<p>Hi, I am wondering what my chances of getting into top political science PhD programs would be. I know this is a common and somewhat tiresome question, but it is distinctly important to me. I am a junior undergrad and I am trying to decide whether to apply to law school after this year, or wait and apply to both law school and PhD programs after my senior year. If I can get into a top PhD program, I'd want to go for it, but I would rather go to law school if I cannot get into a top PhD program. Thus, my decision on the question above will very much be based on what I assess my chances to be.</p>
<p>So anyways, that's why this is more than just an "I'm nervous of my chances and want to know what you think" thread. </p>
<p>Here's the relevant info:</p>
<p>Brown University Junior
Economics Major (or concentrator as we call it)
GPA: 3.94
GPA in my major: 4.0</p>
<ul>
<li>I have taken 4 classes in the Political Science department and have a 4.0 in those classes. In addition, beyond those 4 classes, I have taken numerous other classes (5 or so) not in the Political Science department that would still count towards the Political Science major. I have a 4.0 in those classes as well, and my point here is that I have experience and have done well in the field of Political Science. I know you don't need that, but I'm sure it probably helps.</li>
<li>This has not happened yet, but based on my grades, I am pretty sure I will end up being Phi Beta Kappa as a junior.</li>
</ul>
<p>-I have not taken the GRE yet, but based on practice exams, let's just assume I'd get around the following scores:</p>
<p>Verbal: 700
Quantitative: 800
Analytical: 5.5</p>
<p>-If I were to decide to go for a PhD program, I would certainly write a thesis senior year (which would also mean I'd graduate with honors). Hopefully, it would be pretty good and would provide me with a solid writing sample for my application (obviously with a shortened version to fit length requirements).</p>
<ul>
<li>Letters of recommendation are a bit tough and will probably be a weakness. Brown is not a particularly large school, but I really haven't taken many small classes. Thus, I don't have any real relationship with a political science or economics professor. I took a couple small classes with a literature professor who liked me enough to ask me to TA his class this semester. I have a very good relationship with him and I'm sure he would give me a good recommendation, but I'm not sure that helps since his field is so far from political science. Should I even bother using him for a PhD program rec?</li>
</ul>
<p>I think it can be assumed that I would end up getting a solid recommendation from whoever my thesis advisor was, so this would be the most important rec. Would the fact that that would be an economics professor weaken the recommendation or is that close enough to political science? </p>
<p>Other than that, I don't entirely know who I would get recs from. My political science classes have all been huge (like 100+ students) so I don't know any of the professors. There are some economics professors who would certainly recognize me as someone who has frequently contributed to class and gotten top grades. I could ask for recs from a couple of them, but they don't know me personally enough to write anything particularly glorious.</p>
<p>So let's just assume that this doesn't remedy itself in the next couple years, and I have a good rec from an econ thesis advisor, and two decent recs otherwise (unless the lit professor's rec is worth something; in that case, his would be good). </p>
<ul>
<li><p>I assume I'd write fairly good statements of purpose, but let's just assume this doesn't really help or hurt me. </p></li>
<li><p>From what I've heard, extracurriculars don't matter that much for PhD programs but here is what I have done:</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I interned for a legal aid organization in the summer after my freshman year of college.
As I said, I am a TA for a Literature professor this semester
I am hoping to intern for the State Department this coming summer. Let's just assume I get that, even though the admissions process for it is quite selective so that might not happen.
I'm thinking ill join a political/debate group on campus this semester</p>
<p>So I haven't done anything particularly ground-breaking, and I'm not really involved in a bunch of clubs, but I'm not a hermit either.</p>
<p>So there it is. What do you guys think the chances are of me getting into a PhD program at places like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, UC: Berkeley, Columbia, Yale, etc?</p>
<p>Also a few specific questions:
1. Would it help my chances of getting into a political science PhD program for me to take some math classes in undergrad? I was thinking I might take multi-variable calculus, linear algebra, and maybe a stats class in the coming semesters just to show that I can handle the math that will come up in the PhD program. Will this help my chances or should I not bother?
2. Again, is a rec from a lit professor worthless for a political science PhD program?
3. Is the fact that I haven't saved the world or been a part of 5 bajillion clubs on campus going to be a huge problem?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for any responses!</p>