YaelRania

Hello, I hope this is even allowed here - but couldn't actually think of a reason why not. I am at the moment writing a (non-sociological) paper and need a general theory on how social contacts (through interactions with friends) make life easier, better, more fun... Yes, there is a thing called the internet, I know But I just don't seem to find a very basic theory about it, plus I am super short on time and thought maybe one of you instantly knows one or two scholars. Thanks a lot!

Thanks a lot, ejip and Safferz! I think I'll then order the Essential Words from Barron's. I am a bit frustrated because I had always thought I had an at least decent English vocabulary, but guess even native speakers don't know some of the words. Anyway, thanks for the advice!

Hey everyone, Just a quick question: I am having serious problems with the GRE vocab for the verbal reasoning section (I'm not a native speaker, should have anticipated that...). There are so many words I have never come across before, so I'm looking for a book to study the essential words from. Barron's has the "Essential words for the GRE", do you think it makes any difference that I'm taking the new exam? I could not find anything labelled "Words for the new GRE" Does maybe anyone know of some reliable lists on the internet? I found quite a few, but I can't really judge if they have the relevant words, and are correct. Thanks a lot! Edit: I saw the post below about the importance of word lists and I understand that in the new format it's less important (yaaayyy for me), but I am still looking for anything to study/review from...

Hi, I recently spend two semesters at SciencesPo and have to say that I personally found the school does really really not live up to its reputation - and the courses were certainly not very challenging. But I have to admit, I took mainly undergraduate classes. I know many internationals who were disappointed with SP, but others loved it, I guess it depends on what you are looking for. The European studies Masters can be completely done in English by the way. It's a bit late here, but if you have any specific questions about SciencesPo I'd be happy to try to answer them tomorrow. You might also want to consider other countries on the continent? In Germany for example grad education is basically free, and I think there are some quite strong English European studies programs, but I actually don't know.

Everyone, thanks again!!!! :-)

Thanks to the two of you! I feel like I really did not quite understand the idea behind the SOP until now... so THANKS! Theoretically it is still early, but it is for a scholarship and I need to hand it in this week... this is why I am a bit freaking out But thanks so much for taking the time to help me, this was really good advice. Rania

Thanks a lot for the advice, itsfridayfriday! But isn't UCSD very much focused on the Pacific region? I would prefer not having to focus on a region from the start, or if so the Middle East is more my area of interest. Oh, one more question: Would you say SIPA is as crazy hard to get in as for example Yale or WWS? I know it is a top program, and very very selective, but from reading this forum and talking to people I kind of got the impression as if it is a little bit less competitive. I know that Yale for example is more academically orientated, but then again probably many MA applicants want to work afterwards, so NY might be the better location than New Haven, and more people might want to go there? The reason I am asking is because I had this discussion with a (German) friend who said that getting into Yale would probably be easier, and as I liked the program as well I should rather take Yale than SIPA for my one "top" school, and then choose one private safety school and three good public ones. It is really unfortunate for applicants from countries like Germany where you just cannot get a job with a BA that all those great programs strongly prefer candidates with work experience Thanks!

Thanks fuzzylogistician, that was helpful! I knew it was bad... but needed to hear it in order to change it The thing is, I already have my body and conclusion. These first sentences I actually kind of copied from the SOP of a friend who got into a top UK school with it (that's the only part I copied, just because I did not know how to start). But I knew it is not good. Do you maybe have any advice how to start a good SOP? I read here so often "don't worry about it until the end", but once you are done with the rest, which good strategies are there=

Thanks alphazeta! I don't know, I did of course not achieve the best grade in every course I took, but in many I did. My school is quite tough on grading actually, but I studied abroad for about half of my degree, where I only got best grades (and parts of it was at a really renowned French university which has been shockingly non-academic and easy). But I really should recalculate. Thanks again, I might come back with another question the next days because the final decision is due soon...

Hey, If someone could evaluate the beginning of my SOP I would be very grateful. I just rewrote it because I needed a new intro, but I am not content. The English also sounds slightly wrong (non-native), but I can't figure out why. "In junior year of high school I audited an introductory Political Science lecture at my local university. Since then, I have had an intense passion for the theories of politics and their practical ramifications. This passion has been the driving force in the academic decisions I have made, leading up to my study of xyz at the University of xyz." I know that this is a weak start. I actually like the rest of my SOP (and I am normally hyper-critical with myself), but should still come up with something else, right? Before I changed it it just started like that: "I have always had an intense passion for the theories of politics and their practical ramifications. This passion has been the driving force in the academic decisions I have made, leading up to my study of xyz at the University of xyz." I think it sounds more elegant, but also quite unconvincing - and that lecture really influenced my decision (I am not mentioning it anymore later, and am not dwelling on any other childhood memories). Thanks a lot! P.S.: Sorry, meant three sentences, wrong title

Hi Kathiza and longgone, Thanks so much for your replies. As you might have guessed, I am a bit confused right now - deadline is next week, and although I spent a lot of time preparing and researching schools, I am totally getting second thoughts about all my choices...Well, guess it is normal. Longgone, thanks, this was exactly my question. It is the same with Germany... but it is so weird it differs so much in every country, after all for example Germany and Austria do not have that different education systems. Kathiza, danke, this was really valuable advice. Funding is very much an issue for me, but I think it is slightly different for Germans, because Fulbrighters get a fixed sum between 20 000 and 30 000 dollars. I really did not understand if they apply on financial aid on top of that, or if this is the maximum I could get from both Fulbright and the school, I hope the former. And I know that there are other great schools besides the big names, it is just so tempting Therefore it is probably quite good I have to name three public ones. Also, Fulbright here always says that they also might place me in schools I did not choose, I think this is actually an advantage as they have all the information, but I do not know how often it happens. But first they have to like me anyway, so I'll see if it works out. Have fun in Miami Kathiza, and you too, longgone, although I do not know where you ended up! Probably I'll come back with another question very soon

Hi, Sorry, I have one more question: If I could choose my private picks freely I would take G'town and SIPA. Anyhow, I know I really really should include one reach if I want to stand any chances, but I find it quite hard to understand what is a reach school - I mean, I read the rankings and everything, but which private schools woild be considered very good, but not that crazy competitive? Would GWU be in that league? Syracuse? NYU? Or maybe reach is the wrong word, rather a school where I might maybe have a better chance of getting in. I know I am probably super annoying. In my defense, it is really quite hard for an international, the USA have for sure the greatest university system, but also the most complicated one

Hi, Sorry, I have one more question: If I could choose my private picks freely I would take G'town and SIPA. Anyhow, I know I really really should include one reach if I want to stand any chances, but I find it quite hard to understand what is a reach school - I mean, I read the rankings and everything, but which private schools woild be considered very good, but not that crazy competitive? Would GWU be in that league? Syracuse? NYU? Or maybe reach is the wrong word, rather a school where I might maybe have a better chance of getting in. I know I am probably super annoying. In my defense, it is really quite hard for an international, the USA have for sure the greatest university system, but also the most complicated one

Thanks for the two replies! Not at all confusing, but very very helpful In my defense, I also spent a lot of time researching school (not as much as you, but it is also for a Master's), and of course I am kind of hung up on the big names, which is stupid, I know, but I think I got over it. But I totally see your point, and this was great information. It is really dangerous to focus purely on the big names, and I think I definetely still need to downgrade one of my two private choices (I guess in Austria you also have to name three public schools? I feel like this reduces the temptation a bit). One last question: Do you have any experience with people who indicated that they would like to stay for more than one year? Thanks!

Just browsed this thread and hope I am not insulting anyone - but I just returned from studying at Sciences Po for one year (in the undergraduate program though, but audited several graduate courses) and it is really such an overrated school. I do not know where it got its reputation from, compared to my European home university which is good but not very well know abroad it was such a disappointment in terms of academics.

But, if I get rejected from every university I chose, but they still like me, will they still apply for me at other schools (this is related to my question below about how choosing great schools will affect my chances)? Thanks!

Hey everyone! I already posted this on the Political Science board and got the advice to cross-post here, hope noone minds - I would be extremely happy about some more help. I am at the moment in the process of applying for a Fulbright grant to study in the USA for my master's / part of my master's in International Relations or Political Science / Public Affairs with an IR concentration. I don't know if any of you is familiar with the application process - candidates have to name five schools where they might be placed, at least three of them public. I am having a hard time deciding which schools to choose and wanted to ask for your advice, firstly regarding my chances to get into really good programs (don't want to "waste" my two private picks on schools I won't get in anyway), and secondly about decent state schools. Some info: Education: Will graduate next spring from a normal university in Berlin (we don't really have that great schools, they are all mostly okay) with a Bachelor in Poli Science & Administration. Very quantitative, sufficient econ. Took many IR classes.Very good grades (according to some translation website would be a 4.0 GPA, no idea if that is right). Older than US college graduates, but totally average for Germany. Study abroad: Twice in my BA, once in the Middle East, once in France at a renowned school Work experience: Only internships, a longer one at the UN, two shorter at NGOs & an MP's office. All together a bit less than one year. Plus working as a student research assistant and teaching assistant. Languages: German, English (fluent), French, Hebrew, Arabic (all rather fair, was fluent as a kid in Arabic and Hebrew but literally forgot everything, will try to work on it the following year). LOR/Statement of intent: Getting good LORs is somewhat hard here. Worked hard to write good statements. I'm focusing a bit on my background (mother Jewish-israeli, father muslim-palestinian, spent early childhood in Haifa, then grew up in Ger) and how that lead me to IR, hope it is a good catch GREs: Did not take them yet. Did actually not even start studying yet, which is bit of a problem, but Fulbright is being vague about whether I even need them, and the application alone was a lot of work already. I scored quite high on the TOEFL, but know that the GREs are much harder. I don't know how (of course if it would work out) the Fulbright grant would influence my chances, but I was wondering if I should even name the really big schools without any real work experience. My favorite programs are Georgetown and Columbia, and of course I was also thinking about all the other great ones like Fletcher, Woodrow Wilson, MIT, Yale (I know this sounds very naive, but I thoroughly looked into each and everyone and did not only choose because of the name). Which I am finding even more difficult is picking three state schools. I am leaning towards Berkeley and Michigan, but don't really know a third one. Any suggestions? I would prefer studying on the East Coast actually, but heard mixed reviews of the SUNY schools and the state schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts... In the Poli Science Forum I was told to look into Pittsburg, Kentucky and other Universitiy of California schools besides Berkeley. If anyone of you has a piece of advice for me it would help me a lot. Thanks, Rania

Thanks a lot, this was really helpful. Just looked into UCLA, thanks for the hint, looks really interesting. I had already scanned the APSIA list and became quite OCD with looking up every single school... Alphazeta, what do you mean by the information given? Is there anything else what would be helpful? I would be very happy for an honest assessment as you sound very well informed. I think my undergraduate background is quite good (although there are no ivies in Germany I think from the academic standard and methodological training my school easily keeps up with a good US institution), no GRE scores yet is of course a minus, and the lacking non-internship work experience. You also figured out another weak spot: I would prefer to not have to choose yet if I want to concentrate on security, conflict resolution or development. I know that this is generally regarded as bad, and of course this lack of focus is related to the missing work experience, but at the same time so many top-programs stress their diverse approaches, and I think I can argue for my wish to get a broader perspective on IR. Thanks so much for the TRIP info and the other universities you named. I had not looked into Kentucky and Pittsburgh yet. I actually do not care about living in NY / Boston / DC and would quite like to study at a real campus university. I just like the East Coast, but as I have never been anywhere else in the States this is probably quite a dumb statement. Your responses really really helped as I am a bit lost at the moment.

Thanks Maankamaank and Kathiza, this was really helpful. From your experience, do you think it will lower my chances if I pick very good schools? Or will they, if they decide that my picks are out of my league, just automatically apply for me at less good universities? Thanks!!! Edit: Does anyone of you have any experience if indicating that you would like to stay for two years affects your chances (this has for sure already been discussed, sorry, but couldn't find it)? I am asking because I know now already of three other Fulbrighters who either got an extension to the scholarship to stay for the second year and completely to their degree in the states, or secured some other funds. But the official line of Fulbright seems to be that they don't encourage students to do that... Thanks for your help. I am a bit stressed out and it is great to hear from people who survived this all successfully...

Hey dear everyone, Sorry if this had been asked before, but reading every Fulbright post is quite impossible... I am majorly confused right now, I am from Germany and am applying for a Fulbright scholarship for my Master's, and I thought I can name five universities, but they might also place me somewhere else... anyhow, they will apply for me, and I did not read anywhere I'll loose the grant if I get rejected, I thought they would just apply to schools that they think will suit my potential. Does anyone have any experience with Fulbright grants for Germans? Does the process work the way I understood it? I spent a solid two months now preparing the application, and I still find the information they provide quite confusing. I am aware that they expect one's own initiative, and it is such an amazing chance if you get the scholarship so I really should not complain, but for such a prestigious institution I find it a bit irritating... THANKS! Rania

Hey everyone! I am at the moment in the process of applying for a Fulbright grant to study in the USA for my master's / part of my master's in International Relations or Political Science / Public Affairs with an IR concentration. I don't know if any of you is familiar with the application process - candidates have to name five schools where they might be placed, at least three of them public. I am having a hard time deciding which schools to choose and wanted to ask for your advice, firstly regarding my chances to get into really good programs (don't want to "waste" my two private picks on schools I won't get in anyway), and secondly about decent state schools. Some info: Education: Will graduate next spring from a normal university in Berlin (we don't really have that great schools, they are all mostly okay) with a Bachelor in Poli Science & Administration. Very quantitative, sufficient econ. Took many IR classes.Very good grades (according to some translation website would be a 4.0 GPA, no idea if that is right). Older than US college graduates, but totally average for Germany. Study abroad: Twice in my BA, once in the Middle East, once in France at a renowned school Work experience: Only internships, a longer one at the UN, two shorter at NGOs & an MP's office. All together a bit less than one year. Plus working as a student research assistant and teaching assistant. Languages: German, English (fluent), French, Hebrew, Arabic (all rather fair, was fluent as a kid in Arabic and Hebrew but literally forgot everything, will try to work on it the following year). LOR/Statement of intent: Getting good LORs is somewhat hard here. Worked hard to write good statements. I'm focusing a bit on my background (mother Jewish-israeli, father muslim-palestinian, spent early childhood in Haifa, then grew up in Ger) and how that lead me to IR, hope it is a good catch GREs: Did not take them yet. Did actually not even start studying yet, which is bit of a problem, but Fulbright is being vague about whether I even need them, and the application alone was a lot of work already. I scored quite high on the TOEFL, but know that the GREs are much harder. I don't know how (of course if it would work out) the Fulbright grant would influence my chances, but I was wondering if I should even name the really big schools without any real work experience. My favorite programs are Georgetown and Columbia, and of course I was also thinking about all the other great ones like Fletcher, Woodrow Wilson, MIT, Yale (I know this sounds very naive, but I thoroughly looked into each and everyone and did not only choose because of the name). Which I am finding even more difficult is picking three state schools. I am leaning towards Berkeley and Michigan, but don't really know a third one. Any suggestions? I would prefer studying on the East Coast actually, but heard mixed reviews of the SUNY schools and the state schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts... If anyone of you has a piece of advice for me it would help me a lot. Thanks, Rania