Hotspur

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/06/the_importance_of_studying_the.html Good article in the Havard Business Review on politicians' attempt to cut funding from social science.

I've just declined an unfunded comparative offer from Georgetown (and based on the conversation, it sounds like there will be no more money given out to anyone else if they are in a similar situation at Gtown). Going to Maryland instead. Congrats and good luck to all!

Hey there, As somone who is currently doing a one-year MA at King's College London, I would have to say that there is a certain amount to which your fears are correct, but you can still utilise it to the best of your advantage. As for your transcript, you will at best be able to show what classes you are taking; you will almost definitely not have grades for the early deadlines--unlikely that you will even for the later ones. If you are looking for a recommendation, do your utmost to get noticed in seminars, in an academically significant way. It is common for many English universities to have student-led seminars or at least presentations; volunteer for the earliest one you can. Speak to the professor in office hours right after and say you would like a recommendation and ask him or her if there is anything else you can provide them with so that they can write you a good recommendation; one of my professors here wanted to see some of my papers. This might be less likely for a research-based MA, as I am not sure that you have classes in the same way as a taught-MA. Otherwise, you will just need to utilise it as a show of ambition on your SOP. Be ready to explain why the classes you are taking/research you are doing will help you to be a better candidate; whether it is filling in gaps in your knowledge, better understanding of methodologies, etc. This bit was easier for me as I was not a political sceince undergrad, so it helped me a lot, but you want to make it clear how it is enhancing your ability to be successful in grad school. Lastly, there are a bunch of internships you can get in London, with foreign policy think tanks (like Chatham House) or with Members of Parliament. Depending on your interests, apply for these; it is definitely possible to hold down a part-time internship and do a one-year master's, although you will be very busy! Even just stating that you've applied for them shows ambition, as well as opening up other job possibilities for the future, depending on what direction you decide to take. Hope that helps and best of luck in London for all of you next year! Also feel free to message me if you want me to try to answer more specific questions.

Anyone want to volunteer some feedback from the schools they have been visiting, as I assume many have already taken place? I'm specifically interested to hear about Georgetown and Maryland--both waitlist for me--which I can't make it to due to travelling distance, although I am sure others will want to hear about their schools of interest. Thanks!

Anyone else still in Maryland limbo? Do you want to PM me with your subfield so I can try to work out whether they've notified by subfield or if it seems like an unofficial waitlist situation? (I'm comparative) I also liked that they updated my online status to "decision made" but without saying what it was--when I called they told me that it was a computer glitch and no decision had been made yet!

Good luck trying to concentrate on anything for the next couple of days! Hope it works out for you!

Thanks for letting us know. I'm one of those Maryland limbo people, although maybe that's not too surprising considering its Feb 1 closing date. I guess the most confusing part for me is that there already seems to have been a Maryland cull around the turn of the month, but that could have just been for specific subfields or on some cut-off factors, before narrowing to final decisions. Ahh, the mysteries of admissions...

I'm waitlisted for funding at Georgetown, but I got the impression they had made all the offers when I spoke with the admissions, because they were now waiting for responses--although it might be possible they were slower getting those out than the waitlists. I would think it is probably alright to call them by now. All communication was by email for me, rather than an update to the online application (still hasn't been updated, actually!)

I would argue, but my fiancée handmade all the invitations, so...yeah.

Ah, the beginning of another week. Anyone else feel that the nervous excitement/dread of the early cycle has been replaced by a feeling which is completely different to that of before, yet still full of nervous excitement/dread?

Sorry, that sucks! Plus, McMuffins, while delicious, can be quite expensive. I'd stick to hashbrowns if I were you.

Congratulations/commiserations to both of you! Don't forget to breathe!

Thanks! I reckon it's the only thing more harrowing than the application process. Unless you do something completely insane like doing them both at the same time (like me!)

Well, I'm comparative but have no idea whether they rank by subfield or not. The admissions officer was very nice but not very forthcoming on the the waiting list, saying roughly that when they know, we'll know. My general feeling would be that there is always a decent chance of getting off the waiting list, because they wouldn't have bothered if there wasn't. However, the results survey shows a lot of people waitlisted for funding at G-town, so not sure if they waitlist a much larger number than other schools (or if they have just done an official waitlist where a lot of other schools just do it unofficially.) But fingers crossed for both of us!!

Yeah, you certainly won't lose anything by asking. Though if I were you I might choose to wait for a little while, as some people offered funding for the course may turn it down, so they may be in a better position to offer you more funding by then. But that involves waiting, which we all have been doing far too much of by this point in the cycle.