Program Applied To: MA in IR, Security Policy Studies, International Affairs Schools Applied To: American University, George Washington University, New York University, American University of Paris, The New School, Penn State Schools Admitted To: All! Schools Rejected From: None! Undergraduate institution: University of North Florida Undergraduate GPA: 3.4 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.75 Undergraduate Major: Political Science, Minor in International Studies GRE Quantitative Score: 151 GRE Verbal Score: 160 GRE AW Score: 4.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): One Years of Work Experience: 2 Describe Relevant Work Experience: Internship with local chapter of Red Cross. Thought I wanted to go to law school for the longest time so I have two years of experience working in law (non-profit legal aid and corporate defense law). Not technically work experience but in undergrad, I took a course that entailed writing a comprehensive foreign policy memo with my class & we traveled to DC and presented to DoD, DoS, Embassies, CIA, and congressional offices so this probably made my applications look pretty good. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I think it's the best thing I've ever written honestly. I wrote it in bits over probably like five months but that really gave me the opportunity to perfect it. I talked about lengthy papers I've written, research I've done for those papers, and how I've always had a focused subject area within IR which ties into what my long-term career goals are. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): Probably also really good. I asked professors that know me and my work very well and have given me great feedback in the past. One of my recommendations was from the professor who took us to DC. She is a former high-ranking Clinton administration official and is well-known in the field so this likely didn't hurt.
Other: I've officially accepted my offer from NYU! It was a hard decision between GW and NYU but ultimately, I don't see myself working in DC, so New York it is. NYU's program is also the better fit for my academic and career interests, so overall I think I'm making the right decision.
