jeudepaume

1) I second Nords. I worked a lot on my research interests, fit, and my statement. This time I applied only to (a limited number of) schools that were absolutely appropriate to my research question and approach. Each of them I found by looking up where people whose work I like currently work, but I also made sure that those programs had other attractive resources (e.g. interdisciplinary certificates). I made sure to clearly explain my interest in the faculty and additional resources of the program in my statement. 2) I reworked my statement. Last year I had it more biographical, talking mostly about my qualifications, past research, and career plans (and just broadly stating my intended research area). This year I focused on my research problem. 35% of my statement was a description of my intended dissertation; 40% were talking about why I am qualified to write it (description of my Master's thesis, previous research and training), and the rest 25% explained my fit with the department. 3) I actually contacted my potential advisers this year. I generally feel awkward about it, but I discovered that asking whether they accept students for the next year and whether they would be interested in supervising your research is not such a bad idea. First, you may discover they do not/would not—then it might spare you from wasting your resources and time in vain. Second, you may find some of these interactions quite useful and encouraging. 4) I researched the process of application a lot. I talked to my professors in much more detail about the process, departments I want to apply to and people I want to work with. But even more than that I googled. You'd be surprised what you may find if you just google "successful PhD statement political science" or something like that. I discovered Berkeley, Ivy League universities and other good schools have a lot of tips and information on what a good statement should like, and how to approach your application. It was very useful for me to find specific examples of successful statements in (more or less) my subfield (not a lot of qualitative research statements here on grad cafe), and see how other people structure their narratives. 5) I don't know how relevant this is, but I also significantly improved my GRE. (not the AW part though; this one I will never comprehend) P.S. I'm not sure how useful I can be, but if anybody has any specific question, PM me. I'll be glad to help if I can.

I'm afraid I'm still not clear on what you're saying ) To me "top-5", "top-10", and all that, are essentially (and defined by some sort of) rankings, aren't they?

Oh right, I remember last year I emailed them in March to find out what was going on.

Congratulations! I couldn't imagine keeping the courage for so long; I'd probably despair much earlier.

Wait, well how do you define what's a "top program" then?

Btw, I have a question for you guys, what do you think is more important: general political science rankings or subfield rankings? Assuming the two are significantly different. I realize rankings is not the only factor, but still.

Congrats to Columbia admits! Finally! geeeez

Dammit. Chicago, have the decency to reject your applicants. Yale/Columbia, stop acting like a teenage girl and make a choice. P.S. no offense to teenage girls.

It is indeed strange. If the student in question was offered funding, withdrawing his/her admission before Apr 15th would be a violation of the resolution, given they cannot keep the funding offer without the admission offer.

Pretty much. I guess the opportunity to start from the year one is another advantage. No problem with joining later though.

Yes, they confirm this information on the main page of the interdisciplinary cluster initiative; you can apply to join any cluster pretty much every year (except for the last two I think—to ensure that you have time to fulfill the cluster requirements).

Thank you IRToni, both are very insightful contributions.

This is quite an interesting question for me too. How to do it though? I wouldn't have the first idea about how and with whom to approach this question. Does anybody here have a successful experience of doing it?

All the graduate schools in the US—important specification These schools to be precise: https://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CGS_Resolution.pdf

I get a 404 error on some of them. Is that some sort of access problem?

"honey badger just don't care"

True, and as far as I understand it they do it every year. So we have years of consistent poor rejection handling. Really tells something about the department in my view.

So confusing )

I so did not expect you to be a girl, that at first I thought it was a Scottish school or something. )))

I wanna increase my size. where can I click?

Odd result posted for Columbia. So no news so far, but one email about an application for additional funding.

P.S. Love your signature; feel very much like this deer for the past year.

Did you receive your financial terms? It wasn't stated anywhere else, but there. But in any case, it is certainly worth asking.

Thanks zudei! I was also interested in this question.

I applied to their Critical Theory Cluster; received a response from them together with the general PS application. Also looked at the CHSS Cluster; it seems very interesting. Good luck with your application, hope you receive good news from them.