mcgov36

I don't know exactly how it works, but in chats the SSP have mentioned that you can take language classes at Georgetown for free, though they are for credit and not audited. Not entirely sure if this means that they count against your 12 courses or not, but I don't think they necessarily do. The word 'free' was used again and again. Of course, they could be during the day which would make it difficult if you were attending part-time.

Awesome, congrats! Hoping for similar news, haven't heard anything yet.

Just to update everyone, I'm in the chat and Tiffany Swanson said merit based aid decisions will go out via e-mail by the end of the week, and 'hopefully before the end of the week.'

There's an admitted students chat that starts at 2PM ET (40 minutes from now), maybe ask then? I know during last Wednesday's chat they said they hadn't met yet to discuss merit-based aid but would do so 'this week' and that information about it would go out 'in the next week.'

I'm leaning towards it because funding isn't as big an issue. It's only a 3 semester course if you do the full courseload and the price is comparable to Fletcher even though they're giving me 11k/year. Higher living expenses are made up for by it being DC and the opportunities that presents. Hoping they'll give me some money, but still leaning there.

I'm excited to hear about any possible funding, since it's down to Fletcher and Georgetown and the former gave me a decent scholarship. From what I've gathered, funding from the SSP is tough to get, though.

Did they say this week? I e-mailed as well and it just said 'soon.' Anxious to hear about possible funding (though kind of pessimistic about my chances).

No funding here, so I'll be crossing SAIS off my list because the cost is just too prohibitive. Looks like it's down to Fletcher and Georgetown.

My mailing address is NY and I found out yesterday, so you should hear real soon.

Probably was stifling laughter as she spoke

In, conditionally on completing Macroeconomics! Congrats to all! No one seems to have had a mention of funding so far besides seeing the 'if you sent the FAFSA in before/after this date we'll have it sooner/later' right?

Randomly checked GAMS and my decision was in. I'm in, with $11k per year.

Just found out I'm in. I'm kind of taking care of this stuff from afar (I had my things e-mailed to my home address in the US despite living in Bulgaria until July) so I kind of have to look at things via e-mail, webcam, and scans. Was everyone else's acceptance notification just a single letter and a form for the deposit/acceptance of a spot in a small envelope? Anyone hear about possible money yet?

I'm in as well. Packet arrived today in the mail (in the US, though I'm in Bulgaria)

It does say 'should you be admitted'

I think she would have said 'definitely not today' if it was... well, definitely not today, but I'm guessing the online delivery system adds some complications.

Also in (Security Policy Studies). The e-mail said fellowship information will be released 'no later than March 18th', so I guess we'll hear about money sometime next week.

The February 1st deadline is for documents that are mostly out of your control, such as letters, transcripts, and GRE scores. As long as you got your application with your essays and CV in by the January 15th deadline, as long as all the other stuff is in by Feb. 1, you'll still be considered for aid.

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): IR in Security Studies Schools Applied To: Fletcher, Georgetown Peace & Security Studies, Johns Hopkins SAIS, Princeton WWS, GWU Elliot, American SIS Schools Admitted To: Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: Undergraduate institution: Top-25 private Undergraduate GPA: 3.63 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.8 Undergraduate Major: Double-major in History and Slavic Studies GRE Quantitative Score: 720 GRE Verbal Score: 750 GRE AW Score: 5.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2 Years of Work Experience: 2ish Describe Relevant Work Experience: Currently a Fulbright Fellow in Bulgaria, teaching and doing research on IMRO as an insurgent organization. Worked for 6 months at a state museum. Have done volunteer work with NGOs in Bosnia-Herzegovina (an entire summer) and Bulgaria as well. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I have a pretty clear idea of what I want to study (sub-state ethnic violence and responses, with a particular focus on the Balkans), so that's helped me form a pretty good SOP. I started early and have tweaked it little by little. I think it's really a strength of my application. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Letters of recommendation are kind of killing me. I have one professor with whom I'm very close, and then the Fulbright commission here in Bulgaria. Trying to find a third is difficult though. I doubt many professors remember me. In the end it will probably come from my supervisor with the NGO in Bosnia. Other: Aside from the Fulbright grant, I also played a season of professional ice hockey in Europe and studied abroad in Ireland for a year. I also was published in my school's research journal with a paper on military history. I speak and read Bulgarian and the Macedonian dialect at a high level and can comprehend and be comprehended in Serbo-Croatian and Russian. Princeton is kind of a longshot for me and I have a slight lack of relevant work experience for security studies, but I think I will be okay. All else being equal, I'd really like to go to either Fletcher or Georgetown.

My guess is the FSB approval stage is more about allocation of funds than actual reviewing of applications and such bureaucracy is always slow. Further, they probably only meet every couple of weeks and do big batches at a time.

24 hours or so for the blood test. The TB test requires you to come back in 2-3 days to have it 'read', though that takes all of two seconds. Your school doesn't have a clinic? You're going to need an initial appointment then a return trip two or three days later to have your TB test looked at and to get your blood test results, so two hours there and back would be annoying. My doctor just wrote 'not needed' next to the optional tests like urinalysis. I don't think there's anything suspicious about it; the urinalysis isn't a drug test (what it does test mostly overlaps with the blood tests) and unless you're anemic the sickle test are unnecessary. For what it's worth, if you have insurance and are still in school, most school clinics have walk-in hours everyday for emergency illnesses. Try then, they'll understand.

My acceptance letter (and medical 'certificate') was sent from New York, and it said that more information will follow from the country itself (I'm assuming ETA placement, terms of the grant, the signature sheet, and so on). Bulgaria has a commission so it doesn't seem to be predicated on that. It also was sent out on a Friday. I know last year they were only sending out Europe on Wednesdays or something; maybe not the case this time.

Must be the first one to find out... I'm a Bulgaria ETA finalist, found out today that I won the grant. Good luck to everyone!