Bukharan

Alex, you are an excellent candidate! Your GPA and GRE are perfect, you have research experience and languages! Don't worry! But do apply for other programmes just in case.

Hahaha. Great thread! I spent five years of undergrad and Master's wondering why after high school I did not apply to Berkeley ... or somewhere in gay Italy?!

Cambridge - for asking to send LORs in mail. Absolute favourite - U Chicago. Their application system is simple, pretty and it is easy to check the supplementary materials status after the application is in. And, yes, Harvard's financial form is amusing. A minefield of non-ticked boxes.

... Could you reference under 'B' - The Bible?

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I am glad that someone had courage to be more straight-forward and less diplomatic. But... yes. Spot on!

I suggest you look up the website of LSE (London School of Economics and Political Science). Surely, they have some joint degrees in their two premier subjects.

Hmmm... Look, check UK University ratings. If you will have to pay for that Master's degree, then I suggest you look at alternative options in the USA. Having said that, I do not know anything about that particular programme. Maybe it's good. But check the ratings - the university ones and the subject ones.

I think it absolutely normal that the online status has not been updated yet. One of my schools let my know by e-mail that they will be updating the online status of my supplementary materials only in January. However, it is your right to call and ask! If you want to put your mind at ease, go for it!

Amazing! Well done you! Hopefully, it is the stepping stone into something amazing!

good call

stinging nettle

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I haven't checked my applications as it is pointless... until February! I am a GradCafe addict. I keep checking every half an hour. I need something to distract me. ... I need a new TV show to watch. Any ideas?

You applied to a lot of schools! You will be fine! Don't worry! I think many people are nervous!

I am not sure how many students they admit every year but one must remember that it is not just the Middle East they are doing - also South Asia and Africa. How many 'Islamic Law' students they admit I don't know. Perhaps, you should contact Professor Hallaq. If I am not mistaken, he is actually the graduate advisor this year. He may tell you more about the programme, admissions, the correlation of your and his academic interests. I am afraid I am one of those typical 'MES' students who did Middle Eastern Studies for several years and lived and studied in the Middle East. By the way, if you are thinking of Damascus, I would highly recommend it for Arabic. Syria is absolutely gorgeous! Arabic Language Institute at the Univ. of Damascus is excellent. I shouldn't worry prematurely about the lack of language. Contact the faculty - ask them questions, what is best for you and not, whether they are interested in your proposed research? Have you considered other schools? Oxford?

Talk them and explain the situation. Some departments may be understanding. I contacted all of mine and asked them whether it was ok for me to send my transcripts myself - all in sealed envelopes (provided by my universities yet envelopes were completely plain) - which I put in a single package. All universities said 'yes'.

Hi! I applied for the Columbia MESAAS for Fall 2011. I am currently in Britain. Feel free to text me to chat. As you pointed out correctly, it really is a great department, one of the best in America and admissions is tough. I have a friend who is currently doing Masters there. MESAAS is very much into theory - perhaps, to a greater extent than other schools. But have a look at their website. From my experience, it is one of the most informative departmental websites that I came across.

A caption from my latest dream. Simon Cowell wearing university robes: You don't have an X-Factor. It's a 'No'.

Ideally, they should be received by the deadline. If they are only sent by the deadline, nothing can be guaranteed of course but I doubt any school would get rid of your application or submit it to the review board without the transcripts verified. They will get them a week late - so what? This happens. It would be great to avoid such scenarios of course. Don't worry!

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Holy Land

It is a respect issue. If there is a chance that by not trusting enough, you may offend your referee (a person who can make THE difference for you in the admissions process), why would you not waive?