icemanyeo Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, polisci_gal said: I second this. I'm also really invested in all of your journeys now and can't wait to see where everyone ends up! Same here! This forum gives me high hopes for current and future scholars breaking the toxicity that can sometimes plague academic life. 3 minutes ago, poliscihopeful2021 said: I'll just take a moment to say this forum (unlike other Gradcafe portals I've been on previously) is awesome and everyone here is obviously pretty talented. Hope things work out for everyone! I concur! verschiedene, Crossed_fingers and ExileOnMainSt 3
loiewo Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 (edited) 12 minutes ago, afjackie said: Haha, yep, 38 here! I finished my master's when I was 29, and now looking to go back to academia after becoming disenchanted with the policy world. Glad to know I'm not the only one who won't be in their 20s! Looks like the only common thread is that everyone feels uncomfortable for being too young or too old. In other words, everyone’s age is just fine Edited January 28, 2021 by loiewo
Muan1 Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Any chance Cal gets back today, though? What was their original timeline as stated in the Zoom call? PoliSHopeful 1
icemanyeo Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Truthfully, I'm so excited for the time when I can finally close out this cycle (hopefully with some good news). I know we're all stressed waiting for decisions to finish coming out, but I'm personally making a plan to come back on the forum and re-read some of my posts. I was going through the same thing when I was applying for my masters, and in hindsight it's crazy how impatient + stressed I was back then! Maybe May 2021 me might feel the same way ?
macska Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 FWIW I've heard from some colleagues who are professors in the UK that the supervisors for the Poli Sci PhD at LSE are notoriously hands off and it's not uncommon for you to meet with supervisors very rarely because they just have too many students. Not sure how true that is in practice, but I definitely took supervisor schemes/expectations more seriously after hearing that. Angelo X 1
icemanyeo Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Just now, Muan1 said: Any chance Cal gets back today, though? What was their original timeline as stated in the Zoom call? I mean, it's only 12 PM in Berkeley, so there's still time. But I'm not holding out hope for today. We'll see!
BrownSugar Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 (edited) 2 minutes ago, macska said: FWIW I've heard from some colleagues who are professors in the UK that the supervisors for the Poli Sci PhD at LSE are notoriously hands off and it's not uncommon for you to meet with supervisors very rarely because they just have too many students. Not sure how true that is in practice, but I definitely took supervisor schemes/expectations more seriously after hearing that. For LSE, I can say that's really not the case and it's one of the reasons I wish I would've been able to go back. The ratio of supervisor to PhD student is quite low. For the first couple of years, they meet with you weekly or bi-weekly, as much as you want really. Then once you've actually started writing the PhD dissertation, they allow you more space since you won't actually need them as much. Edited January 28, 2021 by BrownSugar
ExileOnMainSt Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, macska said: FWIW I've heard from some colleagues who are professors in the UK that the supervisors for the Poli Sci PhD at LSE are notoriously hands off and it's not uncommon for you to meet with supervisors very rarely because they just have too many students. Not sure how true that is in practice, but I definitely took supervisor schemes/expectations more seriously after hearing that. The trick is to find faculty who finished their grad school in the States and are thus more used to the American style of things! macska and Angelo X 2
Muan1 Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Just now, icemanyeo said: I mean, it's only 12 PM in Berkeley, so there's still time. But I'm not holding out hope for today. We'll see! Best wishes. I saw on the results thread that one year they were getting back to applicants on Sunday. So who really knows. Admittedly right now I'm enjoying riding out this Schroedingerian moment of uncertainty. I certainly would rather be hopefully waiting for good news than feeling sad because I was rejected. Strange how the mind works. PoliSHopeful 1
afjackie Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, loiewo said: Looks like the only common thread is that everyone feels uncomfortable for being too young or too old. In other words, everyone’s age is just fine 12 minutes ago, TheLifeofBrian said: Absolutely. I meant to go back in my 30s but life happened. I've become disenchanted with corporate work. I've wanted to be a researcher and teacher since my early 20s, so I figured it was high time I got my stuff in order. It will be REALLY hard to lose my current salary, but the saying is true, money isn't everything. Cheers to both of these! And I'm totally with you, TheLifeofBrian, on both dreading losing my current salary but also knowing in the long run it will be worth it for my happiness. I think almost every prof I talked to leading up to submitting my applications was like...you are a real human with a real job...why in the world would you go back for your PhD now? Haha, but I know it is what I have to do! TheLifeofBrian 1
macska Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 4 hours ago, HolyGinger said: Just got an acceptance from UAlbany (SUNY) Politics PhD! They said I'm on a short wait list for funding. I really need that, because I can't afford it any other way. Fingers crossed! This is what happened to me last cycle (at a different school though). My advice is to just make sure that you make it clear that you are excited about the offer and that you want to remain on the waitlist for funding. Not sure if it helps all that much, but definitely helps to show the school that you're still interested. Best of luck and hopefully you get the funding soon! HolyGinger 1
macska Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, BrownSugar said: For LSE, I can say that's really not the case and it's one of the reasons I wish I would've been able to go back. The ratio of supervisor to PhD student is quite low. For the first couple of years, they meet with you weekly or bi-weekly, as much as you want really. Then once you've actually started writing the PhD dissertation, they allow you more space since you won't actually need them as much. Well glad to hear my colleague was misinformed, I guess things have changed since she had formed that opinion! BrownSugar 1
Richelieu Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Claiming another admit from MSU. Comparative politics. I think having a strong departmental fit worked for me specifically in this case. Good luck to all those who are waiting to hear from other schools! gradpumpkin, ovejal, NeedaMormon and 1 other 4
StarkDark1 Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Wow, got so many responses to my question about where people are applying. Best of luck everyone! I applied to to UC Irvine, Johns Hopkins, Boston University, Northwestern, UC Santa Cruz, University of Virginia, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, UMass Amherst, Cornell, University of Colorado-Boulder, and York University. polisci_gal and TheLifeofBrian 2
Mad Scientist Malfrost Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 4 minutes ago, Richelieu20 said: Claiming another admit from MSU. Comparative politics. I think having a strong departmental fit worked for me specifically in this case. Good luck to all those who are waiting to hear from other schools! Congrats on the admit! Richelieu 1
afjackie Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, StarkDark1 said: Wow, got so many responses to my question about where people are applying. Best of luck everyone! I applied to to UC Irvine, Johns Hopkins, Boston University, Northwestern, UC Santa Cruz, University of Virginia, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, UMass Amherst, Cornell, University of Colorado-Boulder, and York University. What's your subfield/areas of interest if you don't mind me asking? I've been wondering if I shouldn't have applied to Boulder... Hope Irvine results come out soon! And Northwestern of course...
tryingherbest Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 hour ago, BrownSugar said: Yes, exactly the same for me! Nice to have comrades in arms. I'm 22 as well and this whole process is so scary honestly, but its great experience Maguire 1
Lovemyboy Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Got good news from MSU. Hope this is a good start and have more good news this week and next week and next week. If I can receive other good news, I'll make my decision as soon as possible so that other applicants can take the chance. I'm such a good good nice guy. lol Hope I have the chance to do this. Good luck for myself and everybody. (Still being anxious.......） Richelieu 1
OttoTheOrange Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Hey friends! Popping in to list where I've applied and the status of each as well. Wishing all of you the best of luck! Pending: Cornell, UC Davis, Syracuse, UConn, Boston College, Vanderbilt, University of Arizona Admitted: SUNY Albany (like others in this thread, I too was informed that I'm on a shortlist for funding) Rejected: UCSD, UW- Madison nivy25 and macska 2
Mad Scientist Malfrost Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 2 minutes ago, OttoTheOrange said: Hey friends! Popping in to list where I've applied and the status of each as well. Wishing all of you the best of luck! Pending: Cornell, UC Davis, Syracuse, UConn, Boston College, Vanderbilt, University of Arizona Admitted: SUNY Albany (like others in this thread, I too was informed that I'm on a shortlist for funding) Rejected: UCSD, UW- Madison I'm super stoked to see so many people applying to Cornell! Wishing all you Cornell applicants good look. Also, as a fellow Vandy applicant lets keep our fingers crossed for getting asked to interview sometime next week!
OttoTheOrange Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Just now, Mad Scientist Malfrost said: I'm super stoked to see so many people applying to Cornell! Wishing all you Cornell applicants good look. Also, as a fellow Vandy applicant lets keep our fingers crossed for getting asked to interview sometime next week! Fingers crossed!! I did research at Cornell after undergrad and I absolutely loved it there, plus I think I'm a good fit, so I'm really hoping for good news.
icemanyeo Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Richelieu20 said: Claiming another admit from MSU. Comparative politics. I think having a strong departmental fit worked for me specifically in this case. Good luck to all those who are waiting to hear from other schools! Congratulations! Best of luck ~ Richelieu 1
Mad Scientist Malfrost Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Just now, OttoTheOrange said: Fingers crossed!! I did research at Cornell after undergrad and I absolutely loved it there, plus I think I'm a good fit, so I'm really hoping for good news. What professor did you do research with and what subfield are you in?
OttoTheOrange Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Just now, Mad Scientist Malfrost said: What professor did you do research with and what subfield are you in? I was with Dr. Elizabeth Sanders in the Government department back then, and I'm in the American subfield
Mad Scientist Malfrost Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, OttoTheOrange said: I was with Dr. Elizabeth Sanders in the Government department back then, and I'm in the American subfield I only got to work and go to seminars with people in CP and IR during my time here so sadly I can't speak too much about the American side of the department. From what I hear I know it's pretty strong though and you enjoyed your time here researching so hopefully that means you'll be a good fit!
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