International Development Applicants 2014/15 for SOAS, IHEID, LSE or Sciences Po?

[sanfan]

Nope I somehow reduced to once in two days. Boy I am scared. What about you?

I hope they work very hard and tell us our results on Sunday. I'm also scared because basically it's the only school I applied by now. Because of the seven-hour time difference between China and Switzerland, I'm sure you'll see the result first and I need to wait for one more night. 

[k_angie]

Sunday? Isn't it over stretching a bit?

Anyway, I swear I am not seeing anything anymore before Monday. The more I check my application status and see it under consideration. I imagine dreadful scenarios. Though in between there are happy ones too. Sigh!

Is it too much to ask for admission in IHEID with full scholarship for Christmas? :|

[k_angie]

I was referring to the AFD-PSIA Scholarship but for this one you can only apply once you have been offered admission. It is on the list of scholarship on the PSIA page.

Alchyna I just checked this thing out. It's only for students from Africa. I can't apply.

Why is funding such a huge problem?

Edited December 13, 2013 by k_angie

[sanfan]

Sunday? Isn't it over stretching a bit?

Anyway, I swear I am not seeing anything anymore before Monday. The more I check my application status and see it under consideration. I imagine dreadful scenarios. Though in between there are happy ones too. Sigh!

Is it too much to ask for admission in IHEID with full scholarship for Christmas? :|

It's a bit too much. haha,   I always thought they would not give so much scholarships to students in MIA and Mdev programs since these are not "research" master degrees. Hopefully I was wrong and we can get offer and some scholarship. 

[k_angie]

Yes yes. Of course they do, they have to. It won't be fair if they won't. I will protest.

[alchyna]

Yes yes. Of course they do, they have to. It won't be fair if they won't. I will protest.

 

Ha ha ha you will not protest! You will be so overjoyed for being granted admission that you will do anything you can figure out to secure funding like the rest of us! It's still cheaper than UK even without funding!

Oh I thought the APSIA scholarship was opened to all International Dev students. I'm sorry I guess I have read so many different scholarship requirements that I get confused.

My strategy right now is to sit tight and wait for admission decisions we applied early enough and once I am set on the school I'm attending then I can focus on scholarships for that school. It's too much effort to look everywhere and anywhere for funding without even knowing where you will be granted admission. It's kind of pointless

 

Thinking we will find out on Sunday is wishful thinking! I doubt they are working on weekends! Decisions will start trickling in early next week. Angie Will the status change first or will we receive an email notification?

I'm so scared to check oh gosh I was not so nervous for my undergraduate admission process. I wonder why I am such a wreck now!

[k_angie]

Ha ha ha you will not protest! You will be so overjoyed for being granted admission that you will do anything you can figure out to secure funding like the rest of us! It's still cheaper than UK even without funding!

 

Oh I thought the APSIA scholarship was opened to all International Dev students. I'm sorry I guess I have read so many different scholarship requirements that I get confused.

My strategy right now is to sit tight and wait for admission decisions we applied early enough and once I am set on the school I'm attending then I can focus on scholarships for that school. It's too much effort to look everywhere and anywhere for funding without even knowing where you will be granted admission. It's kind of pointless

 

Thinking we will find out on Sunday is wishful thinking! I doubt they are working on weekends! Decisions will start trickling in early next week. Angie Will the status change first or will we receive an email notification?

I'm so scared to check oh gosh I was not so nervous for my undergraduate admission process. I wonder why I am such a wreck now!

 

you know what? I think you are right, i will be overjoyed way too much and not care for the funding for while. Also ofcourse they wont work on weekends, I mean no body does. Also the decision is posted first on the application status and then later an email is sent. 

I know what you mean by a nervous wreck, just 2-3 days more. Gosh, i have goosebumps. 

[mickun88]

Given the Swiss technological might, they might have developed a system that sends out notification automatically on Sunday.  

[alchyna]

Given the Swiss technological might, they might have developed a system that sends out notification automatically on Sunday.  

Ha ha ha 'swiss technological might' that's a good one! How I wish it were the case the sooner I am put out of my mysery the better. At this point I just want to know good or bad.

[Guest]

I've decided that the Swiss do possess a magical button which, when they press, will automatically give us all a positive decision early on Monday morning and we can be put out of our misery. Applying for a degree is one of the hardest things ever. You're just waiting for weeks-months just thinking about how this decision could change your life.

[alchyna]

Well keep it up and I will also believe in that magic button!

 

I know it's life altering... this decision does change one's life. I mean you have to pick up and go some place you've never been and just leave everything behind for a few years. I've done it before but I was young so I didn't care I was glad to get away from my parents. This time around I'm anxious to at least know what country I will end up in so I can look into financial aid,  visa matters and lodging. Admission is only the first part of the headache.

Edited December 14, 2013 by alchyna

[alchyna]

I'm having a moment of serious self doubt everyone....

 

In my Sciences Po statement in the paragraph detailing why I chose the International Development program I mentioned a guest professor teaching this year. But since he is only a guest he might not even be there next year. Does it look bad that I didn't mention the name of a permanent faculty member? It's just that this professor is world famous in African Development specifically which is what I want to focus on. They might think well he's not teaching here in 2014 why don't you apply to his school if you like him so much....

 

I know it's too late to do anything about it but I'd like to hear your thoughts?

[k_angie]

I'm having a moment of serious self doubt everyone....

In my Sciences Po statement in the paragraph detailing why I chose the International Development program I mentioned a guest professor teaching this year. But since he is only a guest he might not even be there next year. Does it look bad that I didn't mention the name of a permanent faculty member? It's just that this professor is world famous in African Development specifically which is what I want to focus on. They might think well he's not teaching here in 2014 why don't you apply to his school if you like him so much....

I know it's too late to do anything about it but I'd like to hear your thoughts?

Well I read this pdf which mentioned this very specially that you shouldn't mention a professor's name if first, you haven't contacted him personally and expressed a desire to work with him and secondly if he is not a permanent member of the institute. Wait let me find that link and get back to you.

Plus maybe it's for PhDs and advisor thing. Chill. Ignore this if someone comes up with a better soothing advice than mine.

Edited December 14, 2013 by k_angie

[mly201]

hey all, decided to join the discussion- better late than never I am also applying to the Graduate Institute, MDev. It is just so refreshing to find someone in the same position. Honestly, this anxiety is killing me. Good luck to everyone and, fingers cross, we will find out soon enough. )))

[k_angie]

Hello mly201,

Welcome.

Yes waiting really has increased our patients. Anyway where else are you applying than IHEID?

[mly201]

See, that`s the thing: nowhere for the time being. Thinking of applying to Leiden and Copenhagen, though. Deadline is end of January, so I still have some time left...I suppose.

[k_angie]

Haha. Ohkay!

So even you are waiting for IHEID too? Good luck to you

[alchyna]

Well I read this pdf which mentioned this very specially that you shouldn't mention a professor's name if first, you haven't contacted him personally and expressed a desire to work with him and secondly if he is not a permanent member of the institute. Wait let me find that link and get back to you.

Plus maybe it's for PhDs and advisor thing. Chill. Ignore this if someone comes up with a better soothing advice than mine.

 

This is not soothing my nerves at all! I did hesitate before mentioning a professor. However it was only a brief passage and not the sole reason  I expressed as to why I am applying. I hope it won't do too much damage. Anxious x 1000

[k_angie]

It won't. Positive. Maybe they will focus on better things on your letter. Plus I am don't think so they are stupid to reject candidates just cuz they mentioned how they like the guest prof. Really, so don't think about it.its not a major or even something huge to be considered.

[alchyna]

Thanks angie!

I have read different threads about the subject some say it's a big no no and others say it's a good thing. Oh well I'm just trying to find something to convince myself I am doomed ha ha ha

[k_angie]

Don't think that. To say it more philosophically rather psychologically, we humans have the tendency to find reasons to beat ourselves up at every opportunity we get. So don't do that. You anyway can't do anything about it so why think the worse and worry?

[Guest]

I agree, don't start thinking back over your application and picking out the holes. For all you know your perceived weaknesses may be the very thing that they love about you.

 

In terms of mentioning a professor's name, it worked in my favour when I applied to UC Irvine but it all depends how you do it. I spoke about what I wanted to specialise in, water policy, and then mentioned that I'd spoken to a student and she'd sent me the syllabus for one of the professors who specialised in this area and that was why I really wanted to apply there. The way I wrote it really impressed them because not only did they better the previous scholarship offers I'd gotten, the professor and the dean called me to convince me that my academic future lay in Irvine.

 

So the lesson here is that it can actually work in your favour if the right people read it and react in a positive way. As long as you had a good and inspirational reason for including him then I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[alchyna]

thank you doublebarrel your story is a great lesson and reassured me a lot. It's impressive that the dean and the professor called you personally to convince you. That's quite an achievment!

[k_angie]

15th Dec today! Anyone check their status? I mean i know it's stupid cuz it's Sunday but still.

[sanfan]

15th Dec today! Anyone check their status? I mean i know it's stupid cuz it's Sunday but still.

I didn't check that. Did you?