Carthage

Yeah! I actually transferred programs from general IA to SPS after being accepted, really glad I did so. Can't wait til classes start.

It's definitely doable. My only real international experience beyond travel was three years teaching ESL, and I got into every school I applied to except Johns Hopkins (waitlisted) and Tufts. G.P.A was only about 3.0, but had 700V, 760Q, 4.5 for the GRE. With a higher GPA, I'm pretty sure I would've gotten in everywhere. Get as close to fluent in Spanish as you can, and take micro and macro econ before you apply. You'll do fine.

Anyone heard anything now that May 1st has come and gone? Information about class registration, orientation, etc?

Previous Schools: Big Ten school (large public university) Previous Degrees and GPA's: English with a 2.9 GPA, cumulative 3.0 over all university level schooling. Six years after graduating, I went back to school for a full semester to take an accelarated Econ course, as well as Stats, Introduction to IR, and an advanced Spanish class - I really think going back made my application MUCH more competitive and I'm glad I did so GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): V 700, Q 760, AW 4.5. These helped make up for the crap G.P.A. Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): 3 years teaching English abroad, 5 years working at and eventually helping to run a very large sailing club (generally summers only). Math/Econ Background: Stats, an accelerated Econ course (Micro and Macro together) that I got a B-/C+ in. Foreign Language Background: Conversational Spanish - I passed a fourth semester Spanish course with a B during the semester I returned to school. Strength of SoP: Pretty strong. It wasn't AMAZING but I felt it did a very good job explaining my life experiences and why I should be considered despite a lackluster GPA. Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Security Long Term Professional Goals: Intelligence community, consulting, similar areas. Schools Applied to & Results: ACCEPTED: GWU, American U., Denver Korbel, Pittsburgh, Boston U, Syracuse Maxwell WAITLISTED: Johns Hopkins SAIS REJECTED: Tufts Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. I did the welcome day/weekend at Syracuse, American, and GW, and GW was definitely the most impressive. Most of American's class seemed fresh out of undergrad, and I wasn't super impressed by either the curriculum or the hiring statistics. Syracuse was impressive, more than I expected, and the cheaper price was very tempting, but the location hurt it quite a bit, both in terms of weather (hate winter) and the fact that I can hopefully have multiple internships in DC at GWU instead of the likely 1 at Syracuse. Syracuse was definitely my second choice, though. The other schools didn't seem to compare in terms of program strength, especially considering the cost at places like Korbel.

Everyone seemed very friendly, but if I recall correctly, there's about 300 students per year, and a number of students will have jobs or internships that limit their involvement on campus. If community is that important to you, I'm not sure I'd go to GWU, or really, any of the DC schools.

I went to this open house as well as Syracuse's and AU's, and was definitely the most impressed at GWU. Syracuse was a fairly close second, and AU a distant third. The student-teacher community seems great at Syracuse, and while the lower price/cost of living difference/shorter overall time makes it very attractive, the fact that I can specialize at GWU to a much greater degree than at Syracuse makes it more attractive. If I went to Syracuse, I can choose security as one of my main two focuses, while having a regional focus as well. At GWU, I can choose security as my only focus, and actually choose areas to further specialize within security. Plus the DC location means I'll have the chance for multiple internships, instead of the one I would likely have at Maxwell. I also hate winter, so... AU was a letdown. A majority of the prospective students seemed to come straight from undergrad, which was surprising given AU's ranking in IR programs, and the fact that they said 17% of surveyed SIS graduates were still looking for a job after 2010 graduation was a little mind-boggling as well - that's nearly 1 in 5 students!

MA-IR student here, finally heard back on funding - it was a no. Still going to the welcome weekend in Syracuse on Friday and Saturday, but I'm also going to spend a week in DC to check out AU and GWU (AU offered me some loan support, nothing from GWU). Oh well!

A great place to start looking is at the following link: http://www.apsia.org/apsia/index.php Check out the member school lists - link near the top left of the page.

Interesting, I'm pretty sure I never got an email about it, but the decision was there in the online application. Thanks for the information.

I just got an email inviting me to the welcome weekend for accepted students, and it began "Congratulations, once again, on your admission to the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs...", but this is the first I've heard anything back from them. Hmm. Has anyone received a regular acceptance email? If there was supposed to be information about funding in this hypothetical first email, I'd sure like to know...

Anyone gotten a snail-mail welcome package from Elliott yet?

Got my acceptance in the (old fashioned) mail yesterday! I live in the northern Midwest, in case people are curious. Anyone else pretty underwhelmed by the admissions package? There was more information on how 'green' the new SIS building is (although it does look pretty nice) than on my actual program, and the main informational brochure was half full of material that only really applied to undergrads. It's great that 40% of SIS students study abroad, but I'm not sure you want to make that a main selling point when you're trying to convince grad students to choose your school.

I only applied to the MA-IR program, but I've read on their website you can apply during your first semester to be considered for dual programs, and I'm vaguely considering an IR / Economics plan. Not entirely sure how feasible (or sane) that would be. Blingem, my welcome package had a sheet saying we should hear about any awards by April 1st.

They actually got back to me pretty quick!

Yeah, I got this Friday, after being accepted about two weeks ago. Eventually I managed to create an ID for myself and log in, and my financial to-do list had an SU finacial aid application form that needed to be filled out... which was impossible to do because it asked for info regarding graduate awards, which I haven't received any information about yet. I sent an email to the financial office today asking about it, but they said it might take 3-5 business days for a response. Hmm.

Waitlisted. That's almost worse than rejection. How long do I hold out...?

Just checked online, rejected. Damn. Glad I got three acceptances before this. Now I'm waiting on SAIS...