Lud

Why don't you ask the commission in charge of admissions about that? They might tell you properly if a reference from a PhD candidate bears a significant risk for you.

What a story! I also agree on the fact you should not submit the letter. It raises more difficulties than potential benefits.

I agree with erveryone else, don't take it from a TA unless you're applying for the easiest PhD program ever. Good luck!

I would never go for a reference from someone reluctant to do it, no matter the circumstances. If you have no other sound alternatives you should consider, in my view, putting aside your PhD ambition for now and work a bit before preparing a stronger application with other referees. Of course I don't know your whole situation so that's just my 2 cent. I also find it utterly surprising that he argues on the basis of his fame and possible connections with Professors at Harvard or similar institutions, how could a reference have an impact on his own career? It seems insane to me or at least totally paranoid.

I think Stanford is famous for its Asian-related academic centers.

Hey waltlaa9 you have a strong profile I think, especially given your age. I am 26 an have also a strong interest in forced migration / refugees issues but should have only 2 years of working experience in that by the time I'll be studying again -if I get admitted. I think you should focus on Princeton if you're scared about the debt and possibly take a look at the Graduate Institute in Geneva -they also have lots of funding opportunities-. If you are strongly interested in "forced migration" besides you might want to take a look at Oxford University.

Hey Trinilissabee I had not seen your message, There are global estimates / general statistics that you can find on the website, some more accurate statistics if you explore all hidden documents (I remember having read that, for example, the admission rate for legal programs is generally around 15 per cent whereas the global average is around 30 per cent). Interestingly, I wonder how these statistics work if you re able to change your program as it seems it so easy to do. And you should be able to get more specific data by contacting directly admissions staff or people in charge of the degree you re interested in. Talking specifically about what you were thinking of, I think at best we can have guesstimates from those who study there. I remember that, talking to a guy who was taking the MIA, he said the average age would be more around late twenties than early twenties. So maybe you can expect most of students to be in the 25-30 range, which let me think that those people have generally some relevant working experience, but not an extensive one as it seems to be the case in other places (ie Princeton / Woodrow Wilson School). Otherwise as for other schools there s no way to define accurately how competitve you are in the overall pool; the quality of your application should be considered considering a variety of elements (Grades / SOP / References / Relevant experiences / Languages / Relevant publications... ). On that there s a very interesting thread on the forum, in the Government Affairs section I think, that you could consult (something like "Am I competitive?"). But probablyToni and other IHEID students will have more detailed replies for you.

Thanks again Toni, your clarifications very helpful to many of us I'm sure! What you say about their view on internship / PhD reminds me of what they actually do in France (I did my undergrad there). I still find it excessively rigid; they could at least give some credit as a form of acknowledgment while maintaining the obligation of taking all courses. It's important to know what you're detailing on 2. especially by putting that with the possibility of changing from a degree to another once the semester starts -which let me think that the Institute is flexible. Speaking of flexibility and reading your comment, I'm curious, where did you actually study before the Institute? Germany?

So I have already my first questions for you Toni! -Regarding the internship, I had not noticed that but according to the scheduled courses there's no possibility of taking one with a disciplinary Master, or at least it would not give you any academic credit. Is that right? I actually find it really surprising. Is it not possible to bargain something? -When it comes to elective courses, how does it actually work? Do you apply for another course offered by another track, and they'd give you the priority if you have strong arguments? At last, is there any kind of de facto flexibility? Because I have noticed, for example, that it s not possible to take "Migration Law" while studying the MIA, on the paper. Could it be possible to negotiate that? I am asking because it seems there's room for flexibility in many respects at the Institute.

Thanks Toni that's really great to hear!

You guys probably already know but there's an official Facebook group "The Graduate Institute Geneva" and it's actually interesting to take a look a it: applicants and the administration talk about various things on it, very useful One thing that is a bit stressful to read I've found there: "The Admission office is overwhelmed by applications - we are surprised by the numbers (!)." And about the statistics "the figures have not been sorted out yet by programmes but apparently a clear majority of applications went to the MIA and MDev". It´s curious that so many applications have been sent this year... Hopefully we'll be part of the happy few! Another quite useful comment I found there: "You can only apply to one programme. But you can insert a note on your motivation letter that you would be flexible/open for the other programme in case the committee thinks you fit it better, they can "transfer" your file to the other programme committee" Good luck!

You should take a look at , extremely useful thread in my view. I don´t know if you have done like I did first, but I started writing a SOP detailing my recent experiences (starting 3 years ago more or less) as they are all very relevant given my objective. Though by doing that I more or less consumed all the space already and had virtually no possibility of adding something else, I mean something substantial, say on the Master´s degree itself or on how my future is going to be connected by these specific studies. Then I realized, namely thanks to this forum and its wise members, that I had been really wrong by doing so... I started a totally new SOP virtually excluding any details on my recent background (my resume is quite detailed anyway) and at this point I had no problem with space constraints whatsoever

You'll have to find, I don´t see why they should grant you or anyone exceptional conditions -though you might wanna ask them also but I wouldn´t have big expectations. What is so long in your letter? Are you detailing your academic and / or professional experience? I´m asking you that because I learned on this very forum that the first common mistake we do is precisely that, we tend to focus on describing our past while your resume should suffice for that. Your letter should focus on the future and how the degree you apply to happens to be the best move to go.

... Also, I read on a thread in this very forum that someone from the Graduate Institute was calling attention on the fact that interdisciplinary Masters (International Affairs and Development) are less intellectually challenging that the other disciplinary Masters (International Law, Sociology, Political science and so on) which might be particularly suited for a future PhD. More surprisingly, the person who posted this said it was actually possible to change the Master you wish to follow even once you've been admitted for another degree. I haven't seen any official information on that though. It suprises me since your application inevitably details your interests for a specific degree and I don't see how there could an easy change for a new one at the last minute.

Hi folks! Hopefully you'll get a positive reply! If I may ask, iShale, what has prompted your choice for the Master in International Law at the Graduate Institute? They seem to be reallly strong when it comes to international public law and more specifically certain areas within the field for sure. I am a lawyer myself and have considered this option though I finally went for the MIA as it seems better for my personal project.

Hello! I have sent my application for the graduate institute last week which should be examined before December according to the schedule they posted. I am looking forward to hearing from them even though I am unsure to be admitted -I applied for the MIA by the way. I thought of creating this thread for the 2013 round of applications so as to share our remarks here. Has anyone else already sent his application?

Where did you hear that? Why wouldn't it be one of their best programs? It looks quite fine to me for what it is, that is to say a Master's degree in International Affairs. Maybe it's less famous that the Master's degree in International Law for instance but I doubt you could compare them since they obviously have very different goals.

Hey thanks for this quite useful topic! The following part called my atention: Does this mean, as I understand it, that a, say, student in IA could take an option such as "Migration Law" from the Master in Laws and a "Refugee Law" course at the Humanitarian Academy? Apart from that, does anyone think that this regulation is gonna be rigorously implemented or should they show some flexibility? I have heard they're quite eager to help students shaping their own paths so I thought it might actually be the case.

First because I have no "big network" whatsoever, the kind you get when you take a solid and prestigious MA. So I'm sure it would boost my career more than keeping the work in the field as I'm doing now. Plus if I'm admitted, especially in Geneva, I would try my best to get a part-time job while studying. Not the Mc Donald's kind of student job I mean, something relevant given my professional profile (been working with refugees - forced migration - project development - fundraising strategies namely). So I don't see it as a professional pause in that respect. Second because I'm wiling to go for a PhD at some point and being away from univ' makes it really tough. I could definitely find some decent university for that at the moment, but without any form of funding which I can't even think of. On the contrary if you take an MA in a place where you're already planning to get a doctoral degree it seems way easier. Geneva offers a fast-track option to start a PhD while you're still a 2d year MA Student and apparently good funding possibilities so I find it very interesting. To a lesser extent I also feel very interested in all sorts of topics that I haven't studied, say negotiation-management-leadership-international relations from a political perspective. As a lawyer I've been learning various types of mechanisms, norms and practical difficulties within international law, as a student in social sciences I've been dealing with imaginary boundaries and sociopolitical analysis. But I'm missing the aforementioned skills.

This thread looked funny so I thought I'd give it a shot! I haven't applied to anything yet since I'm just considering options for next fall, 2013. I'm just quite sure I want to apply for Geneva. Besides this first weird comment, a weirder thing is that I'm actually holding 3 degrees at the moment, including 1 undergrad and 2 grad ones. This odd situation has to do with the fact that 1. in my home country an undegrad degree lasts for 3 years and a grad one technically lasts for 1 year which made it possible to get all those degrees while still being relatively young 2. Degrees are free or virtually free here so it never bothered me from that perspective. Program Applied To (MPA, MPP, IR, etc.): None but thinking of MA in IA at Geneva, at least. Unsure about other US universities for now, I'll make my mind within a few weeks I guess. Schools Applied To: None yet Schools Admitted To: Dunno Schools Rejected From: None... yet Still Waiting: Absolutely not Undergraduate institution: Supposedly famous French university, then a couple of Ms degrees taken in Sweden and in Paris while living in the UK -complicated uh- Undergraduate GPA: Not sure how to convert my European grades. Let's say I have an undergrad' degree just "passed", a first ms degree "with high honors" and a second one "with honors". Last 60 hours of Undergraduate GPA (if applicable): Not sure to get you! Undergraduate Major: Law degree. I also got two MS degrees, one in laws and the other one amounts to social sciences. GRE Quantitative Score: None for now GRE Verbal Score: None for now GRE AW Score: None for now Years Out of Undergrad (if applicable): 4 years Years of Work Experience: 2 years, actually 3 by next summer Describe Relevant Work Experience: 1 academic year as a teaching assistant in the UK, 1 year working for an international agency in South America -first as an intern then as an actual employee-, 2 months volunteering in Nicaragua for a local NGO. Languages: French (native), English (Fluent), Spanish (Fluent), Portuguese (Fluent), Swedish (Beginner), Arabic (should have a beginner's level by late 2012). Quant: Nope International exposure: Intialliy studied in my home country, France, then studied 1 year in Sweden, lived and worked 1 year in the UK, volunteered 2 months in Central America, worked 1 year in South America, probably 2 years by next summer. Strength of SOP (be honest, describe the process, etc): ... Still to be written Strength of LOR (be honest, describe the process, etc): ... Likewise. I am thinking though that 2 should come from former Professors, one being particularly "fond of me" if I may say and a third one from an international public servant who's currently my boss. Other: Many extra-curricular activities and certificates ie. acting running onlines courses from UNITAR and so on. I guess I must sound like a crazy candidate so I hope my SOP will shed some rational light on that.

Thanks Alamako. Well I'll give it a shot anyway. I got good grades for my MA but relatively miserable ones during my bachelor's degree so they'll possibly reject me for that. It's very interesting to hear that they actually suggested to get all of the recommendations from professors by the way, nice of you to share!

Hey guys, congrats to everyone who's been admitted! I'm thinking of applying next year to start the IA program by September 2013. I'm already starting to explore all application-related aspects, and in particular I'd be curious to know if professional experience is decisive to get admitted there. In some MA programs as you guys probably know it is actually necessary to have a minimal relevant working experience of 2 years such as the Peace Corps. I've already taken an MA in another field and hopefully will have worked for 2 years with an international organization in South America when I'll be applying, am fluent in 4 languages and dreaming of a academic / UN career on the long term which is basically why the Institute interests me so much. Yeah, you know, endless internships and doctoral studies before actually getting a normal life sort of prospects. Any couple of pesos on that?