Mnemonics2

If you haven't heard anything from JHU then you are almost certainly on a soft wait list for admission! Seriously!

Just a few wee caveats more than a real answer here....but I wouldn't worry about the difference between #33 and #28. Those figures will be in flux over the course of the years and both programs really are pretty great for IR. I don't think you'll have a significantly better or worse time of it in general with how the degree is seen....so go for fit with professors and the like. Also, I know that UVa's placement record is mostly good LACs in the middle of the country and then a few round the edges....an occasional spot at U of R, GMU and some better schools like that. Good Post-doc placement.

Didn't you...um...just let slip who you are?

Yea, I'm at a prominent nat'l security think tank. It is balls hard to get into one. It requires really being involved and having a strong academic background (though this is more shown through writing work), as well as patience with internships and TONS of networking. I won't pretend it is easy to get or to do - I didn't think I would make it into this world for a long while (and it'll kill me to leave it) - but it is possible and it really is one of the few (IR/comp) ways to be in the field without a PhD. Edit: Feel free to PM me about anything.

You got waitlisted at UNC. That is no meager feat. In many ways I hate to offer this advice...but targeting a lot of "fit" programs across a range of rankings...might get you what you want.

Wouldn't it be lovely if that was the Harvard of the polisci world? And in Hawaii, people could even get leied during grad school

I will likely decline Georgetown. I also just want to see JHU first before I make a decision...I'm leaning other ways. But if anyone is funded and in at UVa and doesn't think they'll go, PLEASE tell them. Waitlisted within a couple of spots there...

Actually....is this anyone's third time?

First or second (or third) time round the process?

I must say, based on past years' performances, if you survive the day in which UVa sends out the blast rejection email (or updates applyyourself) without hearing anything then you are definitely on the wait list.

I think we've talked...right? I'm in the think tank policy world as well, but I want to go the academic route and I applied to GWU. Trying to figure out what placement looks like from that program. Their site gives placement stats that are good enough (they place people for sure) but necessarily in the most quality institutions most of the time.

I definitely saw that on an application. I got worried after the fact because I don't need a second MA and didn't want to seem like I did to a committee that might be considering me alongside another similar candidate.

I do. PM me if you like.

Tell me (if you or anyone else has an idea)...what is GWU's reputation when it comes to placing PhDs around the country? Its something I've been struggling to determine. The school is great sure, but would search committees elsewhere in the country look at it and dismiss it because it is a "DC doctorate?"

Hey all, I could use some advice. A program I applied to has sent out a number of acceptances (first ones about three weeks ago and a couple of others one at a time). I have received a few admits, but this place is a top choice (maybe THE top choice). I want to contact the graduate director and ask for an update in general, but I'm unsure how best to do it. I'm also worried that contacting him will affect my chances badly some how. Is this the case, or how is best to do this?

Congrats man, so happy for you! Do you mind if I ask subfield and how you were informed?

Wheeeeeeeeen will the UVa wait end?? Has anyone spoken to them?

Dude, sorry the cycle is ending like this for you. This happened to me before once and it isn't a great feeling. I'm very happy to see you have the right attitude. I had similar stats (higher in some places and lower in a couple of others, from what I've seen) and I've managed to have an interim year that has really helped me out. My "fit" with the schools I apply to seems to have undergone a marked change and I'm getting into good places. I know you will do the same next cycle and that, if this is what you commit to doing, you will make a great political scientist.

Ok, on late in the evening (EST) to report an acceptance to both GMU and Georgetown's PP programs. Though I'm an enthusiastic political science guy with a desire to research and teach IR....I'm actually kind of torn...particularly since they offer amazing funding. Is our field (polisci) one of the lower funding fields?

Ok, has anyone had any luck contacting the department at UVa? I know their process isn't over at all yet, but getting in touch via email has been frankly impossible.

Or does it exist at all...?

Dove into being involved in the field as much as possible knowing full well that there wouldn't be a ton of money in boosting my resume in the interim. Published where possible, made connections, took internships, worked up to a job in the field that I'd leave if I got in to a program just to show I could be dedicated to researching and working in political science/IR. And paid attention to what I actually wanted to do while doing that - that let me write a much more attractive SoP.

This.

Well...I realize that answering specifically might be identifying...but schools ranked about #35 that feel they compete with those around the #15 mark for students, as well as a couple of schools at the #45 mark that feel they compete with those around the #30 point.

So, to start a new topic of conversation, I had a talk with a few directors of graduate studies in the last few weeks and one thing I've consistently found amazing is the different perceptions within the department of which other schools they compete with. It really has been incredible to see who schools think they vie for candidates with.