beefmaster

7 years?

Have a look at the UK you can do a PhD in three years.

CairoKid...I was here in Cairo during the Revolution too. Who knows...we have probably run into each other.

I am British but I have lived in Cairo since graduating. I would say Cairo is a good option for Arabic, particularly at the moment. British universities will let you defer...don't worry about it.

Also...what is your Arabic level? If I were you, I would take a year to study Arabic in the Middle East before embarking on a graduate programme.

LSE or SOAS (for your subject). Durham does not even come close.

Personally I would go wherever the money is. All the schools you have been accepted to are fantastic. One has given you full tuition. For me this would be financially impossible to turn down. Even if you do have the money / willingness to take loans, imagine how much less pressure there will be on you post graduation if you can really take the time to pick a career based on what you want to do rather than what you are financially obliged to do.

I think I am going to stick in my job and get another couple of years experience and do some more quant courses online. Good luck whatever you decide to do !

$0 at Elliott...declining..good luck people.

Ive heard nothing...guess this means I am out.

Just thought I would post a little update for people worried about their GRE scores. As you can see above my GRE scores are a LOT lower than the average of posters on here and that of the schools I applied to general requirements. But I just received an acceptance for Elliott at GWU. Basically I just wanted to say to future applicants...although obviously it would be great to get a high GRE score, if you don't and have run out of time for a retake, just work on other parts of your application and build a strong profile that way.

in at Elliott

Accepted to GWU

Nobody did but I declined my offer for IHEID, and deferred my offer for Sciences Po. In the end I have decided to continue working for a couple of years in the field then going to do my masters after that.

In Cairo? Me also..

Hahah I had exactly the same reaction!

I don't know who you talked to but I am in contact with a CURRENT student on the international security programme. There has been a HUGE influx of new students in the past year and I assure you that it is 100% true. A quote from the CURRENT student. "The PSIA program at Sciences Po is very new for that reason they are not very organized so this can add more frustration. First semester classes are huge I mean 100 + in most classes and the biggest I had was 595 (yes almost 600 students... I never went)"

I also applied for the MAAS, I will fill in my details once I get back from work. But the short version - good GPA, 2.5 years working in development in MENA, and extensive travel study in MENA. High level of spoken Arabic, Advanced Modern Standard. Yourself?

Huge class sizes (some 500+), poor administration, inadequate library facilities, lack of student support etc.

I have a place to study at Sciences Po in September...deferred from last year. I have heard some good and bad things about the programme. I am still undecided as to whether I will be taking up my place in September.

I believe that the original poster is currently attending Sciences Po

I wouldn't go with the MSc Arab World Studies personally. I met some of the people doing it and their level of Arabic was no way near an academic standard after finishing the course. Also bear in mind that the whole first year of the course is Arabic study (something that you could do much much much cheaper in the Middle East than learning in Edinburgh...not to mention you will learn more!)

It might not be what you need, but the admissions committees will need to see it. You can't just say "my dad worked for USAID for 40 years"

154 V 145 Q Applying for various Middle East Studies programmes at international affairs schools (Georgetown and George Washington) Not feeling too good about it

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): Middle East Studies / IR etc. Schools Applied To: Fletcher (MALD), Georgetown (Arab Studies), George Washington (Middle East Studies), SAIS (Middle East Studies) Schools Admitted To: 0 Schools Rejected From: 0 Still Waiting: All Undergraduate institution: UK university Undergraduate GPA: 1st Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): Undergraduate Major: History GRE Quantitative Score: 145 :( :( GRE Verbal Score: 154 GRE AW Score: ? Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 2 Years of Work Experience: 3 Describe Relevant Work Experience: 2 years at NGO in the Middle East as a Programme Officer. Written proposals, gained funding, and implemented projects from funders such as USAID, MEPI, US Embassy, Irish Embassy, UK Embassy, Sawaris Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy, National Democratic Institute, Finnish Embassy, Swedish International Development Association, Germany Embassy, GTZ, UNDP, New Zealand Embassy, and the American Development Foundation. Managed project budgets in the region of 15,000 USD - 500,000 USD Following the 'Arab Spring' worked on capacity building for new political parties etc. Travelled extensively throughout the Middle East (Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt) and have spent time studying Arabic in both Syria and Egypt. Languages: English (native), Arabic (working knowledge), French (limited knowledge) Quant: Financial management of project budgets as describe above, will be taking intro macro and micro through the University of Oxford school for Continuing Education from Jan - June 2012 Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): Work and travel experience as described above. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): 3 professors from undergraduate institution who I took final year classes with and one of whom was my dissertation supervisor. Anyone got any idea how I stand considering my terrible quant score? Should I even bother paying the fee and submitting my applications?