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.

I was filling out a 200-some question thing for a crappy office admin job (WInslow Test) when I saw my gmail desktop app pop up with a "Congratulations on your admission to MSPP!" I was so excited I almost didn't finish the questionnaire then realized I still needed some income between now and August. Texted my mom and dad, and a couple friends.

I also applied to SAIS and UCSD IRPS, so Georgetown is the only MPP program I applied to. It's going to be a tough decision between MSPP and SAIS if I get into SAIS. Although being in the midwest this winter is making me look pretty longingly at San Diego...I guess what I'm saying is I have no idea at this point

Congrats, I just got in too! All the e-mail says is, "Your application will be passed on to the MSPP Scholarship Committee, and you will hear from us in the coming weeks if you have been selected for merit funding." I'd imagine a month or so?

You're probably right. Is there a way to edit posts?

I think your WE is probably fine. It's all relevant, and it will be especially good with a strong LOR from the people you worked for. You might want to concentrate your SoP around the energy sector, and then maybe have your issue statement have something to do with the energy sector and its relationship with international security, as it will play to your strengths and experience as well as segue into the field you are (at least from the looks of it) more interested in. I would definitely concentrate on your GRE quant, as a high score will definitely help you a lot if you didn't have a significant econ background. Honestly, I wish I had spent a lot more time on GRE quant even if it had been a bit at the expense of my verbal score. I used Magoosh and the Manhattan series of books quite a bit, and they were both a huge help. Also....with the Rudy in your screenname and your ECs...you didn't play football for Chuck Long did you? I know he wasn't great at SD State, but we still consider him a god in Iowa...

I saw there's already one out there for HKS, so I figured we'd probably want a place to discuss all things SAIS 2014 admissions related. And since I'm bored at work and have already read the entire internet today, figured I could start it. I would probably have SAIS as my top choice right now. My details: Schools I'm interested in so far: Harvard Kennedy MPP, JHU SAIS, Chicago Harris, Georgetown Security Studies Program, Columbia SIPA, Tufts Fletcher. The Georgetown Security Studies Program seems really cool, but I think I'd be more comfortable with more econ and with language courses worked into the normal curriculum, which seems to point me pretty solidly in the direction of Strategic Studies or American Foreign Policy concentrations SAIS. Undergraduate institution: University of Iowa Undergraduate GPA: 3.88 Undergraduate Majors: B.A. Political Science (Honors) and Economics (straight As in Principles and Intermediate classes, as well as A+s in International Econ and Advanced International Econ) GRE Quantitative Score: 158 GRE Verbal Score: 170 GRE AW Score: 5.5 I'm considering a retake to boost my quant score. I think it's good enough for admissions to most of the places I want to go, but if spending another $185 on a retake might turn into a few grand later in funding, it would definitely be worth it. I studied some, but there is definitely a lot more I could do. Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 5 Years of Work Experience: 1 year working as a manager for a non-profit environmental group, 5 years (currently) enlisted in the Navy including a year in Djibouti, as well as four years working for a 3-Star. Languages: Russian (four years in high school, two years in college, but at this point I would probably be a novice. Thinking about brushing up on my own with it.) Activities: 60 hours teaching English to children in Djibouti Active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Pretty strong, I think. Not sure which ones I'll have where yet, but in my stable I'll have my UG thesis advisor, a UK Army Colonel, a US Army Colonel, two US Navy Captains, a Navy Lieutenant Commander, and a couple of Navy Chiefs, all of whom I've worked for and have a strong relationship with.

Schools I'm interested in so far: Harvard Kennedy (MPP), JHU SAIS, Chicago Harris, Georgetown Security Studies Program, Columbia SIPA, Tufts Fletcher. I'm probably leaning towards SAIS at this point. The Georgetown Security Studies Program seems pretty interesting, but I think I would feel more comfortable if there were some serious economics in the mix as well (not to mention language classes as part of the normal curriculum), so the SAIS Strategic Studies concentration seems pretty much exactly what I am looking for. Undergraduate institution: University of Iowa Undergraduate GPA: 3.88 Undergraduate Majors: B.A. Political Science (Honors) and Economics (straight As in Principles and Intermediate classes, as well as A+s in International Econ and Advanced International Econ) GRE Quantitative Score: 158 GRE Verbal Score: 170 GRE AW Score: 5.5 I'm considering a retake to boost my quant score. I think it's good enough for admissions to most of the places I want to go, but if spending another $185 on a retake might turn into a few grand later in funding, it would definitely be worth it. I studied some, but there is definitely a lot more I could do. Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 6 Years of Work Experience: 1 year working as a manager for a non-profit environmental group, 5 years (currently) enlisted in the Navy including a year in Djibouti, as well as four years working for a 3-Star. A bit worried that being enlisted as opposed to being an officer will hurt me some, but hopefully the admissions offices will see it as a boost in diversity... Languages: Russian (four years in high school, two years in college, but at this point I would probably be a novice. Thinking about brushing up on my own with it.) Activities: 60 hours teaching English to children in Djibouti Active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Pretty strong, I think. Not sure which ones I'll have where yet, but in my stable I'll have my UG thesis advisor, a UK Army Colonel, a US Army Colonel, two US Navy Captains, a Navy Lieutenant Commander, and a couple of Navy Chiefs, all of whom I've worked for and have a strong relationship with.

I will probably be applying. We will see what happens... Schools I'm interested in so far: Harvard Kennedy (MPP), JHU SAIS, Chicago Harris, Georgetown Security Studies Program, Columbia SIPA, Tufts Fletcher Undergraduate institution: University of Iowa Undergraduate GPA: 3.88 Undergraduate Majors: B.A. Political Science (Honors) and Economics (straight As in Principles and Intermediate classes, as well as A+s in International Econ and Advanced International Econ) GRE Quantitative Score: 158 GRE Verbal Score: 170 GRE AW Score: 5.5 I'm considering a retake to boost my quant score. I think it's good enough for admissions to most of the places I want to go, but if spending another $185 on a retake might turn into a few grand later in funding, it would definitely be worth it. I studied some, but there is definitely a lot more I could do. Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 5 Years of Work Experience: 1 year working as a manager for a non-profit environmental group, 5 years (currently) enlisted in the Navy including a year in Djibouti, as well as four years working for a 3-Star. Languages: Russian (four years in high school, two years in college, but at this point I would probably be a novice. Thinking about brushing up on my own with it.) Activities: 60 hours teaching English to children in Djibouti Active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): Pretty strong, I think. Not sure which ones I'll have where yet, but in my stable I'll have my UG thesis advisor, a UK Army Colonel, a US Army Colonel, two US Navy Captains, a Navy Lieutenant Commander, and a couple of Navy Chiefs, all of whom I've worked for and have a strong relationship with.

I remember when I was strongly considering law schools that the law school sites would all say that LSATs and GPAs were looked at as part of a wider application, but it was complete crap. It's pretty well known that for top law schools, it's about 75% LSAT, 20% GPA, and 5% everything else. Are MPP/MPA programs a lot different when it comes to that? Do they seem to consider soft factors qute a bit more? I'd assume that they still want to maintain a reasonably high GRE/GPA average.

I realized after pushing back my GREs a couple times that I actually need to study. Taking it August 31st and studying as much as possible before then. Planning on applying to: SAIS Georgetown SFS and probably GPPI SIPA Trachtenberg UTexas LBJ Michigan Ford Indiana MPP Have 5 years Navy experience (enlisted, not officer, which I'm worried might hurt a bit) including a year in Djibouti with a really awesome/relevant sounding job title. I'll have great LoRs from some really good people professionally. Academic LoRs I'm a little worried about. I haven't really talked to any of my old profs for quite a while. I'm guessing the academic LoRs will be pretty generic/cookie cutter which is a bit worrying. 3.88 in econ and poli sci from a lower Big 10 university. My verbal is consistently in the mid 160s, but my quant is lagging significantly. I'm not too worried about it as I always did really well in math through HS and college, but I definitely need to get the rust off. It's tough getting back after just sitting around pushing papers for 5 years, doing no math higher than basic arithmetic, and doing pretty much nothing mentally taxing :/