threedaystar

I don't have a Clarendon so I can't be of any help - sorry!

2400: Sent a reply Finally....

gtown: I went ahead and paid the fee for the on-campus housing. For where I get to live (in the heart of the city) I am guessing it will definently be the cheapest option. I got posted to Nothumberland House - which is right on Trafalgar Square. Should be about a 20 minute walk to school (which is nothing...). Don't know what the rooms are like - but all graduate students get singles (yay us !). You only have 14 days on which to decide if they give you housing. My advice is to suck it up and pay the 300$ for a deposit. It also should be somewhat refundable if you decide not to go. Um, the reason I say this...is because I actually got a better offer to another school and am seriously considering not going to LSE. If I do, I should be able to get some of the deposit back (at least I think).

I need a Master's for my field. I want to work as either an analyst for European Union affairs in Agricultural and Trade politics or go on and get a PhD in my field. Basically, I cannot earn anything with my degrees as of now (I have a BA in Foreign Affairs and English Lit). To do anything in IR or Politics, you either need hardcore experience or a Masters/PhD. However, I have calculated this... (about right???) Future Earnings as a Professor: maybe 100K a year

2400 - thanks for all the help. I am going to try and talk to Oxford's financial dept. this week sometime. I have also had one really nice Oxford friend helping me out. She is American too - and has practically said for those of us without Rhodes, you are looking at loans and maybe only a small chunk of funding from the dept/financial office... Also, do you mind me asking what program you got accepted to? Are you going to go? If you don't want it here - pm me ?

Thanks for the help and suggestions. I am going to make a pro/con list. I am also going to keep talking to professors both at my current school and LSE/Oxford. I know I am going to school regardless. I almost have to have a Masters for a job in International Relations and / or European Affairs. Part of me actually does want to defer a year (I know I can for LSE, I have to check on Oxford). However, that means my undergrad loans would go into payment. Having no steady job offer on the table, that's a scary option too. It's so complex... :shock:

So I wasn't expecting this - but I got accepted into the MPhil in European Politics and Society at Oxford this week. Of course, no funding. And I also go into LSE's MSc Politics and Govt of the European Union. Also, no funding. :cry: Um - help? I got into two fantastic programs, but I am scared either 1) I am going to make the wrong choice or 2) Never get out of debt. Oxford = 2 years so more pricey in the long run as far as tuition goes. But, one year in London is still going to be $$$. The city itself is more expensive to live in... However, what I am worried is that if I take loans, I will never be able to pay them on a professors salary (I already have loans from undergrad). Also, anyone have thoughts on how the programs compare? Professors are telling me that if I want to go the academia route, Oxford will be best. But if I want a job, either would be good. Any help / thoughts ???? Anyone else in the same programs ????

So to make a long story short - I was very excited about applying to graduate school (felt that it would be a good "fit" for me) - however, the last few weeks, I have become more uneasy and more uneasy about my decision. I happened to turn down a mediocre job offer for grad school, and lots of people are telling me I am making a great decision by going to a top notch program for my field (friends, professors, family) --- yet, the financial aspect is freaking me out. I have a lot of student debt from undergrad thanks to no help whatsoever by my family to help me go. Plus, I would be adding another 20K+ for grad school. Yes, I know thats relatively cheap for grad school...but I am thinking I am going to be around 70K in the hole, by the time I finish (that's undergrad + grad). Yes, I know this is a lot of debt. My parents and I have discussed it and they said they would be willing to help me pay some of it in the next 5 years. So am I crazy for going to grad school? Bad decision? A lot of professors are telling me not to worry and that I will work it out in the future, but the big unknown is killing me.

I am wondering if it would be acceptable to email the politics grad program at Oxford to check on my status? I know decisions for gathering III should not be out until May, but I am hard pressed because I have other offers/housing decisions on the line and I need to make a decision soon. Is it okay to email so far in advance to see if any offer has been made? I don't want to scare them off, but I also do need some sort of answer soon, or else I am just going to take the offer I have - and leave Oxford alone...which I kind of do not want to do. Tips?

Has anyone heard any word from Oxford's dept of politics, for those who applied in Gathering Field III ? I applied for the Mphil program in Euro Politics and am waiting to tell other programs if I am coming or not... so yeah - any news/updates ???

I try to be an optimist, with a heavy dose of realism mixed in. I think that lately a lot of people have been chiming in on keeping an SO long distance. Well - from family experience [my father was deployed most of my childhood and my mother stayed home] and from my own experiences- I can say that long distance sucks, BUT is feasible if both people really want it. Some couples can make it work, others cannot. Plus, 100-300 miles of distance is one thing, when one SO is on the other side of the world, it is another. Just think about the time and money etc... that traveling might induce or prohibit you from being with your SO. I know I haven't seen my bf in months and it is making me :shock: But also - hearing all these stories of couples who do make the grad school leap together [and make it work] makes me feel somewhat warm and fuzzy.

Off topic - but can I ask in which gathering you applied ? II or III? I am still waiting on III and I am wondering when letters will be sent out... Also - I know overseas students have a lot of problems getting enough funding for the DPhil. You might get some aid from your college and such...but not enough to totally offset the cost of the DPhil. It sucks that the UK hardly funds PHd students like the US. I am also planning on doing an MSc in the UK - and am willign to take out funding for this (about 25,000$). However, I know my PHd (if I go for one) has got to be funded. My opinion: do a one year Oxford program and then do your PHd where you can get funded. That way you have the Oxford experience, but also achieve your dream goal of having a PHd/DPhil.

I'll be doing an MSc in Politics and Government of the European Union. I am getting pretty excited about moving to London !

I would put a deposit down. If you lose it...well its only a small amount of money over where would make you happiest. I actually had a professor last week tell a student that he should go ahead and do it, just to secure a spot. Yes, it may seem slightly unethical, but YOU got into the program [hence, YOU should be deciding your future] and if you pull a deposit out - they may open up that spot to the waitlist. I wouldn't really worry about it.

No, sadly. I have lots of friends in Europe - but no one I think would co-sign for me.

Glad you made a decision you are happy with ! LSE will be a great experiance. I am already hella excited to move and get started. Sigh - if only I was moving NOW, and not in Sept.

Okay... I actually applied to both Oxford and LSE too. I lived in the EU last summer to do research and many of the people I worked with had Oxbridge and LSE degrees. That said, it didn't really separate any of them. Both degrees meant something when these people came out of school. When I was accepted into LSE, I told my boss from last summer - who is well known in EU affairs - and she told me that LSE has incredible job prospects for graduates. That "doors open up when you graduate from LSE". Also, I was glancing over the Foreign Affairs ranking system [not that it means much for "specific programs"]...but... LSE was ranked above Oxford in terms of MSc degrees. Oxford was then close to LSE (but above) in terms of PhD programs. So if you are only going for an MPhil or MSc it looks like both will be top notch. Oxford might have the reputation abroad though...if you want to continue on in your graduate studies elsewhere. Also - is funding an issue? Who might give you more? I was looking over the Oxford fees and floored. If I get in, I have few ideas of how I am going to pay for it. Plus, it depends if you are a city person or a country person. Oxford is gorgeous and natural. London is fast paced and vibrant. It's really what you like best.

Thanks, I am going to look into Stafford loans. No go on the competitive scholarships. I applied for the Rhodes and the Mitchell - didn't make it through the interview process - sadly. :cry:

Most of the UK schools offer limited funding opportunities - so I am trying to think of ways to fund my education. Obviously, it will have to be through awards and loans. First, I am pretty ill educated on finance issues. Is it right that you cannot use a US govt loan for education abroad? What other low interest loans are out there that can be used abroad? I currently have a GATE loan through Bank of America - but I highly doubt I can use this same program abroad, as it is a partnership with US Universities... Also, does anyone have any good scholarships or prizes that can be used towards funding a British education? I am a US student, so obviously I cannot apply for EU funding programs [i wish...]. Thanks!

I'd normally be out playing polo and working with our horses; however, the stress of grad school and finishing up my last semester has made it impossible to have any free time - let alone, enough to play regularly. So I run. And run some more. Whenever I start to get stressed about the grad school situation - it's outside for a while. Plus, the running tires me out enough to sleep pretty well.

I am in my last year of undergrad at UVA in the Politics dept. The people who have been stating that the overall quality of the department is very strong - are quite correct. We have some superstar professors and some rising names: John Owen, Waldner, Mel Leffler, Dale Copeland, etc.. What is even better is that a lot of the "top" professors are incredibly nice. I have never felt that I couldn't work with any of them, and they certainly did not shun undergrads or grads for their own research. In fact, its pretty common to see large groups of professors and students engaged in intellectual conversations outside of the classroom. I happen to love the department, and know many grad students within it. They have found it a pretty good place to work and study. Also, I believe most first year grads do get TA-ships of some kind. If you want any info on the department - don't hesitate to pm me.

So - who is all going to LSE ? Also - what programs ?

I am accepted at LSE too.... I have lived in big cities before, but nothing compared to the size of London. Can someone tell me how easy it is to find housing, if you do NOT go through the school? What about expenses - how much does an average apartment cost for rent each month? What are good areas and bad areas in London - close to LSE ? I have lived in Europe before, so I know how much food is [ugh] but the apartment and rent thing is starting to freak me out. As I am in the US, it's not like I can go apartment hunting.

I live in Cville currently. As for where to live, I would stay away from Wertland Avenue - unless you like drunk parties and getting mugged at night. JPA is a pretty good place to live [where most students do]. There are also quite a few apartment complexes. Some are older [but cheaper] such as University Heights and some like Eagles Landing [which is on the other side of town but has a shuttle]. Also, as to the OP who asked about queer issues. I am pretty active in the GLBT community here at UVA. There is a niche for people - a supportive, caring community that actually does a lot of cool activities and such. However, not everyone you meet is going to be happy about open sexuality. I have a lovely out friend who is in a fraternity and he gets quite a bit of ribbing. So...while UVA is okay for LGBT people, it isn't as free or open as say...many West Coast colleges.

Ditto on the bf/grad school thing stressing me out. My bf has been accepted into a 1 year program at Oxford. I won't know back about my Oxford app for a while... Right now we are long distance, and while it doesn't seem to bother him too much, I prefer living closer. It just makes things so much easier. However, the good news is that I am in at LSE, which will be okay as its only an hour commute from London to Oxford.