mattecon
-
Posts
40 -
Joined
Posts posted by mattecon
-
-
One last question on this, everyone.
I spent two semesters at one undergrad university, one abroad, and then the rest of the time at the university that granted my degree. When an application asks for undergrad GPA, should I aggregate them from all the universities or just put what is on my graduating transcript? The reason I ask is because aggregating helps my GPA, but also major-GPA would change as some of that coursework wasn't taken at my graduating institution, although the courses applied to that major.
-
Whoops, even tried searching. Thanks!
-
Hi all,
I thought it might be useful to have a PoliSci SoP specific thread.
Chris Blattman, a political scientist at Columbia who I quite like, has the following advice:
A word on personal statementsI must say a little more about personal statements, because they often miss the point, and this is unhelpful and even painful to admissions committees.
This is not an undergrad entry essay where you describe your life’s trails and tribulations. And please do not start with the story about an epiphany, such as the day that you knew you wanted to study the subject. Especially if it involves a child in a poor country. In my opinion, this is mostly irrelevant and largely cliche.
You are applying to be a professional researcher, and this is your cover letter. Personally, I like to see some of the following:
- Your fields of interest
- Who you would like to work with in the department and why this is a good fit
- Make sure they actually are there and take students–that is, that they didn’t leave last year, are actually in the department you are applying to, and are tenure-track or tenured
- Your career objective(s)
- Concrete research ideas (this seems to be more important in political science, which likes to see if you can develop an interesting research question and propose a way to answer it)
- Important highlights from your CV, including any strengths that distinguish you
- Only if necessary: Information that might help us understand any apparent weaknesses or puzzles in your application (e.g. why you studied physics but now are doing politics, or what happened in that single bad semester, or what your foreign GPA means)
I’m pretty sure other professors will have different preferences here, so don’t take this as law. I think we’d all agree, however, that we need to know whether you will fit into the department and with whom, and it’s helpful when you give your view.
Like he says, this isn't law. I thought it would be a useful framework for advice though.
What would you all add?
General Advice?
Other professor entries, specific to PoliSci?
Anyone have some good example SoPs that they'd share?
Such an important part of the app.
-
I work closely as an RA to the director of a prominent MA program in D.C. -- I can tell for us, it doesn't matter. They all get looked at in the same crammed window.
-
I second victorydance's remarks. Students with high GPA's may do better in admissions but it probably has a lot more to do with said GPA correlating with other indicators of performance and prospects shown in the applicant's file, not because of the intrinsic value of the GPA. Regardless, the myth continues.
That being said, I think that given the other dimensions of the OP's file s/he will do just fine.
That is reassuring, thank you -- although I'm still quite nervous (aren't we all?)
-
How I think the myth got perpetuated that you need perfect GPA scores to get into Ph.D. program is this:
In all likelihood, usually the best students and most competitive applicants will have great GPAs. I mean, if you are an excellent student it's not that hard to get a 3.8-4.0 GPA. Therefore, it's not that implausible to expect many top program admits to have stellar GPAs.
That being said, there are multitudes of reasons why someone could have a lower GPA. From personal reasons, to variance due to different marking standards, to being a lame-bloomer academically, to choosing the wrong major and switching.
I don't think admission committees really place much emphasis on GPAs because they are so varied and not uniform, and they also know that they are a terrible predictor of success in a graduate program. If your GPA is above 3.4, it really shouldn't "hurt" you if you have a good application. At the end of the day, they are going to make decisions between the last few applicants based on more tangible parts of your application, like writing samples, SOP, and LORs.
Thanks for this. I also suspected an endogenous effect with GPAs and admit students. Will try not to let it get to my head too much then!
-
I had a lower undergrad GPA than all of you mother fuckers and got into a top 5. Quit worrying.
Haha, that's what I like to hear! How did you make up for it cooperstreet, i.e., what were the strengths of your app, if you don't mind me asking?
I wouldn't take this advice too seriously. Yes, having a good GPA helps, but a 3.9 is not absolutely necessary. A good rest-of-the-application-packet can more than make up for a 3.4 or whatever.
Good to know. The reason I was asking is because you do get quite a bit of people saying what Miroslav said.
-
That's reassuring -- Yeah, I'm not sure how much of it is myth or truth, but you certainly do hear it a lot, even from poli scientists: http://chrisblattman.com/about/contact/gradschool/
Makes me nervy
-
Hi all,
I'm wondering to what degree a relatively lower undergrad GPA will hurt my chances of getting into a top ten PhD program.
I finished my undergrad with a 3.4, double major (in the liberal arts), and with special honors (in degree honors program/thesis) in three years (at the university of texas)
I'll be finishing my MA from a top ten school in d.c. with between a 3.8~3.9. Good GRE scores/ lots of RA experience/field research work, and good recs.My concern is that I've heard that admin committees are just looking for reasons to throw out your app, and my low undergrad seems like one of those reasons -- to what extent is this going to be a barrier for admissions into a top program? What are ways of mitigating it (other than good app in other categories) ie, do you mention it in your personal statement or...?
Much appreciated
-
Thanks victorydance.
Did you include a section for working papers and the likes? Also, are your sections in that order? I've seen research interests commonly placed under the contact information at the top of the cv.
-
Hi all,
Most applications require or recommend a CV. Any advice on how to model one (in social sciences in particular)? I've obviously peeked at the graduate students in the PhD programs I like, and there is quite a bit of variation. Any good websites or books that look to answer this question? Considering most of us do not have enough academic experience to fill up tons of pages - what and how much do we expound on? How have ya'll chosen to order your sections, include, etc..
Thanks for the help
-
mh3, thankfully I can help you on this one. I went to an American university for undergrad and finished with a 3.6 (below the stated cutoff for Oxford/Cambridge, like you said). That said, I got accepted at Cambridge last cycle, so it appears that they have some leeway on GPA issues.
Thanks NYC, that's good to hear. Any tips for what you think made up for the difference?
Maybe see you at Cambridge in a year haha
-
I'm sure that the Masters GPA will compensate to a certain extent. What are you publications? If they're in peer reviewed academic journals then that would be a massive positive.
You say you didn't do a thesis for your Masters, but was there any substantive research training? If not you will need to apply for the Masters of Research for all degrees in the UK as the PhD has no coursework. Although some scholarships will cover both Masters of Research and PhD (contingent on grades).
Thanks for the response. Yep, peer reviewed - although they are both coauthored with a professor. I know the Masters degree GPA will help me in the states, but the reason I'm worried about England is because they have stipulations like this one, from Cambridge Politics:
- 1st class undergraduate degree from a UK university or equivalent/GPA of at least 3.85 or equivalent from a non-UK University
- A Masters Degree in a relevant subject, with a mark equivalent to a distinction/ GPA of at least 3.85 or equivalent from a non-UK University
- Two academic references
They make it seem that it is a requirement that disqualifies.
I have held three research assistantships for professors, and one job that was qualitative surveying. But my formal graduate course work in research is just quantitative methods, qualitative methods, and GIS training. I still have two semesters though, any recommendations on coursework to try and get in my Masters?
I think because of the lack of coursework in the PhDs I would actually prefer to do Masters of Research (if I can get it covered haha).
Any advice on what UK or European schools find attractive in applications?
Thanks again
-
Hi All,
I have some questions concerning PhD program applications at schools like Oxford and Cambridge. Namely, how stringent is the requirement that they have on their websites that applicants must have at least a 3.85 undergrad GPA when coming from an American school? I graduated with special honors/undergrad thesis, but my undergrad GPA was a 3.4. By the time of application, I will also have a Masters degree with a GPA of 3.9 from a top US school. Should I even bother applying because of the undergrad stipulation they note on the requirements?
Also, my Masters program requires a capstone practicum and not a Masters Thesis. I do have a couple publications, though. Would it make more sense to apply, for example at Oxford, for their Msc Research Degree and look to transition into the DPhil, or just apply straight to the DPhil? Note, some programs do not have that option (Cambridge doesn't, LSC does etc).
Last, aside from schools in England, I'm quite keen on the Graduate Institute at Geneva. Is there anything that European schools prefer to see in applications that differs from American programs?
Would appreciate any and all advice. I'm applying in this upcoming cycle, to both some American and European programs - but I'm finding it more difficult to get good info on European apps and such.
Thanks!
Making Up for a Low Undergrad GPA (?)
in Political Science Forum
Posted
Yes they did. But in the American system, when you transfer between universities, although a course may go to the degree, your GPA begins anew.
When applying for my Masters, I was only allowed to submit one GPA, and I put what was on my graduating transcript. And yep, will need to send all transcripts.