mypolisciguy

I received an acceptance. Cannot confirm if all acceptances were given out, or not, however.

Like any other troll, they get a rise out of making people overreact - either positively, but especially negatively.

Apparently Harvard is reducing it's cohort to 8 this year (I don't know if this is actually true or not though). For reference, it's usually like 20-30.

Canadian MA programs really aren't that competitive to get into. I'm sure if you apply to a few you would have no problem getting acceptances.

This + why should they really care? Programs are going to do what's convenient for them, the professors on the committee, and the staff.

Guys. Just because someone is in a grad program doesn't mean they have any insights whatsoever on the current admissions process.

From past cycles it appears to be most commonly the former.

I don't disagree with the above; and I do agree that there are myriad indirect ways to signal to ADCOMs that you know what you are getting into. However, I would say - contrary to popular belief - there's only one thing that really separates the great apps from the good ones: the ability to frame research questions and go about answering them in a cohesive and structured manner. The only real places to do this effectively is your SOP and writing sample, both of which heavily rely on your ability to write. 300-500+ people apply to these top programs, there's dozens and dozens with perfectly fine applications. There's comparatively fewer with legitimate writing samples and properly framed puzzles.

In my humble opinion, this is the only thing from your list that really matters. Professionalization (in this context) is the degree to which you can show that you can operate and function in a scholarly community. Knowing how to do multilevel models, survey experiments, or RDDs, and thinking that it is the predominant approach to studying politics, doesn't make you any more professionalized. Being able to present and publish original research does, however.

You're not my colleague, just some guy on the internet claiming my first acceptance of the cycle is fake.

It kind of annoys me when people think that because x program released results on y date in the past z year, that they will undoubtedly release them at the exact time the next year(s). Northwestern released results last year on Jan. 20th. In what world is it it 'too early?' You know how I know you are wrong though? Because of the acceptance in my inbox.

I think it's a fairly safe assumption that there is a decent chunk of programs - even top ones - that will have reduced cohort sizes this cycle.

UT is a virtual lock for Jan. as well. Although, now that I checked sometimes they release in early Feb haha.

Wouldn't surprise me that many more departments do interviews this cycle. The costs of setting up a zoom interview are very low.

Comparative.