Zahar Berkut

Just the name "master's in human rights" raises an eyebrow for me. Even if it comes from a prestigious university, it's not clear who would view this as a qualification-- I can only hope a law school would look favorably on it. A degree in international relations with a focus on human rights will be a lot more flexible and earn respect from a much wider community.

But please, if other forum-goer's have first-hand knowledge of such a degree, do correct me.

Just the name "master's in human rights" raises an eyebrow for me. Even if it comes from a prestigious university, it's not clear who would view this as a qualification-- I can only hope a law school would look favorably on it. A degree in international relations with a focus on human rights will be a lot more flexible and earn respect from a much wider community.

But please, if other forum-goer's have first-hand knowledge of such a degree, do correct me.

I've advised students who have transferred for a variety of reasons, including opting for better funding, a better ranked program, and a group of faculty that better suited their interests. I've got no hard feelings about it at all. If they're happier, I'm happy. More relevant than my own personal views is the fact that I've seen job applications that include letters of recommendation from two different departments because the applicant has transferred in the course of their graduate training while keeping a close relationship with faculty at the school they left. So while people may have different views about this personally, I think the disciplinary norms are not as strong as some posters on here suggest.

Carzola!
 
Remember the above from three weeks ago.  It feels so good to tell you; "I told you so"!  I am VERY happy for you!  Congratulations!
 
 
Never believe the "8ball"!  Lesson learned, I hope!
 
 
 
SUPER DELIGHTED FOR YOU!!!!  Wishing you much success!

In at UPenn. I'm at a loss for words. I'm hoping everyone else who has been shut out so far receives some good news soon (hopefully a few more today who also get into Penn).

I have had a truly unbelievable week, which is why I haven't posted on here in a while. Since last Tuesday, I've received five acceptances, bringing my record to 7 for 7 with 5 left to announce. That's about 7 more acceptances that I was expecting and I am still completely in shock.
 
To all of you who helped me through the long wait, thank you so much. You've been a godsend. 

It's quiet, and I think the waiting is getting to us.
 

 
At least, it's getting to me.

Yep, that was depressing for me, being a first-generation college student!

claiming a Johns Hopkins acceptance.  Full funding and 23k/year stipend.

Interesting, they seem to be doing it piecemeal and very slowly. Judging by the boards, most people have still probably heard nothing.

Well. 
 
Happy to announce that, as someone on here mentioned earlier, hope dies last.
 
1st acceptance of the cycle. To Yale. Just sent up a prayer for everyone still waiting for good news. 
 
Specifics: IR subfield. Received an email from Susan Hyde. I don't remember mentioning her in my SOP (though I've since changed computers so don't have it easily accessible to check!). My guess is that she's sending notifications out for all in the IR subfield.

Just receive informal email from Professor Hyde. Yale accepted.

Claiming UBC ! Also competitive financial offer! After these rough last couple of weeks, incredibly relieved!

Hey folks,
 
Anyone get into T-20 schools, but deferred to see your luck the following year?
 
I'm in a confusing position and aren't sure what to do regarding my apps. Two T-20 schools (at least I believe they fit in that ranking ) accepted me, but I'm really concerned about placement after graduation. For that reason, I'm contemplating deferring and applying for the next round.
 
The two things that would probably change in my app is my SOP and contacts w/ professors. I did a fairly thorough job of discussing my research interests this time around, but did not go into detail regarding methods aside from mentioning I was interested in causal inference. My research into professors was rushed, so while I found the professors I wanted to work with at each univ, I reached out to very few of them. That may or may not have an impact on my decisions.
 
My only hesitation is that I'm not a youngin' and waiting another year to begin seems wasteful. Any guidance is appreciated =D

To HL Slam and any others fearing striking out this cycle, a few thoughts:
 
1) These applications do not define who you are as a person, your intelligence, or your promise as a future academic. If you want to be an academic, you will find ways of strengthening your application and applying again in the future. There are several folks on this forum who should serve as an inspiration... I forget who it was, but I read from one poster that they nailed Columbia after 30 applications. There is hope!
2) All the really good things in life bring with them the risk of failure. If you want it, don't give up. If you choose not to apply in the future, make it your choice. Don't let someone in the shadows drag you down.
3) These applicaitons do not define who you are as a person. A good friend and immensely successful academic once told me that smart is cheap. It can be bought or found on any street corner. Instead, folks who show they can work hard and are of good character will find success in the end in whatever they do.
4) Finally, if you decide an academic career is not for you (and really make it your decision!), remember, that you were even applying to these types of excellent schools suggests you have great skill. That skill can be turned into any number of exciting, meaningful, challenging, and fun careers.
 
In short - getting rejected is the worst. It is hard. But rest assured, it is not a judgment of you as a person. All works out in the end.
 
Edited for terrible spelling.

Congrats to all the Columbia admits.
 
And a giant UGH for everyone who applied and didn't hear anything yet.

3a. Number per cohort with tenure track placement in US within two years
3b. Attrition rate per cohort (3bi: common reasons for attrition)
3c. Share of placement history by subfield
3d. Placement history for POI's advisees
3e. Typical career paths of those who either attrition early or take non-TT position
 
7. Rate and volume of graduate debt, if any (and reasons why, if present)
8. Teaching loads and schedule
 
A few programs participate in the Honest Graduate Numbers initiative, which is a great step in the right direction, but you still need to do some research and counting to figure out the precise trajectory per person of any cohort even for those schools. For schools that don't, I might even ask why they don't make more detailed placement information easily accessible.

Alright, team, I'm about to head to Game Theory.

Loving your signature, FYI!

I just got a revised offer letter from UCSD. Tuition fully taken care of (UCSD is willing to cover the difference between my fellowship and their tuition), first two years without teaching, but departmental stipend on top of fellowship. At least some great news, after today's half-blood bath!

I called--all decisions will be coming out today (rejections, waitlists, and (obviously) acceptances).

I'm applying to grad school, not Wall Street.  If I had $20, I'd buy new socks and the slightly more expensive kind of macaroni and cheese.

Claiming a Washington admit. SO HAPPY!

I can claim a Cornell acceptance!!! This is such a tremendous relief after the presumed rejections of Berkeley, UCLA, and Chicago. I was starting to look up stuff on Americorp in the event that I got across the board rejections. I'm crying my eyes out, this is such a good feeling!