derekzahav

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): International Relations, Middle East/Arab Studies Schools Applied To: Johns Hopkins (MAIR), Georgetown (Arab Studies), George Washington (Middle East Studies), American University (CRS) Schools Admitted To: Georgetown ($0), George Washington, and American (each around $35k) Schools Rejected From: JHU (I applied to the Italy campus for my first year. After I submitted my application, I got an email asking me to choose DC or IT for my first year.) Still Waiting: None Undergraduate Institution: UW Seattle Undergraduate GPA: 3.79 Undergraduate Major: Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Linguistics GRE Quantitative/Verbal/AW Scores: V:165 / Q:158 / W:5.0 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 10 Years of Work Experience: 10 Describe Relevant Work Experience: I taught English abroad for two years in the Middle East and one year in South America. After coming back to the states, I ended up working manual labor jobs for way too long. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): In addition to answering the questions, I felt like I had to interpret my work history in a way that showed that I was still engaged with international affairs despite not working in the field. This didn't leave me with much room to work with. I started with AU's essays, which gave me the most words to work with. Then I whittled it down, adjusting things to accommodate the next shortest essay, repeating the process for each of the four schools. Strength of LOR's (be honest, describe the process, etc): I didn't read them, but they probably weren't the greatest. I asked one professor who I had taken three classes with and had given me two 4.0s, but he never replied to any of my emails. Luckily, I was able to get a former TA to write a letter of rec for me. The other was from my boss at work. Other: I filled my resume with anything and everything related to academics that I could think of. Zoom events, audiobooks on international affairs, even my basic abilities in French and Turkish (credit to Duolingo) all found their way onto my resume.