polisci09

From what I understand, it's 2 weeks of intensive math training, designed to bring everyone up to speed (as much as possible) before methods classes start. More importantly, according to a few faculty I asked, is the opportunity for the entire first year cohort to meet each other.

from what i understand, grad students tend to avoid housing immediately surrounding campus (my host called it the UG ghetto).

American.

What's your subfield aria?

Good idea! I'm curious to see how big our cohort will be.

I just declined UW-Madison. Officially going to OSU.

UW Madison has a political communication program: http://polcomm.wisc.edu/

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad Institution: public university (unranked) Major(s)/Minor(s): Double Major: Pre-Law Poli Sci and Philosophy/ Minor: General Poli Sci Undergrad GPA: 3.97 (will graduate 3.98) Type of Grad: None Grad GPA: None GRE:710 Verbal 740 Quantitative 6.0 Writing Any Special Courses: 1 semester methods 1 semester stats Letters of Recommendation:2 full poli sci profs, 1 full philosophy prof Research Experience: Published a few articles Teaching Experience: 3 semesters teaching a sophomore level poli sci class, 1 semester TA Subfield/Research Interests: American Politics, institutions: legislative politics, state and local government, interstate relations,judicial politics (maybe Conn Law at some point?) SOP: Obsessed over it. One of the most time consuming parts of the apps process. Other: Laundry list of campus involvement RESULTS: Acceptances($$ or no $$): OSU, UW-Madison, UIUC, Indiana-Bloomington, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh (all funded, 1st year fellowships at Penn State and OSU) Waitlists: None Rejections: None Pending: None Going to: OSU What would you have done differently? I spent too much time worrying about getting in/not getting in, rather than contacting professors, making sure schools were a good fit, etc. I'd say I was pretty successful though.

American politics (institutions)

I have declined four offers so far. Writing the email is horrible! I have declined pittsburgh, penn state, uiuc, and msu.

I got my email from the department (political science). This is my best offer finance-wise so far.

I finally gathered up the courage to send my "more please!" email. The wait to hear back is almost as nerve wracking as waiting for decisions!

Residency rules can be tricky. Depending on the state, requirements are different. At my undergrad institution the registrar's office deals with in state vs. out of state. You might want to give the prospective University's registrar (or equivalent thereof) a call so that your email to the DGS is well informed as to rules/restrictions they might be operating under.

You're right, it is exaggerated. I spoke with the DGS at OSU last Friday. They are aiming for a cohort of 20 students. Two years ago (students in their third year now) the department was too successful--34 students accepted the offer of admission.

As far as declining offers go--who do you guys contact--DGS? Department secretary? Email or send a letter?

Could anyone who's made a visit talk a little about their experiences? I would like to take a trip to the department but am not sure I will be able to.

I just got my funding offer from IU-Bloomington and am hoping someone on this board could comment as to whether this will be sufficient to live on: 16k for the academic year, 4k fellowship for summer. I am hoping not to have to seek other employment. I'm not expecting a luxury apartment, I have no undergraduate debt (or any sort of debt for that matter), and am no stranger to student poverty (though 6 more years of a diet composed entirely of pb&j's and store brand macaroni and cheese does not bode well for my overall health, methinks)

I called Bloomington on Monday. The graduate secretary, Ms. LaRoche, was lovely as always, but didn't know when funding would be decided ("soon" was the response). Apparently details need to be worked out with higher ups outside the ps department. She did say notifications would be delivered by email. Regarding Penn State--did anyone else get an increase in their funding package recently?

My Indiana email from Michael McGinnis came at 4:18pm (eastern).

Well, that's a wrap for me. My cycle is officially over for the year, heard from Indiana this afternoon. Now I just have to decide. Good luck to everyone still waiting!

My field is American politics and 4 faculty members have contacted me.

From reading the posts from last year's cycle, it sounds like Illinois' professors communicate with prospective students more frequently. This may not be the case, but it is what I gleaned from this forum, especially from tidefan's posts last year. Illinois has also been contacting me more than other schools that have accepted me, but this is obviously a small sample to make a generalization about all departments. I only meant that I appreciate the way Illinois professors are being especially outgoing towards accepted students and it is giving me warm-fuzzy feelings about the department, justified or not.

It seems to me that because the fellowships are university-wide, the department is waiting to see what it will need to contribute for individual students. The way I understand the letter is that accepted students will get a funding package with a stipend, its just a matter of determining the source (university or department) and whether it is a fellowship or has teaching/research obligations. Maybe?

Wahoo! Got my OSU email! I'm 3/3...still waiting on the letter from Madison but I do live in a very rural area where the mail is notoriously slow...maybe I'll get it when the snow melts...in May.

my typo: bush v. gore (2004) *Cringe*