and extracurricular during undergrad?   
    I think after a couple years' worth of post-college work experience, some of the undergrad extracurricular activities could recede into the background. At the very least, they can be factored out of different versions of your resume depending on where you apply.
    For example, I was in student government too, and I worked on the IT help-desk. But when I applied to a researcher job with a human rights organization two years out of college, I didn't include that bit. But my time with the student newspaper was there.
    Now that I'm hoping to apply for an MA program, I'm having to go through the process of elimination again: IT help-desk won't cut it; volunteer with Asian Student Association won't cut it; student government, maybe...or maybe not? It's hard. But in my case, some of this work risks pulling me back to undergrad when I'm trying to show my credentials as a professional with five years of experience.
  19. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from DBear in GRE repetition?   
    I agree with @thedarkknightrises. A 168 is 95th percentile, an excellent score. That score should be good enough for all the top programs, especially if your GPA is good and you have good recommendations.
    Not sure if you're an international student, but if your TOEFL is 105 or above, your verbal should be good to go too.
    I'd only consider retaking if you don't have other things to work on in your application: essays, forms, etc. That way, you'd have time to prepare and up your score...which, let's face it, is quite hard...easier to go from 150 to 155, but much harder to go from 168 to 170.
  20. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from SLPgirl95 in Should I retake the GRE??   
    Best of luck!
  21. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to SLPgirl95 in Should I retake the GRE??   
    Oh, that makes sense. I talked to the University of Washington advisor, and she said about the same. As long as analytical writing is above 4, they aren't too concerned. 
    Thanks everyone for the feedback!
  22. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from blu_skyee in wrote my first issue essay, it did not go well   
    I just received my GRE scores and got a 5 on the writing section. That's decent, but I'm on expert writer. With that caveat, here are a few thoughts about what is frankly a pretty good first attempt. You'll probably have to write a few more essays under timed conditions to get a feel for the time and how much to budget for outlining, writing and editing.
    In certain sections of your essay, you seem to use "knowledge" as a synonym for "thinking" without explaining why the two might be interchangeable. While it's conceivable that the two could be use interchangeably, doing so without some explanation probably takes you off-focus. In the same vein of defining your terms, it might help to establish how you interpret "people" - do you mean neuroscientists studying brain function, regular people using calculators, or both? This level of nuance, while not always necessary, can distinguish a 4 essay from a 6. A couple of more well-developed and relevant examples would be helpful, possibly in the section about knowledge. Your essay doesn't have to take one side or the other. It helps to show that you can engage with the gray areas in the prompt. By addressing exceptions and acknowledging that the lines are sometimes blurry, you demonstrate that you are responding to the part of the prompt that says "discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree." You make a valiant attempt to do to so in your example of the calculator, which could be developed just a bit more, particularly explaining how this exception doesn't downgrade your thesis. You could further develop your "cause and effect assumption" idea by elaborating "ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position." As I said earlier, this is a pretty good first attempt. I've used some of these ideas in my own test prep, so I hope this comments are helpful.
  23. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to chocolatecheesecake in The 'Am I competitive' thread - READ ME BEFORE POSTING   
    A few thoughts. Highly suggest that you figure out what you want out of a program and apply to only a handful at the most. They can vary in prestigiousness/name/difficulty to get into, and you can remain ambitious, but make sure you know what you want. HKS is quite different from Sanford which is quite different from Maxwell. 
    If you got Bs in undergrad quant courses, it makes it even more important to get a good GRE quant score and re-take some of those classes. You want to show them you can really handle those now, and do well. 
    Finally, being a foreign student will definitely change the calculations a little bit. Make sure to tell your SOP especially well, and relate how this school in particular will help you on your way. The private schools will be more likely to give you money, so maybe not as much from Indiana and Bush. 
  24. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo reacted to chocolatecheesecake in The 'Am I competitive' thread - READ ME BEFORE POSTING   
    You haven't mentioned anything about the programs you're going for. Assuming that you're going for some sort of int'l affairs degree given your INGO work background.
    Six years out of undergrad, people will pay relatively little attention to your GPA (3.23 is not low enough to worry). In general, it matters less the further you move away from undergrad. Your GRE becomes much more important, so make sure to study hard for the quant score, and get it up. If you can't manage more than 155, I would bolster your quant credentials by taking a class on microeconomics at a community college or online course and getting an A on it. Doing that anyway reassures schools that you can still cut it in the classroom. Otherwise, your work experience puts you at a relative advantage. Just make sure you come up with some good numbers GRE-wise, and you'll be a very competitive applicant with funding prospects at most schools if not the top ones.
  25. Upvote
    DogsArePeopleToo got a reaction from hanseul in Should I retake GRE? (CS PhD applicant)   
    If the difference between getting into a top-10 program and a top-20 program is one month of GRE prep, I would do it. Or if the difference between getting into a program with better funding lies in a better GRE grade, I'd still do it. And you seem quite confident about a significant improvement in your grades, so makes all the more sense, especially if you can up your AWA a bit.
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