Welcome to the 2013-2014 Cycle

[TheGnome]

I think the most important thing is to be consistent, as long as you are not being outright disrespectful, which does not seem to be the case. I personally like the sound of Professor X better, but this really is a cosmetic choice.

 

I am curious though, what is the recommendation of the American professor? 

[TheGnome]

I think Irfan was pretty clear about what school the mafia was actually associated with.

 

You sir, are a shameless Michigan booster 

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Unfortunately, this is not the only thing on which they give opposite advices. 

 

Maybe first reference Prof.?

 

And that's most certainly one of the issues with having a few people reviewing for you - although two isn't too many. When I was applying for a Fulbright, the prof in charge of grants always told me: "I'm going to provide you criticism, a lot of it. So will your adviser or anyone else you ask for input. You need to decide whose advice is better for you in particular, and I won't be offended if it isn't mine."

[dworkable]

Also, take it from me, remember that if you are not on the East Coast, most schools still use EST as the deadline for admissions! I pretend that my rejection from Fancy East Coast School was due to my error of late submission, and not my many other personal failings

[jeudepaume]

Thanks for your responses, guys. 

The American one keeps striking "Professor" out. But I think I'm going to stick with it.

 

TakeMyCoffeeBlack, Fulbright Scholarship? Nice job! Should definitely help with applications.

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

TakeMyCoffeeBlack, Fulbright Scholarship? Nice job! Should definitely help with applications.

 

In my perfect world  

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

I think I'm going to take the dive today and finally start submitting apps (that weren't due already because of recommendation requirements). I'm afraid if I sit on it any longer, I'll just keep editing my statements until they're jagged and make no sense... Of course the problem is (and I'm sure you'll all understand), the SOPs are really the only thing we have 100% control over at this point, so it's scary to give up that sense of control over the future.

[zudei]

Just submitted my first app... First barrier surmounted!

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Just submitted my first app... First barrier surmounted!

 

Congrats!!

[zudei]

Haha thanks! It wasn't actually a Polisci app: Stanford Political Economics. But hey it counts! How are you doing with yours?

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Haha thanks! It wasn't actually a Polisci app: Stanford Political Economics. But hey it counts! How are you doing with yours?

 

Of course it counts!

 

Got my app in to Northwestern. It's funny, cause they were definitely a last minute choice for me to apply to, but they just as quickly moved to the top of my choices... It will be a real heart breaker to hear no from them (well, from anyone).

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

And to be honest, they must want us to be crazy. My app confirmation e-mail included this message:

 

"To expedite the admission process, admission decisions will be conveyed via the online application. You may access the online application as many times as you wish (using the same pin and password you used to create your application) to check if a decision has been rendered on your file.

If a decision has been rendered, a "View Decision" link will appear on the online application "My Applications" page. (This is the first page you will see when you login to the online application.) If a decision has not yet been rendered, a link will not be present on the "My Applications" page."

 

 

They could probably pay for everyone's apps with the advertising revenue they could earn after sending out a message like that. They're basically begging us to check daily.

[Zahar Berkut]

Just put my first one in the oven, planning to have the next two in tomorrow.

 

And I have to agree that telling applications to just check the website regularly is an awful arrangement!

[jeudepaume]

I've submitted my first one yesterday too. Today I am submitting Northwestern, which is also one of my top choices. Did you stick to their "500 words" recommendation? I am afraid I would have to butcher my SoP to bring it to this length. 

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

I've submitted my first one yesterday too. Today I am submitting Northwestern, which is also one of my top choices. Did you stick to their "500 words" recommendation? I am afraid I would have to butcher my SoP to bring it to this length. 

 

I never got it below 700 words, and final submission was closer to 800. But I seriously cut all the sucking up, flowery wording - which actually made for a better worded SOP (which has already helped my others). Short answer, no.

[jazzrap]

OMG

 

To all those who are submitting to Northwestern, you guys basically scared the *** out of me. The deadline is not even close guys:)

[TheGnome]

Wow we have a lot of people trying their luck at Northwestern. Best of luck to you all, it is a great program. What are your fields?

 

I already sent out the first few apps a while ago because of recommendation letter policies...

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Wow we have a lot of people trying their luck at Northwestern. Best of luck to you all, it is a great program. What are your fields?

 

I already sent out the first few apps a while ago because of recommendation letter policies...

 

I sent in one because of recs. Today Northwestern and Pitt. 

 

I'm comp gov/IR with a focus on courts. Northwestern has a pretty exceptional European politics program and Karen Alter is doing some incredible work with European and international courts.

 

OMG

 

To all those who are submitting to Northwestern, you guys basically scared the *** out of me. The deadline is not even close guys:)

 

Ha. Well, I'm taking the dive a few apps at a time because otherwise I'll keep twiddling my thumbs and editing and re-editing...

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Well, I just had one of those situations where I reconsider all of my choices for applications and search through every possible school to see where else I should be applying (even though I have no intention of asking that of my recommenders). Again, it's just tough giving up the only control over the process we have at this point - the SOP.

Edited December 1, 2013 by TakeMyCoffeeBlack

[jazzrap]

Wow we have a lot of people trying their luck at Northwestern. Best of luck to you all, it is a great program. What are your fields?

 

I already sent out the first few apps a while ago because of recommendation letter policies...

Worry not. I noticed your question to the OSU professor. Austin has the same policy. Nevertheless, they offer grace periods for our letter writers I believe.

[jeudepaume]

Wow we have a lot of people trying their luck at Northwestern. Best of luck to you all, it is a great program. What are your fields?

 

Mine is theory. They have a couple of very good specialists on nationality, and race and ethnicity there + an awesome interdisciplinary program.

[TheGnome]

Worry not. I noticed your question to the OSU professor. Austin has the same policy. Nevertheless, they offer grace periods for our letter writers I believe.

 

I am not worried about the letters, the issue is having to prepare a file a lot earlier than most of the other deadlines. Because of that time gap, one is bound to discover errors and ways to improve the application in the meanwhile. This is just annoying when it happens, but I guess it is bad to let such small things get to you if we are to survive this process with our sanity intact. Anyway, thanks though.

 

Mine is theory. They have a couple of very good specialists on nationality, and race and ethnicity there + an awesome interdisciplinary program.

 

Oh I see. Northwestern is a pretty pretty pretty good program in theory from what I hear. I myself am an IR person.

 

On that note, I just submitted another application! Although I submitted quite a number of applications in the past, I can never not get anxious/excited when I click the submit button..

[silver_lining]

I am not worried about the letters, the issue is having to prepare a file a lot earlier than most of the other deadlines. Because of that time gap, one is bound to discover errors and ways to improve the application in the meanwhile. This is just annoying when it happens, but I guess it is bad to let such small things get to you if we are to survive this process with our sanity intact. Anyway, thanks though.

Agreed. Thinking about the writing sample that I turned in for my first two apps that I have now edited an additional 100 times since then makes me want to cry (figuratively). One of my letter writers is having a baby, so I had to submit some apps ridiculously early. 

[jazzrap]

I am not worried about the letters, the issue is having to prepare a file a lot earlier than most of the other deadlines. Because of that time gap, one is bound to discover errors and ways to improve the application in the meanwhile. This is just annoying when it happens, but I guess it is bad to let such small things get to you if we are to survive this process with our sanity intact. Anyway, thanks though.

 

 

Oh I see. Northwestern is a pretty pretty pretty good program in theory from what I hear. I myself am an IR person.

 

On that note, I just submitted another application! Although I submitted quite a number of applications in the past, I can never not get anxious/excited when I click the submit button..

I noticed 2 fatal errors in my SOP for Columbia. The system seemed to allow me to upload a revised one. After revising my SOP and uploading the revised one, it now appears to have received two of my SOPs, with the later one titled "updated ***". Hopefully only the updated version gets to the committee. 

Edited December 2, 2013 by jazzrap

[jazzrap]

Agreed. Thinking about the writing sample that I turned in for my first two apps that I have now edited an additional 100 times since then makes me want to cry (figuratively). One of my letter writers is having a baby, so I had to submit some apps ridiculously early. 

Glad to hear that there is someone who has similar experiences. One of mine gave birth to a baby and now is taking leave to take care of the baby. She has been very responsive and just submitted every letter, though. I really appreciate her efforts.