riverguide

We have to wait until next week. "Candidates who have submitted their SAIS financial aid application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15 will be given online access to their financial aid award within a week from the date of this letter. If your FAFSA was submitted after the 15th, award information will follow in the next two weeks."

Congratulations!! See you in DC for your second year!!!

I was admitted to DC. Assuming you structure your loan portfolio properly and accept public sector employment post-graduation, there are options that allow you to pay 15% of your salary and have forgiveness after 10-15 years as I understand it. I have a Boren obligation; so Government service has alway been in the cards. I plan to apply for a Boren Fellowship also -if other funding options don't work out. I've applied for every fellowship and funding option that's out there. The Merrill essay was a bear to wrestle with but I participated in the competition because it gave me one more chance for funding and just as important, one more opportunity to demonstrate my research and writing skills. Coming straight out of undergrad, I knew I would have to play every card to leverage my chances. As an undergrad, I have applied for every scholarship that was offered. They add up. There were a lot of spring breaks spent writing essays for scholarships but in the long run, it paid off and it forced me to constantly practice and improve my academic writing skills. The debt is daunting but SAIS is the best! In this tough job climate, its important to have a top graduate school on your resume. It certainly won't hurt to have THE top I/R grad school on your resume when applying for employment! Should I receive the FLAS at Harvard or Georgetown and no funding from SAIS, then it may be another story...

I'm straight out of undergrad, too, and am choosing between SAIS and contemporary Arab studies programs at Harvard CMES and Georgetown SFS MAAS. After you get into SAIS, is there really a choice anymore?

I am proud to be in the same applicant pool with you and look forward to meeting you at the NUMBER ONE I/R program in the world!

I'm in for DC! My personal stats: 23 y/o and right out of undergrad. Admissions for my group are 11%. This is my dream school and my reach. I have some tough decisions to make. I cast a small net with high goals. I always figured I'd attend any one of them that would let me in. Perhaps its time to go back to being a whitewater riverguide…did anyone else apply for the Merrill? This is what appeared on the website: Congratulations! The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is pleased to offer you admission to the Master of Arts degree program at SAIS with your enrollment beginning in fall 2013 at the Washington, D.C., campus.

The Boren sent these emails as well. I found mine in my spam box. Hope to see you folks at the interviews.

If its like the Boren, the inquiries came first.

Were these emails for the Rangel or for the Pickering? Thanks in advance!

Spring 2011. AUB was a moveable feast and the cats were a great surprise. First time I saw anyone trying to herd cats, lol...for those of you reading this, AUB has their own domestic herd of cats on campus and they have free reign both inside and outside. AUB feeds them and cares for them. They're famous. Sort of like Hemingway's cats at his Key West house.

Most of you have probably seen this but this search engine can be used for all of the schools. Those entries with red diamonds contain scores and GPA. Roll your cursor over the diamond to see the demographics... SAIS http://thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=sais Georgetown http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=georgetown+msfs&t=a&o= Harvard http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=harvard+kennedy&t=a&o=&pp=25

A 3/3 is presently worth $300 extra a month...that's a very impressive journey, though. I had to leave Egypt in the wake of the Arab Spring. I was at Middlebury in Alexandria when the Egyptians crossed the Rubicon. I went to Beirut after things got pretty violent. I loved Lebanon, attended AUB and Saifi, heard Hariri speak a few times and went whitewater rafting in the Bekaa Valley. Great memories.

Did you attend DLI and/or take the OPI/DLPT V? I've spent two years there, Egypt (during the Arab Spring), Lebanon and Jordan. Iraqi Arabic is a tough dialect. Georgetown is one of the only schools that has taught it. Its impressive that you learned it.

I've applied for the SFS MAAS program. I believe they only require an interview if you're accepted and are eligible for the FLAS (which I also applied for). They take about 26 or so for the MAAS program but the requirements for the FLAS are clearly set forth (everyone must be fluent -OPI intermediate high/advanced low- in Arabic and have extensive time in the Middle East) and that can be seen in their bios of currently enrolled students. They have extensive bios of all current students listed on their web page. Good information to know.

I'm curious as to why you think that being accepted by SFS is more difficult than being accepted by SAIS? SAIS appears more competitive (scores, GPA, work experience) than SFS...

I applied for the SFS MAAS program. Results were released during this week, for MAAS, last year. Good luck on your app! Did you apply for the FLAS? Did you apply for any of the fellowships at SAIS?

Anybody apply to Georgetown? Their notifications come out this week...

I'm cranking up this thread again. I just submitted my Merrill Essay. Anyone else submit one? I'm curious what country you chose for the prompt? I picked Egypt because it was a very fertile field to plow. Good luck to all!

It still has an outstanding reputation in Middle East Studies.

Did anyone submit all of the fellowship applications (Merrill, Mason, Norton)? I just submitted all of them (due tonight at midnight). The Merrill was a bear to wrestle with but I figured it gave me an opportunity to demonstrate my research and writing abilities. They are due before admission decisions are made and I cannot help but think that they could be salient in that process as well. I'm applying straight out of undergrad so I'm utilizing every opportunity I have to demonstrate I'm ready for grad school. I notice that most of you have the benefit and advantage of work experience. Best of luck to all of you. I hope to see you at SAIS next fall...

For applicants (like me) straight out of undergrad, its about 11%...

Sure, CMES -only two of us are listed so far on the Harvard GSAS page (as accepted). SAIS is my only I/R app. My Georgetown app is for MAAS and my Middlebury app is for Arabic Languages...I don't believe the HKS decisions have come out yet. I received mine by mail on Feb.19. All of the HKS classes are open to those in CMES. Good luck!

I received my emails in the last week of January. I just received another reminder this week. I got into Harvard last week and am waiting on the FLAS decision. Funding, as with everyone, will be the major factor in my decision.

Anyone accepted by Harvard CMES? I received my admission earlier in the week. Does anyone know when the FLAS awards are made?