GopherGrad

If you like school, law is fun to study once you get the hang of it. It's the being a lawyer part that kinda blows.

Also, natofone, I just got around to checking out those syllabi. It looks like there are some great sources to address your advice. Thanks again.

When I got rejected for all the MAs I applied to last go-round, I just went back to being a lawyer and tried to scheme new ways to change up my career. I suppose if I don't get in anywhere when I apply next year, I'll focus on retiring by 40.

That's an awesome offer. I've hit a busy patch at work, but I'll look into a couple MA programs (esp. Marq.) when things slow up next week and PM you when I've got more constructive questions.

Interesting advice, thanks! I've got to admit, the idea of adding options is a little daunting. That being said, I do feel prety amatuer to be going after a PhD at this stage. The terminal IR programs that rejected me were all SAIS/SIPA types that anitcipate (I think) the majority of their students to work after graduation. Maybe a more academic progr that knew I meant to doctor up would look at me differently. In any event, I get to heap more reading on my plate prior to applying next year.

Ha! My reading comprehension in full evidence. If you don't get funding, is the school somehow pressured to pony up? Otherwise, the gist of my question remains the same ... why would they care? But then, schools care about a lot of stuff that seems odd to me.

Encouraging to hear. Is this the sort of argument/presentation I should weave into my statement of purpose? Or will it be evident?

Just for the sake of argument, let's say it doesn't lead logically. Let's say I got a double degree in English and Theater because I wanted to write plays, then got a law degree because I was sick of being poor. Let's say I took a political development course in UG that I loved, which led me start reading loads and taking relevant courses helter skelter and that now, almost a decade later, I'm just sure that studying these problems is really what I want to do. What IS the logical next step? What should I do to have that career? Also, for whatever it's worth, my JD coursework focused significantly on comparative law, development of legal institutions, and governance of transnational corporations and NGOs. I also studied my second year in Holland. I'm hoping that, despite the obvious domestic bent of any American JD (and my subsequent practice), this type of prior study establishes that I'm not a total novice in the field and that my interest in it is not entirely spur-of-the-moment. (To wit, my recommendations come from a professor who taught me language, a professor who oversaw my writing about organized violence, and a third which will either come from a polisci prof or the prof that taught my Governance and Ethics of Aid Organization course.) To the extent that Adcomms expect some sort through-line in one's academic history, how convincing is this?

Ha. Was it that easy to tell I'm not "ensconced in the primary literature"? Good suggestion, though. I see all three advantages as important. Thanks for the advice. As to the grades, it's tough to tell. I've gotten some differing advice. The prof that suggested the PhD (who sits on our admissions committee) scoffed at the idea that my UG GPA was too low. When I posted for advice from the counselor on admissionsboards asking specifically about Columbia, she didn't mention my GPA, saying "You sound like you have a lot of the pieces to put together a strong application." But instinctively, I agree with you. I'd like to think the C- I got in Intro to Visual Arts when I was 18 doesn't say anything about my 30-year-old's ability to learn a topic that I love. But how else can they pick? These places can't be taking everyone with a good GRE score and a well-articulated desire to study something similar to faculty. This is really one of the things that's got my head twisted after than meeting. The JD grades are hopefully viewed differently than MA grades. My school had a strict curve at 3.0 and I'd bet more than 50% of my class fell between a 2.9 and 3.1. There were a lot of smart kids pulling Bs. Also, and maybe I'm being arrogant, but I think generally speaking law school cirriculum is viewed as more demanding than most social science MAs. Whether an adcomm will turn it's nose up at a 3.0 or just view well respected JD as proof I can hack it curved against other smart kids (and a bonus for someone that wants to develop legal institutions) is a mystery to me.

Two years ago, I applied to a few terminal Master’s programs in IR and was rejected everywhere. Recently, I approached a former prof for advice about finding work in the fields that interest me, and she suggested that my goals and academic history would better suit me for a PhD. I’m considering applications next year at this time and I need some advice regarding which schools best fit my area of interest, whether I’m competitive for those schools and how I should approach gathering the pieces of my application together. I will obviously be doing much more research myself and relying on my professor for advice, but insight from the foxhole will be really helpful. Thanks in advance for any answers. Here’s a little bit about me: I’m interested primarily in corruption and how fragile state structures respond to organized violence and crime. I want to study how violent enterprise responds to waxing and waning efficiency and credibility of state services and how states make their first steps toward transparency and accountability in the face of violent pressure. Undergrad GPA 3.45 (English at a Big Ten public uni) JD GPA 3.0 (about middle of the curve at a top 20 law school) GRE 800V/750Q/5 AW I took a fair amount of relevant coursework in law school (development, comparative law, international law, governance of corps and non-profits), produced an unpublished seminar paper on economic reform and it’s effect on organized violence and had an internship with the Department of State focused on researching corruption. I have no other relevant research experience. I have three years experience in private litigation. My letters of recommendation will come from: -an associate prof of linguistics (who taught me a foreign language); this one will be glowing -the law prof that oversaw my seminar paper (I don’t know her as well) -I don’t know; I have a prof from a study abroad during law school that really liked me, but that I haven’t been in touch with. Or I could take a graduate level polisci course and hope to perform well enough to get a rec. So here are my questions: 1) Fit. Is my area of interest sufficiently narrow? Which schools cater to that subject matter? It seems like everyone’s got “development of governance” courses and dissertation sponsors interested in organized violence and/or corruption; how do I know where I’ll have the best opportunities? 2) Competitiveness. I know my intangibles count for a lot, but based on what’s available, am I competitive at top schools? If not, which schools should I target? How much does my lack of research experience hurt? Can I sell law school and legal practice as one big qualitative research experience? 3) Application Procedure When should I contact potential dissertation sponsors? LoR writers? Any advice on choosing between my two final LoR options?

I don't understand. Why would applications for outside money hurt your app.? If you feel you qualify for free money, wouldn't you be silly not to try?

Well, I called one school (SIPA, for all interested) and they said they'd speak with me in late May. I don't know how helpful it will be, but it sounded as though they deal with a handful of these requests every year.

0/3 Awesome. Has anyone here ever written to a school that rejected you asking for an explanation? It would be nice to know if factors I can't really change kept me out or if I could re-apply with greater experience, etc.

Cuban, I have heard of others that were rejected at SAIS. The self-reporting nature of these sites, though, pretty much guarantees we hear less about rejection.

Console, I can totally relate. I'm still waiting on my initial decision. After I was summarily rejected from SIPA and SFS, I just stopped thinking about SAIS. I figured I was dead and let the letter come when it may. I did move on. Now all these rumors have me excited again, and I'm really pissed at myself and SAIS. But it's nice to be back in the game, in a way...

Console, Thanks, that might be true. At the very least, I made 'em think. You situation is tough, but there are some ways you can prepare. It's about taking as much off your future plate as possible by setting up contingencies now. First, what is your living situation? If you own, it gets complicated. If you rent, you need to speak with your landlord soon to get a feel for what will happen if you drop out of the lease. (I can give you more detailed advice on that if you need.) Relatedly, if you have deferrable school loans, learn about how to defer now and, if possible, get them set up to defer automatically in July or August. You can always un-defer if no school picks you up. Second, you should start saving money, even if it means picking up some extra work. If you get in somewhere (and with three waitlists, your chances are decent), it's going to cost more in incidentals because you couldn't plan. It sucks, but if you don't get in anywhere, you can throw a killer party for all the people that had to listen to you whine about being on a waitlist. I know my friends deserve one. Third, start browsing Craig's List, etc., for apartments in the relevant cities. Familiarize yourself with neighborhoods that would be good for you so you can target the search later. Keep good notes. Lastly, start lining up buyers for stuff you might not want to move (like a car). It sounds wierd, but just ask various friends "hey, if I leave do you want this couch? How much?" You will honestly find a home for some stuff and put a little extra jingle in your step. And for everyone else out there, I read on another board that SAIS might take as much as TWO MORE WEEKS to make these initial decisions.

This is getting positively ridiculous.

Cuban, I was the one that called. I just dailed the "Contact Us" number from the admissions website, it was easy to find but I don't have it any more. If I don't have a letter by Tuesday I'll probably call again. I hate to bother them, but I'm positive I'm getting rejected (been rejected everywhere else) and I'd just like to get on with life. Unfortunately, it seems that all the acceptances have been sent via e-mail. Considering I was told that Friday was the latest day for notification, it seems somewhat likely that anyone who hasn't heard is getting rejected or waitlisted by post.