D-Lux

Just got an email saying I was admitted off the waitlist, but I declined. So if you're on the waitlist, there's hope!

Program Applied To: International Relations, MPA Schools Applied To: Georgetown MSFS, Syracuse (MPA/MAIR), GWU Elliott, American SIS, Monterey Institute (MPA), The New School GPIA, Rangel Fellowship, Pickering Fellowship Schools Admitted To: Georgetown MSFS (no $), Syracuse (MPA/MAIR, no $), American SIS (no $), Monterey Institute (MPA, $), New School GPIA ($) Schools Waitlisted: GWU Elliott Schools Rejected From: None! Rejected by the Rangel Fellowship and Pickering Fellowship, however. Attending: Georgetown MSFS Undergraduate institution: Rural public university Undergraduate GPA: 3.2 Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): 3.57 (3.88 final year) Undergraduate Major: International Studies and Spanish, minor in International Political Economy GRE Quantitative Score: 760 GRE Verbal Score: 580 (This one hurt, I was getting 100 points higher on all the practice tests.) GRE AW Score: 5.0 Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 6 Years of Work Experience: 6 total, 2 quite relavent, 2-3 somewhat relevant. Describe Relevant Work Experience: Taught English in Japan on the JET Program for 2 years. Currently managing a tech support group and working with both domestic and international clients. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): I felt like I still had more to say when I hit the word limit on most of these essays. After sending them in, I was worried that I should have had a little less about my background and a few more specifics about the school/program. But I guess I must've done something right! Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Two of them I'm sure were very good. My third was written by my former Japanese supervisor. I was worried that some ad committees may not find his non-native English particularly charming or helpful, but apparently those fears were unfounded. Other: Near fluent in Spanish, basic Japanese. Studied abroad in Spain. Traveled to 25 countries. Between my low undergrad GPA at a rural public university and my comparative lack of experience (internship? what's that?), I felt like I was at a disadvantage compared to most people on this board. I almost didn't even bother applying to Georgetown. I'm glad I did, though! It turns you CAN get into a top program even with mediocre grades from a mediocre school.

Yeah, I just turned down my offer last night. I liked the New School's program and the International Field Programs in particular (much more than NYU's, which I looked at but didn't apply to), but not enough to take it over higher ranked, established programs.

According to their website, they typically don't allow deferrals. It sounds like the rare ones they do allow may be more for long-term illness, caring for a dying family member, etc.

Yeah, no kidding. Oh well, on to crushing student loan debt....

Yeah, so much for the "all applicants will hear back by April 2nd" email.

Going from the MPA to the second degree is going to be easier. Starting with the MAIR and adding the MPA, you'll have to try to fit in required MPA classes that are only offered in the summer. MAIR/Econ probably isn't much a problem. They say there is a limit to the number of dual degree students they'll allow. What that limit is and whether it's ever reached, I'm not sure.

You have to apply and there are a limited amount of spaces.

Most programs have an average age on their website along with other admission statistics. The average age for these programs tends to be mid-late 20s with some early 20s and some late 20s/early 30s.

FYI, those 20.5K in Stafford loans are available to anyone, anywhere, whether you're going to Harvard or beauty school. They might just be the only place that's told you about them so far.

Denied on the Robertson Fellowship. Guess I'm headed to DC, then...

If the massive loan you're talking about is a federal student loan (Stafford or PLUS), you might want to look into the public service loan forgiveness program and income-based repayment. You'd still end up paying back much of the loan (especially if your salary continues to climb throughout the 10 years), but you'll at least get a good deal of it forgiven.

You would probably be better off asking this question in the Criminology and Criminal Justice forum.

Yeah, I got some questions answered on the webinar. I did some emailing with Nell too. It sounds like the regular funding has all been announced for the dual degree students, but that they're deciding on that fellowship I applied for next week. If I don't get it, I think I'll be heading to Georgetown...

Here you go.