The_Immigrant_Albatross

Yusss! All the best to you too!

I applied for the Development Studies programme. It's amongst my top 3 choices -- depends on scholarships/financial aid etc. Although IHEID is relatively inexpensive, Geneva isn't. So I have to wait on scholarship applications etc. before deciding.

Oh, oh. All the best with UVA! Ya, NUS is quite expensive. As is Singapore in general. But they do offer a fair range of scholarships, so here's hoping! And I can't accept my offers because they all require a deposit to be paid. Don't wanna do that. Instead, I'm just going to wait till the very end of the deadline and hope that I receive all responses by then!

Same here -- radio silence. I had attended an NUS webinar a couple of months ago where they said that they'll respond anytime from February to May. And they may or may not interview you before accepting/rejecting. The problem with waiting for so long is that I'll have to respond to other universities!

Hey, did'ja hear back from them?

Applied in mid December, got an offer on 1 February.

It means your application is complete with all documents + formalities and is now ready to be reviewed by the admissions office / selection committee who will finally decide whether or not you get in.

Ah, I see! I guess it works out well for me since I applied to places in UK but not France. On a related note, one page on the IHEID website does refer to it as statement of purpose as well, so I guess they're okay with essays too. "...Our selection committees give priority consideration to academic achievement and motivation. Academic achievement is documented using transcripts and recommendations. Motivation factors should be clarified in the cover letter/statement of purpose..." (https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/application)

Hey, I don't know if I'm late to answer this but there are mixed opinions about this. Many people feel a motivation letter should be in a letter format (including a lot of applicants for MDev 2021). However, personally, I feel that it is unnecessary and wastes words and that it's okay to write it in an essay format as well (sans the "Dear" and "Regards/Yours sincerely" etc.). A friend of mine got in last year and she'd submitted an essay itself, so I'm hoping it works!

Hey, I've applied for the MPP programme too. Haven't heard anything yet. I had attended a webinar a few months ago, and if I remember correctly, they'd said that they could inform us anytime from February to May! Hopefully, it doesn't take that long tho'!

Hello! I have applied for the MPP programme at Hertie as well! I had submitted my application on 9 December but it was completed only on 17 December after all my LORs were submitted. I head back from on 1 February (ACCEPTED!). I read somewhere that they take 4-5 weeks to get back, but that's only an estimate. Also, they take longer during holidays (Christmas/New Year's) and around February because that's when they assess the priority deadline applications. I'm applying for development studies and public policy both. The way I see it -- both courses are pretty similar in the subject matter taught, with slight differences in approach, I guess. P.S. I have a background in law and have work experience in the corporate/financial sector as well as the social/education sector.