Update on my future

Now that I'm a college graduate, especially one that holds a seemingly useless international affairs degree in a tough economic climate, I think everyone's favorite question to ask me nowadays is "So what are you going to do now?" I usually take the easy way out and say I'll be on the Fulbright this year and going to graduate school next year. Which means, I'm going through round #2 of graduate school applications now. Last fall I applied to GW's Elliott School for Asian Studies, Johns Hopkins Nanjing Center for International Studies, and University of California-San Diego for Pacific International Affairs. I was accepted into all 3 programs, but after a grueling and stressful senior year of college, decided I would rather spend the next 1-2 years in China. I hadn't heard back from the Fulbright at the time I declined admittance, but I had been accepted into Teach for China, so I knew I would be returning to China, and that's all I really cared about. Besides, I also am pretty sick of all things related to international affairs at this point-- I'm more an area studies (aka Asia) kind of girl. I'm kind of regretting the hundreds of dollars (literally!) I spent on graduate school applications last year, but I guess I got some practice so hopefully it will go just as well this time around. So, now that I am pretty much decided that I am not interested in international affairs anymore (I know, such a shame!), I decided to apply to political science/government PhD programs (6 years of study *hyperventilates*) and geography MA programs (2 years of study). So here goes my list so far, in order of desirability and selectivity:

Harvard (PhD in government)
Stanford (PhD in political science)
University of Washington-Seattle (MA in geography)
University of Colorado-Boulder (MA in geography)
University of Hawaii-Manoa (MA in geography)

Yesterday was my last day of work, so I am using the next few days before I leave for Utah to work on my statement of purpose(s) and applications. Wish me luck! Some of you might be getting emails from me in the next couple of months asking to give feedback on my essays... Also, let me know if you are particularly interested in giving feedback; I'd love to have you read my statement of purpose!