Rand PhD Policy Analysis

[politely_curious]

Hi peeps,

Anybody else waiting on the decision for the Rand program next month?

I'd be keen to chat to calm the nerves but also in case some of us are admitted (it's always nice feeling like you already know a few faces when starting a program)

Cheers

[Miss Evidence]

On 1/16/2022 at 6:24 AM, politely_curious said:

Hi peeps,

Anybody else waiting on the decision for the Rand program next month?

I'd be keen to chat to calm the nerves but also in case some of us are admitted (it's always nice feeling like you already know a few faces when starting a program)

Cheers

I am! Trying to keep my nerves but hasn't been easy. ? 

[politely_curious]

I agree I like the Rand program particularly because of the possibility to start working immediately (I've been working for a while now during my studies and I like the hands-on approach). I'd also really like to improve my grip on quantitative methods and I feel like Rand really allows us to do that. Plus I'm a first-gen student, so the idea of being able to work overtime for a few extra dollars I can put towards paying off my (modest but still!) MPP student debt is quite appealing!

[Miss Evidence]

It does seem like a great program for developing quant skills. This was the main reason I decided to apply there. I also like the perspective of doing research at RAND Corporation. Last but not least, my brother, who obtained a PhD from UCLA, says Santa Monica is the best place in the world. ? 

[politely_curious]

I've been wanting to work on my quantitative skills anyway, so I'm already revising math on evenings just in case. We did differential and integral calculus in high school and I adored math, but it's been a while! I've had stats and R classes at uni, but I feel like the program at Rand might speed up fast!

What do you think is most useful to revisit or work on quants-wise to prepare?

[anxiouslywaiting100]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but there are so few people who applied to this type of program that I'm interested in talking with you all!

I am curious in others' opinions -- for those that are also interested in RAND: so I got into USC's Pub. Pol & Management PhD, fully funded and a very solid stipend (higher than what I understand RAND gives and full program commitment rather than piecemeal like RAND's). I guess what I'm wondering is -- is there any real...point in still keeping RAND's option going in my mind? I find their hybrid model interesting, but I have to say my major concerns are:

1. I often have to give a lot of explanation and backstory about what exactly this program is, which worries me about how universal it's value will be; and

2. So you get one year of guaranteed funding, and then the rest of your funding is contingent on finding work? I guess that aspect makes me nervous, because I am wondering if people ever *don't* get projects to staff on. Just don't want to be worried about making my rent during the program, if that makes sense. Especially in contrast to a traditional program like USC.

Just curious what your thoughts are!

[Confused-dodo]

Hi 

waiting out on pardee s phd. Read they arent conducting interviews this year. So decisions will be out next week right?
i applied to UW Evans too and saw an acceptance yesterday for someone. I think am rejected there. A bit bummed now. Lets see how pardee goes.  

[Confused-dodo]

Oh just an update on pardee. The application portal decision tab says due to high volume of applications, decisions will be out by march 1 and they wont be holding any interviews. 
best of luck to all fellow applicants!!!

[politely_curious]

On 2/7/2022 at 5:49 AM, anxiouslywaiting100 said:

Sorry to hijack this thread, but there are so few people who applied to this type of program that I'm interested in talking with you all!

I am curious in others' opinions -- for those that are also interested in RAND: so I got into USC's Pub. Pol & Management PhD, fully funded and a very solid stipend (higher than what I understand RAND gives and full program commitment rather than piecemeal like RAND's). I guess what I'm wondering is -- is there any real...point in still keeping RAND's option going in my mind? I find their hybrid model interesting, but I have to say my major concerns are:

1. I often have to give a lot of explanation and backstory about what exactly this program is, which worries me about how universal it's value will be; and

2. So you get one year of guaranteed funding, and then the rest of your funding is contingent on finding work? I guess that aspect makes me nervous, because I am wondering if people ever *don't* get projects to staff on. Just don't want to be worried about making my rent during the program, if that makes sense. Especially in contrast to a traditional program like USC.

Just curious what your thoughts are!

Hi anxiouslywaiting100,

I think that Rand is stronger if you're mainly looking to work in applied policy and policy research and a traditional uni probably better for pure academia, although there is no clear-cut separation and doing either and crossing over the line to the other side later is obviously also possible. I would also expect another main difference to be that the coursework at Rand is far more quants-heavy than your average public policy PhD.

To my mind, although Rand's funding is obtained through assisting with research projects there (from Year 1 onwards, with more work days per year as the program progresses), funding at universities (correct me if I'm wrong or this particular program is different) is usually also projected and contingent on GSI and RA positions in years 3 and 4.

Hope this helps

Edited February 17, 2022 by politely_curious

[politely_curious]

13 hours ago, Confused-dodo said:

Oh just an update on pardee. The application portal decision tab says due to high volume of applications, decisions will be out by march 1 and they wont be holding any interviews. 
best of luck to all fellow applicants!!!

I saw it too, this explains why nobody seemed to get an interview this year. After realising that a few really highly qualified applicants never heard back, I suspected as much, but it's reassuring to know

[yogirana]

On 1/16/2022 at 2:54 PM, politely_curious said:

Hi peeps,

Anybody else waiting on the decision for the Rand program next month?

I'd be keen to chat to calm the nerves but also in case some of us are admitted (it's always nice feeling like you already know a few faces when starting a program)

Cheers

Hey,

Thanks for the thread. A fellow applicant here from the other side of the world; which means sleeplesss nights and incessantly checking my inbox. Hope the wait would be worth it.

[politely_curious]

I understand. It's a truly stressful process. I'm having a hard time doing unrelated things I should do too, but I try to at least do related productive things (brush up on my maths, do readings) as well as steps to keep my mental health going by meeting friends, looking out for my health etc. That's what worked well for me for my MPP admissions back in the day too. If you check your email fifty times a day, it does tend to stress you out additionally. You probably can't help it to some extent, but maybe you can add in a few positive elements on the side - friends, sports, art, whatever helps :)

[anxiouslywaiting100]

Hey everyone -- just letting you know for planning purposes that I got an acceptance today. Hope it works out for you all as well! Gonna be a tough decision.

[politely_curious]

Congratulations! So it's about USC vs Rand for you?

[anxiouslywaiting100]

2 minutes ago, politely_curious said:

Congratulations! So it's about USC vs Rand for you?

Yes! Two very different programs. I'm leaning USC now, but going to keep an open mind through the process.

[politely_curious]

Congratulations! Either one sounds really great.

[anxiouslywaiting100]

Thank you -- best of luck to you!!

[djtntjs]

Congrats to those who received the acceptance offer! 

In the meantime, is there anyone who is still awaiting the decision? My portal is frozen with the message that notifies the decision delay. 

Edited February 24, 2022 by djtntjs

[Miss Evidence]

11 hours ago, djtntjs said:

Congrats to those who received the acceptance offer! 

In the meantime, is there anyone who is still awaiting the decision? My portal is frozen with the message that notifies the decision delay. 

Mine too.

[Confused-dodo]

Same here. Probably will be rejection. Will be my 3rd of the season. Feeling so dejected:(

[djtntjs]

Bummed out though, starting to think why there are only three acceptance results on the gradcafe.

[politely_curious]

Same. Let's not panic yet. In the past years, there were always more than 3 reports of acceptances. Maybe they're bringing them out in batches this year. In the meantime, would the accepted person perhaps be okay with sharing your overall profile with us (research interests, experience, test scores etc)? That would be really great to sort of understand what they're looking for

[John.L]

Hi everyone! I am an applicant from China. This is my first time to post on this forum. 

 

Would it be possible for us to share our application status and admission decisions with each other?  I am really nervous about the admission decisions because PRGS is the only PhD program I applied to this year. I applied for the CPPA stream. Does anyone also apply for the CPPA stream here? 

Good luck to all of you. I hope we can all get accepted 

[politely_curious]

Hi John.Liu,

Welcome! I'm applying to the RAD (Research, Analysis, And Design) stream (like most of us I think - it does appear to be the biggest stream with CPPA and TAI being more specialised). I've heard, however, that the cohort isn't separated too much by stream (perhaps for admissions, no idea, but not in terms of everyday life and classes later apart from varying requirements), so it would be lovely to stay in touch with anyone who has applied and, once we know, is admitted and forge some connections ahead of term

[John.L]

Thank you so much for replying. Your suggestions are right! I am wondering maybe the admission decisions may be sent to us in the coming Monday and Tuesday, what a sleepless weekend :( 

I am looking forward to any updates in this thread and can't wait to hear great news from you!