Bukharan

I am not in your field but I thought I'd post. I actually live opposite the Edinburgh College of Art. I pass tens of its students on my way to school (U Edinburgh) in the morning. I hope you know that it was incorporated into the University of Edinburgh just this year, so I am not sure how tuned their programmes are at the moment. Edinburgh is a great great great place to live. I love it here: it is a small yet also a big city with a vibrant cultural life. Yes, people are way nicer here than in London. Persoanlly, I can't imagine living in London - you do know how expensive it is, right? (you do know how cheap Edinburgh is compared to other big UK cities, right? ) Rent in London is excruciating and getting home from school may take more than an hour. In Edinburgh, you can get a great apartment for half of what you'd pay in London for something very small but central (or something bigger but suburbian) and everything is within walking distance. As for the reputation of the two schools - I can't comment on that. I think St. Martin's is more of a brand name - everything knows about it. But, really, you probably know more on this. Good luck deciding! You have two great options there!

1. I wish you the best with accommodation. I really hopes it all works out for you! 2. I had EXACTLY the same day yesterday. Hahaha. Faxed everything, sent one e-mail, send the second e-mail, then got a response that my documents have been received and I shall be contacted if anything is missing. 3. Yes, I am hoping for the same timing to have everything sorted out - roughly 2 months. I will be booking flights earlier though. I know there is risk involved but ... yeah, booking earlier.

Sent you a PM. Check inbox.

Got my first priority! Rains House 2BR Yuri Gagarin, I am sorry to hear you were not assigned. I don't think you should worry. The Housing webpage with regards to the lottery statistics mentions that some students who are guaranteed accommodation (because they ticked that box that they are willing to live anywhere) were not assigned in the first round but they are still guaranteed a place. You want, of course, to double-check with them. I was also panicking recently, actually. Did all international students get the I-20 form already? I only applied today. I hope this is not too late. I am still panicking.

Hi! We already talked about this but I will just add that, perhaps, you could track some TAU, Hebrew University or Bar-Ilan's American Masters alumni online (as stalkerish as it sounds) and ask them what they think. They will be the ones who can give the best answer with regards to career prospects after a degree in Israel. As for safety of living in Israel, it is much safer than living in London, LA, NYC or Chicago, I am sure. From what I've experienced, studying and living in Israel is amazing, and the quality of teaching and research there is of pretty good standard. Not sure whether it is best suited for your particular career objectives though. I hope there is someone on this forum who can be more helpful!

Funny that. I have actually been warned by someone already in Stanford about the same thing - apparently those flats were indeed meant for one person only.

I feel that it won't necessarily help you to 'get in' but it can certainly impress the faculty, upon the secondary look at your application, once they decide that you are in, based on your academic qualifications and interests.

I am not in English but, if no one minds, will share my thought here. In the past, it used to be the norm to move to a Ph.D. straight from a B.A. So, by no means, should you be concerned with doing anything 'the other way'. You are actually sticking to the classical system. (It also means that your application was excellent once you've been chosen without an MA in the pool of many MA-holding applicants, so congratulations!!) I suggest you read plenty of articles (think the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed etc.) about the state of higher education in general and the health of your field, in particular. It is a purely practical advice. You will then be more aware of the practical issues and concerns in your field once you start your Ph.D. and will know certain vocabulary that panicking academics will be using all the time. Knowing of what is happening in academia at large may also help you determine your priorities (when to start applying for conferences, submitting articles for review and publication etc.) early in the game!

I am heading to the Bay Area but (hopefully) not moving any stuff there. Just wanted to thank you for sharing with us the information. I feel like £100/m3 is a fairly good price... if the stuff you are moving is actually nice, as you said.

talons1025, I sent you a PM. Yes, I meant the MA Middle Eastern Studies programme. It is strongly affiliated to the Department of Middle Eastern and African History (which is, once again, amazing - I love it - but there will be an emphasis on history). On your next point, I am afraid I do not know much about the Ben-Gurion University and that particular programme. One thing to keep in mind (and I am trying to be facetious here): the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev will actually be in the Negev. The desert, you know. In the south of Israel. Sand and stones, and crazy high temperatures. No Tel Aviv beach and chique or Jerusalem's cultural heritage. cooperstreet, I am afraid I don't know much about Georgetown. Yes, the MAAS has a great reputation. There is a general assumption that those looking for DC/federal jobs favour Georgetown, and that their Dept of Arabic and Islamic Studies, complemented by the Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies, is one of the best places in the world to learn about contemporary Arabic-speaking Middle East. Which other ME-related programmes Georgetown offers? Their SSP (Security Studies Program) is of course great but I don't know whether once can choose to focus in the Middle East in that programme.

If you are interested in foreign service, Arabic and security studies, then I would recommend Georgetown. It is a great great place for Arabists. I can actually comment on the Tel Aviv programme. I absolutely love it. They have great faculty (many educated in America's top schools), very good research facilities and friendly environment. And it is in the heart of the Middle East, of course. Students usually get to study both Hebrew and Arabic over two years' time, and normally acquire solid proficiency in Hebrew (and good command Arabic) by the end of it. Perhaps, there is another programme there of which I don't know - but the one I am talking about has a focus on Middle Eastern history rather than ME politics/security studies. Many students on the course will be interested in (very) historical aspects of the Arab world (and there will be a chunk of Jewish Studies people). Hope this helps.

It is a very broad query. You need to tell us more about your academic background (how long have you studies the Middle East? which languages do you speak? what are your general academic interests - as in what era and which region of the ME?) and what you need the degree for (basically, do you entertain a hope of getting into policy-making or academia). Then, I am sure, many of people on the forum will be able to help. Please, don't generalise. There are excellent universities in the USA with good funding (if you get it); when it comes to MES, there are also excellent universities in the UK (and the rest of Europe) with good funding (if you get it). There is also a whole range of very good, good and mediocre programmes on both sides of the Atlantic. Besides, the very nature of graduate study in the USA and elsewhere is so different that it makes the broad comparison meaningless as either system has its advantages and drawbacks, depending what you are looking for at grad school.

Your verbal and quantitative scores are excellent. Your GPA is great. In your case, I don't think the AW score plays any role at all. Your stats should be enough for your application to be looked at by admissions officers. You, of course, know, I am sure, that it is your academic interests, research experience and 'faculty fit' that will get you in your dream school and different [near-perfect] scores are only for a 'tick'! So far, your scores provide you with a great starting point! Well done and all the best to you!

I would wait until the end of the summer, at the very least. There is definitely no harm e-mailing professors now. The risk is that by the time they look at all submitted applications (around December-January), they may forget your name. Besides, on their mind will be the names of those whose e-mails they have just read. It is awful to break down admissions strategies to such crude practical considerations but ... c'est la vie. The very best to you!

Wait... what is the impact factor? In any case, I feel so honoured.

Hahaha! Good answer!

Nope. Getting distinction is probably way harder than getting A-. It depends on the school, of course, but I would say: Straight As = 70%+ B+/A-/A = 60-70% B/B- = 50-60%

Totally approve of your intentions to find a group to get a house ... but I just couldn't let it go unnoticed. Did you absolutely have to say you were a straight male? Well, thank you for sharing.

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Although I am anything but an expert: 1. First-class Honours (1st), Second-class Honours, upper division (2:1), as well as 2:2 and 3rd are degree classifications. You get one or another depending on your grades. As far as I am aware, those different classifications are mostly used for undergraduates. For postgraduates (Master's only), it is either Distinction (which roughly corresponds with the undergraduate 1st) or ... well, a degree without a distinction. For the sake of comparison, in my university, Distinction is awarded to postgraduates with the average coursework grade of 67% and a dissertation of minimum 70%. Undergraduates are awarded a 1st class degree if they have an average of 67%. 2. Yeah, I don't think it matters whether the subject of second Master's is different. I would think that a common assumption could be that if you already have a BA and a Master's degree, it would not be particularly fair to other funding-seeking students if you are awarded funding for your second Master's. I am not saying that I agree or disagree with this views, of course.

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