catchermiscount

For what it's worth I think we all feel some intimidation on the board. I can only speak for myself, and I do tend to think of myself as a weak applicant amid the incredibly strong applicant pool in this self-selected, incredibly biased sample. I also participated in the board (though to a far lesser degree) the first time I applied to graduate school two years ago, and I felt the exact same feelings. Like some of the others, I didn't necessarily apply to highly-ranked schools only -- there are some to be sure, but those decisions were based more on fit and needs than on ranking. Others take a different approach. It is refreshing to see people that want to study politics from a new angle. Rest assured, there are many committee members that feel the same way. I can't say it's a majority, but it only takes one advocate to get into a school. From there, you grind and you grind and you grind and prove why your unique background matters. So, chin up. And remember - this is the business we've chosen. If it was predictable, we'd call it law school.

I'll tell ya, if I wasn't in Uber Frisky Mode already today, I'm there now. Bow chicka wow wow.

I assume they'll be up quickly once one of us currently in a political science department catches word that they got released.

The stress levels are high, and some of us are wondering why the hell we got into this crazy game. I assure you, grad school itself is far worse than the graduate admissions process, and then getting a job is harder than graduate school, and then getting tenure is harder than getting a job. Since getting to grad school, one of my favorite lines has popped out above all others. I present it below in its original context: "There was this kid I grew up with; he was younger than me. Sorta looked up to me, you know. We did our first work together, worked our way out of the street. Things were good, we made the most of it. During Prohibition, we ran molasses into Canada... made a fortune, your father, too. As much as anyone, I loved him and trusted him. Later on he had an idea to build a city out of a desert stop-over for GI's on the way to the West Coast. That kid's name was Moe Greene, and the city he invented was Las Vegas. This was a great man, a man of vision and guts. And there isn't even a plaque, or a signpost or a statue of him in that town! Someone put a bullet through his eye. No one knows who gave the order. When I heard it, I wasn't angry; I knew Moe, I knew he was head-strong, talking loud, saying stupid things. So when he turned up dead, I let it go. And I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen; I didn't ask who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with business!" THIS IS THE BUSINESS WE'VE CHOSEN - don't be deterred. Be just as pissed as Hyman Roth was when he went on his rant. We aren't going to get a plaque, that's for damned sure. The process is hard and random and full of unfairness. But: this is the business we've chosen.

Time to bump the thread. The rankings, at least in theory, should be out by mid-February. Any guesses on big changes from the 1996 incarnation? Time to get catty, people.

Super duper congrats! Maybe New Haven won't suck so much.

New Haven is no fun because we will not be there. Were we there, New Haven COULD be fun. We could have been something, New Haven! We could have been something awesome!

Valid. Forgive the east coast bias. Don't be going all anti-ESPN on me.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached give-up time for responses. My bet for tomorrow: UNC -- their acceptances last year were on a Friday, and my friend wore light blue today. Omens, I tell you! And now...time to not fall asleep during Straussian time. EDIT: For those of you waiting on OSU, my online status changed to "decision" and I have an added "accept/decline" link. FWIW.

That's what mine said - sounds like it's the standard. Congratulations!

While the academic megalomaniac in me is swayed by your kind words, it remains that I will be TPing your house. IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG.

Good question - should have thought of that first (coffee still kicking in). I'm still listed as "under academic review." My email was from the department directly...I'll keep you updated as to when my status changes. Good luck!

OSU just sent me an email. Be on the lookout, people!

Washington University is damn strong. Just know that you'd be coming out with a brand name that is a little bit on the niche side -- then again, methodological places like WashU or NYU or Rochester are just as narrow in terms of brand name. The big question is: are you interested in a research job, liberal arts job or public policy? All three can be done at WashU but will require different focuses during your time. Hope this helps. I wrote it before my morning coffee so I doubt it. Good luck!!

Everybody's stressed. I vote we TP some houses. Plisar's is first on the hit parade. Oooooooooooooh snap.

Ha, I dunno about that, but thanks for the ego boost - we all need one about now. I would think that we'll know if we're quick rejects by early next week, though...that timing would make the most sense given the pattern.

I would guess that those of us that didn't get letters probably will either be quick rejects or the dreaded "maybe" pile...woo hoo!

Congrats expatbayern! You've got two crappy weather choices to choose from at least :-)

Man, I'd have to think so. Maybe we've all wowed them so much that they just can't bear to pick among us. Or, maybe we all suck and they're contemplating the idea of not admitting anybody.

Lol, yeah, just a tad of sarcasm. My brain is fried as I continue to put my MLE homework into delightfully beautiful TeX. I will agree that it's strange, indeed. Now, back to my log-likelihoods and Hessian. Oooooooh yeah, it's gonna be an awesome night in coachrjc-land.

I didn't hear from UVA either. I didn't apply, but it's still evidence against the truthiness of the poster that said he/she got in. *shakes an angry fist* Knave! Scoundrel!

For what it's worth, I flunked out of undergrad the first time and dropped out a second time (smart enough to withdraw from my classes!) before graduating at a little-known and opposite-of-prestigious directional state school. Showing that you're a "known commodity" given your graduate work should be helpful in terms of washing the past away.

Ruh roh raggy! Bad news for the home team. Boo and double boo.

Congrats to the UVA admits! Woot and double woot.

I'm with natofone - I bet UNC decisions come out today. WUSTL wouldn't shock me, either.