<p>Just trying to gauge if I was an idiot for not applying to lesser tiered schools. </p>
<p>So, this past admission season I applied to PhD Poli Sci programs at: Yale, Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Georgetown and MIT. </p>
<p>Stats:
Math/Poli Sci Double Major from small, semi-known, private university
Finishing in 3 years
3.9 overall (3.9 poli sci/4.0 math)
GRE: 450 V/750 Q 4.5 W
Research Asst to Professor, two conference presentations, legislative intern at state capitol, Honors program, 3 nat'l honor socities (freshman, math, poli sci)</p>
<p>Does the extra math major help my chances at all since I'll already have a lot of background in the numbers of graduate political science and finishing 2 majors in 3 years OR did I completely eff myself?</p>
<p>I would say that your verbal score is probably on the low end for social science programs, particularly ones as choosy as the ones you selected. But given your strong GPA, it might not be too big of a deal.</p>
<p>If what you want more than anything is to be accepted in a political science PhD program, of course you are an idiot for not applying to lesser tiered schools. You are probably a competitive candidate anywhere, but there is someone like you in terms of grades, coursework, and experience at practically every college in the U.S., and lots of people like you in terms of grades and coursework, or close, but with far more experience in research or practical political work. And you are young. And the six places to which you applied, combined, have, what?, 120 places? 130? 100? Not everyone like you is going to be accepted by one of them. Four of the places you applied are among the most competitive in any dimension. The other two are not clearly among the top programs, but one is highly competitive by virtue of its location, and the other is tiny.</p>
<p>Your faculty sponsors will have a lot to do with your success, but you don’t say what they advised you to do, or even whether you asked them what they thought. Or, most importantly, where they thought they could help most. And why those were the right programs for you.</p>
<p>So, does your list look like it is well thought through? No, it doesn’t. It looks like what mattered most to you was (a) undergraduate prestige (b) located on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor line (c) but not in New York. That’s not such a hot selection algorithm.</p>
<p>I am going through this process myself now so I understand why you’re second guessing yourself–I am too. I’ve applied to 7 doctoral programs in Political Science (comparative politics of the Middle East) and a few in area studies and am sweating it out to see what happens. I also have two back-up master’s if things don’t work out. I don’t mean to sound harsh but I can tell you that the application process is very competitive. At the schools you have mentioned, I believe the acceptance rate is 10 percent or less for all but one program on your list (and that one program is limited in terms of fellowships). I’m also applying to three of the same schools on your list. </p>
<p>The most important thing is finding programs where you really are a match. What’s your main field of study–comparative, IR, theory, U.S, or something else? Do you have a regional or thematic interest? Do you want a department that stresses quantitative work? I have a sinking feeling we may end up doing this application thing more than once. A lot of people I know are in the same boat. If we have to do it again, I’d make sure to look for programs and professors that are a match and make that argument in the statement of purpose. That is just as important as your credentials. </p>
<p>My own record has strong and weak points so I have my fingers crossed. I’ve dug a lot and tried to come up with a range of good programs with various rankings. Your math background will help for sure and your gpa is good. Ideally, I would work on pulling up the verbal GRE if you find yourself applying again. Good luck, and we’ll both see what happens!</p>
<p>I’m interested in American politics and methods, specifically the quantifiable relationship between the three branches of government. I definitely want a department that stresses quantitative work, but because of other reasons am limited to the northeast corridor and DC. </p>
<p>I was not going to settle for a school that I didn’t want to go to. I want to go to one of the best schools and that’s where I applied. Some students settle for undergradute institutions, but I find it hard to believe that a student would want to “settle” for a graduate education. “Settling” for the next 6 - 7 years of my life seems unreasonable. So, if it doesn’t work out this admissions cycle, then I’ll give it a go next year as well. </p>
<p>I know I have to get my verbal GRE up, and with the test completely changing next year, maybe I’ll be able to do better with the new format. </p>
<p>Good luck to you too Scrapiron215! I’m sure we’ll be doing this application more than once as well, but hey, that’s life right? But, wanting to study the Middle East is a very good field to get in right now, especially with everything going on over there. We’ll see what happens. Let me know how it goes!</p>
<p>Not to be the bearer of bad news, but the only two schools out of your list that you have a shot at are Georgetown and Brown. Georgetown tends to admit a lot more students than actually matriculate, but for someone your stats, I don’t think you’ll be able to get funding.</p>
<p>You might want to consider applying to some MA programs as a back-up plan, unless you already have some backup plan worked out. Good luck!</p>