jct329

Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): Big 10 public undergrad (not one of the good ones, either...) Previous Degrees and GPAs: Double major in Economics and PoliSci, 3.9 GPA GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 170v/158q/5.5aw Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): 6 months (immediately following UG) in a non-profit, 5 years enlisted military Part-time Work Experience: Worked for the state Democratic Party for the 2006 midterms while in UG Math/Econ Background: Lots and lots of econ w/ really good grades, not too much math - two stats classes, and then calc for business majors Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): Biggest weakness besides my lack of an impressive academic quant history (A's in the ones I took, but didn't take very many or very difficult ones). Studied Russian in high school and first year of college, but none since. Trying to decide whether to pick it up again or go with something different. Intended Field of Study in Grad School: Strategic Studies Long Term Professional Goals: IGO, US government (if they'll start hiring again!), or NGO/think tank Schools Applied to & Results: Accepted: Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, Columbia SIPA, Johns Hopkins SAIS, UC San Diego IR/PS Rejected: None! I kind of wish I had applied to HKS or WWIS. Ultimate Decision & Why: SAIS - A large part was just name recognition. I always regretted following friends to the flagship state u instead of going to some much better UG schools I got into. UCSD offered me more money than SAIS and San Diego is *awesome*, but I just decided I'll take the debt for the SAIS name, network, and location. Also, I have the GI Bill which severely dampens the blow Also, the strategic studies program there is top notch! Advice for Future Applicants: Don't leave your essays for the last minute! At least my experience was that they are *MUCH* harder than you'll think. I'm generally a pretty good writer and the policy writing samples weren't really an issue, but the personal statements kept me up at night, shaking and crying myself to sleep. That Breaking Bad scene where Walter White is laughing hysterically under his house after learning all his money was gone? That was me trying to write my personal statements. Super excited, though! I remember reading about SAIS while still in UG and thinking it sounded so cool but I probably wouldn't get in. I kind of planned to go to law school when I got out of the military and just wasn't all that excited about it at all. Then, maybe 2 years ago, I spoke w/ a friend who did his MPP and realized I'd rather go that route, then when I started looking into schools I remembered all about SAIS and here I am. Even more excited given the fact that I'm stuck delivering pizzas until August

I received no funding from SAIS, but I have 100% GI Bill. I'm trying to figure out how exactly I should look at it. UCSD offered me full tuition plus a stipend which would be great (especially combined w/ the BAH I'll get from the GI Bill). Part of me is still really wanting to go to SAIS and kind of look at it as if I have ~24k in funding per year from the GI Bill/Yellow Ribbon program. It's a really tough decision. IRPS is an interesting program and San Diego seems like an awesome place to live, but I worry about networking, job placement, etc. being so far from DC. There is also the not insignificant prestige difference.

Wait, I thought it was 2k matched by VA for a total of 4k. Or are you talking about combined over both years?

Congrats on the Princeton offer! Are you headed there?

It was in an e-mail, BUT it was in my spam folder! I randomly checked my spam folder for something else and saw the e-mail in there. The letter was attached to the e-mail.

I just got a funding e-mail today. Full tuition plus a stipend...I was planning on going to SAIS, but this is incredibly INCREDIBLY tempting. Especially seeing as how SAIS didn't give me as much as I was hoping. Plus...San Diego...

Sorry, what do you mean? Stats? 3.88 Econ/PoliSci from a big10 public, 170v/158q/5.5, 5 years military for WE

Notice by e-mail, then they add the details into the acceptance letter at the bottom of the application page. Just got it like 10 minutes ago.

My financial aid package came. It has some for the first year, but it doesn't say anything for the second. Anybody know if that means that I won't get anything for the second year or do they decide that later?

I agree, but it's not stopping me from constantly checking my e-mail and the application page...

I've been wondering the same thing, seeing as how my undergrad outfit was pretty much t-shirt and shorts or hoodie and jeans. When you see pictures of classrooms they seem to be mostly in business casual dress. I'm curious if that's just for the promotional photos or if it's actually expected.

It says for all three programs (MA, MAIA, and MAIS) that they are sending results out on the 14th/15th...whiiiiich means now I'm checking my e-mail constantly.

Just got an e-mail to check my Grad Apply messages and had a message saying I was nominated for admission. Anyone else get in? I'm in at Georgetown MSPP as well and am waiting on SAIS. I'm unlikely to go to UCSD, but having spent this winter in the midwest I'm more tempted than I thought I would be. Honestly, the more I read about the program, the more interesting it sounds. Unfortunately I don't speak any of the languages needed to graduate, so I would need to take language on top of the rest of the curriculum and it doesn't seem like the languages are as seamlessly integrated into it like they are at SAIS. Any thoughts?

I was curious and called the admin office on Friday. Apparently the scholarship committee just began going over applications, so it's likely to be another 1-2 weeks I would guess.

I *think* that was just the official offer of admission from GSAS (based on the recommendation forwarded to them by MSPP). I'm not sure if that has any meaning on whether or not you will receive any funding.