Hillsdale College PhD in Politics

Applying to College
1

<p>I am currently attending graduate school at Syracuse University, where I am in the Master of Public Administration and Masters of International Relations dual degree program. However, I am dissatisfied with the program. Therefore, I am applying to the Hillsdale PhD programs. I wanted to run some stats by some people on here who may know something about Hillsdale. </p>

<p>I am a former Navy Corpsman, who served with the Marines. I have an extensive military background and awards. I served in Operation Phantom Fury (Battle of Fallujah). Upon completion of my military obligation, I attended BYU, where I earned a bachelor's in Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic and obtained a 3.82 overall GPA. I can speak, read, and write Arabic. However, my weakness in my application is my GRE score, which is pretty bad. I have never done well on these types of exams, ever! My total score is 1100 with a 3.5 writing score. I feel that these test scores never represent my abilities or leadership skills. Any feed back on what you think my chances are would be great.</p>

2

<p>Hillsdale is a conservative school. I therefore think that they well give great weight to your military background and arab language skills.</p>

<p>Therefore, while you might not be the first guy they accept because of your low GREs, I think you will still get in, because you offer real life experience far above someone such as my son, who has never left the classroom.</p>

<p>Plus, your gpa at BYU certainly shows you can do high level work.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply. I am just fed up with the program I am at. Even though I have a fellowship with a hefty stipend, I am willing to give it up to get a real education. Right now, everything I’ve learned here is just mind numbing. It seems that my passion for learning has been sucked right out of me.</p>