GopherGrad

Just got the email allowing my late submission. Whew.

During commercials, I mute Matlock and listen to Jazzy Jeff tapes. But I see your point.

Since this seems to be a bit more of a lighthearted thread, I'll put the following question up for debate here: I am writing a diversity statement for one of my last applications. I already have a professional degree and a fair amount of work experience, so I am writing a brief statement about how older applicants with advanced training can add a lot of perspective to an entering class. I am sort of seriously considering the following statement (or something like it): As an old person, I can also introduce my classmates to the joys of prunes, Matlock and going to bed before sunset in summer. Yea or nay?

That I believe ... whether or not such an offer is in the cards for me is another story. In that case, I'll get to open a bottle of tequila and drink to a world unable to recognize my genius, which is a joy of another kind.

Thanks for the story. It is comforting to hear that perspective. I still haven't heard back from my frantic early morning email. Also, I have one recommender who has yet to submit for any schools. I've sent "reminders" but it might be closing in on time to get on the horn and figure this out.

There are joys in the process?

That's what I was thinking. This was one of the schools that had me most excited about fit/chances.

In an attempt to spread the cost of application fees, I decided to prep some applications to completion, then wait for payday to click submit. I had some technical difficulties on Friday and blew an application deadline. Oops. Emailed the school's admissions department a couple hours after the deadline. Anyone else have experience with this?

I have similar a similar GRE/GPA and this has been my take-away, too. Numbers like yours will still get a good look from the best schools, but you'll have to find a way to differentiate yourself at that stage. If someone else is otherwise similar with a higher GPA, they'll probably jump ahead in line. I keep hearing about this. I heard similar things about applying to law school, but once in law school it became pretty apparent that transfers are rare (I think I only knew two students that transferred successfully; one was a "lateral" move to a similarly ranked school made for family reasons). What does "not uncommon" mean? Do you know of any places to get information about transfers?

1) The Zombie Moose Army. Canadian troops would be forced to eradicate (or rehabilitate to constructive roles in society) tens of thousands of moose purposefully infected with a mutated strain of botulinumtoxin. Since allowing these moose to roam the countryside forming loose alliances and dealing heroin to tourist fisherman is not in the Canadian interest, this type of drastic action would be required. Other options include use of Sarah Palin in a helicopter or Inuit accordion players driving them into the ocean. 2) The Mighty Finnish Army would not Reconquer Karelia. Perkeleen venäläiset. 3) A Savage Blow to World Literature. Stieg Larsson's forthcoming novel about a star-crossed heroine, "The Bolshevik Girl with the Moose Tattoo", would totally lose cultural relevance. 4) Oil. It will become really hard to drink up Russia and Canada's milkshakes with a long American straw if they aren't distracted by who is eating who's polar bears and yellow snow.

Accordion art in Canada has long been one of the most important modes of Inuit self-expression. During the Iqualivittnutyflavin War of 1877 (known variously as the Hoser-eh War by English speakers and le Conflique Mirepoix by Francophones), the Inuit used accordions to drive the polar bears, and pretty much everyone else, out of Nunavut. While accordion art in Canada has recently lost precedence to other art forms, such as pouring fatty foods on french fries and complaining about America, it remains an important means of communication in northern areas, where nearest neighbors live farther away than a voice carries. A visitor to Yellowknife in the spring will tell you that accordion art remains alive both as an artistic form and means of political comment, similar to hip-hop in East St. Louis. I will address your other questions as time permits.

I spent a good hunk more than 120 words on mine. I'm a lawyer-type, too, but I don't wish to study anything similar to law, so I wanted to establish (hopefully) that I know what I'm talking about. Also, considering that I spent a lot of time studying BA corps and writing settlement agreements, I'm afraid my walk-on-water is less Jesus and more lots of orange arm-floaties.

If you search around a little bit, there is a thread from last year's crew in which they post their Statements of Purpose. One of the statements (that I considered the most impressive) talks a lot about networks. It might be of some immediate help to your dilemma. It also helps to keep in mind that most people see and increased blending in polisci/PP work. In any event, I would consider contacting the authors of the work that most influences you and asking what they think.

Applying for the Ph.D. and bailing might be more complicated than you want, but certainly look into it. You could also just ask about terminal master's programs where you are. If you do five years with all that degree-age, get some solid recs and help with your SoP from a good prof, you'll be as competitive as anyone for a top 20, even with a GPA in the 3.6s. Although, again, this depends to some extent on your GRE scores. The average GPAs I'm seeing are all in the .7 to .8 range at these schools, which means for every magna cum laude they are accepting a student with a 3.6. It's all about compelling qualitative qualifications after that.

Yes, I identified one terminal Master's program with the faculty and reputation to help me out in case the Ph.D. programs fall through. I did this partly to help out with GPA concerns, but also to address the fact that I have not previously studied political science. (As an undergrad I did most of my courses in creative writing and theatre, then completed a JD.) I took a few upper division polisci classes that I found very interesting, but they were: a) not what I was used to studying, 2) subject I lacked any background in, and c) not my priority. As a result, I have a political science GPA of 3.0 and no letters from political scientists. Also, it bears mention that because I already have law school debt, I have decided on a fairly low ceiling of additional expenses I'm willing to take on. I say this because I want you to understand that I am approaching the idea of a Master's differently than you should. Here are some things to keep in mind: 1) Let's assume that you'll do as well in polisci as you've posited and that you'll get great letters. What would a master's degree tell the admissions committees about you that they don't already know? I think you can make valid arguments that it proves something, but you have to ask yourself if the returns are good enough for the investment. 2) Master's programs are expensive and funding is hard to come by. That will make one year programs like MAPSS attractive, but then you're back the returns question again. No faculty member will be able to write a letter in time to go straight to your Ph.D. program (but maybe you want a year or two to earn money; don't discount the value of some professional experience to temper your work ethic, either). Two years will give you better opportunities to know teachers and publish, but it will be another $70,000 if you don't barback at some crappy college pub while you're there. 3) What would happen if you stayed at your bachelor's for another year? Would taking a fifth year harm your application? (My thought is no, but how would I know?) What affect would another year of 3.8 have on your one reported GPA? Could you score some indy studies with your favorite profs and aim to publish something truly compelling? (No disrespect, but the average undergrad publication completely lacks discipline, partly because undergrads are so young and partly because they are so busy. Maybe in your fifth year those issues would fall away.) There might be financial benefits to this course, too. The one year will be cheaper (without sacrificing faculty relationships; to the contrary, you build them). You might be able to take on some TA/RA positions that would earn money without pulling you away from the discipline (and, in fact, further bolstering your application). Moving is expensive in and of itself. Etc. Just some stuff to chew on.

A 3.6 is hardly out of the running, especially when paired with a great GRE. Please immediately forget about approaching any admissions chairs. Look, I'm not going to sugar coat it for you, in part because I'm applying at extremely competetive schools with a 3.4. Here's how I see it: if there's some other applicant out there equal but for s/he didn't fuck up and drop a C- in Intro to Visual Arts, Princeton is probably going to take her over me. That being said, admissions committees know that people make mistakes and grow because of them. If your research interests are compelling and your professors back up your research potential (and you don't bomb the GRE), you will be in the same starting pile as the rest of the go-getters. Believe me, I wish that I could dress up as the GopherGrad of Application Seasons Yet to Come, travel back in time and show the GopherGrad sleeping through his Origins of English Words lectures how he's turning my hair grey (sort of) prematurely. But I can't turn back the clock and niether can you. Do everything you can, including this semester, to get great grades, then sell yourself to admissions as the person you are. And, yeah, have some fun. Trust me, life is much better when achievement isn't the only order of the day. You might not want to take that as far as I did, though.

Don't panic. Focus on keeping your grades as high as possible. You have plenty of time to get a GPA well above anyone's estimation of the mythical cut-off.

My take: 1) Your degrees are fine preparation in terms of subject matter, but I don't know anything about British grades. It appears that more knowledgable posters put your GPA well into competetive range for the most selective programs. 2) I was years out of math(s), too, and ended up doing very well just by using the study aids offered by the exam itself. They are taken from real, recent questions, which is a huge advantage (I used to write practice LSATs for national test prep agency, and when I was benchmarking my peers it quickly became obvious that some books lack any ability to mimick the tone and focus of the real exam). However you prep, i would positively recommend using the official GRE study aids (which are, I think, free with test registration) and basing my evaluation of other materials based on thier fidelity to the original. 3) It won't "sink" your app, but most people would recommend some statistical methodology at least, and maybe higher math if you want to impress a particularly quantitative department or sell yourself as a great quantitative candidate. I went back and took a methods course to bolster my credentials and understanding. 4) Others have mentioned that funding is not necessarily more generous at private schools, and that's important to remember. The US has many excellent public schools that will offer full funding and some private schools (Georgetown, for example) offer very few students money. You should certainly add a few public schools to your list. BUT I spoke awhile ago with a UC Berkeley student wrapping up his time who mentioned that California's specific budget problems were causing faculty to worry that some students partway through might even LOSE funding. I don't know anything factual, but that it came up at all gave me pause. State governments are suffering right now. You'd do yourself a disservice if you were admitted to a public school and you didn't research the politics and budget and then ask some frank questions of the faculty. If I am blessed enough to be admitted to Berkeley, that will be the first thing I do after I sober up and tip all the chairs in my apartment back on their legs (it'll be a hell of a party).

Reading Zahar's response reminded me of something more specific with respect to getting your house in order. Make some cash and get yourself set up a little better to spend a few years on a tight budget. Refreshing your wardrobe a little or getting a car decent enough to last five years can make a big difference. If you've got a hobby or something that particularly de-stresses you or makes you happy, splurge on something to facilitate it.

You'd think an applications website would be ready for a spike in traffic as application deadlines approach. *old man grumbles*

A 3.7 from a good institution is fine. With above average GREs you will be as competitive as anyone. Common wisdom is that there is little work experience that adds to competitiveness. I agree with Charlie that some language training and time in area might be of marginal benefit. A Fulbright certainly looks nice. Study for your GREs. Hard. See if you can continue to work with a couple profs that might provide great recs; certainly stay in touch with them a little. Publishing is also an at-the-margins thing from what I can tell. A few undergrads will publish something truly great and pegged as rock stars, but most of what people brag about publishing as an undergrad tends more to show that they can be pushy about gaining credentials. I can't imagine what would have to happen for Americans to lose interest in Chinese and East Asian politics.

Good thought, but I'm using Firefox from a Mac now and I'm pretty sure my work PC was running IE. I'm at the point now where I just need to upload my SoP and writing sample but it's not accepting the files. They are pdfs, which I would think would be okay, but another school's site didn't accept the SoP I transferred to .doc on the mac. Hopefully emailing the pdfs to myself and re-uploading tomorrow will work. The deadline isn't until the 8th, so I have some time to figure it out.

Am I the only one having crazy trouble with Duke's ApplyYourself page? It's slow and kicks me out between pages. I can't upload my personal statement. I moved my documents to my work computer and tried from there, but no luck.

I think your numbers will get you looked at just about everywhere and the rest will depend upon your letters and statement of purpose. Probably no one will toss you out on stats, so if you are confident in the intangibles, shoot for the moon.

I'd trade with current applicants, too.