happyhulalola

I enjoyed reading the posts and comparing my own situation with those of others. I come from a working class background and am a first generation college graduate and first person to go further. However, I have had a study abroad, a DC internship, and am now teaching English in Spain. I am paying for it: $50,000 in student loans for 4 years at a public university (Minnesota). Half of those loans are attributed to my study abroad and internship. (For my study abroad, I took my $1500 in savings and went to New Zealand. 2.5 months later I ran out of money and had to get a job. While the other 50 members of my program were jaunting all over NZ and Australia and staying out until 5 am on weekends, I worked 20 hours a week cleaning up a conference center and got to bring the extra food back to my apartment. During my internship I was always the one counting my pennies and packing a lunch. Trying to be a competitive student is pricey.) My parents, dad is a high school drop out and mom has a tech school welding degree, are as supportive as they can be. (Except when my mother gets angry/frustrated/scared about me growing up and throws the I-don't-understand-why-you-have-to-go-and-be-"highfalutin" fit....which, by the way, I thought that was a made up word for the longest time.) I come from a very small town in northern Wisc, and am finding that my friends from high school are the most critical. One of my friends dropped out of college sophomore year and now works at a local bank. We talk about 1 or 2 times a month and it's always "when are you going to get a real job?" "you can't go to school forever..." "you're going to have so much debt..." and "why are you training to be hoighty-toighty?" (I hate that phrase, but spelling on that anyone?) It really pisses me off. Who is she to tell me what I can and can't do? While her "happiness" dream is getting married and having babies and living in Wisc the rest of her life, mine is to help make the world a better place and see different countries and cultures in the process. I don't care if I will be paying for it until I die. Along with the adjustment to the "rich and proper" lifestyle, I feel like it is an ongoing process. Sometimes it's been rough, but I have learned how to transition between the two realms since my study abroad and internship. I have learned when to splurge and when to conserve, and most recently, proper dinner etiquette. I am glad there are others out there who have shared some similar experiences. It's comforting to know that my thoughts of inadequacy and insecurity are not alone.

Congrats gizmooow and good luck 040404! I am so much more at ease knowing that I have somewhere to go this fall. Have either of you ever been to Syracuse, NY or the surrounding areas? If so, please dish some info!

I got accepted to Syracuse's MA in IR/Global Security track on Wednesday, so I think the kickoff has begun! Good luck!

Thank you so much HisRoyalHighness! I hope to be accepted at Korbel too. From my research I believe I will love both of these schools, and both cities are places I have never been which makes everything all the more exciting. In 6 months, if we both make our way to Korbel, we have to meet up!

I have been accepted to Syracuse for a Master of Arts in International Affairs, Global Security track! I got a voice mail, called back, and the lovely admissions counselor said that I have been admitted!! I went through half my list of contacts on my phone trying to call my friends and fam to let them know. I gave up facebook for Lent (one of the few Catholic traditions I participate in), which is kind of bad timing, but I am happy that I could share this "event" with others that are waiting! Good luck to all!

On second thought, I was looking at The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies which is also in Geneva. http://graduateinstitute.ch/ You are encouraged to know some French before applying to this school.

I looked at their school, but I don't know French. Yes, it is a marketable quality, especially if you want to work/live there! Part of selecting a grad school is choosing one with ties to the community in which you wish to work. Go for it!

I did see this on their websites and it is definitely something I am considering. DC is more comforting to me because I have spent a semester there and have friends that are there. Realistically, although my status is in limbo, I am positive that my decision will be between Denver and Syracuse. I am working on a pros/cons chart at the moment.

I don't know. I really like all 4 programs. Each have great research centers and prominent societal figures have graduated from all of them. I also like all of the schools' locations for different reasons. Syracuse would be similar to my undergrad: smaller city, colder weather, Great Lakes area. I love hiking and the outdoors, so Denver would be really fun, plus it's a bigger city with many opportunities. DC has a great political atmosphere and there are always talks and seminars to attend. It will be a tough decision. Assuming I get accepted to all of them: I think either DC school first, then Denver, then Syracuse?. I am not completely sure. It also depends on if/where I get funding and how much. There are just so many factors.

BA in Criminology and a minor International Studies No econ, no calc, 2 quantitative analysis courses. Extra writing course and independent study project 2 internships related to law: US Attorney's Office- Homicide section in DC, private law office in Chicago Currently teaching English in Spain I am probably screwed...

University of Denver has an IR program in their Josef Korbel School of International Studies. Maybe that is what they meant...

I have had about 1.5 years: spring semester 08 at the United States Attorney's Office in DC, summer of 08 at a law office in Chicago, and I have been teaching ESL in Spain since September and am here until June 15. As for this summer, so far I have applied to two summer camps near my tiny town in Wisconsin (which are 8 weeks long and perfect) until I move to wherever I (hopefully) will be going to school.

I didn't get anything in early. I made these grad school decisions in November and scrambled from there. 3/4 of my apps were late because I was waiting on one of my letters of rec due to my last and most important professor having medical issues. I got Denver's "we are reviewing your file" e-mail on the 28th, so if it took you about a month and half I should know by early March-ish. I just sent an e-mail to Syracuse making sure they have everything. Hopefully they respond tomorrow. It's nice to "meet" another International Security person. I thought I was the only one!

I have applied to four schools for International Security. Anyone else out there? I find most people are entering public policy.

I have applied to U Denver's Korbel, Syracuse U's Maxwell, GW, and Georgetown for MA programs in International Security. Reading all of your posts makes me nervous. I hate being stuck in this limbo phase of waiting, but I am sure I have a lot longer to wait than all of you. So far I have received an e-mail from Denver stating that my application is now under review... I graduated in May of 2008 from U Minnesota, has everyone else been out for a while? Anyone going for International Security?