current fulbrighter...political science chances?

Graduate School
1

<p>I am planning on applying to PhD programs in political science/government for Fall 2010 entrance, but I have no idea how my stats/resume stacks up against other applicants. I would appreciate any feedback on my chances at top 10 political science schools!</p>

<p>Top 10 undergraduate (private, research university)
Graduated with honors in history - wrote honors thesis, 3.7 GPA (but at a school known for grade deflation!)
GRE scores: 640 V / 720 Q / 4 AW (I know, the writing is weak...)
Spent a summer doing independent political science/international relations research in Southeast Asia (one of five Americans selected for this particular research fellowship)
Currently a Fulbright scholar in the Middle East - conducting independent political science research
Excellent recommendations
Research experience with professor in accounting department at my undergrad's Graduate School of Business
Speak 6 languages (3 fluently)
Quite a bit of quantitative coursework</p>

<p>Schools that I'm applying to:
Harvard (both Government and Government/Social Policy), Princeton, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Columbia...and maybe Michigan, NYU, UCSD, UCLA?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!!</p>

2

<p>Anyone? Basically I’d love to know if I should be applying to lower-ranked schools as well, or whether I have a shot at getting into at least one of my top choices.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

3

<p>Um, you got a Fulbright doing polisci research, another summer program doing polisci research, have a 3.7 at a top ten university, decent GREs…what do you think?</p>

<p>If your research goals line up with your schools’ respective departments’ goals, and you write a good SOP, you should have a good chance anywhere. That said, you might apply to 1 or 2 lower ranked schools just because.</p>

4

<p>GRE scores are a little low (especially quant score, for some of the programs you listed), otherwise your file looks strong. But since you didn’t post anything about your research interests, it is hard to judge what the fit would be with any of those schools, or what your SoP might look like.</p>