<p>Hey guys, </p>
<p>SO I know that you usually don't talk much about graduate schools - But I've got a question. I'm currently a Junior at Rutgers University (New Brunswick). Previously I attended Trinity College in Hartford Ct, but came home when my grandmother passed away, and mother got very ill. I'm currently a double major in Economics and Political Science, looking to go to graduate school right out of my undergrad days. I have a list I've prepared - and I'd love to hear your opinions on chances; we've got: </p>
<p>1.) Georgetown
2.) Tufts
3.) Boston University
4.) Brown
5.) U. Chicago
6.) (maybe) UVA
7.) (maybe) Duke
8.) (maybe) Notre Dame</p>
<p>the list is in order of preference and I'd like to go for a Masters in poly sci - I think in American Governance. Anyway, my grades fairly good - I currently have a 3.69 GPA, it was over a 3.7 until I took three semesters of math for my Economics degree (yikes). This semester I'm expecting it to stay about the same since I'm taking Econometrics and Intermediate Micro at the same time, but next semester I'm hoping to see it rise again a bit. I'm not <em>terribly</em> concerned about that, but what I am concerned about is a C+ I got my freshman year in Comparative Politics, it was right around the time I decided to transfer and was really because I was focusing on family instead of a paper, but regardless it bothers me. </p>
<p>For what it's worth - I'm also fairly involved here at Rutgers. I'm currently serving as the treasurer of Hall Government, the secretary of the College Republicans, and I previously served as the treasurer for the fencing club on campus. I also occasionally help edit one of the campus newspapers, I actively fence (although next semester I'll be taking off to concentrate on my Junior seminar), I'm in two honors societies, and I recently joined a fraternity and do a lot of community service with them. All of this is in addition to the community service I do on my own time. SO - my question is - does anyone think I can get in to a grad program at Georgetown? I'm dying to go there, I have been for 3 years now ... if you think my chances are weak, what can I do to improve them? </p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your time!, </p>
<p>Justin</p>
<p>Your degree of campus involvement doesn't matter for grad school unless you're doing research for a prof or publishing work. Your gpa is fine, esp. for an MA program. Focus on writing a strong senior thesis and cultivating relationships with a few professors whose work interests you so you'll have good recs. Study for the GRE. That's the grad application package--GPA, GRE, recs, writing sample, and a topic you're interested in pursuing. You should also be aware that grad applications will not allow you much space to talk about your personal extenuating circumstances, so don't count on getting a chance to justify that C+ at length. Demonstrate that it was a fluke.</p>
<p>Also, make sure that all those programs actually have terminal MAs if that's what you want. UChicago only has a PhD in poli sci, and master's programs in IR and "social sciences," where you can focus on political science, but it's not the same as an MA in poli sci.</p>
<p>What do you plan to do with an MA in Political Science? It's not a lucrative degree. If you're interested in a career in government and policy analysis, pursue a Master of Public Policy degree.</p>
<p>Here's a sample curriculum:
Master</a> of Public Policy (MPP) | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy</p>
<p>Hey, </p>
<p>Thanks for those replies. I figured that C would be a thorn in my side - but I suppose the best I can do is continue to do well. I forgot I even had it, since it's not part of my Rutgers GPA, and doesn't show up anywhere on my transcript when guidance here pulls it up. </p>
<p>I realize that Political Science in general isn't really a lucrative degree for an MA, or any of the associated areas (IR etc.) however I sort of view it as a stepping stone to a PhD - I used to be sure that I wanted a doctorate in international relations or the like, and then a career in academia / and or working for a policy institute. I always thought that would work well with the quantitative background I got from my economics training - being able to apply fairly advanced statistical and mathematical methods to international foreign or defense policy etc. </p>
<p>ANYWAY, I'm not so sure that I want to spend 7 years getting a PhD - so my reasoning was go for a masters, and if it continues to interest me, and draw me in - I can then go for the PhD after, and have the benefit of the material I absorbed earning an MA - or alternately I can go on to law school if the PhD route doesn't seem feasible anymore. Does this sound reasonable? </p>
<p>I really appreciate the replies - without being a pest, I'd like to ask one more question. How does one really cultivate a relationship with a professor in such a large school? I would definitely have stayed at a smaller institution if I'd been able to at the time. I go to office hours for most of my professors when possible, and a few remember me because I'm quite participatory in class but at Trinity we used to have dinner with professors regularly... I'm taking a seminar with the chair of the poly sci department next semester, so I'm hoping its a chance to really foster a relationship? </p>
<p>Thanks again!,
Justin</p>
<p>Go to office hours with specific questions about the topic that haven't been answered in class and discuss them. Email w/ your professors. When you write your senior thesis, you will likely have an advisor, so stay in touch with this person throughout your thesis-writing process. You don't need to kiss everyone's ass, just pick two or three people whose work especially interests you.</p>
<p>This is my opinion, so you can disagree with me:</p>
<p>If you don't want to do a PhD but have an interest in political policy analysis (econometrics, program evaluation, etc.), the Master of Public Policy (MPP) is the best degree. You can do quantitative work AND study policymaking in 2 years.</p>
<p>If you really want to be a professor, skip the MA in PoliSci (again, not many programs offer an MA) and apply directly to the PhD Political Science programs. Make sure you do a senior thesis. You will know which path is better for you.</p>
<p>Hey, </p>
<p>so basically, there's no benefit from a MA in poly sci? I'm just curious - I have no problem looking in to public policy, or a PhD. I was just wondering if there was a benefit to a masters first. What would applying for a doctoral program consist of, and would it be far more difficult than applying for a masters? I plan on writing a senior thesis, and a tenured professor will be my advisor either way, since the three professors who deal with political theory are all full professors who publish quite a bit. I'm assuming this is key? I'm sorry to bombard you all with questions, but I feel like there's a lot to get straight, relatively soon (before the fall) </p>
<p>thanks all,
Justin</p>
<p>For political theory, there is probably no value in a master's, except maybe to teach high school government classes. An MA in political theory won't get you academic jobs or policy jobs. Consider the PhD, or an MPP.</p>
<p>It's not necessary to do a Master's first before a PhD in the United States. There are plenty of people who are admitted into PhD Political Science programs with just a Bachelor's degree. For political theory, a MA is useless.</p>
<p>well the degree wouldnt be in political theory, its just that I've taken a lot of political theory classes, and it's where my interests lie, and those will the professors that I work with for my thesis. The Masters would either be more public policy ish (I checked it out and liked what I saw) or focusing on the history and application of democracy around the world (a few programs I saw deal with this, probably as preparation for a transnational organization, international business or some form of policy work. ) etc. What would a PhD entail? Would I be living like a church mouse for the next 10 years?</p>
<p>If you go directly into the PhD program, you have a chance at getting full funding plus a living stipend and health insurance. If you do the Masters, you may have to pay for it out of pocket, so that is one advantage of the PhD. Also, you will get your MA along the way, so if you hated it, you could quit after the MA, and they would have still paid for it.</p>