UC - San Diego IR/PS Interview

[Luke]

Just wondering if anyone here applied at the priority deadline and has set up or had their interview. I know on the website it says they try to interview most applicants and I'm starting to get a bit nervous that I haven't been contacted to set one up yet.

[kaixinwawa]

Hi, I just got accepted into the MPIA program in IR/PS, the priority round. but I didn't have any interview. Also, they don't mention about funding in the admission letter. How can I get to know about the financial aid? Does anyone know about this program?

[Luke]

Kaixinwawa,

Congratulations! I just got my acceptance today as well. I'm pretty sure that we will find out about financial aid later on - probably in March or early April. You should probably confirm that with admissions though.

[gazelle]

Congratulations!!

How did you guys find out? Email or snail mail?

Also from another board, apparently despite the site saying they interview most applicants, they actually don't--they only interview when they have a few slots left with more equally qualified candidates than spots, or at least that's what IR/PS told a student who asked.

I had all of my stuff done in November to meet the priority deadline, but I was one LOR short of the priority deadline so it will be awhile for me I believe.

EDIT: Also if you don't mind, could you share your stats/profiles?

Edited February 2, 2010 by gazelle

[Luke]

I found out by email. I've been provisionally accepted, which means I have to take some sort of a summer class before going.

My stats:

3.64 GPA

690 V / 700 Q / 4.5 AW

2 years working at a law firm (unrelated to IR)

Summer abroad in China (language program)

[gazelle]

Nice, what was your undergrad major and what classes do they want you to take prior to enrollment?

[Luke]

My undergrad majors were International Relations and History.

They haven't told me what classes they want me to take, but I'm guessing it's either the Economics class or Quantitative Methods. All that info is here http://irps.ucsd.edu/current-students/admitted-students/prep-program.htm

[gazelle]

Anyone else heard back yet? I'm surprised they were posting results as early or earlier than the 30th of January.

Looking at past years, I get the feeling that there is a large gap between the priority deadline decisions and the standard deadline decisions, despite the site saying that decisions are given 4-6 weeks after receiving all of the materials; as it stands it is now more than four weeks since I submitted my materials, but with what the site says that means I should hear anytime between now and the next week and a half, but that puts me pretty much in with the priority deadline crowd. Assuming they get applications daily from the time of the early deadline to the time of the final deadline, then there should really be no lull--once they finish the early ones the standard ones should start coming out right after and continue for some time.

I hope to get a decision soon!

[dave85]

I haven't heard back yet either. I turned in my complete application by the Dec 4th deadline. If you didn't turn in everything by then I think you will be considered a standard deadline applicant.

Gazelle - where are you based in the US?

Anyone else heard back yet? I'm surprised they were posting results as early or earlier than the 30th of January.

Looking at past years, I get the feeling that there is a large gap between the priority deadline decisions and the standard deadline decisions, despite the site saying that decisions are given 4-6 weeks after receiving all of the materials; as it stands it is now more than four weeks since I submitted my materials, but with what the site says that means I should hear anytime between now and the next week and a half, but that puts me pretty much in with the priority deadline crowd. Assuming they get applications daily from the time of the early deadline to the time of the final deadline, then there should really be no lull--once they finish the early ones the standard ones should start coming out right after and continue for some time.

I hope to get a decision soon!

Edited February 3, 2010 by dave85

[gazelle]

Yeah I'm a standard deadline applicant, but since the site cites 4-6 weeks to hear back that puts me in a position to hear back any day, but I'm skeptical.

I'm originally from Minneapolis, but I'm living in Japan these days teaching with the JET Program.

[dave85]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I think the 4-6 weeks refers to when you'll receive email confirmation of a completed application, not an admissions decision.

Have you read/heard if anyone has received a rejection email yet? I know we've already seen evidence of some acceptances.

Edited February 4, 2010 by dave85

[gazelle]

Ugh, good point, I see that now...it just says we will be notified, but I guess I took that to mean we'd be notified with a decision but perhaps not.

No, I haven't seen any rejections, just two acceptances thus far.

[dave85]

Question for the people that were accepted - When exactly did you submit your application? I only ask because I wonder if they are evaluating applications for the priority round in the order that they were received. I applied for the priority round and haven't heard back yet.

Edited February 5, 2010 by dave85

[IluvatarMartin]

Question for the people that were accepted - When exactly did you submit your application? I only ask because I wonder if they are evaluating applications for the priority round in the order that they were received. I applied for the priority round and haven't heard back yet.

FYI

I received the provisional admit letter on Feb. 5th, 2010 (UTC+8).

I submitted my online application on Nov.23rd, 2009, and later mailed my official transcript(from Beijing). The Office notified the completion of application on Dec. 12th, 2009.

[dave85]

Thanks Iluvatar. I submitted mine on Dec. 4th and received notification of application completion on Dec. 12th for consideration in the priority round. I hope I hear good news this week!

Out of the schools you applied to, which one is your top choice?

Edited February 8, 2010 by dave85

[IluvatarMartin]

Thanks Iluvatar. I submitted mine on Dec. 4th and received notification of application completion on Dec. 12th for consideration in the priority round. I hope I hear good news this week!

Out of the schools you applied to, which one is your top choice?

For me, it's definitely SAIS.

They sent the admission letters on March 20th, 2009 and all rej letters come in early April. Still one month to go.

Hope you've heard good news from UCSD.

[dave85]

For me, it's definitely SAIS.

They sent the admission letters on March 20th, 2009 and all rej letters come in early April. Still one month to go.

Hope you've heard good news from UCSD.

I hope you hear good news from SAIS. What kind of job do you want after you graduate?

Still haven't heard from UCSD yet...

[tropicalbear]

I hope you hear good news from SAIS. What kind of job do you want after you graduate?

Still haven't heard from UCSD yet...

Anyone has updates from IR/PS? Did they send out the official notices yet?

[gazelle]

I haven't heard anything, but I'm a standard deadline applicant; I did email them about my application status since I never received an email, and they said they were shooting for mid-March to notify standard deadline applicants.

[tropicalbear]

I haven't heard anything, but I'm a standard deadline applicant; I did email them about my application status since I never received an email, and they said they were shooting for mid-March to notify standard deadline applicants.

FYI:

Last thursday, they did send out a bunch of letters to standard deadline applicants indicating their admission decisions.

I do not know if they have sent out official notices yet.

Edited March 2, 2010 by tropicalbear

[gazelle]

FYI:

Last thursday, they did send out a bunch of letters to standard deadline applicants indicating their admission decisions.

I do not know if they have sent out official notices yet.

I'm assuming by that you mean email notifications?

[tropicalbear]

I'm assuming by that you mean email notifications?

yes, email notifications

[Putoots]

I received an email today letting me know that I had been provisionally accepted, which is cool, but I'm a little wary of having to put up more cash for an extra summer.

If I am missing some quant classes, I'd prefer to take it at UCLA Extension or something.

For the other person who had been provisionally accepted, did you call to find out what you needed to do?

Also, I was wondering if any IR people had heard anything good about the University of Chicago's M.A. in International Relations (from the Committee on International Relations). They offered me 1/3 tuition. Just wondering if it is worth considering (as a stepping stone to a Ph.D.) or if it is just a fundraiser for the university.

[Luke]

I received an email today letting me know that I had been provisionally accepted, which is cool, but I'm a little wary of having to put up more cash for an extra summer.

If I am missing some quant classes, I'd prefer to take it at UCLA Extension or something.

For the other person who had been provisionally accepted, did you call to find out what you needed to do?

Also, I was wondering if any IR people had heard anything good about the University of Chicago's M.A. in International Relations (from the Committee on International Relations). They offered me 1/3 tuition. Just wondering if it is worth considering (as a stepping stone to a Ph.D.) or if it is just a fundraiser for the university.

I was also provisionally accepted. I sent an email to UCSD and got this in response, "The prep course info will be finalized in the coming months. Student Affairs will go over each applicant’s transcripts and history to determine which courses will be required."

[mei]

I was also provisionally accepted. I sent an email to UCSD and got this in response, "The prep course info will be finalized in the coming months. Student Affairs will go over each applicant’s transcripts and history to determine which courses will be required."

Congrats! I applied to the standard deadline and still have not heard anything from them yet. Would you guys mind sharing your stats?