SuddenlyParanoid

I was told it was 29.

I actually used "since I was a kid" to explain not being involved in poli sci much until the end of my sophomore year and to show that I understood a phD was all about research. I redacted a few details but the structure is completely the same. Hope this helps future applicants. Here it is: Evenas a child I was interested in politics. My parents, fierce partisans,encouraged this, and any movements in the latest presidential approval ratingswere discussed at the dinner table. However, it was not until I was a sophomorein college that I understood the difference between keeping up with currentevents and actual research in political science. Although I did not completelylose my interest in the horse-race side of politics, political science began tofascinate me. I found both the substantive issues explored and the challenge ofinferring causal relationships from natural experiments and observational datadeeply engaging, which drew me deeper into a field where large-scale randomizedexperiments are often unfeasible. Myinterests led me to seek out multiple research opportunities at myundergraduate institution. I worked as a research assistant for Letter Writer 1 atthe University of My Undergrad Center for the Study Related topic, andassisted him in his work on topic, topic, and topic. This provided me with experience in collecting and generating data, aswell as greater exposure to formal theory. Myprimary research interests are American political institutions, especiallyCongress, legislator-constituent relationships, and the effects of electoralinstitution on legislator behavior. My senior honors thesis combines several ofthese substantive interests as well as my interest in inferring causalrelationships from natural experiments. My senior honors thesis, advised by Letter Writer 2, examines the effects of independent variable on the dependent variable. I make use of the natural experiment to provide an exogenous source of changein independent variable and compare change in treatment group to change in control group. To deal with thepotential selection bias in my paper, I use propensity score matching to select control group. Mypolitical science undergraduate courses have introduced and grounded me inscholarly work across a broad range of topics from political parties and votingsystems, to political modeling and political communication. Additionally, Ihave a major in economics. Course work in that major, my work with Letter Writer 1,and a game theory class taught by Letter Writer 3, also spurred a newfound interestin formal theory. Although I plan to pursue American politics as my majorsubfield in graduate school, I do hope to pursue further training in formaltheory. I am attracted to Stanford because of the quality of the faculty inAmerican politics and the opportunity it gives me to receive training in formaltheory, both inside the department and through Stanford GSB. Professors I aminterested in working with are, among others, faculty member and other faculty member. Uponthe completion of my Ph.D., I plan study American politics at aresearch-oriented university. I hope to both conduct research and teachundergraduate and graduate-level courses.

I have turned down OSU, Duke, WashU, and UCSD. I will post here as soon as I make future decisions. Best wishes to everyone!

Given your interests, I suggest FSU and MSU. They're not top 25 but they're pretty decent.

Thanks guys. I just wanted to say that I'm really glad this forum exists! It made the waiting from December 1 to February a lot easier.

In at Harvard. 29 students admitted. Good luck to everyone!

I'll post as soon as I'm sure about Columbia and Rochester. Good luck everyone!

I also am in complete agreement with this. No word from Harvard.

Mine was sent to my subfield: American.

In at UCLA but I didn't add it to the Results Search yet. Via email.

According to their website some do reach academia but they don't give numbers of those who fail too. You could probably write to the DGS and ask directly about placement. http://www.polsci.ucsb.edu/content/view/223/188/

I got it half an hour ago so there spread out a bit.

That's just... fantastic!

Email from DGS. Said it was my "unofficial" notification.

In at Columbia. Good luck to those waiting!

Ask them if you can take the AP Microeconomics Test. If you can just check out some textbooks from a library and take it at a local high school.

In at Yale.

Same here. Hopefully, we'll find out later this week.

If I get into Harvard, it will be a contender too. I assume I will recognize Oxon by his accent. Or did you lose it during undergrad?

I'm probably leaning towards Stanford at the moment but am still considering Michigan, UCSD, Berkeley, Princeton, and Rochester. Very hard decision.

That's fantastic! Are you still going to visit Stanford or is out?

Mass email, just personalized by name.

In at Princeton!!!

Ivy League! Congratulations!

Mine also has nothing.