Thanks for the note and the update, B. CIR is not my clear first choice, but it's the only IR program that I applied to and will be seriously considering it if I get in. I applied to two other MA programs (both MPA), just to diversify my "portfolio" a little. I went to a small liberal arts college in the east coast and my professors told me that CIR was one of the best places to go to if I wanted to do PhD in either economics or political science afterwards (I guess it's because of its analytical -- mathematical? -- rigor) there or elsewhere. I looked at the time from last year when they sent out their results (from this forum) and it seems like they send them out in the first week of March. That's why I am losing patience. I live in Philadelphia. How about you?