pdrickert

It's not weighting, just a +/- system. without the pluses, It's a 4.0 in both majors and a 3.9 overall (One B in honors calculus being the lone blemish). Thank you all for the help with the number of schools to apply to. Do any of you have any idea how getting my undergrad in 2 years would affect me?

Hi, I'm new to this whole thing, so please forgive any ignorance. I do have a few questions though. I am interested in a PhD program in American diplomatic and political history, specifically the Early Republican period. I have decided for certain that I will apply to William and Mary, Princeton, and Penn, but I am still trying to find other programs and open to suggestions. Also, I have a 3.99 undergrad GPA at the University of Alabama, double majoring in history and political science with a 4.0 in History and a 4.165 in political science, am writing a senior thesis on partisan journalism and the formation of political parties, and have at least two professors who would write strong recommendations, both of whom have guided me with independent research projects. However, a combination of good planning, a lot of credit by examination given by Bama, and a bit of luck, I am graduating in two years, rather than four. I was wondering if you felt this would help or hurt me. I am still completing the upper level requirements for the degree and doing well, so hopefully that would prove that I am capable of graduate work. Also, how many schools is good to apply to? I understand that it has a lot to do with how much you are willing to spend on application fees, etc, but I am terrified of being accepted nowhere. What are your thoughts on sort of "safety schools?" Thanks in advance.