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Mason-out too.... Muna & Helloking.. All the best to everyone and congratulations to those admitted..

Maybe we should relax with instrumental music or soft sound until the hour arrives... Thanks the blog for letting us know in advance..

Thanks HKS Admission Blog for providing the answers to my two questions. Awesome & expeditious!

Hi & Congrats fellows & fellas , Question please: the time shown on your admitted post was around 2:33 am. I suppose it's 3:33 pm EST? (that HKS sent out notifications.) Is my understanding correct? Also, if I may ask another question.. The posts on the admission blog are usually updated around 9-10p EST. Does it take you several hours to receive them in your mailbox? The last one just came to my mailbox 5 minutes ago at 8:10p (GMT+7) on Mar 14; however, I read it 10 hours earlier on the blog. Thanks for your info sharing in advance.

Congrats for those admitted. For those who're not, please smile and keep your chin up. Still waiting... Best of luck everyone...

Int'l Student. Senior in my undergrad study.- my question is: Are you a US citizen? or PR? or dual citizens? Certain jobs in the US require you to have a citizenship or at least a PR status. So I do not have any full-time job experience, as these are all professional programs and I don't know would this be a big disadvantage if I choose to go for the MA directly. I think you're wise to choose dual programs b/c they save time and money and the knowledge and skills obtained in school(s) can support one another when you're studying in the two programs. I want to work in the field of int'l development, or consulting on int'l relations( especially with a major interest in the Mid-East as I studied Arabic & Mid-East studies in my undergrad) after I graduate. I wish I'd work for those big international organizations now but seems that all of the positions require a relevant MA degree... I am unsure what MA you refer to. MA (IR)? MA (IPS)? or MA in Arabic or Middle East Studies. However, I would need you to be more specific as ID is a broad field. You can work for a donor, an INGO, an NGO or even for an IGO that deals with outreach. I think it comes to which country, which type of agency, which division if you can be specific. However, some ME countries were once ruled by Britain and their educational systems may follow British curriculum. And Arab populations are also in commonwealth countries and some other empire countries ie France. But if you'd like to work for Dept of States, I'd think Maxwell. For consulting jobs, it's easier. Go with the big name. B/c these firms have their global offices and you need global names. LSE. -so I'd like to know that which of those schools would best help me getting the kind of job that I want to do? I hope I answered you above. -Sadly I also heard that these years it'd be very difficult for int'l students to get ideal jobs like that, is it true? Are you from those donor countries that have JPO programs and such? -Do you think some working experience in an irrelevant field helpful or is it just a waste of time? I got a pretty good job offer which is about doing PR for a top FMCG company as a Management Trainee, but this would have nothing to do as my original career plan lies in the field of IR and development. I'm thinking that If this experience would be helpful I may defer my MA studies for 1 year or even re-apply to some better schools in the future. (Sadly USNews& the world report was the major source I relied on and recently I found that my research before I chose the schools to apply was insufficient, sigh) I think work experience counts when you have to discuss a real work experience in class w/ your classmates. And the competitive edge that yo_yo86 mentioned, 2 candidates which one to be selected. No experience or 1-year exp? I think if funding doesn't change next year, work for a year doesn't hurt. Unless you plan to do a Ph.d. afterwards then maybe go ahead do both dual degrees and apply phd elsewhere.. You can always apply work from one area to another. Although it's not 100% related but you get a sense of work, frameworks, people, how a system is managed. And perhaps one year later you discover what you'd really like to be or study. Sometimes asking what you gain and lose then turns them to a chart and do scoring can help to..b/c only you know the best how to weight things for yourself. Best of lucks.

Thanks wantgrad. I remembered reading the admission blog earlier that "dateS (plural)" or sth. I would believe that some programs, applicants are in higher positions/responsibilities which may require longer period of time to find replacements, handling job closure and finishing transfer notes to incumbents or the replacements. Besides, different programs start differently at different times of the year plus visa for foreign students for some countries may take long er time than the others and etc. Still, we have to thank them for working during the spring break when many are enjoying weather.. Have a good week everyone!

Well, at least the blog talked about an alumna on International Women's Day and next day it talked about a sport male student.. I didn't see anyone concerning the important day here as we're somehow going to be a public affair student.. It's meant a lot elsewhere in the world I sincerely believe..

yes, the blog is informative..Thanks.

Years ago, I think it was IDSS. As far as I was back in a grad school taking some NS courses at NPS, we referred to articles authored by IDSS scholars. My limited knowledge is that they have research opportunities for security issues. Now it's with NTU but still has its own autonomy, I suppose. If you're interested in intelligence, strategy and defense, I think Singapore is interesting. A strategic location for ASEAN and East Asia. If you learn Mandarin and Bahasa Malay (Singpore's national language), it'll also be worthwhile while spending time there. And maybe try to double major, sth of what you like that's offered at NTU. I did like 2.5 majors: ID, Cross-Cultural Studies and 0.5 Security taking courses at NPS. I hope you enjoy Singapore la...

NO CIR circle please. But I hope this helps a bit. http://www.fandm.edu/government/graduate-school-information/graduate-programs

I don't see what's wrong w/ working for Citibank for a year. You have tripple majors and one of your majors is finance. This's where you practiced in a real world. And I see there's nothing wrong working for IFC. It's like you're working for WB and besides, you deserve higher credits on taking less pay, being in the field and helping people get financed for their works, business, life and for the well-being of people there. There are people who apply for ID, MPP, MPA and get accepted w/ business background too. Your work is finance & development. My point is that all things were being considered equally or similarly, whom would you choose? Higher GRE-Q or lower GRE Q? You're from the Philippines, your verbal GRE is at the advantages of most Asian nationals, except Singapore, Indian and a few more countries. The GPAs and grades from one school canNOT be compared to another school. Let's say if you go top 1 or top 2 Us in Asian countries and have lower GPAs b/c the conservative grading system used there. You get D in cal, flunk stat but your GRE is still up to their average ranges vs A, B+, A- on these subjects in an X university, and you get from 500-670. What do these tell the admission committees? It can be interpreted in few ways. I don't want to elaborate here. Basically, grading is not as important. As far as I remember, HKS doesn't ask people to report undergraduate GPA if schools are OUTSIDE the US. So, how do they measure candidates? I really doubt WWS. On its catalogue/prospectus, it even clearly shows average GRE Q pie charts! You see the average and you must beat the average b/c you're using your Filipino background as a basis of your application i.e. SOP right? I hope my best wishes may require you to attempt a bit more. There is a will, there is a way. Rome isn't built in one day. I think your profile is awesome and what bothers me is your Q. Don't forget you spent 10-12 years in Asia, they compare you w/ thousands of Asian applicants too b/c math skills are acquired throughout years but practice will also help your strategies in solving them. But if you keep 500-670 sporadically.. Just do maybe 80 points more and I believe you can succeed b/c you seem young and this standardized test variances w/ your age. It can be kept for 5 years. Who knows one day you may need it for a Ph.d? Rather do it just in case.. Good luck. Salamat Pu

2 years in DC for ? How's your academic profile? Foreign language ability? What kinds of jobs or which agencies do you want to work? I went to a grad school w/ younger classmates w/ a couple of years of work experience. Some of them worked/lived abroad maybe 6 months or 1 year, finished 2-year policy degree, and passed tests working for DEA, foreign services, and etc.. Good luck. It depends on individuals. B/c each person is unique and maybe talented or passionate about sth in particularly and can land his/her job easier than those w/ more years of experience sometimes. Also, It's about a mindset too.. Risk-taking jobs, high risk countries or zones would require people w/ different skills, knowledge, ages, tags, and preferences. Some people can be more adventurous than others.. And many more factors in life in finding jobs.. Sometimes, younger ones climbed ladders too fast (faster than those with experience) and get stuck too just like them.. Just do your best every day. Best of lucks.

Asia - where? Some countries in Asia prefer American U names more than Brit's ones. And what kinds of organizations you'd like to work for? Also, alumni and connection in your field. Two years.. I don't know. Maybe MPP for 2 years are better than 2-year MPA. If one-year program and another year w/ SIPA or 2.5 years seems OK. Is funding your concern? Do you get any special tuition rate as a European student? Any financial aid from your country or fellowships for students from your country at LSE? Did you apply other Us in the US too?

Pls visit HKS or Maxwell website for mid-career programs info. And you'll see some overlapped and difference patterns. Best of luck...

Is it a question or for info? In the past when competition is not as fierce as today, maybe not. For today, you need it. But straight from college, do you have any internship experience? Willing to work in a non-profit while attending a grad school? It'll pay off when you start your professional career in a few years let's say you stick around foreign services, gov jobs, UN jobs, IGOs jobs and etc.. if you have 1-3 years of work experience before going to an IR grad program, it will even add your opportunities to be admitted by grad schools.

LSE is certainly famous for economics. I have no idea about its MPA? Does it come w/ any financial aid? How long is the program? Any internship? Where do you want to work? Are you quantitative strong? Are you a European/an American or an int'l student?

The L(os AngeleS)-T(erm) Word- and its nearby counties... Pretty much CA..

Which lens do you want? Government (macro)'s len i.e. policy : Non-profit MPP/MAIPS or MPA. Business/micro len i.e. managing a museum/an institute MBA w/ non-profit management.

http://www.fandm.edu/government/graduate-school-information/graduate-programs I think difficulty should somehow be reflected based on the above link. And whether you get the funding or not from the same-level schools should tell us something in addition to the difficulty.

thanks for doing this, jflorezi.

Oh one important thing, if you'd like to work for Fed, I have not much ideas. But if you'd like to work for UNs, INGOs, MFAs, Dept of State, or NGOs, go for MIIS. Great Alumni and good name for "practitioner". My friends are posted at many places Uzbek, Myanmar, Indo, Brazil, and etc.. MIIS is for Int'l posts and int'l minded. NYU is OK but talking about professional schools, I don't think it's up to circle. See the link I pasted above. I think that's quite accurate. And you want scholarships, happy mind while studying to fight a real world idealism.. NY you can come back anytime. Monterey is once a good experience to live, learn and enjoy life.

Thank you very much.

Nexpresso.. log in require please. Thanks.

What's your thought? Age, life change, divorce, a career enhancement, a practitioner scholar?