saltlakecity2012

What's unnerving me slightly is that last year's results show that Columbia notified several people on January 29th, but only a very small number. So I'm not sure if I'm somehow hallucinating and Columbia won't actually notify until mid-February, or if I should in fact be panicking and digging my heels into the sand as time slowly marches towards Sunday... Anyone remember from last year?

Was it this one? Dear XX, Thank you for applying to the Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The purpose of this e-mail is to let you know that your application has been made available to your program for review (whether marked as Complete or Incomplete). We wish to remind you that you have access to a feature of the online application that allows you to monitor the receipt of your standardized test scores and letters of recommendation. Simply log back into your application...

I've gotten two emails of that type from Duke in the past week, both saying exactly the same thing, which is somewhat disconcerting and has set off all sorts of "Why did they tell me twice? Have they actually lost my application, or split it into two parts accidentally, or did I somehow apply to the wrong department, or are they simply covering their asses so that when they reject me they can remind me politely that they certainly did review my application?" thoughts. Bastards. Re: Netflix - my favorite of all time is Wire in the Blood. Serial killers galore!

Thanks to all who responded to my query. Excellent suggestions - I wish the "get and stay very drunk" option were more available to me at the moment. I have incorporated the mind-numbing activity of watching British crime shows into my time-killing repertoire - it's been working well for me so far, and I would highly recommend Netflix to anyone wishing to while away a few weeks.

Anyone who's been through this rigmarole before have any advice on how best to mentally prepare for rejections?

Still freaking out even though there is absolutely nothing more to be done on my end. Petrified, actually. Here's the downside to putting in a large number of applications: the possibility that one could receive 15 rejection letters and go a bit mad as a result. Ugh.

The PhD in Political Economics through the business school. At least, that's what it says on their website, but last year's results indicate that it's more likely to be in February/early March.

Thank you! And yes, yes... I've just scrapped number 18, a school I honestly don't think I would be content to attend. #12 due tomorrow, #13 due Tuesday, and then a bit of a break. I've come to the depressing realization that I will start hearing back from schools before my final deadline.

Yeah. Full on cardiac infarction. The program I applied to at Stanford doesn't notify till mid-March, but I still get to wait peacefully for Columbia at the end of January. Kill me now. Anyone know about Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD?

Goodness... I was looking forward to having a month or so to be slightly terrified before the results started coming in. Shit. Anyone know if the Stanford Political Economics PhD through the business school notifies around the same time?

11 out of 18 in - I've hit app fatigue. Thinking of ditching a couple of them - I don't really want to go to School X anyway. I think. Maybe. Wait... nevermind One due tomorrow and I'm way behind schedule. Such is life. When do we start hearing back from schools w December deadlines?

Thanks for the tip on the Comp Gov MPhil - I'll probably scrap that application, then. As far as SIPA and SAIS, for various reasons it would be extremely difficult to postpone starting grad school until 2013, so I'm applying there in the hopes that if I don't get into any PhD programs I can cobble together some fellowships, do the MA or MIA, and get into a PhD program the following year. Who knows, though... such a crapshoot.

Anyone know which schools are known for using a rolling admissions process, even if it's not explicitly stated?

Another thing about Oxford is the Institute for Energy Studies - there's a whole mess of post-Soviet expertise right there even though it's from a very different perspective. Thank you for the info on the MPhil - that's good to know.

balderdash - what's your feel on what is most highly prioritized in writing samples? i'm curious as to what in a writing sample can get one tossed in the reject pile.

I am actually applying to both MPhil programs at Oxford - dev studies and comparative gov't. I have a friend who just came through the dev studies program at Oxford and loved it - that's part of the reason I'm interested. But thanks for the feedback - I've heard the same thing about the Cambridge dev studies program, but I know people in various departments there with whom I would love to work. So I'm applying - if ultimately I have the luxury of choice, I will come back to the thread!

Oh, and another question: does anyone have any tips on the personal statement U Mich Ann Arbor asks for or know of a good resource?

Thanks to balderdash and sindikumva. Gah - I almost feel as if I would prefer to be told I've got no shot at any of the programs I'm looking at. It's the glimmer of hope that really gnaws at me. Re: waiting it out - I've still got a whole round due in January that want individualized essays, etc., so I'll join you on that thread right around the time you're getting your acceptance letters

Oh and 5.5 AW GRE.

Hi all, I'd really appreciate any feedback you guys have on my application chances. I'm applying to 18 programs for specialization in comparative politics/political economy. I know, 18 - but it seems justified given the level of competition, there are profs I would love to work with at all of them, my recommenders are okay with it, and for various reasons it would be quite difficult to have to reapply next year.. Here are the stats: Graduated from Columbia 2009 - 3.65 overall, 3.92 major, major poli sci minor math. I graduated in 3 years (I took a year off to work full time in development in the former USSR during my junior year), and my GPA from my last year was a 3.98. GRE: 800 Verbal, 790 Quant LORs: 1 very well known professor who has done some awesome work in my field (but more of a practitioner - he's my academic mentor), 1 up-and-coming poli sci professor (thesis advisor), and 1 from former employer. All will be pretty glowing. Statement of purpose: I shopped it around and did like a million rewrites, and I feel pretty confident with it. In each one I mention at least 2 professors I'd like to work with in the department and why their work interests me. I've got 2 years work experience after undergraduate, and I worked in microfinance in the former USSR and then in clean tech, focusing on developing markets (I wrote about how the first job immersed me in the political economy of my region of interest and the second job has exposed me to a new side of the energy trade, which will be a crucial component of my doctoral studies). I presented at a pretty high-level conference my senior year, have lectured in Argentina, did an undergrad thesis based on original field research done with a fellowship grant, and was invited to present at some conferences in Asia. Here are the schools: 1. Stanford GSB Political Economics 2. Harvard Political Economy and Government 3. Columbia Poli Sci 4. SIPA MIA 5. SAIS MA 6. Washington U Poli Sci 7. Berkeley Poli Sci 8. UCLA Poli Sci 9. UCSD Poli Sci 10. Brown Poli Sci 11. Yale Poli Sci 12. Oxford Development Studies (mphil) 13. Cambridge (same) 14. LSE (same) 15. U Chicago Poli Sci 16. Duke Poli Sci 17. U Mich Ann Arbor Poli Sci 18. NYU Politics I know this is super long, but if anyone gets a chance to take a look I'd love some feedback. Thanks!