PoliSwede Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 I did an MA in PS. It does definitely help show that you are capable of grad work and, depending on all the extras you do during (publications, research with faculty, etc.), can really boost you. This isn't wrong.
PDCU Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 In regards to MA in application, I asked a grad program coordinator regarding applicants having MA: "Many students who apply have completed an MA in public policy, history, international relations, ethnic studies and sometimes political science. Since we do not require students to have a specific background in Political Science or IR, we do receive applications from students with a wide-array of degrees. The advantage lies in the types of academic work and research opportunities that students have access to in a graduate program, as opposed to those available to undergraduates. I would not let this, however, keep you from applying to the program, as the committee considers many other areas of your application."Hope this is helpful.
Wemayet Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 well one acceptance is all you need, so don't give up yet! at least that's what I'm telling myself... That's exactly what I'm counting on; as are many of us, I suspect. But why <oh why?> can't the one acceptance be the first thing you get!?!?!?
PDCU Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 That's exactly what I'm counting on; as are many of us, I suspect. But why <oh why?> can't the one acceptance be the first thing you get!?!?!?I guess that's why most programs give out rejections much later than acceptances... How considerate of them.
GopherGrad Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 I did an MA in PS. It does definitely help show that you are capable of grad work and, depending on all the extras you do during (publications, research with faculty, etc.), can really boost you. This is especially true if your undergrad was not in political science and you are (unknowingly) framing your very interesting research question poorly for consumption by political scientists. I know a guy who got into Yale after a rejection from Maryland. To my understanding, both fit and yield concerns will sometimes cause schools to reject obviously qualified candidates. For example, I assume that Duke hasn't gotten a hold of me because they know I'm a lock for Stanford. kidding practical cat, Quigley, zzzzzz and 3 others 6
BornAndRaised Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 But why <oh why?> can't the one acceptance be the first thing you get!?!?!? Haha. Yeah. In an ideal world. Sigh.
zzzzzz Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) seems like rochacha is sending out a fair number of acceptances. congrats everyoneEdit: by rochacha i mean Rochester. Edited February 6, 2013 by zzzzzz
Quigley Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Am I the only one who finds the occasional "safety school" references on the results board to be kind of a bummer for everyone else? mutatismutandis, frankentheory, PhDhopeful2013 and 3 others 6
aulait Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 In at Rochester! Flipping out! I got a sad face from OSU and I assume I didn't get into Chicago so my confidence was starting to plummet. I'm so excited! Thank you guys for being so positive and encouraging. This forum has made me feel so much better so many times. Good luck to everyone this year! To those who haven't heard good news yet, don't lose hope!
BornAndRaised Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Am I the only one who finds the occasional "safety school" references on the results board to be kind of a bummer for everyone else? I find the concept of a "safety school" strange. There's not even one school that I applied to that I'm sure I will get into. The process is way too competitive and class sizes are really small. PoliSciLaw and CHWF 2
mutatismutandis Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Am I the only one who finds the occasional "safety school" references on the results board to be kind of a bummer for everyone else? No, you are not. Signals to me that they are not taking this process seriously at all. KingCrab and student90210 2
CGMJ Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 seems like rochacha is sending out a fair number of acceptances. congrats everyone Edit: by rochacha i mean Rochester. Yes, congrats to Rochester and UMass people!
PhDhopeful2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 has anyone claimed the Rochester acceptances? I didn't apply there, but I'm just being a Results Board data integrity hawk! distracts from the aniexty i guess...
Mnemonics2 Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 No, you are not. Signals to me that they are not taking this process seriously at all. Agreed. Safety schools don't really exist in a situation where we are talking about getting into places only where we have good fit. I have one safetyish school....but really that was defined more by having chatted with professors and knowing up front that it was within my ability to get in (stats-wise) and also a great fit. So not really at all safety in the traditional sense.
PhDhopeful2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) Am I the only one who finds the occasional "safety school" references on the results board to be kind of a bummer for everyone else? Yes - there is no such thing as a "safety school" in PhD apps.... say a top ranked program has a 5% acceptance rate, and a lower ranked program has a 25% acceptance rate (and that's probably higher than any programs in reality)... well then you have between a 95% and 75% chance of being rejected at any given program.... no such thing as a "safety"! Edited February 6, 2013 by PhDhopeful2013
mutatismutandis Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) Proposing an answer to the question on the results board (with respect to the recent Rochester admits): After seeing admits on here, called the dept, freaking out. Was told apps are still under review and letters will be sent out over the next ten days. What to make of that? One possibility is that they are admitting by subfield. Another is simply that the adcom just started meeting! But who knows, I'm crossing my fingers still. Edited February 6, 2013 by mutatismutandis
Mnemonics2 Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 All....what exactly is a "soft" wait list?
PDCU Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 For those who got into UCLA, what was your subfield? CGMJ 1
ThisGuyRiteHere Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 No, you are not. Signals to me that they are not taking this process seriously at all. This statement is foolish, its called weighing the pros and the cons, noticing your strengths and weaknesses and being able to make an objective decision based on the facts that you have gathered on whether you stand a plausible chance of gaining acceptance.= Safety
your humble servant Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Congrats to everyone admitted today! As for the Rochester admits, it is safe to say you are now "Rochester Good". =P
PhDhopeful2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Congrats to everyone admitted today! As for the Rochester admits, it is safe to say you are now "Rochester Good". =P Unless I missed it, I don't think anyone's claimed them....
your humble servant Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 In at Rochester! Flipping out! I got a sad face from OSU and I assume I didn't get into Chicago so my confidence was starting to plummet. I'm so excited! Thank you guys for being so positive and encouraging. This forum has made me feel so much better so many times. Good luck to everyone this year! To those who haven't heard good news yet, don't lose hope! Here is a happy acceptance from one of our friends on here =)
PhDhopeful2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 Here is a happy acceptance from one of our friends on here =) ah ok! I stand corrected Congrats, Rochester admits!!
mutatismutandis Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 This statement is foolish, its called weighing the pros and the cons, noticing your strengths and weaknesses and being able to make an objective decision based on the facts that you have gathered on whether you stand a plausible chance of gaining acceptance. = Safety It's one thing to say "well, I applied here because given X, I thought I had probability Y chance of acceptance." It's another thing entirely to invoke the phrase "safety school" with all of its associated undertones in a process which demands intellectual maturity. Quigley, raptureonfire, KingCrab and 3 others 6
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