jjiffy

I reached out to the OSU DSG yesterday and she got back to me quickly via email. She said they are working on sending out official emails to all admits but they'll have to wait until mid February to hear back from the University-wide funding competition. At least it means that the acceptance on the portal wasn't a glitch...which was something my anxiety-riddled mind had started to worry about!

Just received official rejection from Madison. Congrats to all those that got acceptances! 1a/1r/9p

Also claiming an OSU admit for IR subfield. I havent gotten an email yet but I just checked the portal. I never got an interview request.

Are you me? One of my letter writers has gone silent too, so fingers crossed! I'm applying to MIT but I haven't noticed any problems, what's your issue?

I am hoping to specialize in international relations with a focus on international security. Undergrad GPA: 3.7. Major in International Affairs and minor in History. Private school, around #50-60, but top 10 in IR. GRE: 168V/160Q/5.5AWA (My first attempt was 166/159/4.5) LORs: Three strong letters. One is from my thesis advisor who is a major senior professor in the field. The second is from a pretty well known professor in security studies who I had in the past and is teaching my grad-level independent study. My last letter is from the director of my fellowship program who I know really well and has taught me for three semesters. Writing Sample: I'm planning to use a final paper I wrote for a research seminar at the end of Junior year. I'm still working on my thesis so its not ready, and my research seminar paper is more aligned with my grad school interests anyway. I explain my shift in research interests in my SOP so it makes a little more sense. Statement of Purpose: I think it is very strong. I've had multiple professors and peers look over it and have received good responses. Research Experience: Two year research program/fellowship. Junior/Senior level research seminar (paper currently under review, was supposed to present at a conference at my school but was cancelled due to COVID). Awarded Undergrad Research Award at my institution. Schools (PhD): Stanford, UChicago, MIT, Berkeley, UCSD, UCLA, UW Madison, Ohio State, Duke, Georgetown, Cornell. I think the first couple are more of long shots but I'm expecting it to be rough this year for every school. Thought's on if they are in reach?

Hey! Great to see you are looking at CIR! I am applying to PhD programs this cycle but I am also applying to CIR because PhD admissions are a total crap-shoot and its a great program. One of the profs I do work with is a CIR alumnus and he thought I'd be a strong candidate for significant funding with my 3.7 GPA, a thesis, and strong LORs. My point being, I'm not sure what a strong CIR candidate looks like but thats my profile and he thinks its good. Make of that what you will. Your 3.95 is great, but I think you'll be facing a bit of an uphill battle. This is total conjecture, but only a year and a half of college classes just isnt much for an adcomm to judge you off of. I may be totally wrong though. GRE is weird this year, but it might be helpful for you to take it to provide the committee with a standardized measure of performance. Research experience would probably help, especially since CIR is a pre-doctoral program, but they probably give more leeway since its an MA program. Most importantly, what are your LORs like? In the last year and half, have you made strong connections with any profs? For some other programs: I'd look into Columbia and LSE's 1-year MSc International Relations (Research). I'm not super familiar with MA programs, but those are decent options. Good luck this year!

Hi everybody! I am currently in my last year of undergrad and new to the forums. I'm putting together my application materials and I'd like some input on what schools are reasonably in range for me. Thanks in advance! Undergrad Institution: Mid-size private 50ish. Well-ish ranked PoliSci program, top-10 international affairs school. Major/Minor: International Affairs (focused on PSC classes)/History GPA: 3.7 total and major. GRE: 168/160/Pending. First attempt was 166/159/4.5. Special Courses: Research Methods, Junior/Senior research seminar, 2 year research fellowship cohort junior/senior year. Lots of seminars. Independent study of graduate theories of international relations supervised by well known professor. LORs: Will get a very strong letter from my fellowship project advisor who is one of the top/most respected profs in the field, a strong letter from adjunct my research seminar advisor who is not well known, and a letter from my independent study prof who also taught me in another course. I'm not sure if the last one will be outstanding. Writing sample: Unsure what to submit. Will likely rework my research seminar final paper from junior year. My main funded project will not be ready and is not what I want to focus on in grad school. Research experience: 2 year research fellowship cohort - working on the final paper. Have won $5,000 grant to work on it over the summer and throughout the remainder of the year. Research seminar in spring of junior year. The final paper will be submitted for review by the time of applications. I was slated to give a presentation for that paper at our undergrad research fair but it was cancelled due to COVID. Other: My biggest concern is my lack of quant skills. My undergrad research has all been qualitative and I got a C+ sophomore year in my only stats class. I did receive an A in my IA research methods class however. I want to do a PhD in international relations with a focus on international security and conflict. My current list includes UChicago, Stanford, UCSD, Berkeley, Ohio State, MIT, Georgetown, and Duke. Are these within reach? Are there others I should be applying to? Thanks!