<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>I would like to apply for a PhD position at Harvard at the Department of Government and would like to know my chances.</p>
<p>I live in Germany and am currently studying political science (major), economics (minor), and international law (minor). I will be receiving my Magister Artium (which is a 9 semester-degree in Germany) next spring and have also studied in Paris for my year abroad.</p>
<p>We don't have GPAs here, so none of our grades count for the degree. The only ones that count are: thesis (on political science, about 80-100 pages), three oral exams (for each subject) and a written exam in political science. Would my other grades be important to enter Harvard? My problem is that, since I went to an international school in Germany, I had trouble with studying in German and this affected my grades accordingly. However, I am optimistic about my final grades, as I have overcome the language barrier. How important are the undergraduate grades for admission?</p>
<p>I also speak 5 languages (3 of them fluently/mother tongue level) and took up Russian this semester. After I finish my degree, I am planning on spending a year in a Russian-speaking country to teach at a university and improve my Russian knowledge.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I am interested in a region which is pretty neglected in academia, so this would be an asset I find.</p>
<p>What else would be important to raise my chances of getting admitted?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>