Chances of getting in to USC grad

Graduate School
1

<p>I've read through the entry requirements for a PhD in Political Science and IR at USC and on paper meet them all. However, I'm not sure in practice of my chances, owing largely to my unfamiliarity with the US graduate system. </p>

<p>Here are my stats. </p>

<p>GPA: I got a high 2.1 and a first in Parts 2 and 1 of my undergraduate degree respectively. I think that converts to a GPA of 3.67ish? I scored in the top third of my class in all years (7th out of 114 in one year) at Cambridge. I majored in Political Science and I'm currently studying for an MPhil. </p>

<p>GRE: V 600 (85%), Q 780 (94%), waiting on analytical. </p>

<p>References are from well known people but obviously I don't know how complimentary they are going to be. </p>

<p>Also, how do people think my chances of entry onto a similar programme at U Wash, Emory, Northwestern and Brown are? Are they harder than USC to get into?</p>

2

<p>What did you do at Cambridge, other than the normal curriculum? I may be wrong, but in many fields, something akin to research is effectively a requirement for graduate schools.</p>

3

<p>I'm currently doing an MPhil (completely research based) in the area in which I want to direct my PhD. I am examining the neoconservatives' realignment from Johnson to Carter, looking at racial and ethnic cleavages. I also wrote my undergraduate dissertation on the Wallace '68 campaign drawing on similar themes.</p>