mv0027

nobody has claimed Berkeley...right?

first time I school I applied to released results and I haven't heard from them yet. Yup. I see how this can be difficult. eh.

The number of years is not the sample size . I would guess there is enough data to come up with reasonable estimates of how many schools will release decisions by X date, but not enough estimates of individual schools. The sample size is actually pretty good since each individual admissions offer should be treated as a data point (well, depending on what you are looking at). I can't wait to go back to school!!!!!

No means no....except for when it means yes

http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=political+science

I'm come to a place where I have finally realized all the speculation and emotional roll-coaster is complete my fault. There is nothing that can be done that will change when and what I hear back. I'm excited to know and wish i knew now. BUT, for the same reasons that time-series are so fun, time does not stop and only moves in one direction. So it will happen eventually. I hope other people can find their zen in the next few weeks...and that mine lasts....

I feel like a significant amount of this forum's credibility is riding on whether UCLA releases today...

Yuuuupppp! I don't have access to the paper, so I can't say for sure, but i'm struggling to see the purpose of this paper besides pointing out that most successful pol sco folks are males with common names. I get that he does lots of jokes, but this one isn't funny to me.

Geez. This is real? Might as well call it, "Is Political Science meant for upper-income, white males?" Very disappointing.

It blows my mind that they get 400 apps. That means they bring in 50K in app fees. That probably doesn't cover their costs, but still, lots of mula. I didn't know that last year UCSD sent out rejections first. That's weird.

Next week is going to be the most emotional week of my life. Be ready emotional outlet forum!

I would kill to know who was on the admin committee at UCSD... We just met. And this is crazy. PM me maybe?

From the acceptances thing: I have three years of research experience, 3 national conference paper presentations, 2 publications, and 1 national research fellowship with the Harvard Institute of Politics. AND a 4.0 GPA. Whoever you are, I hope we didn't apply to any of the same schools!!!!!

I think I'm experiencing post-notification stress disorder....

My shows of the application seasons have been: The Sopranos - because it is awesome. White Collar - My guilty pleasure. archer - it is hilarious! The last two are on netflix.

Fine. Truce. You guys are all cool. I say we start ripping on econ PhD applicants...pppsshhh. those guys!

Nah. All families fight. Toni is just that young cousin with grand ambitious and I'm the uncle who has a couple bad tattoos and a beer belly.

@cautiously_optimistic. Well said, much better than my ramblings... @IRToni. Grow up.

800 dollar mistakes are exactly what I was referring too as well as the ability to tolerate criticism on forums.... BUT, I was hoping to uplift folks that aren't getting into places, not rip on people that will get in and go. I can see how the timing of my comments is not consistent with that though. Opps! I'm not backing down though I still think it is a bad idea. Having said that though, these programs are really flexible, no? So for those that go straight from undergrad, I'll suggest doing the first 2 years, passing your exams, then taking a year or two off to go adventuring (or, like me, you should incorporate a lot of field work into your dissertation). It is true. At 22 you have no idea what will make you happy. At 28 you still have no idea, but at least you have crossed a few things off the list And lastly - this you can take solace in - there is nothing worse for an old man like me to get beat out by some young buck. When you are my age, you'll understand how much it hurts when younger people get a head of you. I'm older than Drake. It sucks.

For real. I'm sitting at my office. Like I always am. all the time. About to head over to the inter-american development bank. that might be ok. I hope the state of the union does not significantly mess up traffic home tonight in DC. To all the people applying straight from undergrad: don't do it! To me, once you are in a PhD program there is no turning back. you are signing up for a certain kind of life (which most of us, I'm sure, will/would love). BUT, go make some money first. travel. make mistakes. spend money. work in jobs you hate. you will be better off for it regardless. Your experiences will (almost always) make you a better candidate and you will have a MUCH better idea of what you want to research. Life is more about figuring out what you don't want, than what you do want. I knew I wanted a PhD when I finished my undergrad, but I'm glad I didn't apply then. At 28, I think I'm a little old than ideal, but 24-26...that is the money age to start... Ok. I'll step off my soap box now...

Agreed that it is probably just a signal, but yea, as an applicant, I guess the goal is to have as many signals as possible in your app! I think I have a perfect sense of what grad school will be like and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Thus far, most his work has been on Vietnam. He is interested in China though and will continue to do work on China in the future. He is also just generally awesome.

Ha. Congrats, by the way!

Just drop 'very honored by' and replace with 'excited about'. Also, looking for advise on how to accept an acceptance, in these difficult times, is cruel to other members on the forum. IMO.

Nice! My favorite line from my SOP was something along the lines of "I have experience teaching Stata, but have a personal preference for R." If all this talk of fit and SOP really matters, I'll give an advance thanks to everyone on this forum. It def has guided me for years... I think there was talk of forming a meet-up group! I'd be game!