TakeMyCoffeeBlack

It depends. Are you interested in formal modelling of American elections, or of "elections" in general? If the latter, I'd be inclined to say comparative (even if you don't have a specific regional focus).

Last year I waited until the day before/day of for them, but this year - partially because I have a lot more free time on a scholarship abroad with fewer responsibilities - I will be getting them all in sometime this week. I've written all my SOPs, I just want to let them sit a few days. I'll re-read them probably two at a time and clean up.

My girlfriend used her education thesis (common core related) for her English Ph.D. application (she only applied to one program, though a good one), but also included a shorter English paper (she's 18/19th century Brit Lit). They accepted her into the Master's program (which she hadn't applied for), and indicated that her English paper showed potential. So my guess is that if you have a LIt related paper, you'll be better off. Hard to say though - you could try shooting an e-mail to a prof at one of the schools?

I think you're fine mentioning what really inspired your research interests, but I wouldn't frame it in a "I didn't want to but then" way. It makes it sound like you could change your mind a year into the program. Something as simple as "I really became passionate about pursuing research during a summer research program, where I..." As for your goals - it depends what they are. No matter what, though, you'll want to emphasize research and how research is valuable to your career goals (whether as a professor or corporate employee, or whatever). I wouldn't say "I don't want to be a professor," though.

His lectures are great. Saw him give a keynote in Boston last year - it was pretty basic (toned down for general audience), but interesting and engaging.

I would be worried that if you're using the intro from an unwritten thesis, the intro is itself unfinished. As you go, your argument will develop - as well as your ability to explain and clarify it, as a proper intro requires. If you'd like, shoot me a private message. I'd be happy to compare your intro with your "fake research report" (why is it fake? because it wasn't published?).

Why just the intro? I'd suggest creating a form of your thesis with the best chapters, between 15-30 pages. If your intro is one of your best chapters, great. Include it. But why not include your findings, too? Or some of the substantive research in the middle? Just a thought.

Your best bet is to ask your prof what they think.

Question: will you be pursuing a Ph.D. in the US or Canada (or elsewhere)? I only ask because it seems to me that you'd probably be qualified to go right into an American Ph.D. program for political theory - of course, my knowledge about your profile is limited only to the theorists and philosophers with whom you're familiar. On the one hand, you may gain some valuable methodological skills that will help you get a spot at a dream Uni down the line, but you'll get that regardless. Just a thought. Otherwise - maybe lead in your statement with what you want to do, achieve, learn, and then back it up with your previous experiences.

+1 And lol poli sci job rumors...

I wouldn't read too much into it, but I think in general you're going to want to name peer schools, not schools way above or way below. So if you're applying to a school in the top 10, name the schools closest in ranking to that. If you're applying to a school in the top 50 and you're applying to a range of schools between 30-70, then name those. But again, it's one of the less substantial pieces of information, I'd think. If you're only applying to 5 schools, then name the schools you're applying to regardless of who's asking.

You can do whatever you want, Loric. I'm certainly not looking for your approval. But you're the one who showed up and stirred the pot in a field into which you're not even applying.

I don't think having "set foot" on the campuses plays a very big role when it comes to earning your Ph.D. The campus could look like a nuclear site, but as long as it has the faculty and resources you need to accomplish your academic/career goals, then it doesn't matter. You can learn this information without travelling to the university physically - and in fact, a good portion of future Ph.D. students make the decision without first visiting.

Loric doesn't much care for amicable conversation (). I don't even think Loric is a poli sci applicant, which makes this all the more interesting ().

Well Loric, it's a good thing you're not on the ad coms. Why are you getting so personal?

+1

You have a shot at the programs, but nothing's guaranteed. Problem is, it wouldn't be guaranteed at the "lower ranked" universities either, since it's all about fit. Make a small list of universities you could be really happy at (which you already have) and put everything you can into it. You've got a decent spread here from the top 30. From there, it's a mixture of preparedness and luck.

Your best best would be to look through the newest literature. Look at both the authors and their sources, and figure out where those scholars are teaching.

My guess would be that it plays a bigger role for the Graduate School itself so they know with whom they're competing for applicants.

It certainly depends on the paper, but it's more important to demonstrate your ability to think critically, write well and conduct a research project. It would be helpful to have a paper in your field, but that's not always possible. If you feel up to it, feel free to PM me and you could send either your paper or excerpts and I could give you my honest opinion, for all that it's worth.

I would worry less about length and more about content. Does the letter achieve/explain/elaborate on the things the rest of your application doesn't? When it does, it's long enough. If that can be done in one page, great.

Preach!

It was my experience last admissions cycle that the professors in general are very interested in our success - academically and financially - regardless of where we end up. Which shouldn't have been a surprise, given my relationship with professors at the undergraduate level. But then, of course, it becomes professors vs. the graduate schools (because the latter, it seems, is considerably more concerned with numbers, whether that's a good or bad thing).

Out of curiosity, how many of these waivers are floating around each admissions cycle? On a less serious note, are they for sale?

Of course I've already shared my opinion, but what it comes down to is this: an American program will require you to use American spellings, as will most journals. It is trivial for all the reasons you've suggested, but you might be better off demonstrating your willingness to stick to convention in your SOP.