billythekid72

Thanks again KenBesonders! I think I can realistically achieve mid to low 160s for those of the sections. I would expect to get a 5 or 6 on the writing portion as well. It seems the GRE is very important not only for admissions but for funding purposes.

Hi KenBesonders, thank you very much for your advice. I took a Kaplan GRE prep course last summer and I plan to spend most of this summer studying for the GRE. I am hoping to take it in September and score well on it. However, taking it in September will give me enough time to retake if necessary,

Dear Grad Cafe, I am planning on applying to a few graduate school programs to pursue a PhD in Political Science starting in Fall 2016. I plan on studying Comparative Politics with a secondary concentration on Methods I wanted to share my profile to see if anyone has any practical advice on how to strengthen my application. Profile: Undergraduate Institution: Top 10 US Public School Major Political Science Minors: Human Rights and English Cumulative GPA: 3.85 Major GPA: 3.9 GRE: Will take in September (Took a Kaplan GRE prep course) Honors College - Honors Scholar Undergraduate Senior Honors Thesis: IR related topic, presented at two conferences Graduated May 2014 Post Graduation Experience: 1 year AmeriCorps Vista: Economic development, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance. State Government Human Rights Department : Current employment Awards: College of Liberal Arts and Science Deans List: All semesters University Leadership Scholarship:1/2 tuition scholarship for all 4 years University Scholar Award:Maintaining at least a 3.7 GPA for two consecutive semesters University Social Science Research Grant(Spring 2013) Human Rights Research Grant (Summer 2013) Political Science Honors Department Research Grant Alpha Lambda Delta National Freshman Honor Society(Fall 2010) Golden Key International Honour Society, which signifies that I am in the Top 15 % of my class (Spring 2011) Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization (fall 2011) American Political Science Association (APSA) National Conference:Poster Presenter USAFA Academy Assembly Delegate Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference Delegate ACTIVITIES: Research Intern and Project Lead at respected Foreign Policy Think Tank (Washington DC, Summer 2013) Honors Research Assistant for Respected Professor In Poli Sci Department (Fall 2013- Graduation) - Lead to a publication in POLI SCI journal Research Assistant for well-known Public Opinion Institute (Spring 2014) Research Intern at HKS (International Development) (Summer 2013) Research Intern at International NGO in Middle East (Summer 2014) University Model United Nations Director (UNICEF and Human Rights Council) University Newspaper - Staff Writer Political Blog:- Foreign Affairs Staff Writer University Student Government- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator Residential Hall Association: Vice President University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Student Representative on Board of Directors Community Outreach: Alternative Spring Break Trips to New Orleans, Louisiana and Tampa, Florida University Medical Center- Volunteer International Relations Society : Secretary Quantitative Courses: Micro Economics(A) Macro Economics(A) Calculus 1 (A ) Statistics 1 (A) Stat 2 (A) Poli Sci Quantitative research methods(A) Graduate Statistical Analysis Course at Duke University(A) Additionally Information: Languages: French (Fluent), Arabic (Beginner) - two semesters of college course work Computer Skills: Microsoft Office, Minitab, R, STATA, and SPSS. Future Career Aspirations: Academia. Possibly transition into the policy world later on in my career. Graduate School Programs: Currently finalizing my list based on program and faculty fit.Predominately considering schools in the Top 15. Thank you in advance for your help!

Hello Government Affairs, I am planning on applying to a few graduate school programs for the Fall 2016 to pursue a Masters Degree in International Affairs. I wanted to share my profile to see if anyone has an practical advice on how to strengthen my application or any suggestions of additional schools that I should add to my list. Profile: Undergraduate Institution: Top 10 US Public School Major Political Science Minors: Human Rights and English Cumulative GPA: 3.85 Major GPA: 3.9 GRE: Will take in September (Took a Kaplan GRE prep course) Honors College - Honors Scholar Undergraduate Senior Honors Thesis: IR related topic, presented at two conferences Graduated May 2014 Post Graduation Experience: 1 year AmeriCorps Vista: Economic development, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance. State Government Human Rights Department : Current employment Awards: College of Liberal Arts and Science Deans List: All semesters(six) University Leadership Scholarship:1/2 tuition scholarship for all 4 years University Scholar Award:Maintaining at least a 3.7 GPA for two consecutive semesters University Social Science Research Grant(Spring 2013) Human Rights Research Grant (Summer 2013) Political Science Honors Department Research Grant Alpha Lambda Delta National Freshman Honor Society(Fall 2010) Golden key International Honour Society, which signifies that I am in the Top 15 % of my class (Spring 2011) Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization (fall 2011) American Political Science Association (APSA) National Conference:Poster Presenter USAFA Academy Assembly Delegate Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference Delegate ACTIVITIES: Research Intern and Project Lead at respected Foreign Policy Think Tank (Washington DC, Summer 2013) Honors Research Assistant for Professor In Poli Sci Department (Fall 2013- Graduation) - Lead to a publication in POLI SCI journal Research Assistant for well-known Public Opinion Institute (Spring 2014) Research Intern at HKS (International Development (Summer 2013) Research Intern at International NGO in Middle East (Summer 2014) University Model United Nations Director (UNICEF and Human Rights Council) University Newspaper - Staff Writer Political Blog:- Foreign Affairs Staff Writer University Student Government- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator Residential Hall Association: Vice President University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Student Representative on Board of Directors Community Outreach: Alternative Spring Break Trips to New Orleans, Louisiana and Tampa, Florida University Medical Center- Volunteer International Relations Society : Secretary Quantitative Courses: Micro Economics(A) Macro Economics(A) Calculus 1 (A ) Statistics 1 (A) Stat 2 (A) Poli Sci Quantitative research methods(A) Graduate Statistical Analysis Course at Duke University(A) Additionally Information: Languages: French (Fluent), Arabic (Beginner) Computer Skills: Microsoft Office, Minitab, R, STATA, and SPSS. Future Career Aspirations: Political Officer in the Foreign Services at the U.S. State Department, NGO worker at International development or human rights focused institution, or possibly work at an foreign policy think tank in DC or abroad.. Graduate School Programs: Johns Hopkins SAIS, Columbia SIPA, Georgetown SFS, and Tufts Fletcher Thank you in advance for your help!