NeverGivUp

Hello all!! Long-time reviewer, but first time poster here. I'm through the first semester of a PhD program abroad in Europe, but I would like to get back to the US for my PhD. My main concern is my low GRE Quant score and whether I can offset it with the other parts of my application for entrance to top 11-20 Politica Science programs. I think quant is taken a lot more seriously in the US, and I feel I don't have enough time left to retake the exam (for the application season is about to close). I plan to do more of qualitative and mixed-methods research, and any advice on less quant-heavy programs would be appreciated too. My wish programs are Northwestern, Cornell, Chicago, and WUSTL. Would work experience, publications, and current research in a leading department compensate for the weaknesses? Do universities accept late GRE scores if I resit in a week? Profile: Type of Undergrad Institution: Addis Ababa University Major: Political Science (history minor) GPA: 3.4/4.00 Type of Grad Institution: A mid-tier university in Germany (studied with a DAAD scholarship) Major: Political Science (very interdisciplinary, focused on comparative politics and democratization) GPA: Distinction (3.9/4 as calculated by WES, but would be like 3.98) GRE: v156 q148, aw unknown at the moment but i expect 3.5 (English not first language) Letter of Recommendation: Four not so strong letters , one from my Undergrad's thesis supervisor now at SOAS, one from MA thesis supervisor in my field, one from chair for comparative politics in my grad school, and one from a senior research who advised me during internship in respected research institute. Research experience/publication: Master's Thesis (A+), a co-authored book chapter, two peer-reviewed articles in low-profile journals, 5 book reviews, one paper under review, and papers presented in conferences. Teaching Experience: I worked as a TA for three years, taught undergrad political science courses for three years, all in small third world colleges Research Interests: Comparative Politics and political economy with a focus on Africa and the Middle East and North Africa. I've linguistic skill and cultural familiarity of the regions.