JordanJames

Does anybody know anything about this program, its reputation, job prospects after completing the program, etc.?

we'll be sure to get that one paragraph rejection back to you with "all deliberate speed." Fucking hilarious. I dropped my cigg and burned a hole through my sheets when I read that line.

The department often refers applicants to MAPSS or the Masters in IR. Then those committees decide whether to accept students into their programs. I don't know if they refer all applicants to MAPSS or IR.

If I don't get in anywhere, then I'll probably apply for a Masters in Political Management, move to DC and try to find work somewhere there. I'll try to get published. I'll apply again next year and see what happens. Or, I'll try my hand at poker in AC. Or, I'll practice law (and probably shoot myself if I'm still doing that in 5 years).

I went to school in New Orleans for a while, and visited Baton Rouge a couple of times. The weather is hot and humid. Baton Rouge is fairly safe, but like everywhere, there are some rough neighborhoods. It's very blue-collar and laid back there. The food and the people are great. There is some racism, but overall, I don't think I've ever met people who were more friendly than the Louisiana natives. Also, Baton Rouge is not too far from New Orleans, and New Orleans is a great city. If you go to LSU, you will be required to like American college football. Welcome to SEC country!!! If you don't know what that means, you'll learn soon. There's nothing crazy about going to LSU, there is nothing wrong with the school, the state or the people. I hope you enjoy it there.

Well, lets hope somebody wants us. Maybe somewhere out there we have a professor going to bat for us trying to sneak us through the cracks.

I agree

lol, I don't think I've ever been offended by anything in my life, so don't worry about that. I agree with you to a certain extent, I just think there is a seat for both in our pursuit to advance intellectual masturbation. In the end, aren't the vast majority of us just trying to be posers that act like we know all of the answers while looking down on politicians, CEOs and regular working people who create the dynamics and phenomena we study. It's funny that academics are looked down upon in their community whenever they publish for a mass audience and try to reach the people who control policy. God forbid an academic ever made money while trying to advance society's understand of something. Anyways, the greatest achievements in quantitative analysis in political science are actually made by applied mathematicians, so your point has merit. But there is a place for the number crunchers to show how the things we observe playout mathematically. I hope you get into your schools too. As long as I get in at any school that gives me a desk, a stipend I can live on, and a mentor that stays out of my way and lets me do my thing, I'll be happy. Whether it's Harvard or UIC matters very little to me right now, I'll worry about finding a job when it's time for me to cross that bridge.

I applied to Brandeis, Chicago, Illinois (rejected), Florida State (I just applied a week ago after freaking out about the Illinois rejection), Northwestern, Penn, UC - Riverside, UIC, WashU and I threw one out to the big H. I'm prepared to be rejected by all but 2 (UIC and UCR) at this point. Anyways, you're 100% right. If the math guys look down on the economists, imagine what they think of the poli sci quant guys. Anyways, I'm praying that I get a chance to be one of those posers one day.

Thanks for your reply. Do you think having AP credit equivalent to the amount of calculus most people have taken in college actually comes back to bite you in the ass because you haven't taken those classes in college? My problem is I love the number crunchers, and many of the prospective mentors I've applied to are number crunchers (although none come from an undergraduate math background). Also, I didn't do so well on the verbal portion of the GRE (610), but I did ok on the math portion (750), so I felt like my chances were higher with the formal theorists and other quant heavy comparativists, but now I'm starting to doubt that. The professor I spoke to was the DGA at a school I'd like to attend. After I applied, I emailed him asking if my math background was sufficient, and whether he would recommend me taking any math courses now or over the summer. He replied saying that based on my GRE score (I guess he pulled up my file), he doesn't think I would need to take any math classes, but that taking a linear algebra course over the summer couldn't hurt. But I agree with what you said, I wouldn't imagine that most schools would substitute GRE scores for multivariate calc and linear algebra classes. Anyways, I guess I'll find out soon. P.S. Great quote.

I had AP credit, and haven't taken a math class since high school (7 1/2 years ago). Do you think that hurts my chances at getting into comparative politics? I talked to a professor at a quant heavy school, and he said that as long as my quant GRE scores are high enough, they won't mind me having not taken math courses in college. But I was wondering if this is true across the board. I realize that most people won't have heavy math backgrounds, but will having no college math background hurt me drastically.

So I've been getting calls from an "unknown number" and they haven't been leaving messages, I finally was able to pick up the phone this time and a man with a British accent talking from a cell phone while obviously outside asked if I was Ammar. I became very excited thinking that this might be someone from a grad school. I said yes and then the phone disconnected. They didn't call back, which I'm guessing means that it wasn't a school, so I've come to the conclusion that somebody is really trying to mess with me (only my mother and girlfriend know that I'm applying to grad school). This whole process is so aggravating, I think I'm just going to stop carrying my cell phone, stop using the internet and stop checking my mail.

If I were on an admissions committee, I'd imagine you'd be near the top of the list of students I'd like to admit. Just do very well on the quantitative section of the GRE, score what you need to score on the TOEFL, find a third recommender, get your transcripts translated, find departments that match your interests and apply. Good luck!

Yeah, I made that mistake too when I first read the submission. Let's hope I'm wrong and we hear good news from them this week.

I have a feeling that NW has already contacted almost all of its admitted students, and those of us who haven't heard anything have been rejected or on the "waitlist." I haven't heard or seen anything that would indicate they've sent out any rejections yet, but we do know they have contacted accepted students. The past 2 years they've contacted their admitted students on the 13th/14th, and rejected students a week later. I'm guessing the rest of us are out.

For those of you who are considering Iowa, if you have asthma, don't do it. I went there for a semester and had 2 devastating asthma attacks. I swear they must be farming ragweed over there. Otherwise, it's the typical college town. If that's what you're looking for, you'll enjoy it. If not, you won't. It's as simple as that.

You should have no problem getting by on $2000 a month if you live in Evanston or Rogers Park. But if you choose to live in Rogers Park (I lived there for 2 years), you should be very careful about what building and where in Rogers Park you are living. There are a lot of slum lords there that have buildings that look perfectly fine, but are really falling apart on the inside. Also, even if the rent is a little more in Evanston (Rogers Park is one of the cheaper Chicago neighborhoods), live in Evanston. The cost of living (much cheaper) in Evanston will more than make up for the difference in rent, and you will enjoy living there more. If I were you, I would try to find an apartment and a roommate right now before the summer mad dash on apartments begins. You'll probably be able to find something cheaper now. I'd also look for apartments within walking distance of the El because it'll take you anywhere you want to go and I'm pretty sure NW will give you a pass that lets you ride for free. Also, I'm not sure, but I think graduate housing at NW isn't too expensive, so I would consider that option. But yes, you will be fine living on $2000 a month. Good luck!

1

Here's a link to the study, for those who were wondering about other schools: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~chin ... _paper.pdf

Congrats on being in such a great situation. If I were you, I think I would contact them and withdraw my application. While a free trip and networking opportunity would be nice, you'll have plenty of chances to network in the future (at conferences etc.) that will obviously be more fruitful than an admitted students day visit. I wouldn't think you taking the trip and going to another school would make them more (or less) likely to interview you in the future. And if you ever do interview at the university, you'll get a chance to see the school and meet with people at the school anyways. Also, a person who is considering going to the school will find the admitted students day much more valuable. This is of course only if there is no way that you will choose to go there. If there is even a slight chance that they will be able to change your mind, you shouldn't withdraw your application.

Thanks. I actually was a CJ major in college also, but I have a law degree and I focused my upper level coursework on issues heavily related to poli sci. My grades sucked and I transferred 3 times in undergrad, each time to a lower ranked school. My GRE scores are ok (not happy with the verbal, but my quant was good), which helps a little. My LORs are great, but none of them are from poli sci professors. The only response I've received so far has been a rejection, which makes me think I'm not going to be accepted anywhere. I blew all of the money I had saved up traveling for the past 7 months in the Middle East, rather than take the bar exam in the summer and get a job. I don't really have a back up plan, unless you count moving to AC and playing poker for a living a plan. I'm supposed to be taking the bar exam soon, but I haven't started studying yet. So yeah, Jethro's Reliable University and BBQ sounds great to me, even if my stipend is paid in ribs and sweet tea.

Congrats, I'm pretty sure that means you're going to be accepted. I saw that the past few years almost everybody got an email on the 14th, but that a few people got calls on the 13th. Anyways, I'm pretty sure they didn't call you to tell you how much they hated your application. I also don't think they interview, so I would say they were calling to notify you that you've been accepted.

Sorry, every time I see an -o I think male and -a I think female.

Little old me would kill for an acceptance from Southeast Central Idaho A&M Tech right now. I really wish we didn't have to wait so long for UCR, I know it's probably near the bottom of your list and it started out near the bottom of mine, but the more I look into their program, the more I like it.

The past 2 years Northwestern seems to have emailed most of its accepted students on Valentine's Day. They may think it's cute or something. But yeah, keep your fingers crossed tomorrow, and try not to piss off your significant other by paying more attention to your inbox than her. I'm pretty sure my girlfriend is either cheating on me by now (I can't blame her) or planning to kill me (again, totally justifiable). The worst part of it is that I don't care, I just want to get accepted somewhere that I want to go (how selfish is that?). Anyways, good luck.