Hi all,
I'm a undergrad junior studying political science with a research interest in campaigns and elections, public opinion, and voting behavior.
My goal is to pursue a PhD in political science. I have a few options, and I'm looking for suggestions on the best way to get there.
1. My school offers a BA/MA. I would apply/enroll for a PhD.
2. Get a BA in political science and apply/enroll from there for a PhD. Get the MA along the way.
My main question is funding. For the BA/MA, my department offers merit awards (combo of study grants and assistantships) for full-time students in the MA program. This could help my application with better LORs and a more narrowed research focus. If I went the other route, my question is whether or not not students enrolling without a MA can still get solid funding for the years it will take to get the MA as well.
Note that my undergrad GPA, if I stay on this track, will be a 3.81 or so.
Any advice you can offer is a plus. Thanks!