Teach me about grad admissions

jmleadpipe
Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:32:16 +0000

Free,

Your Asian-American heritage would probbaly help you, if anything. graduate schools dont seem to be that big on affirmative action though. i’m sure IR programs want people with iunteresting international backgrounds, but I dont think putting “I’m NOT caucasian!” on your application is going to do anything for you, positive or negative.

As I said about your chances, UCLAri is probably the best to ask and he has definately been giving you good advice. I know a few people who have applied to the same palces your applying and none of them got into WWS or KSG but all three of them got into either SFS, SAIS, SIPA or a combination of the three (or all three in one case). Realistically, I think youre best shot is as SAIS, SIPA, SFS. It’s not impossible to get into WWS or KSG, but they get something like 800 applications for about 60 spots, most of which go to mid career professionals, if I’m not mistaken. Also, you need to take into account that when WWS or KSG say they get 800 applications, most of those will be from highly qualified applicants. Its not like at LSE or UCL where applications costs are low enough that a bunch of fairly unqualified applicants apply there as a shot in the dark.

On a brighter note, I will disagree with UCLAri when he says that your GRE and GPA are just “there.” Your GPA is “just there” for sure, but your GRE scores are fantastic.