icemanyeo

Speaking of the GRE, does anyone have any resources they recommend for studying? I already have a practice test book that I work on, but I'm wondering if there's more (like online classes). I'm pretty much out of the running everywhere pending Yale, so now I'm turning to a 2nd master's as well!

I would also recommend looking at LSE's Conflict Studies MSc. If you apply early enough, you should be able to secure decent funding with a good enough GPA/etc.

Almost had a heart attack after seeing a missed call from Connecticut today.

My cycle is mostly over, so I'll join as well. I might update later once I get my final decisions. PROFILEType of Undergrad Institution: Midwest SLACMajor(s)/Minor(s): Conflict StudiesUndergrad GPA: 3.99 CGPA / 4.00 Major GPAType of Grad: Chinese C9 - Chinese IvyGrad GPA: 4.00GRE: N/AAny Special Courses: Graduate-level Econ, Intro Stats Class, SWE classes in Java and MySQL, Honors Thesis, Graduate-level Political EconLetters of Recommendation: 1 Professor, 1 Associate, 1 EmeritaTeaching Experience: Taught as a lab assistant in Languages dept.Other: Lots of conference presentation experience, two undergrad pubs RESULTS (PHD)Acceptances: N/A (so far)Rejections: Princeton, Chicago, Michigan, Berkeley, Rice, CornellPending: Yale, Concordia LESSONS LEARNED 1. Unless you're in theory, quantitative skills matter more and more every year: The field is leaning towards quant methods as time goes on, so get some coding/technical (R) and stats experience under your belt as soon as you can. 2. Competition for spots is getting much more intense: A lot of schools reduced cohorts of 15-20 people down to 8 this year. 3. Connect with professors early: Don't wait until October or November to email a POI. The sooner you can get in touch with them, the better. 4. Fit is just as important as departmental knowledge: You might have two professors you are interested in working in, but they are leaving the department that year. Fit and information are two of your best assets. This ties into point 3 as well. 5. Don't beat yourself up: Most applications to graduate school are not successful. Rejections are not a reflection on your academic abilities or your personal worth. Make sure you have a good support system and healthy coping mechanisms before going into application season because your stress levels and patience will be tested. I will update once I hear back from my MA programs.

Ah okay, mine says it's still being assessed. When did you submit your application? I did mine in December so I'm wondering if it's truly rolling

Where did you find the information?

MSc in Conflict Studies

Would they be able to work? I know some schools prohibit working off-campus if you hold certain fellowships like McNair.

18-20k is not at all easy depending on location -- you're just a couple thousand above the federal poverty threshold for one person. I've seen graduate students try to survive on that in Miami and the living (and diet) conditions were horrible. If you're American or a permanent resident I would definitely apply for all federal programs (SNAP, etc.) that you might be eligible for with the stipend amount.

Has anyone applied to CEU?

I applied to one of LSE's MSc programs. I'm a bit worried about funding though...

For the people asking about MAPSS, the website says they read roughly 1800 apps last year (815 direct and 968 referred) for a cohort of 250 people. Given COVID spikes in applications, I would expect them to have around 2000-2500 apps total for 250 spots this year. I finally got an email from Chicago to check the portal and they say admissions decisions about MAPSS should be out in mid-March, so in about a month.

I wish there was a way to give feedback about streamlining the application process (in US schools) -- most applications to graduate school are not successful, so knowing decisions by a certain time (say, March 1) gives people enough time to have feasible backups. It's been somewhat frustrating to play cat and mouse while job-searching (we have to eat) because I don't want to accept a position and then get accepted to grad school later on in the process, thus burning bridges in my pretty small practitioner field by appearing like I'm flip-flopping.

So much waiting

Interesting...

I have nothing in my portal so maybe they're sending them in batches.

Did it seem automated? I haven't gotten anything...

Where are you seeing the rejection?

Also claiming a Michigan rejection. Does anyone think we'll hear from Yale this month?

For quant skills, what I am basically doing is: 1) Applying to summer data analytics programs (DPSS, IPAL) 2) Taking some math and econ classes on MOOCs, although I am considering doing them at a CC so I can get a transcript record. 3) Trying to learn R. I previously learnt Java for OOP and MySQL for database programming so I'm hoping it's a bit easier to learn.

I only applied to Concordia btw but their deadline is Feb 1 so I don't expect to hear back until March or April.

I don't expect Concordia until March or April since they have a later deadline (Feb 1). I applied early and was notified my materials were under review since December but not sure if it's rolling admissions or they send them all out at once.

If I do end up planning to reapply next year pending the decisions on my current apps (fyi I think I would probably wait two years, trying to pump out a publishable paper while writing an MA thesis all in one year doesn't sound fun), I would definitely expect the competition levels to be the same or worse. Applicants who got rejected this year will probably snowball to the next cycle, alongside people who waited for COVID pandemic to end so they can have f2f classes -- there's also no shortage in sight of undergrad students interested in applying to PhD programs)

This cycle isn't over for me yet, but I just want to say how thankful I am for this little corner of gradcafe. You have been so positive and supportive, providing advice to others on how to strengthen applications, gain more theoretical/methods knowledge, and helping some nurse their rejection(s). I know gradcafe can sometimes be a bitter and anxiety-inducing space, but you've made it a wonderful part of my application journey this year -- thank you! ☺️

My life these past few days has just been cycling between watching impeachment trials and checking gradcafe/twitter/my inbox ?