2020-2021 Application Thread

[guest789]

9 minutes ago, nightowlll said:

Hey, congrats to your admits! I just read some of your posts and want to give you some information as a Chicago alumni. If you feel you are creative, intelligent, and hardworking enough, then Chicago would definitely provide you with a lot of resources. They have a great platform for you to succeed. But the downside is that few professors would care about you. They are toooooo busy and most of time just focus on their own research and job. I don't know what your subfield is. Just take a look at their placement website and you will find many students end up in a place that looks unmatched with the prestige of the university. Also look at the CV of the current grad students and you will find some of the fifth, sixth, seventh year students even do not have a publication. Also, it is not easy to graduate in five years. As I know, graduating in six years is relatively fast. Professors there are great, but they are just too busy to teach and discuss with you unless you are coauthoring a paper. But as I see, most of the professors there like to work individually or with professors at other institutions. I don't know about UCS. Just give you some information and you might need to think about the tradeoff if you choose Chicago. I didn't apply to Chicago as I just don't want to stay in a cold place without any help for at least six years.

I think you're in a rude awakening at any department if you expect tons of help from professors all the time. IDK.. Grad students are adults, they need to manage their own publications, timeline, etc. It's not like professors at USC are likely to be any more available than UChicago... I think BrownSugar should just wait and see what the admit days are like.

Edited February 10, 2021 by timeseries

[PolNerd]

4 hours ago, BunniesInSpace said:

A T10. Not trying to doxx myself here lol. 

Harder to say on OSU (assuming Ohio and not Oregon lol) vs. Rice. My immediate reaction is OSU but largely because I know very little about Rice/their faculty. For AP it's for sure Ohio State. Other subfields may be less clear idk I'm not an expert there. Again, the ceiling for jobs you can get from OSU is higher than the ceiling for jobs you can get from Rice. Plus (assuming you get funded), Ohio State pays well enough unlike say UNC. I'd highly recommend looking at placement and comparing the kinds of jobs (like especially the median job, not the one time OSU placed someone at Harvard kind of job) that people are getting from each program. 

Yeah, valid points. Actually Ohio's IR program is a top 10 program, ranked higher (8th) than its AP (14th). 

Its just difficult going by placements cause it seems over the past three years most school are mostly reporting post-doc placements, so not sure it helps with the decision.

Edited February 10, 2021 by PolNerd

[PolNerd]

2 hours ago, kestrel18 said:

After reading the previous discussion, guys, here my 5 cents: Academia is not about money. No. It is about love-love to science, to the breathtaking feeling of discoveries and understanding that one is developing, doing something noble. It is about a fit between an inner (often innate) avid desire to learn and accumulating something that will always be with you. It is about a permanent journey and the spirit of the eternal youth. 
I'm not preaching, do not get me wrong: While having challenging stats classes, I'm asking myself quite often: " should I have swapped my highly paid job and quite relaxed way of life for the sleepless nights of a Ph.D. program?..." - But, when "that" paper is finally done, the semester is over, and I'm drinking a cup of coffee with a few sips of cognac, I feel fabulous. I feel I was right when I made a decision. And I understand that otherwise, I would be self-flagellating until the rest of the life if I did not try the taste of Academia.
Academia is tough, transformative, and quite often painful, but the majority of you, I believe, will love it too.
And yes, money...- In short: Be a good scholar, and you will have a well-paid job.

We gotta eat. 

[nightowlll]

4 minutes ago, timeseries said:

I think you're in a rude awakening at any department if you expect tons of help from professors all the time. IDK.. Grad students are adults, they need to manage their own publications, timeline, etc. It's not like professors at USC are likely to be any more available than UChicago... I think BrownSugar should just wait and see what the admit days are like.

Right... USC professors should also focus a lot on their own research. Just share my own experience, and I do have cohorts who enjoyed studying and living there. Maybe it depends more on where you want to stay and what you want in the future

Edited February 10, 2021 by nightowlll

[BrownSugar]

37 minutes ago, nightowlll said:

Hey, congrats to your admits! I just read some of your posts and want to give you some information as a Chicago alumni. If you feel you are creative, intelligent, and hardworking enough, then Chicago would definitely provide you with a lot of resources. They have a great platform for you to succeed. But the downside is that few professors would care about you. They are toooooo busy and most of time just focus on their own research and job. I don't know what your subfield is. Just take a look at their placement website and you will find many students end up in a place that looks unmatched with the prestige of the university. Also look at the CV of the current grad students and you will find some of the fifth, sixth, seventh year students even do not have a publication. Also, it is not easy to graduate in five years. As I know, graduating in six years is relatively fast. Professors there are great, but they are just too busy to teach and discuss with you unless you are coauthoring a paper. But as I see, most of the professors there like to work individually or with professors at other institutions. I don't know about UCS. Just give you some information and you might need to think about the tradeoff if you choose Chicago. I didn't apply to Chicago as I just don't want to stay in a cold place without any help for at least six years.

I can’t thank you enough for this insider perspective. The point you raise about the environment is extremely important to me. My last 4 years in university have involved a very high quality of life (I’ve already been a grad student as well), so it is important for me to keep that. 

Edited February 10, 2021 by BrownSugar

[BrownSugar]

24 minutes ago, timeseries said:

I think BrownSugar should just wait and see what the admit days are like.

You are right. I won’t make a rushed decision  

[kestrel18]

12 minutes ago, BrownSugar said:

You are right. I won’t make a rushed decision  

Meanwhile, your problem of choice is, in fact, a beautiful thing
Enjoy the moment!

[PolNerd]

1 minute ago, hamzasaiger said:

Hi altruists,

I am not getting any interview calls from potential advisors whom I contacted over email or any update from the universities. Is it a bad sign mid-February for Fall 2021? Was I too ambitious with my profile? 

I think you're in the wrong forum, this one is for the political science program

[peculiarindividual]

 

49 minutes ago, The Converse said:

I have also... gotten rejected by Berkeley!  Whatever, the hell with them. Onward and upward.

Overpriced garbage town, stipend probably doesn’t even pay rent anyway? 

 

Congrats to everyone who got in though, send em my regards ✊? 

[icemanyeo]

6 minutes ago, hamzasaiger said:

Hi altruists,

I am not getting any interview calls from potential advisors whom I contacted over email or any update from the universities. Is it a bad sign mid-February for Fall 2021? Was I too ambitious with my profile? 

OP, seems like you're in the wrong thread? (says you're mech engineering but this is political science)

[irinmn]

Just now, peculiarindividual said:

 

Overpriced garbage town, stipend probably doesn’t even pay rent anyway? 

 

Congrats to everyone who got in though, send em my regards ✊? 

Respectfully, it is overpriced but Berkeley is anything but a "garbage town". I've got family that went to Cal and I grew up near there. It's a great city/area. The food, the bars, the nightlife, the proximity to everything else the Bay Area has to offer, the great public transportation, the redwood covered hills directly behind the campus. It's not Palo Alto but it sure is a beautiful place, and on most days from most of the eastern part of the campus, you've got a panoramic view of the Bay Area including downtown San Francisco, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a beautiful place. I'm sorry for the folks that didn't get in, but no need to denigrate a great city. 

[nivy25]

7 hours ago, BrownSugar said:

Actually, I prefer USC over Chicago (controversial, I’m sure haha, but it’s for a few reasons). Depending on the remaining ones, I think I’ll actually be confirming USC in the end.

I do hope one of you on the forum here can get my place at Chicago  

I haven’t gotten any acceptances yet so I might not be the most “qualified” here to present my opinion. You can read it or fully ignore it but I just thought I might as well throw in my two cents.

 

I agree with everyone else on here who said that Chicago will definitely improve your future job prospects. It’s just the “brand” associated with its degree. At the same time, it’s not completely impossible to get the same job after going to USC especially if you work hard and succeed. As someone mentioned previously, you could win an award and be published a couple times, as compared to a Chicago grad who’s done less than half of what you have but still be considered less than them or equal. 
 

However, it really depends. I personally regret not applying to USC because I went on rankings whereas they’re a great program and they’re trying to move up the rankings and they’ve improved a lot. I’ve worked with a professor in my current college who got his PhD from USC about 10 years ago. I get that 10 years is a long time and things change, but he also worked at Columbia University which is R1, top tier after getting a PhD from USC in IR. This is obviously not the norm and it’s easier to get a better job with the Chicago degree but it’s not impossible. Some of my other professors also gave me the same advice. There’s no point spending 5 years or more at a school if you don’t gain the most you can from this experience. 
 

Some people are cut out for the competitive and super busy top tier environment, but some prefer a better quality of life in terms of living and working in cooperative environment. I personally do know now that if I do apply next year, I’m not going to make the mistake of skipping USC, and I’m also going to consider lesser ranked schools because my happiness matters more. 
 

I would suggest choosing a school based on your personal goals and ambitions. 

[peculiarindividual]

8 minutes ago, irinmn said:

Respectfully, it is overpriced but Berkeley is anything but a "garbage town". I've got family that went to Cal and I grew up near there. It's a great city/area. The food, the bars, the nightlife, the proximity to everything else the Bay Area has to offer, the great public transportation, the redwood covered hills directly behind the campus. It's not Palo Alto but it sure is a beautiful place, and on most days from most of the eastern part of the campus, you've got a panoramic view of the Bay Area including downtown San Francisco, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a beautiful place. I'm sorry for the folks that didn't get in, but no need to denigrate a great city. 

No disrespect taken! I was mostly saying that in jest friend but I’m glad you love your city. Personally not for me and I have nothing but respect for my mentors many of whom are alumni. That said, it’s definitely not for me. I think — being Black —I’m just sick of the west coast. It’s lonely as hell here, whenever people talk about diversity out here they mean “except for black people”, which has just been rough.

[icemanyeo]

3 minutes ago, nivy25 said:

I haven’t gotten any acceptances yet so I might not be the most “qualified” here to present my opinion. You can read it or fully ignore it but I just thought I might as well throw in my two cents.

 

I agree with everyone else on here who said that Chicago will definitely improve your future job prospects. It’s just the “brand” associated with its degree. At the same time, it’s not completely impossible to get the same job after going to USC especially if you work hard and succeed. As someone mentioned previously, you could win an award and be published a couple times, as compared to a Chicago grad who’s done less than half of what you have but still be considered less than them or equal. 
 

However, it really depends. I personally regret not applying to USC because I went on rankings whereas they’re a great program and they’re trying to move up the rankings and they’ve improved a lot. I’ve worked with a professor in my current college who got his PhD from USC about 10 years ago. I get that 10 years is a long time and things change, but he also worked at Columbia University which is R1, top tier after getting a PhD from USC in IR. This is obviously not the norm and it’s easier to get a better job with the Chicago degree but it’s not impossible. Some of my other professors also gave me the same advice. There’s no point spending 5 years or more at a school if you don’t gain the most you can from this experience. 
 

Some people are cut out for the competitive and super busy top tier environment, but some prefer a better quality of life in terms of living and working in cooperative environment. I personally do know now that if I do apply next year, I’m not going to make the mistake of skipping USC, and I’m also going to consider lesser ranked schools because my happiness matters more. 
 

I would suggest choosing a school based on your personal goals and ambitions. 

I definitely get how you feel. When I was looking for schools to apply, my advisors basically suggested two pools: ultra-competitive environments where you have at least a general fit and probably better chances of an R1 job; and a 2nd pool of more relaxed environments where you'll be competitive for teaching colleges but probably not R1. As an applicant, you can mix and match or go all in on one side or another, it's up to you. 5-7 years is a long time and you need to be happy/healthy both physically and mentally.

[irinmn]

Just now, peculiarindividual said:

No disrespect taken! I was mostly saying that in jest friend but I’m glad you love your city. Personally not for me and I have nothing but respect for my mentors many of whom are alumni. That said, it’s definitely not for me. I think — being Black —I’m just sick of the west coast. It’s lonely as hell here, whenever people talk about diversity out here they mean “except for black people”, which has just been rough.

I understand, no worries! Where are you on the west coast? I'm Asian and I guess I don't really feel that but if you're somewhere like eastern Oregon then I understand. I'm surprised though to hear you say that given that LA and the East Bay have large black populations. 

[comradecommissar]

Just now, icemanyeo said:

I definitely get how you feel. When I was looking for schools to apply, my advisors basically suggested two pools: ultra-competitive environments where you have at least a general fit and probably better chances of an R1 job; and a 2nd pool of more relaxed environments where you'll be competitive for teaching colleges but probably not R1. As an applicant, you can mix and match or go all in on one side or another, it's up to you. 5-7 years is a long time and you need to be happy/healthy both physically and mentally.

To add to this discussion for anyone else thinking of places to apply for next year etc: if you're an international student, that also really complicates matters. For example, I know I need an R1 job if I want to stay in academia in the US. Teaching colleges aren't going to sponsor my visas and stuff. Needing an R1 job means applying to an R1 program, which is all I did this year and plan to do next year.

[icemanyeo]

1 minute ago, comradecommissar said:

To add to this discussion for anyone else thinking of places to apply for next year etc: if you're an international student, that also really complicates matters. For example, I know I need an R1 job if I want to stay in academia in the US. Teaching colleges aren't going to sponsor my visas and stuff. Needing an R1 job means applying to an R1 program, which is all I did this year and plan to do next year.

Exactly -- knew international faculty that had to leave the US after working at teaching colleges because they were on H1-B and not sponsored for an EB-1 or EB-2.

Edited February 10, 2021 by icemanyeo

[irinmn]

14 minutes ago, icemanyeo said:

I definitely get how you feel. When I was looking for schools to apply, my advisors basically suggested two pools: ultra-competitive environments where you have at least a general fit and probably better chances of an R1 job; and a 2nd pool of more relaxed environments where you'll be competitive for teaching colleges but probably not R1. As an applicant, you can mix and match or go all in on one side or another, it's up to you. 5-7 years is a long time and you need to be happy/healthy both physically and mentally.

You're right about everything you are saying. Just curious, why apply to Concordia? I don't think it's ranked better than in the 600's in world rankings. It's not even in the top 5 polisci PhD programs in Canada in rankings.

[peculiarindividual]

7 minutes ago, irinmn said:

I understand, no worries! Where are you on the west coast? I'm Asian and I guess I don't really feel that but if you're somewhere like eastern Oregon then I understand. I'm surprised though to hear you say that given that LA and the East Bay have large black populations. 

No definitely that’s true compared to where I’m at (NorCal/Valley), it kind of varies and admittedly there’s segregation everywhere (I’m from the South, believe me they are great at gerrymandering there and don’t attempt to hide it). I think culturally it’s just been far more different than I expected it to be when I moved out here. Like I’ve appreciated seeing a greater diversity of other minorities (we had like 5 Asians at my high school for instance), that’s definitely made me a better and more educated person as far as understanding different people better. But for instance the city I was born in is 40% Black. While we have more overt racism down there IME, the subtle racism out here (some of it possibly due to less exposure to Black people) has been tougher for me. In any case, it’s also more liberal out here which, generally speaking, makes it a lot easier to comfortably be yourself as a Black person (e.g. hair discrimination is more unacceptable here than back home). It’s a mixed bag; I think maybe if I’d spent my time here in the Bay instead of the Valley I might have liked the former more. Great music tho!

[irinmn]

1 minute ago, peculiarindividual said:

No definitely that’s true compared to where I’m at (NorCal/Valley), it kind of varies and admittedly there’s segregation everywhere (I’m from the South, believe me they are great at gerrymandering there and don’t attempt to hide it). I think culturally it’s just been far more different than I expected it to be when I moved out here. Like I’ve appreciated seeing a greater diversity of other minorities (we had like 5 Asians at my high school for instance), that’s definitely made me a better and more educated person as far as understanding different people better. But for instance the city I was born in is 40% Black. While we have more overt racism down there IME, the subtle racism out here (some of it possibly due to less exposure to Black people) has been tougher for me. In any case, it’s also more liberal out here which, generally speaking, makes it a lot easier to comfortably be yourself as a Black person (e.g. hair discrimination is more unacceptable here than back home). It’s a mixed bag; I think maybe if I’d spent my time here in the Bay instead of the Valley I might have liked the former more. Great music tho!

Understand completely. I have an old undergrad classmate from a small farm town in the middle of the valley that was something like 86% Hispanic. I went home with him one weekend and there were people in his town who had never met an Asian in person. I only lived in LA and the Bay Area, which really are very diverse. There are towns in both areas where African Americans are the majority of the population. Rev. King actually spoke on the Berkeley campus about a year after the Black Panther Party was formed in neighboring Oakland. Even the Black Panther movie had Oakland Easter eggs all over the place! I'm sure you already know all of this so I don't mean this in a daft way, I'm just saying, give the Bay Area a chance again if you can

[Oboeist]

For all y'all who got accepted into Berkeley, I watched a video from a Berkeley alumni about supercommuting (which is commuting 90+ minutes one-way for work). He mentioned that when he was in graduate school in Berkeley, he took the Amtrak Capitol Corridor line from Sacramento to Berkeley 4/5 times a week and that it was a 2 hour trip each way. Obviously 2 hours each way is insane but it was apparently a pretty nice commute all things considered, especially since there was free wifi, power outlets and a cafe on the train. The rent is a lot cheaper in Sacramento and the other towns on the Amtrak line so it's an option to consider if you're ok with a long commute and you want to stretch out your stipend. I also hear that the Piedmont Avenue neighborhood in Oakland and the city of El Cerrito are pretty good bang-for-your-buck options for living near UC Berkeley, especially since they're on transit lines that take you right to campus.

(here's the video if you're interested btw, this guy does a lot of good videos on cities and urban planning:)

 

[irinmn]

10 minutes ago, Oboeist said:

For all y'all who got accepted into Berkeley, I watched a video from a Berkeley alumni about supercommuting (which is commuting 90+ minutes one-way for work). He mentioned that when he was in graduate school in Berkeley, he took the Amtrak Capitol Corridor line from Sacramento to Berkeley 4/5 times a week and that it was a 2 hour trip each way. Obviously 2 hours each way is insane but it was apparently a pretty nice commute all things considered, especially since there was free wifi, power outlets and a cafe on the train. The rent is a lot cheaper in Sacramento and the other towns on the Amtrak line so it's an option to consider if you're ok with a long commute and you want to stretch out your stipend. I also hear that the Piedmont Avenue neighborhood in Oakland and the city of El Cerrito are pretty good bang-for-your-buck options for living near UC Berkeley, especially since they're on transit lines that take you right to campus.

(here's the video if you're interested btw, this guy does a lot of good videos on cities and urban planning:)

 

I used to live in the East Bay near Berkeley. This is accurate. One of the more affordable cities in the East Bay is Vallejo, just north of Berkeley. East of Vallejo, a lot of Berkeley grad students live in Fairfield and Davis, and my brother actually had grad TA's several times who were UC Davis students. I'm not sure how it works but I guess UC Davis students can accept TAships at Cal during the summer terms and they sometimes do and just commute every day on the Amtrak commuter. Davis is a lot closer than Sacramento and would at least put you in another college town. Also, if you're having trouble finding housing, consider International House. It's a bit more affordable and flexible housing than the grad student housing and it's on the Berkeley campus, next to the football stadium. 

Edited February 10, 2021 by irinmn

[NotaDoctorShh]

Just got an offer from UCLA! Apparently UC's just love sending out their decisions in the dead of night lol. IR Subfield

I'm so excited I don't think I'll be able to fall asleep any time soon but I hope you all wake up to good news ❤️

 

[smug-face]

Also rejected from Berkeley! It was probably my weakest fit so not surprised. Happy that they didn't drag this out too long!

[poliscihopeful2021]

Rejected from Berkeley as well. There goes my dream school.

1a/2w/2r/8p