<p>Grades:</p>
<p>1:</p>
<p>Intl Politics - A
Intro to Islam - B+
Arabic - C</p>
<p>Regional Security- A-
Contemporary Poli Theory - A-
Contemporary Physics - B
Arabic - C</p>
<p>2:</p>
<p>Modern Philosophy - A-
Global Governance - A
Arab Society - A
Arabic - A-</p>
<p>Intl Security - A
Ethics - A
Global Political Economy - A-
Arabic - A-</p>
<p>3:</p>
<p>Principles of Economics - A-
Poli Sci Internship
Philosophy of Language - A
Marx - A</p>
<p>STUDY ABROAD (Cairo)</p>
<p>Intensive Arabic - A-
M.E. Politics - A
Ancient Philosophy - B+</p>
<p>4: </p>
<p>Music Theory - A
Problems of Philosophy - A
Senior Seminar - A
African Politics - A</p>
<p>Post Colonial Theory - A
Statistics - A
Intl Economics - A-</p>
<p>Major: Political Science
Minor: Philosophy</p>
<p>Overall GPA: 3.68
Major GPA: 3.89</p>
<p>I haven't taken the GRE yet, and i'm not going to bother listing E.Cs/activities. They are decent.</p>
<p>Given these grades, where should I aim? I'm looking at M.I.A. programs or even PHD programs.</p>
<p>Oh yeah...I graduated from Macalester College.</p>
<p>Since you have above a 3.6 and you have a high major GPA, I think you could apply to a wide range -- apply to the top schools, but also apply to schools in the middle and a few "safety" schools that you wouldn't mind attending (but no school is a "safety" in poli sci. With hundreds of applicants, and something like 5 - 10 spots per subfield, qualified people get rejected at every level). Your GRE scores will matter -- Also, do you have any research to submit as a writing sample? An honors thesis, or any sort of undergraduate research? That would help, too.</p>
<p>They don't care about your ECs -- just your academics and your potential as a scholar. (Your ability to do research.)</p>
<p>Bit off topic but just a little advice. I did my udnergrad with similar grades, no c<code>s 2-3 more B</code>s at a major UC. I decided to take a year and do an M.A in order to narrow my focus, get solid letters of rec and some research time. I know it sounds a bit more fancy to jump straight to a Ph.D but I highly suggest doing an M.A first.</p>
<p>I know many would say otherwise but for me it allowed me to be a GA, a research assistant, get killer letters and really most important narrow my focus and what I want to study. It is really hard at 21 to know what your life research goal is and you would be suprised how well that year or so of M.A work helps out.</p>
<p>If you can apply with a 3.6 undergrad, same M.A and solid letters of rec, research etc the GRE`s will matter very little. Good Luck.</p>
<p>I disagree with fitzgerk, to some degree. If you are planning on getting a phd, why bother with a masters? You will accumulate debt and it may help slightly in getting into a phd program but I dont think it will help more than other possibilities. If you aren't sure about getting the PhD at all, you should take time off, work, and see if you would rather do research or policy work or whatever. PhDs in poli sci (especially in comparative if that's your focus) take a loong time and are a bit soul sucking. If you aren't sure whether you want to do that with your life, figure that question out first. Getting more intl experience will help you get into a MIA/MPP program AND get into a phd, if that's your true focus. </p>
<p>For the record, however, I went to a top 5 liberal arts college and graduated with a 3.6ish GPA and maybe a 3.8 in my major. I worked in development policy at a big donor for a bit and got some more international travel (and related policy work) in first. I also went to a professional program where I accumulated far more debt than I ever had during undergrad. It worked out for me, but I'm not sure that's a great model in general.</p>
<p>ETA forgot to mention that I am at a top 5 poli sci program studying comparative politics.</p>
<p>I agree the debt sucks, if you get funding as I did I think its still a solid route but of course not the only one. Good Luck</p>
<p>Hmm...</p>
<p>I bet both fitzgerk AND Rinzee are right to certain degrees, but if it helps any, I was told by my quasi-advisor at undergrad the MA can be a good way to really narrow one's focus and get direction, solid letters, etc.</p>