Chances to get into Columbia MA? Help please!

Graduate School
1

<p>Dear All, </p>

<p>I wanted to ask others who may have a better idea of what is expected in terms of admissions what you all thought my chances would be at getting into an MA program at Columbia, or any advice you all may have. </p>

<p>GRE scores - My quant scores will pull me down, but my verbal and analytical scores should be strong. </p>

<p>Background: </p>

<p>Undergrad: GWU - Elliot School of International Affairs, concentration in Global Public Health - 2011</p>

<p>Exchange: University College London (6 months)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.48, cum laude honors </p>

<p>Internships since:
- Horton's Kids (DC) - Development Fellow (4 Months)-
- Make-A-Wish (Bethesda) - Development Intern - (1 year)
- US Campaign for Burma (DC) (5 months)
- First person to ever hold UNV Human Rights Officer position in my capacity in UNDP Asia Pacific (Bangkok) (7 months so far)
*Note: I worked at Horton's and then Campaign for Burma during the same year as Make-A-Wish - they were all part time internships, 20 hours a week. </p>

<p>LOR: I do not have strong ties with my college professors but can get very good recommendations from one internship and from the UN. </p>

<p>I was born in Bangkok, so I would be applying as an international student. </p>

<p>I have been working on human rights for 2 years, focusing mainly on Burma issues and on LGBT issues, however I have not published anything. I also have experience working at the Thai-Burmese border with refugees. </p>

<p>I speak English, Thai, Spanish.</p>

<p>My aim is to get into Columbia's MA program focusing on Human Rights. </p>

<p>Any advice, recommendations of other programs, a reality check, support would be very much appreciated. </p>

<p>Thank you very much for your time and consideration.</p>

2

<p>There’s no way to tell you your chances, at that depends on a lot of intangible factors as well as the competitiveness of the applicant pool to that particular program. I don’t think that the program is extremely competitive or anything; your background seems appropriate. A lot will depend on your fit with the department, your personal statement and your writing sample.</p>

3

<p>Dear Juillet, </p>

<p>Thank you for your response. I was wondering if you have heard of any other members applying to this specific program. </p>

<p>Also, what advice you may have on how many schools to apply to for masters programs, and how to choose the schools. I have been told that it is not akin to the undergraduate process where one should apply to reach schools, match schools, and safety schools. </p>

<p>Thank you once again!</p>

4

<p>If I had to pick some numbers, I’d say 5-10 schools</p>

5

<p>One of my close friends went to that program (the MA in human rights), but I don’t know what his stats were before he got into the program.</p>

<p>No, you should only apply to top programs, or good fit programs, that you believe will help you secure employment. The safety school approach doesn’t work well here. I would say that you choose master’s programs based on the strength of their academics and your chances for career placement afterwards, as well as specialized offerings they may have that you want. For example, one or some may have a special practicum program for 6 months that allows you to work at an international NGO. Or one may have a concentration in international conflict resolution or women’s rights, and that’s what you want to do.</p>