<p>3.45 GPA at a state university.
3.9 GPA in my final three semesters of college, which I hope they would take into account.
3.7 GPA in my final two years of political science.
GRE: 680 verbal, 720 quantitative, 5 writing.
No extracurricular activities or work experience to speak of.
3 LoRs from my state university professors.
Can produce a solid 15-page writing example.</p>
<p>So I'm wondering what my chances are of:</p>
<p>Getting accepted to UT-Knoxville or Memphis.
Getting accepted to a decent school anywhere and getting it paid for.
Getting accepted to UT-Knoxville or Memphis and getting it paid for.
Getting accepted to Vanderbilt and getting it paid for.
Getting accepted to a top 20 school.
Getting accepted to a top 20 school and getting some or all of it paid for.</p>
<p>I’m also curious if I could go to a public university for my MA and get exceptional grades and then possibly get accepted to a good school for my PhD.</p>
<p>You’ll get into UT and Memphis no problem, and have a decent chance at Vandy. The GRE scores are high enough so top places will look at your file; your chances there will depend on the quality of your writing sample and letters.</p>
<p>As for funding, essentially anyone accepted to top 20 programs is funded. I don’t know whether that is the case at Vandy. I would bet it is not the case at UT or Memphis, given that I’m a faculty member in poli sci at a place ranked between Vandy and Memphis.</p>
<p>A masters at a public university with a good poli sci department will help your chances quite a bit if you do well there, because it will improve the quality of your writing sample as your research interests develop, and because your letter writers from the program will be able to talk about your ability to do graduate-level work. In nearly every case, however, you will still have to complete the coursework component of the PhD program, since the vast majority of schools want to ensure that you’ve had their training.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m shocked that I would even have a chance at a top 20 school and funding, since I didn’t take my education very seriously until the last year or two. I’m content to go to a public university without funding if I have to, because I know I can do really well if I try.</p>
<p>In 2008, the political science department at Memphis had TA positions for graduate students that covered tuition and came with a stipend. I don’t know if they still have the funding these days but it’s something to look into. </p>
<p>While I can’t speak for what the competitive is like now, in 2008, your numbers would have been very competitive for one of the TA positions.</p>
<p>To be clear: your scores are high enough so that admissions committees at top places will not just toss your file without glancing at it. Whether they look closely depends on who wrote your letters, what they say, and how well your research statement succeeds. I can’t place a likelihood on your admission without that information; all I’m saying is that it is not impossible.</p>
<p>And I agree with the previous poster that at a place like Memphis you will be one of the stronger candidates based on your self-description.</p>