PhDhopeful2013
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Posts posted by PhDhopeful2013
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Does it matter where I go for my Master's? I'm planning to attend a CSU college in California to earn my Master's before applying to the PhD program again.
a good sign would be if the MA program has placed recent graduates in PhD programs that you would be interested in. Otherwise, in my view it's not necessarily the prestige of the MA that will matter, but how you use it to improve your PhD application. If it's a 2-yr program, you need to be focused on your PhD app from Day 1! Year 1 will fly, and by your Summer/Fall of Year 2 you will be actually doing your applications. Therefore in Year 1, you need to start narrowing down your interests and get your research questions situated in the literature. Use your seminar papers to get you to this point. From Day 1 make sure that the grad director knows that you want to move on to the doctoral level. Make sure you can take a class or two with profs that you would like to recommend you. Make sure to have a solid relationship with at least three profs in the dept that know your goals and research interests. Of course you will learn a lot and have a great intellectual experience too, but really to be blunt the MA will be more instrumental at this point.... Good luck!!
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I'm not a neutral party here, but let me say that these are all strong programs. Now, having said that, you should remember that you are not locked into a subfield. You can go to UVA and do CP or GWU and IR. Also, although all four schools now provide a solid-to-excellent methodological foundation, the kind of IR or CP you would do at, say, Iowa, is very different from what you would do at GU or GWU. Not better or worse, just different. And that will have downstream influences on career trajectory.
I'm just curious about the differences and how they may impact career trajectory? Could you elaborate a bit?
Also, im curious about your impression of Univ of Maryland generally and in "the DC context."
Thanks for your advice!
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Im at rutgers! my application status has been updated! No word on funding yet!
Yay! Congratulations!!
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I got accepted to Rutgers! Email from Eric Davis(who's not in my area, so presumably he's on the ad comm).
Edit: And it was a personalised email referencing my application, so not a blast email for sure. And my online status still says 'no decision'.
Congrats!
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another thing to think about is your recommendations. do you have 3 letter writers in mind? if so, are any of them political scientists? if you don't have close ties with any poli sci profs now, you may want to think about taking a few poli sci classes at a local university to establish some relationships. this would also help you to define your research interests within the discipline and to find programs with the appropriate fit...
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Thanks for the kind words.
Two things. First, as RWBG points out, subfield rankings are more informative, and they can vary a lot. Second, my own inclination is to focus on fit, fit, fit, far more than rank... if the ranks are equal, all the more reason to focus on fit.
What about when choosing between a prog ranked in the high 20's and one in the low 60's? both would be good for my interests and training. how much weight should the rank factor hold in the decision? seems like a significant differential to me, but I've also heard rankings don't matter much outside of the T15...
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Well, congats on the acceptance!! Happy for you that you didn't have to wait until April 14th to hear the good news
thank you! yes - avoiding the April 14th stress is a huge bonus!!
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Well, I guess you can ignore my question on the other thread! Congrats!!! I like this thread so much better when people are announcing good news
thank you! me too
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Congrats! Your acceptance really gives me hope! Maryland is my top choice, so I hope to also get the email about being accepted off the wait list!
Thank you! I hope you hear good news soon as well!
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Good luck to everyone waitlisted out there! Clearly things can change for the better (and quickly!)!!
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In at Maryland!! so happy right now!!
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Maryland has no official visit weekend - the department will work with you to schedule it whenever works for both sides. I guess that probably means you will hear people turning down offers slowly and one at a time as opposed to a bunch the way you might hear after a group visit weekend. Just speculating though.
thanks! yes, that's what I was thinking -- if there was an official visit weekend, prospectives may wait until after the visit and then make their final decision about the program within a few days. without an official visit, decisions may trickle out.... Anyway, I'm happy to be on the waitlist.. there's still a chance!
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Anyone know if/when Maryland has a visit day/weekend?
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Also, anyone know if/when Maryland has a visitation weekend?
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I believe we're in the same boat...
Seems like we are! Do you have any feel for how likely it is to get in off the waitlist there? Or how long the waitlist is? I am really hoping to get in. hopefully it's a short list, since there's only been two posts on the board. But seems as though people haven't been posting everything lately as seasons are wrapping up... Not sure what to think, but hopeful nonetheless!! Good luck to you as well!
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Congratulations!
It is. I have to decide between the two, and I'm almost sure which one I want to accept! But still not a 100%.
Well good luck with the final decision!! I know what I'm leaning towards also, but I'm definitely approaching visit weekends with an open mind. And then there's the waitlist factor.... Looking forward to April 15 for sure!!
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Congratulations to everyone that received a great admission this cycle. To the rest, chin up and good luck with whatever you take on next.
Priceless. Good luck to you, sir!!
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Just got news that I've been accepted at Georgetown!
Congratulations!!
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I went to Temple, got accepted to the History PhD program, and declined. Their funding situation is abysmal. If they can guarantee funding, then it may be worth it. But if it is a year-by-year situation, then be prepared to have your funding cut off in the middle of the program.
Pennsylvanians hate higher education apparently and the state has cut the schools budget. Tuition jumped up dramatically in the past couple years.
Yes you are correct here. I am definitely aware of the PA higher edu draconian funding atmosphere, and with Temple being a state school, PhD funding is alwasy at risk.... It's unfortunate....
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Congratulations! Seems like you will have a decision to make.
Yes! And of course now I'm focusing on the waitlist scenarios.... not sure how likely it is to get off the waitlist, but it would certainly impact my decisions.... Is your cycle over?
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PhDHopeful et al., what's the general view in the field on Temple as a Phd producing institution?
I can't speak to the general view in the field (would be curious to hear it), but i think they actually do place a fair number of graduates at smaller colleges in the greater Philadelphia area. I would be curious to hear anyone's input on Temple's program, actually.
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Congrats!!!
Congratulations! Philadelphia is a great town.
thank you both!
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also, in at Temple! funding decisions still being made and will be finalized over the next few weeks.
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Must..........reach..............two hundred pages..........
I'll help the cause!!
Debt with prestige, or full ride at good but not top-notch school?
in Political Science Forum
Posted · Edited by PhDhopeful2013
my initial reaction would be to follow the funding! and while your away, make a point of it to maintain your networks in DC. If the program really only takes you three semesters, then your time away will not even be substantial.... debt avoidance FTW!!