My name is Maija Wallace. Through this website, I review and edit resumes and college admission essays for graduate (and occasionally undergraduate) students applying to Sciences Po and other universities that specialize in international affairs and are based outside the United States.
I very much enjoy coaching students to present themselves in a polished and professional manner. I believe that students with excellent experiences and qualifications sometimes just need a little help to make their applications shine— especially when English is not their first language.
My qualifications include two years of experience reviewing admissions essays and helping students to successfully receive offers of admission. In addition, I hold a master’s degree in International Development from Sciences Po, a bachelor’s in International Political Economy from UT Dallas, a certificate in Immigration Law from CUNY, and a TEFL Teaching English certification. I previously worked as an English teacher in Istanbul, Turkey, and spent a year as a Fulbright scholar teaching English in Santander, Spain. My work through this website is conducted in a purely personal capacity.
See my UpWork profile to hire me as a freelance writer.
Ask for a review of your CV or personal statement.
Hello,
I was doing some quick research on Sciences Po’s Emile Boutmy Scholarship and I came across your blog. I am also considering to apply for Master’s in International Development and I would love to get some insight from you in regards to the application procedure as well as the academic life and living costs..etc
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Hi there! Of course.
Application is done online. Academic life is active, though studious. Living costs are exorbitant. I’d be glad to write a more detailed post about it when I get a moment later on. Feel free to ask me any specific questions here and I’ll be sure to address them.
Edit: Here is a more detailed post on those issues: http://mwallacepro.com/sciences-po-pros-cons-psia/
Hello,
I have been recently accepted to SciencesPo and I am still waiting on an answer for the Emile Boutmy scholarship.
I was just curious about who they usually select as recipient of the scholarship. I will graduate Magna Cum Laude from Eastern Michigan University and I still don’t know what grades they are looking at.
I am freaking out about this. ahah
can you tell me on average who usually get that scholarship.
And congratulations 🙂 🙂
I can’t say what the average grades of a Boutmy scholarship student are since, as far as I know, they aren’t made public. However, I imagine if you are graduating Magma Cum Laude your grades will not hold you back! Everyone at Sciences Po made good grades in undergraduate school and I suspect that the Emilie Boutmy scholarship is more heavily focused on financial need than it is on picking out the ‘top of the top’ students 🙂
Hi Maija! Firstly I’d just like to say that I’ve found your blog to be very insightful and useful. So thank you!:)
I have recently been accepted to Science Po’s international development masters program, and was wondering if you could tell me a little about the third semester. I saw that one can do an internship instead of a masters thesis, which I found a little curious as I have not heard of foregoing a thesis before, and am worried that this may be viewed with confusion if I were to do it. On the other hand, I can totally see how many employers might prefer the work experience over a thesis they probably would not read. Do most opt for an internship instead? Would love to hear about your personal experience as well as a little about your classmates if you have the time.
Thanks again!
Tj
Hi TJ!
Glad to hear that my blog has been useful– and congratulations on your acceptance to Sciences Po!
In the third semester at PSIA (for other Sciences Po programs it may be a different semester), you will not take traditional classes. Instead, the university encourages students to opt for a full-time internship. Most master’s students are planning to go into the workforce after graduation (and most PSIA classes are geared towards teaching you practical, on-the-job skills), so an internship makes good sense. This is especially true for the French students who generally have little to no work experience since they enter the master’s program directly after completing their undergraduate degree. However, there are two main situations where you might prefer to complete a thesis instead of an internship:
1. If you are looking to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation.
2. If you come from (or are planning to work in) a country where a master’s degree may be viewed with skepticism if you don’t do a thesis.
I’m not entirely sure for which countries this would be the case (and you don’t mention what country you are from), but it sounds like this might apply to you.
Of course, ultimately what you decide to do will be up to you. Hope that helps! Once again, congrats on your acceptance!
Best,
Maija
Hi Maija. I am from Afghanistan. I am planning to apply for Master in International Security at PSIA Sciences Po. I did BBA in undergrad. I am working at a research firm (evaluation and socio-economic research). I am very interested in world politics and security. I know six languages, including French (A2 CECR) and Arabic (B2). However, my grades in undergrad were above average but not great. And I do not have an outgoing personality, so less extracurricular activities.
I would really appreciate your opinion and advice.
Hi Abid,
It sounds like you have an interesting background! I don’t believe I ever met a student from Afghanistan at Sciences Po, so your nationality is likely to capture the attention of the admissions committee. Do your academic results meet the minimum standards for acceptance published online by Sciences Po? Check here: http://www.sciencespo.fr/admissions/en/content/graduate-international-criteria
If so, I would say you should definitely apply! I cannot comment on your chances of getting accepted because I don’t have a copy of your entire application. Keep in mind as well that Sciences Po is extremely competitive.
If you are looking for my help with your personal statement, please fill out the form on the following page: http://mwallacepro.com/personal-statement-review-letter-motivation/
Best,
Maija