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LOL! I feel like that's something my family would say. In fact, prior to applying, one of my grandfathers asked me "Why do you want to get a PhD? You're just going to end up working at (local grocery store), anyway." *facepalm*

I wear stuff from my undergrad (heck, even my high school) all the time. No one looks at me strange. Now if your alma matter were a huge rival (i.e. Big 12 schools), wear it at your own risk. I have a friend who thrilled in wearing his KU stuff. He got some testy looks, especially on game day. Regarding whether professors care about sweats, well...I think it depends on the prof. There's one prof in my dept who often wears baseball hats, and jeans or sweats. Then there are those who wear Oxfords every day. Most are really relaxed, though. A lot of the older (male, interestingly) TAs are more "dressed up" than the profs. My TA prof asked only that I don't wear jeans on the day I teach, lecture days she doesn't care. Perhaps ironically, I am often teased by profs because I am the most dressed up person in our entire dept. Even on jeans days I'm usually wearing lots of jewelry and curl my hair and I never go to campus without make up. (What can I say? When I was 13 I wanted to be a fashion designer.lol)

Provided I get in, I'll be editing my thesis for journal publication, editing a paper I wrote last year for a journal pub, and working retail. Come August, I'll move. If I don't get in, I'll still rework the thesis, work retail, and move. I'll just be adding "job-hunting" to the list.

All that matters is that you're happy and you get in the places that fit you the best. Congrats!

Do you know when the poli sci PhD's had to have their apps in? The fact that my SAIS PhD app was only due about 2 weeks ago is why I keep trying to tell myself not to freak out (too much).

As someone without a car, you're going to want to live right near or on campus (I believe a lot of the international students live in Tara Apts), or in the apartment complexes that aren't university run but are like, 98% undergrads which offer bus services as part of living there. Those would be The Reserve, Campus Lodge, Gateway at Columbia, Grindstone Canyon, Brookside Townhomes, Broadway Apartments, and the Cottages of Columbia. I do NOT recommend The Reserve. There are also three apartment buildings *directly* on the campus that are not campus-run but are VERY difficult to get into. As a note, all stores (mall, grocery, Walmart, Target, etc) are located on sort of opposite ends of town and away from the university. So you will either have to use the not-awesome-but-not-worst-ever public transportation, or make friends with someone who has a car. ETA: if you enjoy biking, this town is for you. I know people with cars that prefer to bike to campus and the stores. I personally think it's too far, but perhaps, not being a lazy American, you wouldn't find it too bad.

This freaks me out since they haven't even contacted me back regarding my missing GRE scores. I will not fret until someone posts a SAIS result. I will not fret until someone posts a SAIS result. I will not fret until someone posts a SAIS result...

I'm going to be a nervous wreck that week.

My school has separate MA and PhD, though we take the same classes. The dept says if you fail comps, basically you get a masters. If you're a masters student who decides to stay for the PhD, you're pretty much a shoo-in as long as you pass the thesis defense and fill in the application. It's more red tape than actually applying.

This makes me feel so much better. Especially since the admissions secretary was seemingly not in today. I'm glad I'm not the only one having GRE issues with them.

Good luck!

Email which told me to check the website. Had a standard rejection letter waiting. For GWU, I actually applied to The Trachtenberg School. I ride a very fine line between IR and policy and thought a policy school might be better suited for what I wanted, but apparently not.

Maybe they just really hated me?lol I noticed one or two other GWU results on the board that day, though, so I'm not entirely alone in knowing the decision.

About 1/3 of mine was as well, but that still ended up being approx 10 sentences because my essays had to be between 500-700 words. Hard to get in-depth. :/

I think lying about this would make it worse. Both for your mental health and if people did find out later. I think most people would feel more betrayed if lied to. As for me, I wouldn't care. I've heard enough stories about varying academics who have had similar situations. Some are bad, some end well. I personally don't make judgements, especially since you started dating after you'd graduated. (If you were dating WHILE in their class, I would have issues, the same way a boss dating an employee is just...awkward) I think people will judge, but it's up to you whether you let it bother you. I know my school has many spousal hires, so I don't know if it would influence jobs, but it might be something to consider.

I just got an email from one of my schools informing me they haven't received by GRE scores. The application was sent in 2 weeks ago and the GRE scores ordered more than a week before that. I was terrified at first it would be a rejection email but this is almost worst. I have to decide whether to email the school, or not worry about it since I know the money for ordering the score has been taken out (again, well over 2 weeks ago), or what. And of course, I can't do anything until tomorrow, now. Bad timing on that email! Anyone else ever had this problem before? I'm freaking out now because it feels so unprofessional. I mean, I wouldn't accept me if I couldn't get a simple application together on time. But I honestly don't know why they haven't recieved it and I certainly have no control over ETS. Frak. ETA: Someone posted an acceptance on the results board for that school so now I'm truly terrified. I don't want them to accept people before they even review my app!

What field and what type of program are you going into? I could give you a few core IPE or CP articles and books to check out just based on your mention of econ, but it would be easier if I knew exactly what you were going in for. Also, most of my recommendations would be quantitative "classics" versus those true political classics (such as Plato, Machiavelli, all of which are no-nos to talk about at my school since we don't have a political thought emphasis) so if you're going into a more qualitative program, any suggestions might not be as helpful.

Check out Caprica after. It's a totally different feel, but interesting because of it. Other good sci-fi: Firefly, Dollhouse, Stargate: Atlantis, Being Human isn't bad so far (and take note that I loathe vampire/werewolf stories usually), V is decent. Personally, my outlet is yoga. And I'm currently going through Star Trek: Enterprise.lol

The first go around, I got those same reactions. I love when people assume getting in or out of grad school is like being on trial. No, I can't appeal a decision, tyvm. They clearly thought I wouldn't work, end of line. This time, I'm not telling anyone about my rejections. I'd rather not have the statements of pity I'd get from my competitive fellow grad students. If I get accepted I'll shout it from the rooftops (I remember when I got the acceptance last time, I was practically bawling with joy), but otherwise, aside from *having* to inform my advisor, I'll just quietly graduate and move on.lol

I would highly recommend University of Missouri, actually. And no, not just because I go there.lol If you're an Americanist, I'm sure you know Dr. John Petrocik's work. He recently returned from sabbatical and will be working with students again this year (so you'd be good coming in next fall). I'm not an Americanist, but I do know that this is one of the best midwest schools for them (and my friends love the program). I am, however, in the policy department. If you're looking for a political science PhD, you certainly can make policy your secondary choice. I will let you know at Mizzou it's very research based - not at all practical application. However, if you really like policy, we also have the Truman School of Public Affairs which shares a few professors with the poli sci department and often, PhD students dip into its faculty for their dissertations and take their outside classes over there. I don't know about political communication specifically, but I do know we've had several masters and PhD students with papers/dissertations on media and politics as well as how politicians/politics interacts with the public, so I suspect you'd be okay studying that topic at Mizzou. Sorry I can't help with other programs, not being an Americanist, but I hope what little knowledge I have will help.

Awesome. Let's do it.

Sigma Sigma Sigma. I am an alum, though. I keep meaning to sign up to volunteer for it (since I can't be an active member) on my current campus; first semester just got me distracted.

If I was good at math, I'd have been an astrophysicist. As it is, I like to study weaponization of space because that's the closest to the sky I can get in my field.lol

Love this idea! Anyone in the midwest? I'm specifically in Missouri, but could travel to the states surrounding it for a weekend at some point.

God, that sounds amazing. Also, exactly the kind of things I love to study. I, personally, straddle the line between the two as well, but discovered that political thought is rapidly becoming dead in the academic world. It's become a sort of subgenre in philosophy, but even then, seems fairly rare. I'm glad to hear LSE at least still has a dept/program for it. I'm feeling a bit torn right now and am considering actually slipping in applications for some philosophy PhD programs along with my poli sci ones next fall.