Hello all,
I am considering graduate school options, and I know I want to go into academic, research, or government work long-term. I am thinking about top grad programs in poli sci like harvard, princeton, MIT, NYU, and Columbia. My interests are in American politics and political methods. I know “chances” are not a thing because of how complicated PhD apps are, but I am trying to develop a list of schools that is feasible. I want to know if I have a chance at top schools
My profile:
Mid-Low ranked flagship state U in a very small state. GPA 4.0/4.0 (finished 3 years so far). No A+ at my institution.
GRE practice test 160V 160Q (COLD diagnostic test, no prep) taking on Aug. 4.
Majors: English & Political Science/ Minors: Italian, Statistics
Coursework:
American politics theories, intro methodology, legislative process, education policy (with internship in public school), two senior seminars which require independent research papers. Most of my Poli. Sci. courses require journal readings and are not from textbooks.
Math-wise, I am maybe not up to par for a phd in methods but I think I still have more than most: 3 semesters of calculus (diff, integral, multivar),1 semester Mathematical statistics, 2 semesters statistics for research methods, 1 semester statistical computing in R, 1 semester linear algebra.
Research/Teaching:
-Teaching Assistant for intro political methods. Also taught recitations.
-Ongoing position as research assistant for tenured poli. sci. prof, working on a co-authored paper with just the two of us which is intended for publication in a journal. Using Stata and R.
-Collected exit poll surveys, and will be organizing 2018 miderm election exit polls statewide with help of prof (replacing the PhD student who did them before me)
-Can use SPSS, STATA, R. (can run regressions, manipulate data, etc.)
-Finishing up original quantitative research paper (~20 pages, lit review, logit regression model, using data from ANES, WVS, etc.)
-Presented original research in English at school’s Undergraduate Conference (received writing/research scholarship and 2nd place in departmental essay contest)
Recommenders:
-3 great letters. One from an English prof/department chair and Two from poli. sci. profs. I have been an RA with one for almost a year and TA’d for the other.