cooperstreet

Yes, you should have concrete research ideas, but not a dissertation proposal.

You don't need to do this. In fact, you shouldn't do this.

I have your answers: Yes. In a variety of ways. Maybe. In all seriousness, this isn't a homework help line. if you have specific questions or need places to start in the literature, we can do that.

you have a chance. research experience will help. It seems though that you don't want to study political science, but want one of those professional degree thingies like SIPA, SAIS, and SFS. There's forum for that and this isn't it.

This is actually really useful advice. Political science != politics. No.

So half of those applicants can be tossed out because they are morons or don't have everything in on time or don't even meet the application requirements or barely speak english. The rough rule, and I could be mistaken on this, is that they admit about twice as many people as they intend to enroll. So let's say there are about 200 actually reasonable applications, and they send out offers for the MA program to about 60 people. That's not insanely competitive. Give it a shot!

yes. institution matters

who knows. it will help, marginally, not at all, or a lot. totally depends on the adcom. The only slam dunks for 'this will help a lot' are publications in peer-reviewed respected journals in your field. But that is exceedingly rare.

I had a lower undergrad GPA than all of you mother fuckers and got into a top 5. Quit worrying.

FWIW I am having trouble parsing what you are saying. So be sure to have a lot of native English speakers read your SOP.

Even if they dont' require the GRE, they will require the TOEFL right?

Maybe the question is, did you apply to places that have people who study constructivist political economy?

probably because US degrees matter a whole lot more? that's my guess. Anyway, no one knows what your chances are.However if you are publishing two books (more than most newly tenured profs!) then I think you're fine?

Research Interests: AP/IR (mixed quant/qual methods) - U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, domestic incentives in foreign policy decision-making processes (particularly military aid appropriations) watch out in your sop of being too regionally focused in IR.

I've heard, from at least one school, that theory is the hardest subfield. But then again its theory. Also, top programs are full of top people. But if you're applying to a mid-tier program that has a couple of heavy hitters in IR, IR is most likely going to be a difficult subfield for that school.

No. I had a 4.

dont worry about coursework/electives/whatever. Most IR people will take the CP field surveys, and vice versa. once youre in youre in, and you get let your interests/faculty relationships/research drive your course selection.

Secondly, are my assumptions about the differences between IR and CP accurate? From what I understand, IR involves a lot of theory on IR itself, and CP focuses more on the practical comparison of two entities to draw conclusions. No, at least in the US. Good empirical work in both IR and CP will be in conversation with broader theoretical debates in their respective subfields. Your interests line up more with CP, IMO. Read scholars. See where they study. Those are the programs you should be looking at. PS Georgetown doesn't fund every student. Also one of their main profs and a brilliant IR theorist in his own right, Dan Nexon, appears on this board from time to time.

I guess you are talking about scientific journals, like nature or science for natural sciences? Can you recommend some to me? I would be very interested in taking a look at a few articles. American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, International Organization, Journal of Politics, to name a few.

"Also i am really interested in knowing more about the fundamentals of political systems, economics, international relations, philosophy and everything that merges together to form our day to day politics. I also want to be able to evaluate current political affairs mainly on my own, without the need to rely on the analyisis of others." heh. Not sure if poli sci is for you then. . It seems like you're leaning towards the policy side of things? I think the first course of action is to start reading some poli sci articles in prominent journals to get a good idea of what the research looks like and the questions asked.

Columbia. Johannes Urpalainen is into this stuff.

wrong forum

there is no consensus except for higher =better

1) Yes. Yes.

To build on javorization, your biggest hurdle may be formulating an SOP with clear and relevant and interesting research goals if you have no exposure to political science. More importantly, why political science? What interests you? What do you want to study? What methods? Questions? Whose research do you like enjoy want to emulate?