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Posted

And last year, I understand that there were something like 475 applicants. I'd assume a similar number this year.

Posted

Do postmen deliver mails only once a day or several times a day? I don't know if it's necessary to check my mail box every now and then.

It depends on the country you live in. In the US, at least in my city, I'm lucky if the mailman bothers to show up once every few days, let alone a few times a day!

Posted (edited)

Just got a package from Catholic University in DC. I'm IN! Financial Aid info to follow.

Phew...I can now breath a little easier. It was good to know I got into my safety school :D

Edited by Count de Monet
Posted

Time to update your signature! Congratulations!

It is updated indeed.

I got irrationally excited because their envelope says "CUA" on it...and the way it was folded I thought it said UCLA...:lol:

Posted

@Livio and others:

Do you intend to go to Duke for their visiting weekend? I just booked my flights and it would be great to meet some people from the board there.

I will be there.

Posted (edited)

Just got a package from Catholic University in DC. I'm IN! Financial Aid info to follow.

Phew...I can now breath a little easier. It was good to know I got into my safety school

Congratulations! That's great news.

Edited by adaptations
Posted

Generally only once in the US, yin.

HP's figures would seem to match with readeatsleep's if RES's are enrollment rates of applicants.

Indeed, the figure I mentioned could be the percentage of applicants who enrolled. But given the (apparent) spike in applicants last year, and the trend toward more selectivity in Northwestern's figures over time, I think the 4 percent characterizes the applicants to acceptances in 2010 (7% in 2009, 11% in 2008).

But all this information from the link posted is nice to have!

Posted

Congratulations! That's great news.

I contemplated applying there as well because of Claes Ryn, Stephen Schneck, and Dennis Coyle, all of which are well known in conservative circles. Didn't end up doing it because their department wasn't as highly regarded as some others, but after a couple of rejections it's looking like should have.

Posted

I contemplated applying there as well because of Claes Ryn, Stephen Schneck, and Dennis Coyle, all of which are well known in conservative circles. Didn't end up doing it because their department wasn't as highly regarded as some others, but after a couple of rejections it's looking like should have.

Their admissions are rolling, so I think you can still apply. However, I don't know what the odds of financial aid would be because the priority deadline was Feb. 1st.

Posted

I think I'm going to be sick. I also wish I'd stumbled upon thegradcafe after beginning grad studies.

I'm an NU grad student watching this conversation out of a macabre sense of sympathy and horror. The acceptance rate last year was apparently about 4 percent. I'm told that it was lower in Political Theory.

Holy crap. Tell me that's spots over applicants rather than total acceptance.

If the postings on this site so far are representative (and they probably aren't) NU has already rejected about 2/3 of applicants.

Posted

All right, more acceptances! Anyone claiming the two UC Irvine admits?

Posted

I'm surprised that I didn't even make the first round of cuts at Northwestern. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think I was a shoe-in (far from it), but I thought I had enough to at least get past the first round. It makes me wonder if I'm making some mistake I'm not aware of, or if I'm dramatically underestimating the competition. I wish I could just get someone who's in the know to sit down with me, give my record a thorough examination, and say either "lol....no. just...no" or "if you fix x and y, you might have a shot". The thing is, I did solicit advice and feedback from people, students and profs both, and at least some of them were straightforward enough that they would have told me if I was aiming too high.

Especially if I strike out, which seems possible because the Northwestern rejection is giving me really bad vibes...how do I know if I should dust myself off, work on things and try again, or if it's just futile given the accumulated weaknesses in my record that can't be fixed at this point (for example, I've already done an MA, so I can't use that as a way to improve things)?

Posted (edited)

I've felt this same way about jobs over the last couple years, actually. Applying to highly competitive positions, academic or private, result in this type of frustration and uncertainty all the time. It sucks.

If you do strike out (far from a foregone conclusion), contact the departments you felt most confident about and ask if you can email someone on the adcomm and see if you can get feedback. This rarely worked with me contacting employers, but it's always worth a shot.

Also, it bears mention that this first cut was maybe as deep as 80% of applicants.

Edited by GopherGrad
Posted

I'm surprised that I didn't even make the first round of cuts at Northwestern. Don't get me wrong, I didn't think I was a shoe-in (far from it), but I thought I had enough to at least get past the first round. It makes me wonder if I'm making some mistake I'm not aware of, or if I'm dramatically underestimating the competition. I wish I could just get someone who's in the know to sit down with me, give my record a thorough examination, and say either "lol....no. just...no" or "if you fix x and y, you might have a shot". The thing is, I did solicit advice and feedback from people, students and profs both, and at least some of them were straightforward enough that they would have told me if I was aiming too high.

Especially if I strike out, which seems possible because the Northwestern rejection is giving me really bad vibes...how do I know if I should dust myself off, work on things and try again, or if it's just futile given the accumulated weaknesses in my record that can't be fixed at this point (for example, I've already done an MA, so I can't use that as a way to improve things)?

I was thinking along very similar lines myself. If I am locked out, for whatever reason, do I re-apply, or just let things lie for a while? I too have already finished my MSc, so that also isn't a place of improvement for me. But I don't think there's any such thing as a record that can't be improved. GRE scores can (almost) always go up, and there is always room for more intern or work experience, publications, or presentations in your area. Also, as is so often said, applications are currently at an all-time-high place. As the unemployment rate drops (and apparently it's now at a two and a half year low), application numbers should drop as well, which may mean slightly better chances next year. I don't know, hopefully this is just a theoretical for both of us. But I wouldn't take the Northwestern decision to spell doom, not at all - as we all know, admissions decisions often follow little logical rhyme or reason.

Posted

I received a really ambiguous letter from WashU today. And I can't really tell whether it's a wait list or a rejection. Can someone tell me what their rejection letter or waitlist letter said?

Posted

I was thinking along very similar lines myself. If I am locked out, for whatever reason, do I re-apply, or just let things lie for a while? I too have already finished my MSc, so that also isn't a place of improvement for me. But I don't think there's any such thing as a record that can't be improved. GRE scores can (almost) always go up, and there is always room for more intern or work experience, publications, or presentations in your area. Also, as is so often said, applications are currently at an all-time-high place. As the unemployment rate drops (and apparently it's now at a two and a half year low), application numbers should drop as well, which may mean slightly better chances next year. I don't know, hopefully this is just a theoretical for both of us. But I wouldn't take the Northwestern decision to spell doom, not at all - as we all know, admissions decisions often follow little logical rhyme or reason.

I hear you. Whatever your application looked like this year, I'm sure you can improve it somehow. I've decided that if I go 0-for-7 or just don't get any good offers, I'll take a year out and rework the personal statement and writing sample. Perhaps even get a publication or two in. Who knows.

Things are always on the up and up.

Posted

I hear you. Whatever your application looked like this year, I'm sure you can improve it somehow. I've decided that if I go 0-for-7 or just don't get any good offers, I'll take a year out and rework the personal statement and writing sample. Perhaps even get a publication or two in. Who knows.

Things are always on the up and up.

Although I already have one acceptance, like the way you're thinking. This whole process has taught me a lot about how to represent myself and my interests in this field.

Posted (edited)

someone on poliscijobrumors mentioned an admit to Northwestern! Possible???

There have been tons: http://www.thegradca...ical%29&t=a&o=d

Also, guys, last year Princeton sent out admits on the Tuesday of the second week in February. Any guess as to when they'll come out this year?

Edited by balderdash

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