IRToni

I have a couple of questions about the exchange programs. Do you know how competitive the Fletcher and Elliott Exchange Programs are? Do we have to pay their tuition or only Grad Institute tuition for that time? I tried e-mailing, but haven't received a response yet.

I second what the first responder said. Also: have you thought about doing a M.A. first? With a M.A. you can adjunct at community college, most of them are easier to get into and if you do really well there, your chances of getting into a mid-tier PhD are much higher. Do you have a research topic in mind? If not, it might be really hard for you to finish your PhD, assuming you get in. A dissertation usually requires 3 years or more of research, writing etc. I believe you really need passion for a topic in order to do that kind of work. Getting a MA first and then seeing what's what might be better for you. That said, I'm not sure how big your chances of getting into a decent M.A. are. Why do you want to teach Political Science?

I don't want to turn this into a personal thing, but I do feel like you misunderstood what I said and don't quite understand the term native. Being native is not an accomplishment. You can't learn being "native" after you're 12 or so (some linguists even argue after you're 6). That is why the definition of "native language" is "he language that a person has spoken from earliest childhood". So there's no 99,999% native. Either you grew up with Mandarin, which would make your "accomplishments" smaller or you didn't and are highly fluent, highly profficient or whatever in Mandarin, which is a huge accomplishment. That said, I agree a 100% with what MYRNIST said. You can only hope for the best, but if you're dead-set on not going to Nanjing, you might want to talk to SAIS about it before attending, so there won't be bad surprises in a year or so. Also, you could really stand to loose some of your attitude. Other people have accomplished great things, too, and not everyone criticizing your word choice is jealous/can't wrap their head around Western people speeking awesome Chinese, so that you hardly even hear a difference. As a matter of fact, I know some that speak really good Chinese and started learning it at 20 or so, so it is possible. I would honestly be interested in where and why you learned both Japanese and Chinese for such a long time before attending uni. Enough with that. Back to the money thing (and me): I'm honestly not sure I would attend SAIS this year if I can't defer it. I have other, free options and I'm not sure SAIS is worth 70k in debt. Hard decision. I'm also still waiting on SIPA and Oxford, but not betting on getting much money from either school...

Hi IR_Lion, first, and don't take this the wrong way, I personally felt put-off by the way you wrote initially. It's not that I don't believe that you're a good student and talented at languages, but really? 99,999% native? You're either native, that is grew up speaking this language or you're not. So your Chinese is awesome. Good for you, doesn't make you native. Also, just because you're good with languages doesn't make you better suited for a graduate program or to do two concentrations, as opposed to everyone else who's only doing one. Languages and thematic courses require completely different skills. All that said, if you're actually fluent in both Chinese and Japanese after only spending a semester each, that is impressive. Now, to your question: I actually speak Mandarin and decided against the Hopkings-Nanjing center for exactly the reason you stated. I had heard that classes are really watered down etc., esp. the Chinese classes. Since I already attended classes on Chinese politics at a Chinese uni (intended for Chinese students), I felt I didn't really have any business being there. I don't really think you can change now though. I'm sure asking won't hurt, but it's even impossible/almost impessible to change between Bologna and DC and they use the same system (for domestic students). Hopkins-Nanjing is, IMO, a very different campus, the adcom is different and it's supposed to be easier to get into. I believe that your chances of changing are thus very slim. I believe you have three options: 1. Stick it out, go to Nanjing and also attend classes meant for Chinese people (at Nanjing uni, not in the center), do tons of other stuff etc., 2. Reapply to SAIS for 2013, 3. Go with one of your other, very good school options. That said, when trying to talk to them, remember that it's basically your screw-up. To me, you come off with a sense of entitlement online and I believe that this might hurt your chances a lot. Doing research online, going to Nanjing earlier etc. all could have prevented this from happening, so basically, you're a "beggar", begging them to take you even though you applied to another program. None of this is meant to hurt you and I can imagine that you were very upset when you wrote this, but I honestly felt that your tone was very off (-putting).

I was awarded 20.000 in aid. I'm going in under the assumption that they'll award the same kind of funding. For the unlikely case that that's not the case and I get less, but I get one of the fellowships that I'll be applying to, I'll still be about 30k in debt, as opposed to the 70k it would come out to know. Sending in 3.000 bucks for deferring is a lot though. I'll have to really think about that in some more detail. I'll talk to some of my recommenders about it and will also talk to the SAIS admission office. Since they explicitly state that offers will usually be matched, I feel like the chances I'm taking with that (assuming my chances for outside fellowship are as high as I predict) are far smaller than the chances I would be taking with going there and hoping for more second-year funding and a TA/RA. I'm not an Econ major either. I have languages working for me, but all of the languages I can speak/read are quite common (German, Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish), so not sure how good my chances are with that. That's just me rationalizing though. I still might take one of my cheaper options. SAIS is, however, my dream school and they do exactly what I want to do. I'll see. First: Talking to lots of people about it. grtheman: What about you? I see you were awarded aid from SAIS as well :-). Are you thinking of deferring, too? ETA: I want to first talk to some of my professors. As soon as I talked to SAIS, I'll of course share whatever info they give me with you lot.

beekline: I'm only another student and didn't even hear back from SIPA yet (am also applying to another program). What I feel stands out about your application is that you don't really have any experience in PP or the development field. Why exactly do you want to study the MPA DP? Most people you're competing with will have lots of relevant experience in the field, whereas you have only some slightly tangential experience, from what you described. This kind of program is not designed for people wanting to switch careers, but rather for people wanting to advance. That said, I don't know how you incorporated your experience at the AMC with your development plans in your SOP, but it's going to be tougher. I'll also say that with a baby and not that much relevant experience, maybe this is not the right time for you to purse a MPA? I'm not trying to discourage you from your dream, just saying that maybe you could wait until your daughter is older, look for a more development-related job or get some volunteer experience in that field and reapply in a couple of years. It's going to be tough getting in without relevant background,little volunteer work and little foreign travel. Just my two cents though. In addition, I don't think people will care that much about your verbal score, esp. since you're not native speaker. Unless it's really abysmal, I'd think twice about retaking it, esp. if your quant is up to speed.

How is it distributed? Do you have 24 on writing and 25 on everything else? In any case, asking never hurts.

Nothing for me yet. Just checked AGAIN!!!

For those wondering: The website sais that deferred candidates will usually get the same amount of fellowship that they originally held, rarely more, but they try to match them. No betting on it, but I'm guessing that most people get their original award. Deferring for financial reasons is probably not that easy, that's why I'm trying to line up a job and or great paid internship for next year. I'm hoping that with my relatively little work experience etc., they'd be willing to let me defer if I have a great, paid internship with a competitive organization. I'll call them about that though. ETA: grtheman beat me to it. I'll see if I can be succesful. Do you know if they want proof of the job or something? What about deferral for language study?

Are any of you thinking of going into substantial debt for SAIS? If yes, what's your plan for repayment? I'm an international and am thinking of deferring for a year so I can apply to external fellowships and don't have to go into debt. However, I'm afraid that I won't be able to defer (since I don't have a job lined up yet) and I'd also really like to get back to a classroom setting (even though I also like working). I'm just really unsure about taking out that kind of money for grad school...

While I agree that you should tell them about the deadlines thing, I feel like a suggestion from you might be a little too strong. Just explain to them that you misunderstood it and you should be fine.

If what they wrote on their blog is accurate and the decision is legit, those of us who haven't heard might be considered for fellowships. I just checked, my decision isn't up yet. I'm still waiting on 2 schools besides this and the wait is so frustrating...

Got into my dream school, treating myself with writing more applications (funding not enough, so trying to get funding and/or defer for a year).... I'll be heading to Hong Kong at one time though, hopefully when all of this is done with.

I might be able to offer some insight: I applied straight out of undergrad. However, I managed to cut my degree short and am currently spending a year in China (replacing basically my last undergrad year, but all my credits are done). While here, I really tried to get work experience, am now doing my second internship, go to lots of talks and am just now trying to get involved with TED etc. I didn't get into all schools, but I got into my dream school with a partial scholarship. Due to funding issues, I might actually have to defer my acceptance and get some more experience, which I would be fine with as well. I can't tell you how it is to attend grad school as a recent graduate, since I haven't done it yet.

I'm international and got some aid (20k First Year Fellowship from General Funds). I got the notification the same time as most Americans (as in Th, April 15) , but I submitted the form early. If you submitted it later, it should come this week, I think.

Can you explain why you declined IHEID please, if it's not too much trouble? Looking at declining IHEID and deferring SAIS ATM.

Which school would you prefer? SAIS or Georgetown?

Anyone wanting to claim the sole SIPA MPA Admit. It could be another 10 days for the rest of us, that's just ridiculous.

Slightly OT: hudwa: That seems like a good, healthy attitude. A couple of things: If you get off the waitlist at SAIS, will you take the offer? I feel like your undergrad GPA really hurt you at the top schools you applied to. Did you think about applying to some 2nd/3rd tier schools as well? UCSD comes to mind with their regional focus. It would be a shame if your undergrad GPA prevented you from realizing your potentional :-). Anyway, just wanted to send you a pick-me up and say that I really like your attitude and think that schools shouldn't value undergrad GPA as much, if they have other things to judge you on. Back on topic: Nothing for me so far. I'm not banking on it and I would only attend will full scholarship, but it's the not-knowing that gets me. I'm still waiting for two more schools, so I just want to wrap this up and start making arrangements for real...

erry: Sorry, but many of your questions can be answered by looking at the school's website. 1. WRT to law at SAIS: Look at the law department, see how many courses they offer that would be interesting to you. You usually have to take 6 courses in your specialization. 4. It's 50% compared to 35%, not that big of a difference. I'd also say that SAIS offers an awesome counselling and career program for international students (again, the website). 5. SAIS addresses this on their website, both for international students and in general terms. Bottom line, getting an internship for internationals is possible and very much encouraged. It's not a requirement, but I feel that's just the case because SAIS doesn't want to limit us. People who have extensive work experience, but want to pursue language courses in the summer, can do that. 7. SAIS does have the overall better name for IR, but for what you want to do Columbia might actually be the better program. I also get the feeling from the questions you ask that you want to go to SIPA, but are a little afraid of turning down the better-ranked program. But let's face it, all these schools ranked among the first 10 are awesome schools. They will have different strenghs and weaknesses each, but just because one school is perceived as the "better program" doesn't make it the better program for you. Hop that helps.

It depends. If they specifically ask for it, I would check if you have to include it (their are set rules as to what you have to report and what you don't have to). Whenever they ask for it, they usually also ask that you give details, so I'd just add (if you actually have to report it, again, check beforehand), that both of them were minor misdemeanors for underage drinking. It might look bad considering you managed to get caught twice, but wasting space on your SOP is definitely not the right way (unless it actually was a very strong learning experience for you).

I have a 14" HP. Since I like to watch series and stuff, I really appreciate the extra inch, but it's still highly portable and stylish enough so that I take it almost everywhere. Since I don't really have a home base where I could have a hugh external monitor and I'm not planning on staying within the same continent for more than two years, that seemed like a great compromise for me.

Glad to be of help. I got an offer for the MIA, waitlisted for funding. Not sure I'll take it since I was admitted to my dream program and IHEID isn't as strong in my area (international Political Economy, China). I'm also going to explore the Fletcher exchange option though, so I don't know yet. Regarding the rigorosity of the MPA at LSE, I don't really know. However, there's an option for you to go to Singapure for a semester and do MPP/MPA coursework there as part of your Geneva degree. It might be worth looking at it. While turning down a brand like LSE might sting a bit, IHEID is also nothing to scoff at. They don't have the reputation LSE has, but if you count all the other factors, it can still come out on top. You could also look at classes at each school to decide, but I feel that your decision for IHEID has been made, you just need some validation about not being crazy (which I totally get)...

oseirus: Welcome in my world. we should write a book about our inner thought processes :-).

Hi! So, I've so far gotten admitted to the Graduate Institute of Geneva and SAIS. While the Graduate Institute of Geneva would be completely free, I only received a 20K fellowship from SAIS, so I'd have to take out 40.000 $ in loans a year (for a total of 80.000 $ or so). SAIS is my dream school. I'm interested in International Political Economy and China, for which SAIS is also hands down the better place. However, the Grad Institute of Geneva is great for International Political Economy and I might be able to go to Fletcher for Exchange, which would enable me to get around some of the more boring courses and get my China input. In addition, it would be free. I'm still waiting to hear from a couple of other places, but so far I'm thinking about deferring for a year, working or studying a language or something and then applying for funding. I wasn't able to do that this year because I'm not in my home country and fellowships there all require face2face interviews. Would I be crazy to hope for fellowship support next year and look around for something new to do for a year if I have a perfectly viable offer already on the table? What happens if I don't get a fellowship next year? How does SAIS compare to the Grad Institute of Geneva? I've also been thinking of trying to make it work this year and looking around for on-campus employment and additional resources once I'm there, I've heard of people that have done so succesfully, but if it doesn't work out, I'm going to be indebted with 80.000 $, that's not peanuts. If anyone could help me weight my options, that would be super great... Thanks in advance.