flatcoat

You don't say whether you want a PhD or a master's. When I reread your post, I got the feeling you may be thinking master's, some work experience, and then a PhD in order to become a professor. This is a good path (one I did myself). However, I can't advise on master's in the States as I did mine overseas. I just went through the PhD admissions process for IR/environmental policy, so the below is advice is in reference to that. There are a lot of options for you, especially if you want to study energy policy. A little research should turn them up - I'd recommend checking out Harvard's Belfer and Columbia's SIPA to start. Also Duke's Nicholas School. Colorado State is good but I rejected it as not enough of an international focus for me. I'm in IR with a focus on water policy (my program started this summer and I'm currently overseas on an introductory research program in watershed management and international environmental law). Like the second poster said, you may need to cobble your program together yourself. I ended up accepting an offer from a school that has a somewhat strong focus on environmental issues in their poly sci department, but I was also awarded an NFS fellowship that has me doing work in the environmental policy center, which is in the engineering school. My degree will be in poly sci, but I will be doing cross-disciplinary work, which was my goal. I also have a very weak science and math background (more like no background), but I managed to get an NSF, so the opportunities are out there! When you apply, best to focus on your goal of becoming a researcher at a university in your SOP and not saying you want to work for government/NGOs. Also, I would be wary of stating (in the SOP) that overseas experience has perpared you for grad work in IR. Nowadays it is quite common for applicants to have some overseas experience, especially of the study abroad and/or teaching English variety. If you can show that you have any substantive research experience, that will be better. You mention doing research in Brazil. Is this part of a formal program, and what will be the deliverable?

That's exactly how I feel, Dontuse. Excited, grateful, amazed that I got into this great program, and terrified. Thanks for the kind words!

Absolutely none. I've been out in the "real world" for five years, and am heading back for a PhD. I'm very glad I had time outside of academia. I would highly recommend putting off grad education if you are not sure.

My program starts in May, so I have to move in the next couple weeks. Today is my last day at work. I really love my job and the people I work with (I know, it's easy to say that when you know you're leaving...), and this is much harder than I had imagined. I'm close to tears. I actually feel sick to my stomach. Anyone else anticipating a difficult time leaving your current life behind?

My program starts May 1, so very soon! My last day at work is next week; a week later I'll make the drive down to Florida. It seems very rushed, but at least I'll beat the rush when looking for a place to live.

I will be officially accepting one of my offers today (and rejecting the other), so it seems like the right time to do this. Good luck to all those applying in the coming year(s). It's a tough process, but for most of us it seems as if it was worth all the effort and waiting! PROFILE: Type of Undergrad Institution: private, non-traditional Major(s)/Minor(s): Interdisciplinary Studies/East Asian Studies Undergrad GPA: non-graded program, but my first year at a traditional uni I had a 3.93 Type of Grad: overseas, very highly ranked Grad GPA: First Class Honours GRE: 670q/720v Any Special Courses: Letters of Recommendation: master's thesis advisor, current boss (I work at a research organization), professor of a recent grad course I took Research Experience: extensive Teaching Experience: private tutoring only Subfield/Research Interests: IR/environmental policy SOP: revised it over a period of 6 months, had professors edit it for me Other: extensive overseas experience (approx. 5 yrs), 3 languages (although none to fluency) RESULTS: Acceptances($$ or no $$): UMD College Park, Government and Politics - accepted with assistantship, stipend, tuition waiver; University of Florida, Political Science - accepted with 2 year NSF IGERT fellowship (includes tuition waiver), 2 years summer funding, 2 years departmental funding (assistantship, stipend, and tuition waiver), and 2 year additional small fellowship Waitlists: Rejections: Duke, Environmental Policy Pending: Going to: Go Gators! What would you have done differently? Nothing, really. I started early, researched each program and only applied to those I really liked and fit, studied hard for the GRE, etc. The waiting was extremely unpleasant, but I ended up with a great offer from my first choice school. Applying to only 3 schools felt like more of a risk when I was waiting to hear, so perhaps if I were to do it over I would add a couple more to my list to make that part of the process easier.

I will officially be rejecting Maryland's offer today. It was an offer with decent funding (although not really, considering the cost of living in the area), but I was awarded a great package from Florida (2 year NSF IGERT fellowship, summer funding for 2 years, and departmental funding and another small fellowship for 2 years), so the choice was fairly easy. Florida was my first choice, so I'm very happy with my results. The program starts May 1 so I'm moving in the next few weeks. Good luck to everyone who is still waiting and to those beginning in the fall.

That sucks...hope some funding comes through for you. Sometimes things turn up late in the game. But I am of the opinion that paying for a master's is acceptable, if you can't get any funding. Stafford loans are the way I went. Otherwise I'd suggest reapplying next year.

Based on my experience: DC is very expensive. $1800 a month is doable but it will be tight. There will be no money for extras like travel or going out a lot or buying new stuff. If you live in the city, expect to pay at least $1000 for rent, probably not including utilities, cable, internet, etc. Factor in what you pay for a cell phone. Transportation, if you do not live within walking distance to school. It all adds up, but if you are careful you can do it. I live on just a bit more than you will have, and I'm comfortable and don't worry too much. Then again, I've gone through all my savings in the last year, so I suppose I am living above my means. But I have a boyfriend who lives in another state and so have spent a lot on airplane tickets. DC is no more dangerous than any other city. Depends on where you live, and whether you use basic safety smarts. Don't walk in dark alleys at night, etc.

Will not be accepting UMD offer.

I got my acceptance mid-February, with funding, but fwiw will be turning it down (got a better offer from Florida and am waiting for the official paperwork to arrive). I'm in environmental politics and IR and chose Maryland because of one specific advisor. There wasn't anyone else besides him that I wanted to work with there. But when I went to visit I saw a bulletin board with recent grad student pubs on it, and a majority were environment-related. I would have been happy to attend there. Can't comment on UW, except my parents both attended there at the same time, but only met years later!

I did. I'm in political science and got a National Science Foundation IGERT fellowship to go to Florida, so I'm definitely going. Haven't made it official yet but am just waiting for the paperwork to arrive.

Congrats! You'll see me there if you go.

I think I have. Still need to talk to advisors and nail down the details. I expect to be accepting one of my offers within days.

I'm not sure, since I didn't apply to any schools at which I didn't have personal contact with possible advisors. But I think that yes, it does feel more like a personal rejection, as in, "I thought she/he liked me!" But in the end you just can't take it personally, and have to assume that you were rejected because the competition was fierce, not because there was something lacking in your app. Or so I tell myself . Fortunately I have at least one other option (when oh when will I hear from the other???), so that helps with the sting.