<p>I'm glad I found this discussion! I have a question for those of you in the IR grad programs or those of you applying to them. How much experience abroad do you have? A ton, none at all, etc...? And as for foreign languages - how many do you speak? I'm just curious because I feel like everyone I've spoken to has saved the world overseas - lol.</p>
<p>Just for the record - I did my undergrad in Poli Sci and French- so not IR, but a fun combo. Now I work at a nonprofit in NYC and would eventually like to work for NGOs advocating Human Rights or UN organizations like UNHCR or WFP, etc. I'm in NYC, but I'm looking at Georgetown and GW as my top two choices at the moment. </p>
<p>Take care and look forward to all the input!</p>
<p>I will have lived in Japan for 1.5 years by the time I start on my MA, and I speak four languages (only two considerably fluently). </p>
<p>I did my undergrad in poli sci, but that's more than good enough for the top programs. You definitely sound like you know what you want. Good times, 'cause that'll help at app time. How are the grades/GRE scores?</p>
<p>Well, here's my actual scenario. lol. I'm going to apply to grad school next fall for fall 07. I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I'm doing the practice stuff and taking a Kaplan so I think I'll be okay. </p>
<p>As for my GPA - my undergrad gpa is not as high as it should be so it is a weakness. But it's not like it's below a 3.0. So, I'm spending the next year trying to improve my application. </p>
<p>By the time I apply, I will have taken 3 to 4 graduate courses here in NYC as a non degree seeking student (so far making As in two of them), volunteered at 3 nonprofit international organizations, tutored at least 6 refugees in English conversation through the International center, and of course, my normal 9 to 5 job I will have been at for 2 years - which is non profit for a major nonprofit medical foundation - i'm in development.</p>
<p>And I'm brushing up on my French (nearly fluent), Spanish (hope to be by the end of the year) and starting basic Hebrew and Arabic.</p>
<p>But I know my chances are weak, so any ideas you have on ways you think i could strengthen my app i'd really appreciate it. </p>
<p>I know people say you can submit an explanation of why your GPA is low if there is one, but I always thought I would sound whiny or ridiculous - lol. So, i'm hoping the extra grad courses will help at least.</p>
<p>Well, a really good GRE can make up for a weak GPA. Just going on what I've read on the sites for the top programs, the baseline GPAs for the top 10 tend to hover around 3.4-3.6. However, even SAIS says they've accepted under 3.0 students if they showed promise.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like you've got way better work experience than I do (I just teach in Japan), so I might say you're in a better position than I am, as long as you do well on the GRE. Really try to get that quantitative score at 700 or higher. That's been my shame, because I don't do much better than 680-710 on most quantitative practice. </p>
<p>Other than that, just apply and see what happens. And if you think explaining your GPA might help, I'd do it. I for one am explaining a bad quarter.</p>
<p>No Way! You're experience is much more valuable! My experience is all domestic, lol. Teaching in Japan is an excellent asset. I think the two weakest parts for me are my GPA and international experience. For the GPA, I'm hoping excellent GRE scores and good graduate course work grades will help. As for the international experience, I'm not sure how to get that other than working with all the international people here in NYC. lol =)</p>
<p>UCLAri - I'm sure you've put this somewhere in the past 8 pages of posts, but where have you applied/or will apply? What do you want to do with your degree?</p>
<p>I asked three professors of mine which programs they thought fit me. I also emailed professors at about 5 different programs and asked them which would fit me.</p>
<p>Then, I combined that with the websites and various rankings, factored in location and how much I liked the surrounding city, and came up with results.</p>
<p>congrats!!!!
and thanks for sharing all your expertise about international relations!!</p>
<p>I was recently accepted to NYU for my undergrad studies as well as American U!!
the IR major at NYU is small (only accepts about 30 undergrad sophmores a year) and competative (honors major). Hopefully I will be able to end up there!!</p>
<p>I hear from Harvard and JHU tomorrow. </p>
<p>I also applied to GWU (I think I'm accepted, I'm able to log onto their system, although I have not recieved any official word. I don't think I want to go there though. Too many rich kids. AU's SIS is more up my alley) as well as Tufts and will hear about them sometime in the next week.</p>