icedance

For people still waiting for Yale, they are not done: ‘We have not finished notifying applicants of their acceptance to our program. We hope to notify all applicants by the end of the week“ Just emailed them. Good luck for all!

saltlakecity2012, thank you~~ I emailed DGS on Thu and at that moment, no any decision made yet. Then so many acceptance poped out yesterday. I did not want to bother them any more. Thanks! At least, you have so many nice choices. Congratulations!

So Columbia is also done this year? My hope collapsed finally.

Hey all Got a letter from my POI, said my background is very strong that he is interested in me. But he also asked where else I have applied for. This program is my safe school and all the others I applied for are better than it. Unfortunately, I got some rejections from the others already. So, this one becomes very important for me. What do you guys think I should reply? Thank you! Good luck to all of you!!

No reply from UCSD yet, anyone is the same situation?

Still got nothing from UCSD. What does this mean? I am here, actually, whether I should just go to their office to ask?

Same here, mine is not yet. Still hold slim hope though. BTW, UCB seems come out now~~ Wisconsin, Umich are out. Should I still have hope?

Yep, I have the same question. For Duke, where we should check our status or just ApplyYourself. They emailed me an Identification Number, but I don't know whether I need it to check status? Thank you~~

According to last years' survey of Gradcafe: Duke Feb 3rd, rej and acceptance come together via email or website; Stanford Feb 4 rej will be by email; acceptance by phone, seems Umich most of the outcomes turn out on Feb 4, the earliest one is Feb1, coming with both rej and acceptance. Some acceptance extends later. Let's see next week!!!

Mine of Wisconsin is also pending~~ So it means rejection, right? Just need to wait longer time to get a confirmation

Haha~~~ 新年快乐！！！ I am Chinese! Glad to get greetings from this website!! Thank you Blackcoffee64 and Secret Squirrel WIsh all of us get offers from dream school!

Hey All I have an urgent question about the letter. One of my letter writer is currently just told me today that he is busy in doing his research that he won't write my letter until mid December. Some deadlines are early Dec that he could not make it. I am wondering could he submit the letter later than the deadline. I will finish all the other materials on time. Thanks!

Hey Guys I have a question for re-application. I have applied master program 3 yrs ago and ended with rejections for most programs. After 3 yrs, I have improved with better GRE, better English, better letters and a Master program. I am wondering does my history record matter for my current application? You know, when I fulfill the application system online, they always ask me about this story and even I need to write a little essay about "If you are reapplying for graduate study at XXX, describe how your academic qualifications have changed and whether you were previously admitted" Is it important? Thanks

Hey~~ I have a question about the online application information that you need to provide. There is one: List faculty members (if any) with whom you have consulted or corresponded regarding your application. Include contact date. What's this for? Should I fulfill it with the faculty names? I tried to contact someone, but they are just polite as to everyone. you know. Does it matter a lot? Thanks

As an international student here, I have to tell you frankly that it is almost impossible for them to enroll international student unless you have your own funding. All the International student I know here is that they got funding from their own government or some other resources. I even give it up.

Thank you guys! Very helpful

Hey All I am thinking of whether I should get a letter from my undergraduate program. I have my under in China, although the best program. Now I am studying in U.S and 3 letter writers are all senior professors, who are famous in each subfield. But someone suggest me to get one still from my under program because I studied 4 years there, while only 2 yrs in U.S. What do you guys think? Of course, the one I get from under can not compete with American professors at reputation. Thanks

Hey pttlm, I am also a non-native speaker and have the same problem for low AW score, even worse than you. I have asked for help 1 month ago. You may find the old posts. One from Zahar Berkut might also be helpful for you. I have heard very often that many political science admissions committees ignore the GRE writing score because they can see your writing themselves in your writing sample. While I have also heard that low AW grades "look bad," and that the "average" student at a top 10 department has a 5.5, they also insist that all candidates are evaluated on an individual basis. Just make sure you put in a lot of effort drafting the personal statement and really proving to the admissions committee why your background and your interests match the department well. If you are planning to do more quantitative or formal theory work, the writing score probably matters even less. Be sure to clean up the tiny little grammatical errors that you might have. Good Luck

Thank you for all of your kind advice and suggestions. The most important thing is that your feedback inspires me to realize I need to put more efforts on writing. Thanks again

Hey Wordup, thank you for your advice! Unfortunately, Polisci for sure, and CP or IR for the subfield. ╮(╯▽╰)╭sad, what else could I do

Hey all I need advice for my GRE test grades. I have just taken it last month and got 680 (V) + 800 (Q), but the AW is only 3. I feel so surprise the moment I saw the grades. I am an international student from China. But after 2 years master studying in US, my academic writing has improved a lot that I can write a long paper without many grammar mistakes. Some of the professors also think there is no big problem when read my papers after consultation. I also put a lot of efforts to prepare for the writing and asked help from native speaker. Never such bad case happen on any of my practice. Do I need to retake it? Does it really matter that much as I am an international student? I think my Verbal part is no space for any improvement and I am even not sure I can get the same high grade in the new test. If I don't want to retake it, is there any way that I can make something up? Like asking some professor to mention my writing ability on the letter? Or? Please give me some advice~~~~~ Please!!! I feel so desperate now. I want to apply some top 20 programs with my master GPA 3.6 and under GPA 3.6. My under college is the best in China and I have my master in UCSD. Is it possible for me to make it based on such low AW grade? Thank you so much