Processing regret/second thoughts about school decision and crafting a gameplan

[GenericMidwestStudent]

What's up, everyone? This is my first post, but reading this forum has been a daily part of my life since the graduate school season began for me back in October. Congratulations to everyone who got into the schools they wanted to! It's hard to remember that we've actually accomplished something already with how stressful looking towards the fall is.

 

Background for me: I am 22 (23 when school starts in fall) with a degree in political science from Ohio University. My specialization has been international relations and the Middle East. My senior year I wrote thesis about Saudi Arabia and the Arab Spring. I then took a year off from school because I was exhausted after the thesis.

 

Background/profile:

- 22 years old (23 when school starts in the fall) with a degree in political science from

- Specialization was international relations + the Middle East. I wrote a senior thesis on Saudi Arabia and the Arab Spring

- 3.75 GPA/3.9 major GPA. GRE scores were okay, 163 verbal, 150 quant, 4.5 writing (should have studied the math section)

 

When I applied to schools I was not aware that full rides for political science MA's were so rare. I applied to University of Denver Josef Korbel, George Washington's Elliott School, and American SIS. Elliott and Korbel were my top choices. I got into all three; no scholarship at SIS, but $15k a year at Korbel and $10k a year at Elliott.

 

After looking at the costs of attendence ($45k tuition at Korbel, $33k tuiton at Elliott) I decided to apply to my undergrad school. I ended up getting a graduate assistantship here at OU, meaning no tuiton and a $10,500 stipend. I ended up accepting Ohio University's offer because tens of thousands of dollars of debt as a political science major did not seem like a good idea. 

 

I think I am experiencing normal regrets/second thoughts/buyer's remorse; I got into some top ten schools and chose not to go. My first question is, would other people have made the same decision? Most people on this forum were trying to get into top 5/10 programs, and rightfully so.

 

My second question is: I want to either have a career in academia or working at a DC/NY foreign policy think tank, if I keep a 4.0 GPA, publish, and go to conferences, is that a realistic gameplan to reach those goals, even coming from a nonremarkable state school? What other strategies should I emply to get the most utility out of this state school?

 

My adviser here is young but successful, and quickly moving up in her field. Beyond school being free, the opportunity to work with her again (she advised me on my first thesis) is the best thing this state school as to offer. Both her and I plan for me to do a PhD elsewhere when the time comes.

 

I am just looking for thoughts in general, especially from folks who didn't go to Ivy or quasi-Ivy schools for their Master's. Any thoughts on whether it looks bad to go to grad school at your undergrad school are welcome too.

 

SORRY FOR THE LONGWINDED POST! This is all the stuff that has been floating around in my head as I read other threads here on gradcafe.

[intlmktng]

You're not taking on debt. What's the worst case scenario if you get a year in and decide you've made a mistake? Reapply to the other schools, and you start at 24 or 25 (which is on the low end of average for most programs).

[Guest]

Debt is a major factor for some folks on this site, especially if they have 20k+ debt from undergrad or a family. At the time same time, 'fit' is also important to some people as well..as in courses, the atmosphere, and opportunities beyond the class room (internships, conference/meetings, etc). I frequently see that brand does not matter for people in the International Affairs field..especially if you wish to work for the government. I'm not sure about think tanks, but I think it's the same. Brand name seems to matter more for MPP/MPA programs (SAIS, Chicago, Columbia, Harvard,  etc) from what  I have seen on this board though. You could also always save the top school option for the PhD, since you are thinking about going for that as well.  

 

The main hype about DC programs is the abundant networking opportunities...and the opportunity to work/intern in your field as you pursue your Masters. Nothing more.

Edited May 1, 2015 by Guest

[WhatAmIDoingNow]

What's up, everyone? This is my first post, but reading this forum has been a daily part of my life since the graduate school season began for me back in October. Congratulations to everyone who got into the schools they wanted to! It's hard to remember that we've actually accomplished something already with how stressful looking towards the fall is.

 

Background for me: I am 22 (23 when school starts in fall) with a degree in political science from Ohio University. My specialization has been international relations and the Middle East. My senior year I wrote thesis about Saudi Arabia and the Arab Spring. I then took a year off from school because I was exhausted after the thesis.

 

Background/profile:

- 22 years old (23 when school starts in the fall) with a degree in political science from

- Specialization was international relations + the Middle East. I wrote a senior thesis on Saudi Arabia and the Arab Spring

- 3.75 GPA/3.9 major GPA. GRE scores were okay, 163 verbal, 150 quant, 4.5 writing (should have studied the math section)

 

When I applied to schools I was not aware that full rides for political science MA's were so rare. I applied to University of Denver Josef Korbel, George Washington's Elliott School, and American SIS. Elliott and Korbel were my top choices. I got into all three; no scholarship at SIS, but $15k a year at Korbel and $10k a year at Elliott.

 

After looking at the costs of attendence ($45k tuition at Korbel, $33k tuiton at Elliott) I decided to apply to my undergrad school. I ended up getting a graduate assistantship here at OU, meaning no tuiton and a $10,500 stipend. I ended up accepting Ohio University's offer because tens of thousands of dollars of debt as a political science major did not seem like a good idea. 

 

I think I am experiencing normal regrets/second thoughts/buyer's remorse; I got into some top ten schools and chose not to go. My first question is, would other people have made the same decision? Most people on this forum were trying to get into top 5/10 programs, and rightfully so.

 

My second question is: I want to either have a career in academia or working at a DC/NY foreign policy think tank, if I keep a 4.0 GPA, publish, and go to conferences, is that a realistic gameplan to reach those goals, even coming from a nonremarkable state school? What other strategies should I emply to get the most utility out of this state school?

 

My adviser here is young but successful, and quickly moving up in her field. Beyond school being free, the opportunity to work with her again (she advised me on my first thesis) is the best thing this state school as to offer. Both her and I plan for me to do a PhD elsewhere when the time comes.

 

I am just looking for thoughts in general, especially from folks who didn't go to Ivy or quasi-Ivy schools for their Master's. Any thoughts on whether it looks bad to go to grad school at your undergrad school are welcome too.

 

SORRY FOR THE LONGWINDED POST! This is all the stuff that has been floating around in my head as I read other threads here on gradcafe.

 

 

You aren't just saving 10's of thousands... you are saving over $100,000 in principle debt.  It costs money to live while in school.  If you do well at Ohio and are with a successful advisor, that will get you into a PhD program easily.  Without the debt, you have flexibility in where you can go for work or you doctorate.