CooCooCachoo

That's odd, but congrats nonetheless. Am a bit disappointed about this one. Fully expected the rejections I've had thus far, but thought GWU was a strong fit.

That's amazing. All it takes is one! And that place does look gorgeous.

Anyone claiming the GWU admissions? What was the e-mail like?

You will presumably have checked (even if verification is impossible) that those people aren't planning on leaving within the next few years. Plus, departments will have a reason to take you on, and that reason is that you are likely to strike up a good partnership/apprenticeship relation with two or three professors. I think you are overstating the flightiness a tad, but I take your point that you shouldn't place all your eggs in one professorial basket.

I think this whole status thing is just silly. Sure, H&S have an amazing reputation, but if University X has a better reputation in your specific issue area, or if there are one or two faculty members there that you are dying to work with, then exalting higher-ranked schools makes little sense. I hope that you will get into NYU and get to pursue a program that has the best fit with your interests.

Yep, out at Berkeley. I think the lesson to be drawn from this admissions cycle is that fit is the single most important thing. Since my work is very much on the fringe of IR - both theoretically (focus on norm development) and substantively (LGBT rights) - places like Berkeley and Princeton proved too much of a stretch. A focus on IPE, security and political behavior is simply more likely to make you competitive across a broader range of universities. That having been said, I knew the fit with Cornell was great and I'm truly elated to be heading there! Pretty steep competition too, by the way, what with approx. 500 applicants:

Berkeley, you sadist (or, if you decide to admit me, you ultimate tease).

Immoral maybe, but heck I'd do it. The amount of money that you get may make a difference for you, but I think it's pretty much pocket change for large universities. It's never a bad thing to familiarize yourself with leading professors and to get your name out there and to establish connections with the next generation of young scholars. I do feel you would have an obligation to attend the full program; don't mimic MEPs by arriving at Strasbourg to clock in, collect your allowance, and depart on the first plane out. And who knows, you might become so smitten by the department, professors, fellow students and the location that you do change your mind

Out of interest, the person who reported this on the survey: Any chance this concerns a certain Europeanist? What with the stories I heard, I can't help but think it's him.

Scathing and eloquent opinion piece! Thanks for (re-)posting.

Obviously. But niceness is relational, and if my friends' friends find the social climate in Princeton rather cold, I would venture that there's a good chance I would similarly not fare well there. This is obviously a post hoc rationalization as Princeton is a fantastic school and I'd be singing an altogether different tune in case of admission

In the last week four friends reported back to me that their friends at Princeton all positively hated it there, saying it's a magnet for the snooty/uptight and therefore a horrible place to be at. Granted only one of them is doing PoliSci, but it still softens the blow. So let us rejects all take comfort in that, and let the admitted students from this forum set a new tone!

Congrats to the Harvard admits! Come on Berkeley, just get on with it and tell me the bad news.

Fingers crossed. You still have four attempts at the coconut shy.

We should have pulled a preemptive Elly Nowell on Princeton. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/19/why-i-sent-oxford-university-rejection-letter

Congrats to those who got into Princeton! And boo to the adcomm for poo-pooing me.

It's an assertion of power by the otherwise powerless.

I'm European and CP was my favorite cartoon growing up!

Yep. Not even a typo, just plain wrong.

Will you be attending?

I'd find it surprising if someone got into Berkeley with that undergrad GPA, if there's not a grad GPA to offset it (which wasn't mentioned, in any case).

Yes, congrats to this person. Just out of curiosity, did you apply with Sikkink as your POI? I have two reasons for asking: I heard rumors that she might be leaving Minnesota soon and secondly I applied there as well, with her as my main POI (although my focus is neither on legal activism nor on Latin America, but I have an interest in norm development), but haven't heard anything yet. It's pretty much my last choice, but getting rejected would still suck re: ego I also heard that she's an absolutely lovely person, so congrats again!

Definitely as far removed from a soccer football fan as can be. But while I recognize the reference, I was under the impression that it's also possible to support a team from a place other than the country of residence and/or citizenship

You are quite clearly based in Britain, as Brits tend to prefer naked from the waist down, even in winter. Either England is Pneumonia Central or English girls have developed a truly impressive resistance to draft and harsh temperatures by always wearing belts for skirts.

Tedium ruffling feathers, eh?