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Accepted today!

I just saw my acceptance to the University of Tokyo on their website. I am indescribably relieved as this was my only government affairs application. Law school may be nice but thank God I don't have to go this year!

Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): MPP Schools Applied To: The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy Schools Admitted To: Schools Rejected From: Still Waiting: I had my interview early last month. I'll know the final decision on Sunday/Monday via GraSPP's website! Undergraduate institution: Unranked state school Undergraduate GPA: 4 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 4 Undergraduate Major: History GRE Quantitative Score: 163 GRE Verbal Score: 165 GRE AW Score: 5.5 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 1 Years of Work Experience: 1 Describe Relevant Work Experience: My job is just a glorified clerical position at a major international electronics manufacturer. My supervisors have agreed to expand my responsibilities and to work in the summer if I secure admissions however. Languages: English (native), Japanese (fluent), Mandarin Chinese (fluent), German (2 years of college courses) Quant: I only enrolled in the minimum class necessary to secure my history degree although I did independently dabble with higher level curriculum and I performed some quantitative fieldwork to enable the completion of my undergraduate thesis. I have the introductory economics courses under my belt but they were quantitatively light. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I spent about two weeks sporadically writing the SOP. I wrote one outline and then one draft making my revisions on the fly. I probably should have disciplined myself and spent more time planning as I don't consider myself a terribly skilled wordsmith. However, I do think (hope) that any structural weakness was offset by a laser focus career plan and my specific knowledge of both Japan and the Tokyo program. Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): I'm as certain as is possible that my two letters are substantial. I did a ton of award winning coursework under both my professors. I enrolled in no less than five of their courses each. I feel I am privileged enough to call both good friends. Moreover, I gave them ample time (four months) to compose these letters. Other: I won all of the departmental and university-wide awards available to a history student. My thesis was published. I served on several academic advisory councils. I graduated in three years which, some have said, may be a liability. I have several well-funded acceptances from T14 law schools that would allow me to defer for the two years necessary to pursue this MPP; I mention this because it was a moderately important point in my SOP.