Applying for postgraduate studies

[aelf]

I really hate stuff like this, but it has to be done. I'm going to graduate next year, and so if I want to catch the train for the fall intake for postgraduates, I'm going to have to apply early next year. The reason I'm not going to work first is because I feel that my skills are not specialised enough for me to have any confidence that I'd get to do something that I like.

I'm doing my GRE next month (doing it first to get it out of the way) and I've been trying to work out what I want to do and where. Got a list of four courses right now. If you wanna see them, check out the spolier.

Spoiler :

Cambridge

- MPhil in Modern Society and Global Transformation

- MPhil in Politics (doing State Formation, South East Asia and another course I haven't decided on)

London School of African and Oriental Studies

- MA in South East Asian Studies (Major: Government and Politics of Modern SEA or Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in SEA)

Georgetown

- MA in Security Studies (probably International Security concentration)

Not sure whether applying for two courses in the same uni is a good idea. Will probably not do that in the end.

Now the question is, how many courses and/or universities should I apply to? If anyone has any experience in this, do tell what you think would be a good number.

For each application I'd have to write a research proposal/statement of purpose and maybe get specific academic references from tutors. I thought that making about 4-5 applications would be enough, without putting too much on my plate (I still have to study, go for classes and etc).

Ideally, I'd be able to get into London at least, thanks to my personal history, relevant experience from internship, the fact that I speak at least three languages (including a South East Asian one) and that I'm doing decently for my undergraduate studies. But I don't know if I should let that give me a sense of security and focus on making good applications to just a few places.

If anyone has any good insights on courses and on the application process for postgraduate studies, feel free to share as well. This can be a general thread for wannabe postgraduate students.

Thanks!

 

[mitsho]

Funnily enough, I'm in a very similar situation and you seem to be very hurried already. I am not. It's still another 4 months til January.

couple of questions: What's GRE? Why does cambridge still have a MPhil, shouldn't that have been abolished by Bologna? (Or do I not get the difference?) And Georgetown is Georgetown/Washington D.C. or which one?

I cannot really say anything more at the moment, I am more looking into places "of the continental" kind (in comparison to the Anglo-saxon system), Geneva being first of choice atm.

 

[Munch]

Not sure whether applying for two courses in the same uni is a good idea. Will probably not do that in the end.

I don't see why not. I applied for more than two courses at this university, attended interviews, and in the end got a choice between two invitations.

Now the question is, how many courses and/or universities should I apply to? If anyone has any experience in this, do tell what you think would be a good number.

For each application I'd have to write a research proposal/statement of purpose and maybe get specific academic references from tutors. I thought that making about 4-5 applications would be enough, without putting too much on my plate (I still have to study, go for classes and etc).

That sounds like a good number. But what is the downside to applying to as many things as you are interested in? If you can spare the time to apply and genuinely are interested in the project, then make yourself known. I didn't have to write research proposals however, so you obviously have a significant amount more work to do for each application than I did.

 

[aelf]

Funnily enough, I'm in a very similar situation and you seem to be very hurried already. I am not. It's still another 4 months til January.

I'm not very hurried, but I have to manage my time. When I go back to school in October, I'll have to juggle applications with school work and socialising. So it's better that I know where I'm headed now so that once term starts I can just focus on putting my applications together.

couple of questions: What's GRE?

Graduate Record Exam. To prove that you're a graduate. Yeah, funny, right? As if your cert doesn't do that already. Universities in the US require this ridiculous charade. A profit-making scheme for the company, if you ask me.

Why does cambridge still have a MPhil, shouldn't that have been abolished by Bologna? (Or do I not get the difference?)

No idea about that. Those say MPhil on the Cambridge website.

And Georgetown is Georgetown/Washington D.C. or which one?

Yup, that one.

I cannot really say anything more at the moment, I am more looking into places "of the continental" kind (in comparison to the Anglo-saxon system), Geneva being first of choice atm.

I imagine the system is very different there. Different enough between the UK and the US.

I don't see why not. I applied for more than two courses at this university, attended interviews, and in the end got a choice between two invitations.

Not sure about this. Unis in the UK seem to not like it, from what I hear. Something about showing that you can't make up your mind. I'm not that into MPhil for Politics at Cambridge anyway, so that I can drop easily.

That sounds like a good number.

Yeah, that's what my instinct tells me.

But what is the downside to applying to as many things as you are interested in? If you can spare the time to apply and genuinely are interested in the project, then make yourself known. I didn't have to write research proposals however, so you obviously have a significant amount more work to do for each application than I did.

From what I've seen, unis in the US don't seem to require research proposals, but they do need some sort of personal statements. The different approach probably has something to do with the length of study (only one year in the UK).

Still, writing specific personal statements takes time. Time is indeed a concern, as well as quality. After a while don't you just get tired of writing this stuff? I can really mean what I say the first few times and write decently, but after that the quality deteriorates.

 

[mitsho]

I'm not very hurried, but I have to manage my time. When I go back to school in October, I'll have to juggle applications with school work and socialising. So it's better that I know where I'm headed now so that once term starts I can just focus on putting my applications together.

This is very sad. Shouldn't socializing be about something different? But yes, you do have a point, although I despise it. (but again, it's the right thing to do). I'm hurried myself too, having just (today) started a new 30%-job and the term starts next week (although I probably be not many hours at the university, having to do way too much other stuff...) I do on the other hand have free time (a half year) from january on when I finished the exams.

Thanks for the answers and I will get back to you as soon as I myself know more ;-)

Still, writing specific personal statements takes time. Time is indeed a concern, as well as quality. After a while don't you just get tired of writing this stuff? I can really mean what I say the first few times and write decently, but after that the quality deteriorates.

About that, On one hand you can play modular, reuse certain sentences over and over again, it brings you time and quality is still there (regarding motivational letters, not essays of course ;-)). On the other hand, what's the point in applying for something just because of the hell of it? It's better to concentrate on what you really want to do than waste time applying for something you will not chose anyways.

The point is here probably the chances of getting in. There's no way to know this other than to talk to guys having done just that. So, don't go for something inferior but do go for reachable things ;-) And at last, time studied is no time wasted, so if you do get in and you don't like it, you can always change... ;-) (Assuming the money, which is less of a problem in the "free" state universities of continental Europe)

 

[aelf]

This is very sad. Shouldn't socializing be about something different?

I don't understand. Socialising takes up time too. There are only 17 waking hours or so in a day for everything, and that's not considering time loss from inefficiency

But yes, you do have a point, although I despise it. (but again, it's the right thing to do). I'm hurried myself too, having just (today) started a new 30%-job and the term starts next week (although I probably be not many hours at the university, having to do way too much other stuff...) I do on the other hand have free time (a half year) from january on when I finished the exams.

Hey, I'm not trying to put pressure on myself or anyone. I'm just thinking slightly ahead to leave myself time to play with. And the more I do now the more time I have for socialising later, right?

And for a person from my country I'm not exactly fast.

Thanks for the answers and I will get back to you as soon as I myself know more ;-)

Sure

About that, On one hand you can play modular, reuse certain sentences over and over again, it brings you time and quality is still there (regarding motivational letters, not essays of course ;-)). On the other hand, what's the point in applying for something just because of the hell of it? It's better to concentrate on what you really want to do than waste time applying for something you will not chose anyways.

True, but it would be a great help if you're applying for the same course in most places. As it is I have a pretty diverse selection (though with some overlap for most, no doubt). I'm not very sure how much recycling I can do without compromising quality. And judicious reuse of sentences also requires consideration and hence time.

The point is here probably the chances of getting in. There's no way to know this other than to talk to guys having done just that. So, don't go for something inferior but do go for reachable things ;-) And at last, time studied is no time wasted, so if you do get in and you don't like it, you can always change... ;-) (Assuming the money, which is less of a problem in the "free" state universities of continental Europe)

Yeah, I guess I should have 2 difficult-to-get courses max if I'm making 5 applications. Looks like Cambridge and Georgetown have used up both slots. Time to look for 2 more relatively easy ones, probably easier than London's SOAS.

I generally see whatever I'm doing through. I've spent about two full months thinking about it, so I'm fairly sure anyway.

Good luck for yours!

 

[warpus]

I work for a graduate school, but don't have any advice.. I have a question though! What sorta job are you looking to have once you're done with your studies?

 

[aelf]

I work for a graduate school, but don't have any advice.. I have a question though! What sorta job are you looking to have once you're done with your studies?

I like to write, but I don't want to be an actual journalist.

I guess one of the possible things is to be a consultant in some institute or think tank. I can write while working as that.