Determinedandnervous

What would you say is a GRE score that makes you competitive for top programs? Or middling programs?

How is it for the party/electoral aspect of Canadian politics? I'm applying to McGill (also from the US) for their Masters and I see several people I would like to work with.

I wouldn't worry about the finishing your bachelor's degree early part counting against you. I'm finishing my degree a year early as well, and I've been told that it has little effect either way. With your experience in mind, you are definitely in the running for top programs, so definitely apply. Your verbal GRE might be on the lower side, but the high quant will likely make up for it. If you have any publications or manuscripts in the works, that would also be a plus for you.

They are able to do interviews over the phone and on skype.

If you want to do applied research and work in governmental institutions, you are better off getting an MPA/MPP or PhD in public policy. Political science is almost exclusively an academic exercise.

I mean the differences are by so little that there isn't much cumulative effect, but the 160Q looks better than 159, so if you're going to only pick one send the latter. The writing score is not that important unless you're an international student (and if you are, either 5.0 or 5.5 is really good). However, you're probably fine with either.

MastersHoping - They told me to retake for the quant score. The 163 verbal is probably fine, it is the 90th percentile. If you feel uncomfortable with it, you can retake it, but if you don't feel like it - don't. It's not a big deal. To be honest, the 7 point difference between the first and second tests was almost totally the result of looking up in the test books how to approach the question and reading over some vocab lists the night before the test. GreMS15 - the mock tests did help me in terms of practicing endurance for the test, and time management. However, I would suggest you go through all the test prep books you can get your hands on (Princeton Review, ManhattanGRE), take the practice drills for whatever you keep getting wrong, and possibly view some instructionals on youtube for it if you're still having a hard time.

It wouldn't hurt. I'm sure if you had a close relationship with 1 or 2 of your professors, they would at least try to fit it in. Are there any graduate students that instruct at your school? They are also worth talking to, because they are frequently on admissions committees and have gone through this process far more recently.

I scoured the websites of the top 20 schools myself to see if my undergrad background matched the grad student's background when they got admitted. There are plenty of people from Brazil in these programs, and while I don't recall if they from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, I'm sure enough come out of the country to where the admissions committees have at least some inking of its reputation. Though school reputation matters a whole lot less when you get outside the most competitive schools.

I'll third both posters. Your GRE quant score does not mean as much when you have quantitative research experience and/or training. Furthermore, the GRE itself does not matter as much if you have tons of research experience like you said. The competition is steep, so it might cost you a top 10 admission, but not all of them. By the way, it's not exactly true that only schools in the top 10 give you a TT academic job. It is true that if you want to get a job at a prestigious research university, and it is true that coming from Harvard rather than a more middling university will make your job search easier. However, there are plenty of TT academic jobs that are not at R1 universities that regularly hire candidates from other schools. I've seen even the University of Delaware (unranked) place assistant professors in departments, including one at a college near where I live (though not where I attend). Even at R1's, you could be in the running for the job if you get a lot of methods training (which it sounds like you have quite a bit already) and publish an above average amount of articles in well-regarded journals.

If it says send the transcript, you should send it. The potential consequences of sending it and having your admissions chances lowered are far less than if they find that transcript which you did not send. They would consider that false information, and it could lead to a denial of admission or (if you're already there) expulsion.

Thank you for your advice. I think I will definitely mention it somewhere, my program is not that well-known.

Would anyone be willing to critique my SOP? PM me if you would be willing to do this.

Being brutally honest, they would be well below the cutoff. I got 163 on the verbal and 155 on the quant my first time taking the test, and I was advised by my professors and people on this forum pretty much unanimously to retake it. Study hard. Get your hands on as much test prep as you can. It got me up to 170 on the verbal and 161 on the quantitative the second time.

Hello all. I have a question, because I noticed this came up on the FAQ of one of the schools I am applying to. They say they do not treat three-year bachelor's degrees with the same consideration as four-year degrees. However, the degree that I am getting is a four-year degree. I just happen to be graduating a year early because of AP credits and taking a couple of summer courses. Should I clarify that somewhere in the application so that they don't think it was a three-year program? Also, out of curiosity, would graduating early be a boost to my admissions chances or would it have no effect?

I'd like to follow that up with agreeing with gradschooltruther. When I said convey passion for your research, I didn't mean say it explicitly (that would be a little cliche). Let the passion show in articulating why what you want to research is important to examine, and why your research is an excellent fit with the mission of the department and professors you want to work with in it.

I would concur with wpg205 here. You have excellent stats and research experience, so the low score on the verbal gre will likely be cancelled out by the wealth of research experience you have. You may, however, run into a problem with funding. I know some programs have a cutoff for certain percentiles. In terms of your SOP, this is advice I got from a professor of mine - it should introduce you as a knowledgeable scholar and show you have a relatively defined research interest. At the same time, do not make it too narrow of an interest. Citing certain research perspectives may alienate faculty rather than achieving the desired effect. Also, don't be afraid to be personal. I'm not suggesting talking about your childhood, but it's ok to convey passion for the subject.

Maybe you should try to finish the MPP. Not necessarily for the sake of finishing it, but there are a few more doors open if you do. You could amass more quant skills, and if your program allows it - more research experience. However, I'm saying this from the position of someone applying out of undergrad who's applying to a couple of MPP programs as a backup, so my advice should be taken with a grain of salt.

I don't think you will have much of a problem getting in somewhere. I suggest that if you have time and if you're feeling insecure about the lack of research experience, talk to one of the professors about doing an independent study. I'm doing one next semester with an econ professor because my senior thesis is likely to be wrapped up pretty early in the semester.

I contacted some professors about wanting to work with them if admitted, and the signals seemed to be pretty positive. However, I'm also a senior who is actually applying places. You may want to hold off, you may not.

I'm not sure how they grade in Turkey, but if 2.9/4.0 is anything like an American 2.9/4.0, then you may have a harder time getting into a PhD program in the U.S, since the competition is incredibly fierce and certain schools have a GPA cutoff. However, if you have some substantial research experience, good fit and good GRE scores, then that could offset the lower GPA. Again, though, I'm not sure how the Turkish grading system works.

I'm not coming to the event, but I'm applying there!

Honestly, that's hard to say. It depends on where your scholarly strengths and interests lie. Overall, though, I never found it to be all that hard once I got past those college freshman instincts of injecting my ideology and random platitudes into political analysis. You may find the senior thesis, if you do one, to be hard. At my university, it's 40-70 pages and a yearlong project. However, by the time you get to it, you'll be ready. Feel free to PM me with any questions you have.

I think we're all a little nervous (at least I am). I am applying to mostly top 20 programs, but I have a couple in the 26-50 range lined up. I have a great GPA (3.94 cumulative, 4.0 in my majors), decent GRE (170/161/5), and a bit of research experience (senior thesis, one refereed article under review and an abstract submitted to a conference). I also did an internship with Canadian parliament. The only thing I'm really nervous about is that they see what undergraduate institution I come from (SUNY Purchase) and count that against me due to it being a small state liberal arts school.

Virtually all of the top programs value the GRE because there are so many otherwise qualified people applying. There usually is some informal cutoff where people with generally below a certain score will not get in save for other factors being absolutely exemplary (and even then, that may not be enough due to the sheer amount of competition). With that in mind, unless you think somehow you'll do worse next time, absolutely retake it. Thankfully, it really doesn't take too much of a chunk out of your time. Just giving yourself enough time to work through the books (if you haven't already, I didn't on my first time around) and practice, practice, practice can go a long way. On my first GRE in July, I got 163V, 155Q, and 5.0AW. I took another three days ago after working through some prep books and practice GRE's semi-intensively for three weeks before the test and got 170V, 161Q (still waiting on 5.0AW). Best of luck!