Magnolia2011

You're completely right. I got rejected from Elliott and I'm taking it kind of hard. I didn't tell anyone yesterday even when my family asked if I'd heard anything back (bc I had a glum face). It's like saying it out loud makes it real, and I don't want to hear all the "it's okays" and all the rationalizing of why I didn't get in. In any case, these are good life lessons, right? It teaches you resilience and how to overcome rejection. You grow thicker skin. I suppose we'll see what SAIS has to say, but I feel the need to protect myself against disappointment by not expecting anything.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to regret not having applied to more schools at this point... Can't dwell can't dwell can't dwell!!

Did you get accepted??

Wow congrats!! Was it for MPP? I'm waiting to hear for MA...

I have several tabs opened on my browser, including my gmail-- so when I see that number go up by one, I quickly check to see if there's an *admissions* ::knock on wood:: email, but time and again, it's just my stupid subscription to the NYTimes!! I'm really nervous!!

I am waiting to hear back from SAIS and Elliott-- I'm so nervous!! Someone told me SAIS might be as early as March 4th, and Elliott would be mid-March... Good luck everyone!

MAIA program at the Univ. of Miami

Hi Sypher2k3, If one of the reasons why you chose Georgetown over GWU is because Georgetown has a thesis option-- GWU does too. Maybe they didn't when you applied? Of course, your decision is still justified, given the area studies certificate of 5 courses at Georgetown, but I just want to clarify for any peering eyes that might be debating GW acceptance.

I am no expert on admissions, but I will say from an outside perspective, your credentials are very impressive. You can basically carry a conversation in five different languages, PERSIAN being one of them. How were your SoPs and recommendations? Those could also really boost your chances. Your abroad experience and apparently long-term dedication to anything government and foreign affairs-related, I think, bodes well for your chances. I've also applied to SAIS and Elliott, and I don't think we hear back until mid-March. I try not to count the days so the time isn't so painful and anxiety-inducing. Good luck!!

Only after posting my reply did I re-read your last post and realize you answered my last question. I also considered U of Pitt for a hot second, but I didn't want to apply to that many schools. I wonder what the average number of schools is that people apply to for their Master's, specifically for IR? I thought three was low, but then I know someone who only applied to one-- and got in. Also, UM focuses on preparing you for the real world. I think I understand from their sessions that they train their students to write grants. They also have lots of crash courses, that are free, in subjects you may not have learned previously. I'm out of town right now, so I don't have my UM info packet, but I wish I could give you some examples. If you're interested, I'll look it up when I get home.

I think you bring up a really good point-- how can all these Master's programs in International Affairs not have courses in religion? I know that U of Denver offers a course, "Great Books of the Middle East" which includes "Islam & Modernity," among other books related to Islam (but that is not the course's main objective). I agree, it would be nice to take a religions class that sort of covered the basics of the world's most popular world religions to better understand why nations behave the way they do, especially if their political elite follow so closely to any scriptures (and if they have any grotesque interpretations of such). I, myself, have applied to Univ. of Miami, perhaps mainly because I live in Miami and if I don't receive any funding to the other two DC schools I've applied to, then living at home (although UM isn't exactly cheap either) would save me a lot of money. Plus, after going to one of their info sessions about the MAIA program, you could potentially finish their program in one year if you tried. From my observing, it seems like the MAIA program is fairly new-- so as a student at UM, you would definitely benefit from not being one of hundreds. I've already received my acceptance letter, but I won't know about my other applications until mid-March. Sure, UM is an affiliate-member of APSIA, but I would be interested to know, REALLY know, what goes into determining who is an APSIA member. Notice: UM is an affiliate member, not full member. The other two schools I applied to are SAIS and Elliott. This is because I'm interested in Eurasian/Russian affairs, and I'm excited about SAIS' emphasis on economics and GW's diverse range of courses and flexibility. I also got the sense that GWU has a warm ambiance. GWU also has an optional thesis (while it's certainly commendable, why should one have to write a thesis if they don't want to stay in academia?) SAIS and Elliott are in DC, which is a convenient and advantageous location for studying international affairs. SAIS (and GW), I should clarify, does not require thesis, but a capstone project. My point here is that at least GW has the option if you felt so compelled. I considered Maxwell at first, and then I needed to be real with myself and say, "I don't belong in freezing upstate New York, in a small town." I grew up in Miami, and I am happier in big cities. At this point you've probably already made your decisions, so out of curiosity, to which schools have you applied?

I know someone who attends Korbel and I've also heard several complaints from current MA students there who are unable to get their first-- even up to fourth, fifth, and sixth choices in classes (as they quickly max out). What is your experience about this? Acceptable for a 4-yr undergrad, but a 2-yr grad program, not so much. Especially seeing as how expensive grad school is (and people go to grad school to *specialize* in certain areas) makes it really devastating to disillusioned students that they aren't getting the kind of education they expected. Why do you think this is, and do you foresee the administration changing anything? You would think that the Korbel school would be more conscientious about making sure that their students are getting the education they set out to get so that when they go out into the real world, their knowledge about their professions reflect impressively on the school's behalf. Perhaps there is more to it, but at the same time, it's difficult when you only hear the same story from numerous current students there.