buckinghamubadger

Also I'm anticipating letters of rec from one well known professor from my undergrad and two from professors in my grad program

Okay, so I think I'm going to aim for top 20-25 programs (I'm looking at placement record rather than rank, see Oprisko, Dobbs and DiGrazia, 2013). I am leaning towards American, but also have an interest in Comparative. I'm trying to figure out what programs would be a good fit. I'm concerned obviously with my studies, but also with their placement record, financial support and it be nice to transfer some of my MA credits. Here is my profile: In Progress MA 3.8 GPA (hoping to get up to 3.9) BA from a top 10-15 program: 3.1 and 3.4 in major (but my second half was much stronger: 3.5, 3.8 in major) 5 Classes TAed (two of which are with a very prestigious moot court program) 1 class taught as a Supplamental Instructor 1 lecturing internship at a community college 4 conference presentations (hopefully more by the time I apply) 3 manuscripts that I am trying to publish 1 year as an intern in the state legislature 1 semester as a research assistant I've also worked on 3 camapaigns I have not taken the GRE yet, but based on my SAT/ACT scores, my current projection is 165 on math and 157 on English

In conversations with one of my professors in my masters program, he said that GRE percentiles roughly correlate with SAT percentiles. Based on this, I should be in the 82nd to 84th percentile. My math scores are much better than my english. I was in the 89th on the SAT, and the 95th on the ACT, which indicates that I should get in the 165 to 168 range. I was in the 69th in English on the SAT, indicating that I should get about 157. I'm shooting for a top 20 program if not top 10. Are these good goals or should I try to raise the bar a bit on English? Obviously I'm still going to rigorously prepare.

Thank you so much!

Also, I haven't sent any papers out, I'm finishing up the drafting stage this summer, but one has major findings that should make it publishable.

I am interested in a very wide variety of things, but as far as specific topics go, I am probably most interested in race, elections and constitutional law. For my MA I am an American major, Comparative minor, my undergrad was heavy in American and Theory (and even though my GPA might not show it, I actually got a lot out of it). So all things considered, American will probably be my major, and I'd be open to minor in any of the other traditional subfields, though IR is probably where I have the least educational background (not that I don't like it, but that's just the way things have shaped out). I don't want to minor in research methods, because, the way I see it, that's not political science.

I also have some work experience in politics and a tiny bit of research experience as an undergrad that shouldn't matter too much, but might

The placement at top programs is just so much better than lower tiered ones that it isn't worth it. If you can get in to top 20 programs, go.

The one piece of advice I'd have for you as an MA student is this: if you do your MA, do it at a program that also has a PhD, so if you so chose, you can continue your studies there without losing anything. I did not do that, and there is a good chance that if I chose to go on to do a PhD, I will effectively have to do my entire masters over again, which I might do, but I'd be much more inclined to do the PhD if I could just start working on my disertation. The fatigue factor is real.

I am currently entering my second year of a Masters program in Political Science, and I am debating whether or not to do the PhD. I keep going back and forth on the subject. On the one hand, I love academia, beoming a tenured professor at a university is my dream job and I know that I am qualified to do it, and that I could be a good talent for whichever school gave me the opportunity to teach and research. On the other, graduate school is quite taxing, I am unsure of what types of schools I could get in to, it is far from certain that I would be able to obtain an academic job, and its another five years of my life. I am also considering trying to get a teaching job at a community college after graduating or, if that fails, attempting to go into policy work. My acadmic resume could probably get me into a program that is at least decent. A professor at a conference I presented at, at a mid teir UC, seemed interested in me. Here is my resume to this point BA from a top poli sci program: 3.1 overall, 3.4 in major, but my second half was much stronger: 3.5 overall, 3.8 in major. MA in progress at a decent lower tiered school: 3.8 GPA to this point. I would be able to get letters of rec from famous professors at my undergrad and would also be able to get very strong letters from professors in my Masters program. I have no idea what I would get on the GRE. I have two confrence presentations under my belt, and will likely present at more confrences. I am working on three papers for publication this summer. I know that at least one of them has a very strong chance. The other two, I am not as sure. I also have teaching experience that may or may not be relevant to PhD programs, but would certainly be relevant to community colleges. I taught a class last semester, and am currently a TA. I am also currently a TA at the community college level, and may get some classroom experience there as well. So my questions, I suppose, are simple: what kind of programs could I get into? I know my undergrad GPA was low, but the rest of my resume is strong. Do I have enough there to get into top programs such as Stanford, UChicago, Michigan, ect.? Or would I more likely end up at a midteir program like Arizona, LSU, Michigan State ect.? Or would I maybe even have to settle for lower tiered programs like Buffalo, Missouri- St. Louis, Hawaii, ect.? I love political science more than anyone, but is the fact that I find graduate school taxing (as much as I love it) a troubling sign if I intend to get a PhD? Would it even be worth it for me to assume the risk of going through a PhD program that may not improving my job prospects when I seem to have a good chance at getting a community college job? Is everyone in our whole field just screwed? If you've made it to here, thanks for reading, and I would really appreciate your advice.

Is there somewhere I can find a list of them? Otherwise I think it would be valuable to compile one. I found 5 additional programs MIT University of Minnesota NYU Notre Dame Washington University in St. Louis (WashU)

I am getting an MA in political science and may want to go on to get a PhD depending on my job prospects after the MA. If I do cost will be a huge factor in my decision, and I would be extremely greatful for a list of fully funded programs, or just knowledge that you have of particular programs that are fully funded. So far I know of three: Stanford George Washington USC

Oh and they did not ask for GRE Scores, haven't taken it and don't plan on it.

So I'm applying to Masters in political science programs to teach either at a prep school or community college. I'm applying to long beach state because the program seems like a good fit, but I'm wondering if I'm a shoe in or if I should apply somewhere else in case of rejection. I graduated with a 3.1 (3.4 in political science) from a top public university, and a top 15 poli sci program. While my GPA was low, I graduated in three years and in my second half of college I got a 3.5 overall and a 3.8 in major. I also took a graduate class and got an AB (3.5) in it and have limited research experience. I have work experience. I worked on a campaign and interned on another campaign and in a state legislature. Just wondering if I need to apply somewhere else (Cal State Fullerton)