YoungR3b3l

With all due respect, but giving this highness & blessing to the GRE is a little too far. You do recognize the fact that the vast majority (If not all) the international top universities in the world (except the US) do not ask for the GRE? That deplorable test is only required in the US, Other Top universities outside the US do not require what a medium grad school in the US requires, does that make the Top school better? For instance, University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge (UK) are top schools just as top as Harvard & Yale in the US. Both do no require a GRE, how shameful that thing would make them look? US schools should be atleast independent and start re-establishing new standardized requirements instead of the "Applicants should take a GRE" cliche.

Hello guys As international applicants, we hear the topic statement quite often. Having money makes it more easier to have to you admitted into some grad schools. Now im not talking about top 10 schools in the US, nor the worst ones. I mean the average/good ones. If you have the money, whether it is a personal funding from parents or whoever, or its via a scholarship from your countrys government, your chances of admission is expanded. I remember one of a faculty members who earned his PhD from Syracuse university in political science told me an advice when applying, which was that showing the university im applying to a financial paper statement from the government would give my application more weight. Now I know that no1 can get into a grad school with 0 money or without providing a financial statement if he wasnt asking for a scholarship from the university itself, but Im talking about admitting here. Another case is a friend of mine applied to Ball State University via a third party, he got a rejection. He was told from the office (third party) is that the rejection was due to low test scores and having a scholarship would've had him admitted conditionally. I know it may sound illogical, but things arent ideal as we may think. Does having a "fat budget" can be correlated into a higher chances of admitting? As international applicants, we hear this ALOT. Thoughts would be appreciated.

I understand the confusion, the reasons behind applying to another MA in political science are various such as: 1- Although the Masters program at Kuwait University Graduate college in political science is good with faculty members graduated from US schools like Tufts university, U of Pittsburgh, Texas austin, Boston college and more. I do think that a degree from the origins of political science (US) is more reputable and beneficial in terms or academia. 2- My low GRE scores would make it hard for me to make it directly to a PhD program, as PhD placements and admissions are quite known for its highly competitve applicants due to low available placements. 3- my scholarship asks me to obtain an acceptance in a short time frame otherwise I will loose my chance to apply for the scholarship, the most flexible way is to apply for another MA. 4- I want to spend time more in the states, for intellectual, social and academic If I may say. 5- presumably and supposedly, applying to a second MA with having a one already, would expand the oppurtunities of being atleast competitive. As I had a stellar academic experience in the graduate level and proven that I am ready.

Theres no absolute yes or no to that question. In my perspective, I see that if your application in a specific school isnt very strong, the likelihood of contacting a faculty member to show your interests in their research, if it didnt benefit you, it wont hurt. For international applicants, almost everyone i know who is in a grad school of political science, without their in touch and contact with program faculty members, the chances of them being admitted wouldve been weak and minimal. So it really depends on some cases yes Id say its a must, in some cases it wont hurt, in some cases its almost needless.

Greetings I'll be applying to several universities into the MA program of Political Science. Note that I will be entirely funded by a governmental scholarship in my country. First my qualifications briefly are: -BA in Political Science -GPA 3.53 -Major GPA 3.42 -I hold a Masters degree of political science too, my MA GPA is 3.47 -Two published essays -Worked with my thesis advisor in several professional academic work related to political science, by the way, my thesis advisor worked for the UN for 7 years and well known in the International Organizations & Human rights community globally. -Work experience is minimal, 6 months. -Two intensive workshops regarding Civil society, youth & International organizations. - Stellar Statement of Purpose and 5 Strong letters of recommendations from political science professors. -several extracurricular activies like about to publish two books in comparative politics. -Extra classes attendance to expand my knowledge in political science. -the weakest point in my application is my GRE scores, which are very low. However, i dont have time to study, plus I hope my overall application compensate the low scores. Plus, i dont think that the GRE represents my skills and performance in quant and verbal methods, which is another subject that I have addressed yesterday in another topic. The subfields that I am interested in are mainly Comparative politics, IR, Human rights, NGO's/GO's. Im considering to apply to the following Political science MA programs at: 1- Arizona State University 2-Uni. Of Cincinnati - Ohio 3- West Virginia University 4- Uni. Of Tennessee - Knoxville 5- Uni. Of Nebraska - Lincoln 6- Uni. Of Connecticut 7- Uni. Of Arizona Tucson 8- Uni. Of Utah - Salt lake city 7- Uni, of Illinois - Chicago 8- Uni. Of South Carolina - Columbia 9- Louisiana State Uni. 10- Michigan State Uni 11- Uni. Of Ketucky Based on your experiences and knowledge, considering my overall brief of the application, what are my chances with the stated schools? Is it tough to be admitted? Normal chances or weak chances? Quick note, im an international prospective student. Opinions would be gratefully appreciated.

-Most political science programs are fine with 150 range in Quants, so no need for a 155 and how do I expect, actually, there are two answers for your statements regarding regrrsson analysis or formal theory: 1- All grad studies include such classes to teach grad students the statistical academic methods to imply on their researches. 2- There are variety types of researches that does Not necessarily include any sort of mathematic numbers. And IF we presumaly would claim such thing, nothing wrong with studying a "specific part of mathematical analysis" to be included in the research. 3- I am actually interested in Pol. Philosophy & theory. Comparative politics also wont necessarily need such quant. Skills, it mostly depends on what type of a research you "prefer" no one is forced to imply quant methods in their papers unless they want to. 4- Appreciate your remark on algebra, however, it is like you're saying that Agricultural studies should have philosophy classes, as philosophy is the "mother of science". It sounds logical, but not all logical things can be accurate in all situations. I never needed algebra in my undergrad or grad papers, the only methods ive used is regular statistics quant methods. In addition, I didnt ask for an overestimation of a GPA i know undergrad institutions vary by rankings a 3.20 from a Yale alumni can be equivalent to a 3.70 from The New School of Social Sciences at New York for example, however I didnt restrict the evaluation of an applicant with the GPA solely, ive mentioned other points you can read them well. It is an overall process to evaluate, the logic behind equality in GRE testing to applicants to judge and dump a qualified ones because of poor scores sounds harsh. The GRE is overrated, overestimated & is an oppressive representer to reject applicants.

Greetings everyone Sorry, but yes. As i have stated in the topic. Trust me, Its not that my once and only time that Ive took GRE my scores were very low. I dont mind having low scores in somethings I almost wont be dealing with (Graduate studies in Political Science) actuallt, it is more than normal to get low scores with such an exam, specially if it had nothing to do with either common knowledge nor the major itself. Heres why I think the GRE should is a Bad indicator of prospective students performance: 1- The Quant. Part of the exam isnt hard as many claim, however, since my major is among arts & humanities, why do I have to deal with such quant. Methods? If someone claims "you will do quant methods in statistics in your grad studies" im sorry to tell that I am already a grad student, took two statistics in social sciences & research scored B+ in both classes at the graduate level. And almost nothing in those classes were included in the exam, only very minimal type of questions. What has algebra and geometry to do with social sciences quantitave research methods for Gods sake? 2- we all took math classes during highschool and almost all the educational levels throughout our lives, why atleast the highschool grades of math dont be asked for to indicate how we perfom & comprehend math? 3- the verbal part is very confusing for many. We as prospective international students are actually non native english speakers, however it doesnt mean we dont know how to handle a good academic writing skills, the verbal part of the exam includes many words that I almost had never knew they existed. By the way my score in the IELTS is 7.0 which is equivalent to about 100 in TOEFL IBT. So it is very confusing to evaluate my english as a language knowledge from a the verbal part on the GRE. As non native speakers, no matter how well and great we may score in the verbal part, we will use the dictionary many times often, which is not a negative thing. 4- Why most US Grad. Colleges ask for the GRE? Why arent the TOEFL/IELTS arent enough? I know that both tests tend to examine different types of things, however the GRE is frustrating, I do not think it represents how will I do in english at all. If I didnt know the word, why is that a bad thing? 5- I may accept the fact that GRE being used in Tier 1 prestigious universities to dump many applications they receive, however why many colleges are following their approach? I think its illogical to imitate someones motives despite the differences between both situations. 6- GRE plays a huge role in admitting grad prospective students. Why is a 4 hours exam overweighs a 4 years undergrad GPA, years of extracurricular activities , additional graduate classes in prior colleges and a satisfying score of TOEFL/IELTS? Id like to conclude that the GRE is a shameful test to evaluate how distinct an applicant is. Its great to see many score very well in GRE, in fact, many of them are actually native english speakers. Give me an Arabic version of the GRE, I swear to God Id score atleast 169/170 in the verbal part which puts me in the 90% percentile easily. International applicants should be considered with less GRE score restrictions, actually some universities do that like Boston uni. & North Carolina Chapel Hill. But I hope the others understand that fact. I havent wrote those words as im mad of my low scores. Im actually proud, because I know that test should be removed as a strict requirement to admit or reject applicants, My application without it is good, why an illogical test demolishes my chances? I really hope that most of universities either dont require it, or make it an optional thing to add to your application, at least with the social sciences. Thoughts would be appreciated,

TakeruK Thanks for your clarifications. I tend to believe that no. 1 is more accurate, which is I have been recommended from the dept committee however I didnt meet the graduate college GRE minimum. I came with this conclusion after Ive found out personally and randomly on their website that there is a minimum GRE score, however for the past couple of days ive been searching for that page that Ive found i couldnt find it!! Did they change their requirements? Am I not searching well? Am I wrong initially when I saw the minimum GRE scores? I dont know. Lifesaver: Well, im almost forced to apply to specific universities for scholarship matters..

Hello everyone So I have applied to the university of South Carolina the Graduate college specifically in Political science/International studies program in addition I have fulfilled the requested requirement. I have experienced a weird situation regarding my Decision which was a Rejection, my concerns were not with the rejection as much as I have experienced the following things: I almost daily log into my Check application status account, and there are usually two notifying things:1- The application status 2- Decision. both parts were followed by "Pending". which is okay. Here goes the weird thing, Before two days I have logged into the Application status account, and the Application Status part contained a sentence with the following meaning '' The Program has reviewed and recommended admission to your application, your application is now back to the Graduate school for a decision '' However, the 'Decision' below was still ''Pending'' .. So I had mixed feelings, fear and excitement. I wasn't quite sure why the Decision was pending Since the program has requested a recommendation of admission, hence I was kind of suspecious of the decision. In case of misunderstanding, I have a friend who studies MA at North Carolina, Chapel Hill to look at my Application Status Previous statement, he can tell me what it was meant to be, and yes, we both concluded to the same idea: The program recommended me an admission, and I am waiting for the Graduate school decision. I was quite optimistic but also afraid, guess what then? At the same day I receive a decision from the graduate college to Regretting of informing me of a decline !! I'm quite shocked. What was going on guys ? How can a program recommends someone and the graduate school rejects? Did I misunderstand something or have something missed? Is it possible to recommend an applicant from the program then the graduate school declines it? Please let me know if you have any information regarding such cases, and what procedures shall I do further ? Thanks and sorry for the prolonged topic.