Khayzuran

On the one hand, I can understand it is encouraged to mention the names of your LOR writers, the courses you took with them or research done for them, plus POIs. But would it be advisable, or necessary, to mention the prof who wasn't a LOR writer, but who taught a course to you and who had worked with a Really Famous Prof (who's at the target grad school) on one of his/her most famous works - the text that has since influenced you? Might it be perceived as name-dropping to talk about a non-LOR prof and his/her connections to someone well known? I thought it can clarify the source of my interest in an area, so as to present a complete chain of one's "intellectual journey" that led to grad school; but I don't want to come across as annoying. There's probably no conclusive answer, but I'd like to hear thoughts. Much thanks.

V: Kaplan's verbal workbook is quite good if you need work on it and offers good explanations. Also get their flashcards for essential vocabulary if you're interested in scoring high. While the new test doesn't reward memorization as much as the old one, I found that knowing the meaning of more words outright is still helpful even in in-context situations. I used both and my verbal went from high 600s during the practice tests to high 700s on the actual. Quant: I heard Barron's had tougher math sections good for those aiming to score high, whereas Princeton Review gives a more basic overview. I don't have personal experience with either though.

I'm considering contacting 5 professors. That way I'm bound to have at least 3 in December. Or if they all show up, they can help take the burden of each other. Right?

I see your point, MA as a stepping stone to a good Phd during a time when funding is tight. Though coughing up money for the degree (whether by the school or the student) is still an issue. Let's cut education funding, now whose brilliant idea was that!

You sure about this? And if FLAS is being whittled down, why would applying to MA help? It might just mean more "empty" admissions without funding, since MA funding sound as tough as a PhD fellowship, and will probably as be affected.

I thought Powerprep had some sentence completions/equivalence questions that felt like they were still beta versions, and sometimes none of the given choice really fit comfortably. But on the actual test the questions were better written and the right answers stood out, so that made things easier.

Same problem here, with professors who had already expressed enthusiasm about writing months earlier, but now haven't heard from them after I sent in the official request + packet of info such as SOP. When and how to politely enquire or give a prod? Knowing they're flooded with emails already and grateful that they're on board with this at all.

Can anyone offer a guess on which schools are reputed to be more generous with offering scholarships to Masters students? I would imagine schools with connections to the Gulf area - Harvard and Georgetown probably. I also heard Princeton also gives its Near East masters students stipends. I am also wondering whether anyone has heard about UPenn's program in Near East studies. At first I didn't think Philly would be an ideal place to study (though has a lower rent than NY or DC). But then, it is an Ivy, so that carries with it an assumption that they have good profs and some money...