KJ90

GWU decision out. I got into the MA in Security Policy Studies.

Did you take a look at ETS' website about what they want? They are very specific in what they want. I'm not a great writer but I think I received 5.5 because I met all the things they asked for. ETS also publishes all the possible essay questions on their website. There is something like 200 of them though.

Thanks for the all the advice. For some clarification my field is international studies. The cost for graduate school is ~50K for 2 years with salaries after graduation ranging from 45K to 75K (entry level). I guess since I am young and never experienced deep debt, I do not understand how hard it would be to repay student loans. In terms of cutting myself off from my parents, if I do decide to go against their wishes it will not only be financially. Jasmineflower was right in that they do not give me any basic moral support or praise for that matter. At the moment, I have various things pending. I have a fellowship pending that could pay for full tuition costs. I have received decisions from two out of eight schools I applied so far (although one gave me only $5K and the other TBA). Fortunately, I also have a job interview sometime next week. I just hope one of these things pan out. =\ @TropicalCharlie I already take pride in getting so far by myself. My parents did not even graduate from junior high school so they do not really understand the value of education besides getting A's. I've worked hard to get myself into a top tier HS and a Ivy League. I am wondering if I can continue this way for even graduate school.

I've been lying to my parents about my post-grad plans. I want to go to graduate school but every time I raise it we get into a argument. They think it is better for me to graduate and get any job possible (they went as far as suggesting a supermarket). I can't seem to get them to understand that I need 2 more years of school to be competitive in the job market for my field. They complain about how I'll rack up 100K debt and act as if the debt will be repaid by them. Note I am coming out of undergraduate debt free due to my school's generosity. How can I deal with my parents? I feel like if I really want to go to graduate school I will have to cut myself off completely. Is that even possible even if I work full-time as a grad student?

I sent email to FA office. If you get a error in your FA section of the my.american.edu portal it just means you did not receive any financial aid. I was hoping to get some aid. I hope I have more luck with the bigger schools.

I really hope that my financial aid just hasn't come out yet. It really sucks having only the capstone fellowship.

=( My financial aid section has no information.

They send a email saying the decision is available in your application. After logging in there will be a link that opens a pdf letter. For financial aid you have to register on their student website (I have a AU email now hehe) to view it. I've registered but my financial aid is not available. The deadline for the decision to matriculate is April 20th, so plenty of time.

I just got my decision from AU-SIS. Admitted for the MIA - Comparative Regional Studies Asia. Good luck to all who applied! Just a few more =]

I just got my decision. Admitted for the MIA - Comparative and Regional Studies Asia

Same thing happened to me with SAIS. I called them and was told to send a send a electronic version until a new hard copy is received.

So all the decisions are made by april 1st? That is ridiculously late...

Hahaha, my profile is almost identical except my focus is on East Asia.

If you have family abroad and especially the hotspots (Middle east or China) security clearance will take a while. My friend is still waiting to get hers and it has been almost a year.

Interesting ranking. I'm curious as to why you've placed Maxwell second. Care to enlighten me?

Depends on the Ivy League though. Some of the bigger names are worth it just because of the brand. Don't underestimate how far a name can take you.

Same Maxwell MAIR, 7 more schools.

Same, I just heard from MAIR. Happy on the acceptance but also a bit disappointed at myself for not applying to the MPA/MAIR program (due to conflicts). Anyone doing visits?

As someone that wants to go directly into SAIS after undergraduate, your profiles are certainly intimidating. My academic background is on target with heavy focus on U.S.-China relations though I am lacking in the quant area. Crossing my fingers already that my volunteer/work experience will impress. I'm glad that I do not have a problem with LOR since I'm still in undergrad.

Has anyone looked into depth or in the HNC-SAIS Joint-Degree program? I'm interested but would like some opinions on it.

Thanks! Sorry for spamming the thread but this will certainly clear things up.

Hi everyone, I've been reading through this forum and found very helpful comments. I, like many other people in this particular thread, am concerned about my chances of getting into a IR program. I feel that I have a really average profile and that I will not stand out as a applicant (SAIS is my dream school). I would like your opinions. Undergraduate: Cornell University Major: China & Asia-Pacific Studies (Basically IR with focus on China with a semester in D.C. and Beijing, small class of only 14 this year, 20 max) Cumulative GPA: 3.55 Major GPA: 3.62 GRE: TBA but I'm not a great test taker, from what I've studied so farthe GRE is similar to SAT. For the SAT I received Math: 670, Reading: 670, Writing:660 Academic Positives: -Spent a semester in D.C. fall of junior year doing a internship, thesis and classes. I received top marks for my thesis on "Economic development and social stability in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia" looking into Chinese government's use of economic development to legitimize its rule. -Will be spending a semester in Beijing coming semester with a internship, classes, and research (this time for my senior thesis). Academic Negatives: -C in intermediate microeconomics (I assumed AP micro/macro in HS was enough to prepare me for Cornell's economic classes, obviously I was wrong). -Spotty language record: A,A-,B+,B,A- due to being placed in the heritage track because I am ethnically Chinese despite not speaking mandarin or cantonese at home (Cornell splits Chinese into those that do not have any knowledge of the language and those that speak it at home; how does being a Chinese-American concentrating on U.S.-China Relations play out for IR programs?) Work Experience: -In D.C., interned for a agribusiness consulting firm and did projects on international food security, grain crisis and food safety. -A non-residential internship with Hudson Institute working on various projects (ongoing) -Hopefully a internship with Brookings Institute or Lincoln Institute in Beijing Other: -Part of a student organization that promotes education and development on the Tibetan Plateau that hosts regular fundraising events for our projects abroad (penpal, school building, scholarships) -Spent a summer in Chengdu, China and on Tibetan Plateau with a NGO as a teacher (english and science) for underprivileged Tibetan children (pilot summer program completely developed by 10 on-site volunteers that summer) -Spent 5 summers since high school teaching sports, creative and academic classes to children. Also taught ESL to recently immigrated Chinese children in the program. -A finalist but not awardee of the Pickering Fellowship. I was waitlisted but of course no one declined. =( I will apply again for the graduate fellowship.