major in different field than undergrad major

Graduate School
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<p>I keep seeing a few threads on this. I'm going to be a senior next year in college. I'm a philosophy major but I think I want to apply for graduate school for political science. I'm basically done with the requirement for my major so I'll have some time to get as many political science class as I can.</p>

<p>--How important is it to have majored in a field if I want to get accepted to PHD program for it?
I may only be able to get a minor in political science before I graduate. It seems like people </p>

<p>--keep saying that it's not impossible to get into a program in something you didn't major in. But I'm guessing for top programs it would probably be a must? I mean 4-5 classes in political science could not compare with the background knowledge of someone who majored in it...</p>

<p>--And as far as research goes, what exactly are the standards for this if I want to apply?
it sounds like this is a huge part of it obviously</p>

2

<p>It's going to vary by program. Look at the requirements on individual program websites. If you're still not sure, contact their admissions people.</p>

<p>I've certainly seen a number of people, in general, go into grad programs in fields that they minored in.</p>

3

<p>It seems like this would be clearly possible in various fields and various schools (if not many schools). But even if students can get admitted without majoring in the field, nonetheless should it be assumed that the more classes you've taken in a field the better your resume looks? I mean this would makes sense.
And even if that's not the rule of thumb in general for all programs, what would keep a top program, who has it's pick of the litter, to just have a bias towards those who earned the major. If there's nothing else two separate to candidates it seems like it starts to become a bigger deal.</p>

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<p>anyone else?</p>