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I'm sure you're fine. I took the GREs 9/30/2011 and I am applying for fall 2012 admissions. The most important thing is to study for the GREs (i.e. don't spend too much time worrying about whether or not you'll have to retake the test, just study instead). Unless you really struggle with test taking, then probably try to take them in 2012 so you have some wiggle room if you need to retake them, but I would say try to avoid retaking them and just study study study until you feel completely prepared. If you're worried about knowing your scores - they flash on your screen as soon as you are done the test (except writing) so you know exactly where you are and you can fill that in on applications as well.

As someone with IR career aspirations I have to say I can relate. When I realized how little funding there is for IR studies, I looked into regional programs on the advice of a professor. I have a strong interest in the former Soviet space, so I am pursuing applications to those programs. Many such programs get FLAS funding, which you can apply for if you plan to study a modern "critical language." Have you considered reapplying to these kinds of programs? You can still get the same kind of interdisciplinary courses in economics, government, IR, history, etc. but then you would also get funding + you would know an important language by the end, which would be valuable to many potential employers. If I were in your shoes, I would also consider putting an IR degree on the shelf for a little while and try and find a private sector job tangetly related to what you want to do...I'm sure you could make something similiar to the end goal salary you mentioned and have time to save up, etc, until you go back to reapply. Good luck whatever you choose!

ETA applicant to Azerbaijan. I agree about the website; especially since it (ie stats) was updated midway through the process (leading me to change from Russia, which lost a large number of ETA grants, to Azerbaijan). I know it's unavoidable given the time frame (I was looking in May, June) but you think that they know exactly the numbers they have for the upcoming years by March or so?? I am also a little frustraed about the critical language enhancement award. Azeri was cut but I didn't receive notification of that until September, when I was fully committed to a year in Baku. Luckily I was able to find Indiana's summer program and say I would try to learn Azeri. To be honest, I was mostly interested in Azeri initially because of the CLEA, and might have chosen Kazakhstan had I known there would be no language scholarship. Another problem I just ran into is that Indiana cut their Azeri summer courses! So now I feel silly for putting it on my application but I think Indiana has always had it before. In that vein - does anyone know of a summer, US based (and cheap - I can't do Middleberry out of pocket, haha) Azeri language course? I am applying for regional M.A.'s and I have another question - a lot of FLAS schools say they need to know for sure if you are coming by April 15! How does one defer if that is the case? Not that I have gotten any (a lot of finger crossing), but just wondering how deferring programs for a year work if you get funding. Last note: any Fulbrighters (especially ETAs) from last year: when did you get notified of actual acceptance? Only one more month! Thanks and good luck to everyone!!