firefly85

I'm not sure if a PhD program would let you opt out of a language requirement, but I don't know your field or department. They may have ways to test out of it or show that you have the necessary experience and waive it. For my program we don't have space in our schedules to take language as part of our course load so you either have to take it on your own and document it, have done a major (or minor I think) in a foreign language, or take a placement test. Check with your advisor to see if you have any of those options. I really wish I could just show my transcripts instead of a test because I've taken a ton of Italian classes, I just didn't major/minor in it.

I have thought about other languages, but I figured that since I already know Italian (and have taken Spanish and French before, albeit a loooong time ago), those would be the easiest to pick up, as well as two of the most useful. I think I'm leaning toward Spanish since it seems its more widely spoken than French and a bit easier. But I'm still open to suggestions.

I'm starting grad school in International Communications at American University in the fall. I'm most interested in international education and international journalism. I want to take a language class, but I'm not sure what to take. I took Italian in college and studied abroad there. I love it, but I know its not the most useful language. Does anyone have any suggestions on what European language I should take? I'm looking mostly at French or Spanish (took Spanish in high school but have forgotten a lot, probably would come back if I studied), but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks!

I'm starting grad school in International Communications at American University in the fall. I'm most interested in international education and international journalism. I want to take a language class, but I'm not sure what to take. I took Italian in college and studied abroad there. I love it, but I know its not the most useful language. Does anyone have any suggestions on what European language I should take? I'm looking mostly at French or Spanish (took Spanish in high school but have forgotten a lot, probably would come back if I studied), but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks!

Lol, as someone who started out in journalism (print journalism, God what was I thinking?) where salaries start at $30,000 and below (and I made well below that...) $50K sounds incredible to me right now as a starting salary. Granted the jobs I'm looking for will probably be in a more expensive city, but still, it's just amusing to get other people's perspectives.

kmcal, even though our situations aren't exactly the same, I'm having a lot of the same feelings you are. I moved for my bf and he originally indicated he would be willing to move for grad school with me in a little while. Now that I'm in to one that's farther away and I got good funding from he's decided he needs to stay at his job longer and I'm very upset about likely having (to go back to) a long distance relationship with him. It's somewhat complicated by the fact that I am into a school where we live, so technically I could stay, but I'd have to figure out financing somehow (potential Ga's etc) when this other school's money is pretty much all worked out. I keep flip flopping about what I want and it's driving me crazy because I feel like I'm choosing love or money and I hate it! Unfortunately it seems for the time being both of our boyfriends have chosen their careers/current homes over us and at least for me, it's hurting like hell. Especially when it seems we have given up something, or done something big to show our commitment and make their lives easier and now it seems like it was either not enough (when it should have been) or may have been all for nothing. From your situation I think if you really want to go to this school you should. Long distance sucks, but it may make your boyfriend realize that he really does want to be with you and will be willing to work out a compromise or you may realize it's not the right relationship for you, because your needs are not being met/considered enough. Trust me, it sounds awful to me too (in terms of my own relationship), but I think you'll seriously regret it if you let him hold you back from your dream school for at least another year. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it more. It sounds like our situations have a fair amount in common and maybe we can help each other! (PS I saw you're doing IR, me too, which one is your dream school?)

Alison, I know how you feel. Right now I'm trying to weigh what I would regret more, passing up my funding or being separated from my SO. My parents and my SO also have different ideas of where they want me to go, which makes me feel stuck in the middle (and like this isn't even about me, which it should be!). Unless something dramatic happens in the next week I'm 99% sure I'll be going to American, I just can't pass it up, and I'm not really happy with the area I live in right now (I prefer the city, this is technically a city, but without much to do...). It sounds like your SO followed you to where you're living now and that's what I did for my bf, which has been very difficult on me. While I love him and want us to stay together, I need to go where I think I'll be happiest. I'm not sure what's going to happen, but part of me hopes this time he will move for me (eventually). Anyway, back to my point, even though you don't have a lot of time right now (about a week I'm assuming), you have to think about your choices and what will make you happiest. I'm not sure what your options are but it sounds like there's a possible MA or a possible PhD. If you don't want the PhD, go for the MA for now, you can get the PhD later. If you don't want to move thousands of miles from your home city, then don't. Don't worry about disappointing people (even though I know that's hard!) because it's your life, not your parents', or your ex's, or whoever else helped you with your apps or whatever. Even a therapist can't tell you what's right for you. Good luck deciding!

I am planning to go. I can let you guys know how it goes.

Since I'm trying to leave "emotion" and "personal" situations out of the equation at this point. Does anyone have any thoughts on American vs. Syracuse? Which one do you think has the better name? Which one do you think has the better alumni network? Would one give me a better chance of getting a (good) job after graduation? I keep looking over the courses and numbers and all and it's just not helping me decide.

Thanks engguy. I am trying to take my SO out of the equation, but that is very difficult. He's said that's what he wants me to do, but I guess I'm worried that if I don't make the choice he wants (most likely stay here) he'll be upset. Not necessarily true, just what I'm projecting onto the situation. As far as our situation he would probably stay at his job for a while if I went to DC so we'd be long distance, which we've done before and of course isn't much fun. Being me, I'm trying to make the decision that will make everyone around me happy (parents, SO etc), but I think they both want me to choose different things, so that only makes my indecisiveness worse because I feel like I'll be upsetting someone no matter what decision I make. I'm trying to make the decision based on what's best for me and what I want, but it's very hard for me to take everyone else's ideas and opinions out of the equation. I suppose I'll have to come up with some kind of pro and con list just to get it all out of my head and maybe on paper it will make more sense to me.

So my decision just got a bit harder. I have a partial scholarship and paid GA at American U and figured that would be my best option. However I was just offered a scholarship at Syracuse University (not as large as at AU). I'm not sure if its renewable yet (the AU one is with a GPA requirement) but there is also potential to get a GA at Syracuse too, but I'm not sure how much those pay (e-mailed them for an average figure, but haven't heard back yet). My boyfriend is of course excited that I may stay in Syracuse now, but I'm not sure that is what I want, money aside. I'd rather live in DC than in Syracuse, but now if the money ends up being nearly equal (again not sure if it actually will be yet) I'd feel guilty leaving because he's still here, even though I pretty much came to Syracuse for him when he decided he wanted to move home. Of course the schools are ranked almost evenly so that doesn't help me decide either. So I'm not sure how to decide, any ideas on how I can do that?

Thanks 99, I don't think it was the Liu foundation as I believe you had to specifically apply for it. Congrats on your aide too! I do have to contact Syracuse to find out more details on the aid (like if it's renewable). I also want to find out about GAs, like you said, if there could be some for only a semester, and also what the average pay/potential tuition remission. I only see one GA posted on the Syracuse job board and it looks like it's for a year and includes 24 credits of tuition and about $10,000 pay, which seems like it would be on the very high end of things! I don't know about the internships in DC being paid either. I guess you'd have to find out where people intern and check to see if that agency/company pays interns. I'm not entirely sure what type of company my career would take me to. I'm interested in International Education, so that could be for the govt, a university, or a private company. I'm also interested in working for a UNESCO type agency. I'm not sure which would be better for that. I guess I'll have to find out the rest of the info from Syracuse before I can decide. HisRoyalHighness- other than Syracuse being part of the never-ending darkness outside of DC/NYC any thoughts on why you would recommend Syracuse over DC?

So I thought my decision was pretty much all made as American gave me a large tuition scholarship and a GA that pays $12/hr (renewable provided I keep a 3.3) and I had heard nothing from Syracuse about money. However tonight I got an e-mail that Syracuse is offering me a $10,000 scholarship for the first year (not sure if it's renewable or anything, let's just assume it is like the other one for the time being). Syracuse also has a lot of assistantships you can apply for, which are generally posted near the end of this semester or over the summer, but again you never know if you'll get them, and I'm not totally sure what the pay/potential tuition remission is. I'm in for the International Communication program at American and the joint MA/MS in IR/PR at Syracuse. The Syracuse one is a bit more expensive because you go to school over both summer (I'd have to check exactly how much). You also spend your last semester in DC doing an internship which somewhat negates the drawbacks of it's location. I'm actually in the Syracuse area now and moved here basically for my boyfriend (2.5 years). If I go to American we'll have to long distance for at least a while, but I do like the thought of being in DC much more than Syracuse. I know I should do what I think is best for my education/career, but now I'm not sure what that is and I would feel guilty leaving my boyfriend. I'm visiting American on the 13th, but I have to notify both schools by the 15th so it seems like I have to have pretty much decided by then! Does anyone have any thoughts on the merits of Syracuse vs. American or anything that would help me make up my mind? I think I almost liked it better when it seemed like the decision was made for me, I'm too indecisive for this process!

Cool, what are you doing over the summer? I had originally thought I'd be going to a program that starts in the summer, but now it doesn't look that way so I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself. I'd like to get a paid internship (maybe in DC) but those seem hard to come by. If not that then maybe part time unpaid internship and full or part time random job.

I thought I'd start a thread for American since I am most likely going here in the fall. That is unless I get a comparable funding offer from the other school I'm waiting on, which is doubtful. I'm going into the International Communications program in SIS. I'm definitely excited to be going to DC. Is anyone else going to the SIS accepted students day on April 13? Anyone planning to go to American for another program?

I'm getting stressed over this. It seems like my best option is a school in DC, pretty far from where my bf and I live now. He has said he would be willing to move, but he does want to stay at his job for a bit longer so it wouldn't be right away. So now we're faced with the prospect of doing long-distance...again (we did it when I was still in undergrad). Does anyone else here seemed to be faced with this, are you staying in the area, or is your SO planning to move with you? I don't really want to be separated again, but I like this school, it's given me the best funding package, and I do like the are more than where I'm living now. Is anyone else dealing with this?

Did anyone else apply to the Public Diplomacy program? I thought we were supposed to hear about funding by today, but I didn't hear about anything. Does that mean no or did no one hear from them?

So nothing from the school I was supposed to hear about funding from today. I suppose I can take this to mean that I got nothing, but they seemed to indicate they would e-mail everyone once they had sent out the first round of funding offers, and I didn't even get that. I e-mailed the department to ask when they thought they would send out offers and got nothing back. I guess I'll have to call tomorrow to find out what's up. Argh I'm sick of waiting! Oh well, at least I found out they are planning to send out FLAS decisions by the end of the week. Hopefully they'll stick to that.

Just needed to vent. AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH, I'm supposed to hear about funding from the last school I need to by today and so far nothing. I've been checking my e-mail every 2 minutes (actually now that I'm on the computer it's just open so I can see the instant I get a new message) and it's driving me insane! I've only seen one other person on these boards who applied to the same program and he/she said they hadn't heard anything by Monday either. I have no idea if they're just taking their sweet time today or if I'm SOL on funding. Plus I'm also waiting for info on a FLAS from this school too, so that will mean probably another week of waiting after this. Argh, I'm going crazy, I just want to be able to legitimately weigh my options instead of speculating a million different possibilities! Ok, feel slightly better now.

I'm curious about this too, especially since I'm not good with conflict/negotiations! Has anyone here done this before? I also posted this in the Bank but was curious. If I have a good (but not full-ride) award to school A and accept their offer, while others who do have a full-ride from school A turn down the offer, could I be in line to get more funding? Or would they be more likely to spread out that unused money to students who are either presently unfunded or on the waitlist? I'm not trying to be greedy, but who wouldn't like more money if it's offered?

I believe American does have a somewhat more liberal slant, however I'm really not sure how much in comparison with the others. From what I've read here it sounds like GW is a bit more conservative and I'd venture that SAIS is somewhat conservative too (although don't quote me on that!). I'm not sure about MSFS. I guess you have to think about which schools have the best tracks for what you want to study. Also think about what you want to do after graduation. If it's private sector where you likely won't have too much trouble paying back those loans, then MSFS and SAIS might be better options, but if it's public sector or nonprofit, you might want to give that money you've gotten more consideration.

Well I'm not familiar with Pitt's program, but having that scholarship does make it sound like a good option. To help you make a decision maybe you should check out it's alumni network and see where they are located. If it's DC then you would still have a good network there. You should also see what the job placement stats for Pitt's program are. In addition, would you be able to do summer/break internships in DC? If so that helps to negate Pitt's location. Sorry I'm not able to offer more of a comparison of programs, but those are just some things you could think about.

I'm also confused as to what schools are looking for in order to give out scholarships/fellowships. In some cases it may be financial need is a part of it, but I didn't submit a FAFSA and still got a scholarship from American. I did have a good undergrad GPA (3.7) from Johns Hopkins, ok GRE's (620 V/630Q/5.5W), good recommendations (but who doesn't?), and a fairly good SOP (I think...). While I'm still waiting to hear from one school on funding, it all seems like a mystery to me. There are people who got big scholarships to top tier IR schools like Tufts or SAIS and nothing from American, whereas I didn't get into Tufts and was waitlisted at SAIS. I spoke to one of the program directors at American and she said part of the reason they offered me money was they felt there was a good fit between my interests and what the school offers/focuses on. So maybe that has something to do with it. Other than that I really don't know how they make these decision! Cornell, your profile does seem very very strong, I'm really surprise you weren't offered money. I know that's not much consolation, but maybe it will help you in getting funding for your second year.

Well I think in general this is thought to be a good idea. However, if your undergrad school has the best program for you for a grad school and is well known for it, then I think it would be ok. I'm not an expert on this stuff, but that seems to be what I've gotten from this board.

Yeah, I guess they'll tell us today or tomorrow (great on April Fool's Day!). I guess I was just hoping we'd hear a bit earlier since we were told we'd get our admissions decisions by March 11 and I heard almost a week earlier. Oh well. Does anyone else have any thoughts on the PR degree portion of the Public Diplomacy program?