TakeMyCoffeeBlack

This is true, but if you're the best candidate with the best fit but applying to schools 20 ranks ahead, that doesn't mean they won't admit you. After all, not even they know whether you'll be admitted to Ivy University X.
 
The two most obvious reasons (which you can find on graduate school websites are):
 
1.) For the graduate school to determine with whom they cluster
2.) So that they can gather statistical evidence determining how many "also applying to Ivy U XYZ" applicants they need to admit in order to get their target class (this second one is Notre Dame's justification)

Since this is round 2 for me, I can't help but feel this is also the last round for a while, whether I get in or not... I can only change so much between March 2014 and application season 2014.
 
Unless there's been a specific format, I've been using a header that goes:
 
FIRST LAST (name) | UNIVERSITY ... | Ph.D. Political Science (or Government)

Best bet is to shoot the programs an e-mail (better yet, professors at the program). There's a chance that English/Humanities programs might not look at Q scores at all.

Yes, but be sure to consider then what's changing in this app cycle that could improve your overall profile. If not the LORs, then maybe the GRE score? Research experience? It's possible you could get in with the exact same application, but do you want to take that risk? If you're confident that your original LORs were good and that you can improve in other ways, then go for it!

That's probably true for students coming from regional LACs too. Thanks for sharing.

I think I'm going to take the dive today and finally start submitting apps (that weren't due already because of recommendation requirements). I'm afraid if I sit on it any longer, I'll just keep editing my statements until they're jagged and make no sense... Of course the problem is (and I'm sure you'll all understand), the SOPs are really the only thing we have 100% control over at this point, so it's scary to give up that sense of control over the future.

I was also wondering if the faculty could offer a perspective on addressing "fit" in the SOPs. Namely, to what extent should we be very specific in both naming professors and identifying their past research (I'm trying to identify that line between fit and sucking up)?

I never got it below 700 words, and final submission was closer to 800. But I seriously cut all the sucking up, flowery wording - which actually made for a better worded SOP (which has already helped my others). Short answer, no.

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

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

I don't think your GRE scores will play a role in keeping you out of anywhere. I think it's up to the rest of your application with the scores you've got there. I'm certainly jealous.

Megan, es gibt keine Garantie, dass ein PhD dir die Möglichkeit geben würde, die deutsche Sprache zu beherrschen. Der Schwerpunkt des "Doktortitels" (mindestens in den USA) ist Forschung, nicht Sprachkompetenz (das gilt nur als notwendig in Bezug auf die Forshungsmöglichkeiten). Es wäre auf jeden Fall besser, dich nach Deutschland oder Österreich einzuziehen, oder vielleicht ein Masters zu machen, das um die Sprache und Literatur geht. 

Healthcare.gov haha

Out of curiosity.. single spaced or double?

Interesting perspective. And at times CP is just IR with state/regional comparisons. And sometimes CP, AP and IR are just PT in practice. I guess that's why in the end we all study PS...

Could work. Why not "I would like to pursue a Ph.D. in X at University Y exploring [topics] A, B and C." And elaborate from there. You can get creative in how you describe your research interests and background, but you don't want the committee getting caught up in an opening paragraph that is taking up space more than selling you to them.

Healthcare.gov haha

I'm going to drift out of my lane for a bit to throw in two cents.
 
I work for an engineering consultancy.  Among our clients are colleges and universities. Many (read: most) of these institutions bench mark themselves against comparable institutions. This academic eyeballing is a way of keeping up with the Joneses although what is being compared doesn't always make sense to outsiders. From this practice, I'm inclined to believe questions like "Where else are you applying?" is a form of marketing research and not a cause for alarm. (For those of you who gain admission to schools that ask such questions, you could let the Powers That Be know the questions freak out applicants.)
 
IRT the specific situation framed by the OP, I ask, why not list the schools alphabetically, either by school name or by city/state?
 
@Loric, you've been in a bit of a tailspin the last week or so. How about giving yourself a break, cooling off for a while, and coming back strong when you've got it together again? (At the very least, stop digging yourself deeper into the holes you've started and stop giving guidance on matters that are beyond your expertise and your experience.)

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.

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.

Interesting perspective. And at times CP is just IR with state/regional comparisons. And sometimes CP, AP and IR are just PT in practice. I guess that's why in the end we all study PS...

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

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 ().

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.

+1
 
And lol poli sci job rumors...