[Relocation Assistant For New Grad]

I received $1500 from one Master's program.

 

Did you have to request it or did they include it in your funding package?

[Government Affairs 2013 Wrap Up - Final Decisions!]

Previous Schools: Michigan State University
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Marketing, 3.35 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal / 158 Quant / 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 5 years in Advertising/Digital Marketing/Branding (all in the US)
Math/Econ Background: Micro/Macro Econ, International Econ, Finance, Statistics, Accounting
Foreign Language Background: Not much, one semester of French at a community college and Rosetta Stone/ThinkFrench/etc.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: International Development Studies

Long Term Professional Goals: Work with entrepreneurs in developing areas to help them grow their businesses strategically and responsibly.  Leaning toward private sector solutions but not totally sure.
Schools Applied to & Results: GWU Elliott (accepted), Korbel (accepted), American SIS (accepted), Tufts Fletcher (accepted), Columbia SIPA (rejected).

Ultimate Decision & Why:  GWU Elliott for a number of reasons.  I really like the curriculum and ability to tailor it specifically to my objectives and needs.   The location is also a strong draw, even for someone not totally interested in the public sector or non-profits because I still think a great internship at one of the many institutions in DC would help build my experience and understanding of the field.  Funding was also a big factor for obvious reasons but it wasn't the best offer I received; from an ROI standpoint, Elliott made the most sense to me.  And, finally, the personal attention and communications I received from the school impressed me more than others (that's the marketer in me).  I believe that attention to detail and personalization is important and definitely helped make my decision.

Advice for Future Applicants: It's been said before but I'll say it again: Don't feel intimidated by some of the posters in this or other forums.  Some people knew exactly what they wanted in high school but it took some of us a few years in an unrelated industry to realize what we wanted out of our career.  I, for example, thought my career would be all ad agencies.  So I had to bust my ass to pull together a relevant application for a field I had no professional experience in (but I did have some relevant preparation because of my business background).  That shouldn't dissuade you from applying to programs that interest you.  Make sure you think long and hard about what you want to do in your future, and then think about it some more.  Write it down.  Get the wording perfect so it communicates exactly what you want to say in one sentence.  Talk to friends about it and let them poke holes in it until you have a refined, focused objective.  Make sure you know exactly what you want in a career because then you can articulate that to a school and tell them why their program is right for you and why you are right for their program.  It'll help you focus as you gather your application materials and write your essays.  It will also motivate you to keep going when you feel burnt out.

[Too Early For Books]

You might be surprised at the campus bookstore. Ours matches prices to Amazon if you show them your receipt and the printed out Amazon page for a book in the same condition. They also don't charge sales tax and TAs get like a 5% discount on purchases. So, if you were coming here, my answer would be that you'll save money by waiting until you get here to get your books.

I appreciate the information but even Amazon is priced a bit over some competitors.

[Good GRE Score?]

Thanks for the quick response! The programs I'm looking into are more focused on polisci / anthropology / international relations. Is my math score good enough for a program that is not math centric? And yes the writing score is really bad, I know I can do well I just have to take it again. Can you mix and match scores from two different tests like you can with the SATs?

 

I would say if you can take it again, do it.  I applied to similar programs in IR (more economics focused) and most of them allow you to "mix and match".  You have to submit all GRE scores but they only take the highest scores from each section.  But make sure to check with the programs you are interested in (most have it listed on their admissions website).

[Too Early For Books]

I like buying my books early. I plan on purchasing some of my grad school books in June. I understand that you want to make sure they are in stock, but you may want to wait just a little bit. Are you going to buy used books? I ask because the semester isn't over for current students, so they may still be using their books. Usually the more books that are available, the lower the prices will be as everyone will try to be lower than their competition. That's usually what I wait for, of course the choice is ultimately yours.

 

Great point, I didn't think of that.  Yeah, definitely looking for used books to bring the price down.  Guess I need to brush up on my economics, simple supply and demand!  I was focused more on the demand side of things...

[Too Early For Books]

So, I've made my decision and accepted my offer to start grad school in August.  Now I've officially changed gears from application season to preparing to switch back to student life (daunting!).  I started looking into courses I want to take and started thinking about books.  One of the courses I know I will have to take (it is a first semester requirement for anyone in the program) already has its book list published online for the Fall 2013 semester.

 

Does anyone know if it is too early to start buying books?  I want to make sure I get the best deals before some of these places/people run out of stock and I'm stuck purchasing from the campus bookstore at exorbitant prices.  Is it safe to assume that the book list is finalized?  I checked a few other courses and they haven't published their book lists yet.

[Making a choice - Methods & Criteria]

Curriculum (fit and focus), faculty (not just prestige but also the breadth of experience and diversity of backgrounds), career services/alumni network, class and school size, funding, and location. Not necessarily in order, but I tried to be as honest with myself as possible based on those criteria. I think everyone gives each a different weight so it's difficult to say which are more important.

I also think many applicants overlook one important factor and that is the school's enthusiasm in them. There has been one school for me that has reached out and I appreciate the personal touch (not just having current and former students send emails and it also wasn't the school that gave me the most funding either).

It's a tough decision but you'll do well no matter what. When you have it down to 2 choices just flip a coin. You'll know which is your first choice before it lands. Good luck!

[GWU Elliott vs AU SIS]

Huh? I don't really understand this - AU is in DC too and while GW is right in the middle of downtown and AU is a few metrostops away, I don't really understand why the location of GW is superior to AU's because the difference in location is absolutely minimal.

 

I think a lot of people say that the GW campus is in a better location because the AU campus is a bit further away from some of the action.  But whether that "bit" is a big difference depends on the person, I think.  When it comes to having a job during graduate school or attending on-campus events some people would rather choose GW for the convenience (obviously depending on where they live).

[2013 Int'l Affairs Applicants (MPP, DEV, SSP, etc)]

Do you have offers from any other schools?  Either with funding or at schools with lower tuitions?  If I were in your situation I would reach out to someone either on the AdCom or someone who has contacted you as a liaison and just explain your situation.  Obviously you really want to attend their program, otherwise you wouldn't have jumped the gun.  Explain that you really do want to attend but given the costs it might be difficult.  Be polite and honest, I think that goes a long way (they deal with students asking for more funding all the time and can probably read through any "bluffs").  Ask if there are any opportunities for additional funding or if you could be reconsidered for fellowships.

 

It's worth asking.

[2013 Int'l Affairs Applicants (MPP, DEV, SSP, etc)]

Depends. Is it a school that doesn't offer you the fellowship in the admissions letter than maybe it could have impacted it. However, I knew my fellowship information based off the letter so I knew it wouldn't make a difference and accepted right away.

 

Even if there is fellowship information on your acceptance letter, it is still possible to ask for/get additional funding. 

 

 

I recently heard I was admitted to one of my "dream schools" and in my excitement, sent my notice that I would accept the offer of admission before seeing my financial aid package.

 

Did I make a big mistake?  

 

I've heard with undergrad, that accepting an offer prematurely can negatively impact your financial aid as it lets the school know they don't need to "compete" for you via aid.

 

However, is this the case with grad schools?

 

Just to be sure, I asked a financial aid officer at the school if accepting admission impacts the financial aid package, and she said it doesn't. However, I wonder if she was just stating the "company line," as I've also heard some friends have used admission offers at other schools to negotiate better deals. 

 

If this will indeed likely negatively impact my aid package, is there anything I can do at this point to get more aid?

 

As I'm still in the process of deciding which offer to accept I can only offer my two cents (take it for what it's worth), but you might want to wait until you see what kind of package you get.  If it really is your dream school (which it sounds like this is the case), but you have more financially-compelling offers from others, they might be willing to work with you to ensure you can enroll there. 

[External Scholarships: Where To Look?]

Thanks, I had a feeling I missed the boat on many of the opportunities.  Wish I would have known to start early.  I do plan on reaching out to the school's career center once I've accepted.

[How to approach the topic of asking for more funding?]

I negotiated with SIPA. They offered me a one year fellowship (are all SIPA fellowships for one year only?) of $20k but Fletcher offered $28k per year renewable so I sent a letter to the director of admissions and director of financial aid asking about any other funding opps. She wrote back the same day offering an additional $8k but still just for year 1. I have to reapply for more aid for year 2. 

 

The day after that, they updated the online system to reflect my increased aid eligibility. 

 

my advice is:

do it- my professor from undergrad taught at one the top policy schools and he told me to use one offer to increase the other

do it in writing- i feel that it is easier to lay everything out on paper

 

Congrats on successful negotiations!  I agree with your advice - laying it all out on paper helps.  Some schools ask for copies of all of your scholarship offers along with a letter highlighting why you are asking for increased funding.  Usually you can just reach out to the person who contacted you from the Admissions department (of your school).  If they are not the person to contact they will put you in touch.

[External Scholarships: Where To Look?]

So, I've heard back from all of my schools and am now in the decision-making process, which is more difficult than I expected!  Hopefully everyone else had great results this admissions cycle, as well.

 

I received some pretty decent funding from my top schools but am now looking for more external scholarships to increase my funding.  I've been looking all over but am wondering if there is a database/website that you use to find relevant scholarships? 

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Note on my SOP saying that I selected the wrong option]

I don't think it will hurt you if you make a note saying that you made a mistake.  I think it would do more damage to act like it wasn't a mistake, especially when you specifically call out your topic of interest in your SOP.  That would make it seem like you were contradicting yourself and you weren't really sure what you want to do.  I really can't imagine an AdComm knocking points off a qualified candidate for a simple "mis-click".

 

If you are still unsure, I would email the Admissions Committee directly (I'm assuming the grad coordinator is not part of the AdComm team, but could be wrong), letting them know of your mistake and confirming that they want you to add a note to your SOP.

[Fletcher Early Notification Applicants]

How did the application process go? I'm applying also, only not for the early notification (obviously). Any last minute hurdles?

Good luck!

[Can I manage without work experience? (have intern experience)]

You'd be surprised how much easier the GREs become after a few tries. I was pretty satisfied with my GRE scores after the first attempt but decided to see if I could boost my quant scores (and was successful). Obviously no one wants to throw away $170 for the testing fee, but in the grand scheme of things it is a small price to pay (especially since it can help get you funding). Not sure the earliest you could retake the test, but you might not need to study as much as you think (my personal experience, but make your own judgements). Some schools (SIPA for one, I believe) ask you to self-report your scores for the application and only ask for your official scores if you decided to attend. So then you wouldn't have to worry about any delays in the scores being sent.

Something to consider, at least.

[GPA in the low 3s - top MPP chances?]

I don't know that anyone can really tell you if your GPA "precludes" you from admission to some of the higher programs. You have a strong background with relevant work experience, as well as a pretty damn good reason for letting your grades slip. Like you mentioned, just mention the reason your grades slipped and they should factor that in.

But just don't let that define you. Focus the story on your strengths and why you are a good candidate for the program.

I'm obviously an applicant myself, so take it for what it's worth.

[How can I build a competitive application?]

It sounds to me like you have some relevant work experience. It's all about how you tell your story. What experience have you gained that will help you in a career of Foreign Service? How can you apply your background to add something to the program and to the others students? I think you could probably be a competitive candidate for many master's programs, assuming you have a good undergraduate record and can get decent GRE scores. I wouldn't sell yourself short.

[How much weight is given to the Analytical Writing section?]

Someone with Eliot Rosewater as a screen name should be a great writer!

It's hard to say how much weight adcomms give the AW score (at least for me, an applicant). It likely varies between school and candidate. While you could retake the GRE and try to boost that score, it's important to remember that it is just one part of the application. They'll likely get a better idea of your writing skills from your SoP and any other required essays, so make sure you take the time to do your best writing there. Assuming your deadlines are in January, you'll still have time to retake the GRE after finishing your essays (another assumption I'm making is that you still have work to do on your essays).

Anyway, take it for what it's worth. But from what I've heard of adcomms, the SoP is a crucial differentiator.

[Resume question for applying to MPP programs]

I had one of my undergrad professors look at my resume and he said to beef it up (it was a professional resume rather than a CV). While he encouraged me to add more details about my professional experience, he also said it would be helpful to highlight relevant courses from undergrad and expand on them a bit. Not only does it add depth to the CV but it also allows you to demonstrate exactly how your previous coursework ties into the master's program you are applying to.

Sorry, don't know any online resume review services. But if you have access to your alma mater's career services center, you could look there for help.

[How many schools are you applying to?]

I'm applying to 5 (Tufts, GWU, American, Columbia, Denver). I had a few other schools but, like ridofme noted, I was pretty certain I wouldn't attend those if I was accepted. In the long run, another $100 application fee is peanuts compared to tuition. Still, $100 is a lot of money. My advice is to think about the schools that you are applying to and if you would attend if accepted. If you wouldn't, then there's no reason to apply. But if you want to have some "safety" schools (or even shoot for the stars), I say go for it.

Just skip that Starbucks coffee for a few months and brew it at home...

[SOP - Int'l Dev]

I've worked on a client's global business account in my current position (located in the US), but I don't have any experience working abroad. The closest international experience I have is travel.

But I'm more interested in recommended reading from people who are in the field, in grad programs or graduated from undergrad programs in Int'l Dev.

[SOP - Int'l Dev]

Now that I've taken the GRE (155Q, 166V, 4.5AW), I'm getting more serious about writing my SOPs. I don't have an international background (BA in Marketing), so I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a little background reading. I'm focusing on one school at a time and I know I need to talk about some specific items in the curriculum that I think will help me, as well as particular professors that I would like to learn from. I've started reading some of their published articles, etc., but am wondering if there are any Int'l Dev books or publications I should read.

Feel like a bit of an laggard compared to some of the others on this post because of my background, so just trying to get up to speed a bit.

Thanks.

[Professional vs. Academic LORs]

Great, thanks MaxiJaz!

Is there any way of knowing what the LORs will include, if they are questionnaires? Not that I think it's a big deal to find out before, but just curious.

[Professional vs. Academic LORs]

It does, thank you! I see what you're saying about the fact that schools want to be sure that an applicant will have a high likelihood to graduate. With that in mind, I am going through all of my classes (at least the ones that weren't 500-person lectures) and picking out a few professors that I think might remember me. I might as well reach out and see, even if it is a small chance.

Do you know how early I should start reaching out to them? I'm planning on applying in December.

Thanks again for your help.