schuaust

If you have a Professor writing you a recommendation, they aren't going to mind looking over your SOP and providing some pointers. Go into the prior application cycle threads and see what people have to say about what they thought made their applications successful or not. Some people put in those threads that they are willing to share SOPs.

If they were supportive of your transfer during the application process, I'm sure they'll be understanding and a simple thank you will suffice, maybe with some nice notes.

A 4-4 would be a job where you teach four classes a semester. Most professors in my program are on a 2-3, which is more research oriented. Some Universities have 2-2's, and smaller state schools will often have 3-3's. You would have minimal expectations for research in a 4-4 school (probably 2-4 publications while your tenure clock is going, and some of those would be book reviews in peer-reviewed journals). Realistically, getting into 'top schools' is a crap-shoot. You might get in, and having relationships through the Fulbright program might help, but you really should apply widely and consider what a 'top program' means to you. Your research interests should primarily be what dictates your applications, so see who is publishing in your area and where they are. If some University has a critical mass of scholars you are interested in (think 3+, or someone who is really, really interesting) then that is a good place to apply. As for the quantitative skills, I'm not really sure what to tell you. You will have a methods sequence, and that's where you will acquire those skills. Taking a stats course where you learn regression analysis and perhaps knowing some calculus wouldn't hurt. I didn't have the calculus but I did have the stats - I think it was somewhat helpful, but not especially. I don't think methods training will make or break your application - but then again, I've never served on a selection committee. Perhaps ask that question in the "faculty perspectives" thread, and also ask about what Universities might think about people who have gotten one PhD and are applying for another. I'm sure it's not common, but I doubt it's unheard of.

Several thoughts here (current PhD candidate at a lower-tier R1): 1) If you have regional expertise it seems like working for the government would be an option, but I'll assume you've considered this and that you prefer to stay in academia 2) If that's the case, is working at a teaching University an option? Even with a degree from a top-tier program lots of people end up with 4-4's, and there's nothing wrong with that kind of job (except in a world where we've devalued teaching). 3) If you are shooting for an R1, IR theory isn't really going to be what gets you a job. It is not true that IR is non-quantitative, there are certainly IR scholars who are oriented toward theory, but most of the ones getting jobs at R1 schools have quantitative skills (there are notable and interesting exceptions, but speaking from a position of having to game the market a bit, you will at the very least need to demonstrate competence in some 'empirical' methods). Most of the IR 'theorists' getting jobs are more sociologically oriented, so they aren't doing the same kind of inductive theorizing that Waltz/Mearsheimer/etc. did/do. 4) Even with that degree you aren't ensured a better job than you can get now. 5) Quantitative skills might help you get into a program, but all programs will have a required methods sequence. I don't think that's going to be something that kills your chances. 6) I'm sure you already know this, but this is likely 5 more years of making very little money, there's a big opportunity cost to think about. I'm not trying to dissuade you, but if you haven't thought about some of these things, you likely should. Good luck!

This is really a tough decision to make. As someone who struck out on applications, I'd lean toward the funded program because you aren't guaranteed something better. At the same time, an MA makes getting your PhD easier (just because you've read more high-level academic work) and it really could help you get into a better program. I know that's not really all that helpful, lol

Just got it, have been on the waitlist. I'll put it in the results.

PM me if you want more details on UA, I'm in that department and political science. Per your grades, they aren't 'bad', if your application file is good you'll get considered by some programs. The process is really unpredictable, so IMO, applying to a variety of programs is a good idea.

Finally got a rejection from Northwestern. No luck, staying at my current program.

You look like an excellent candidate for any of those places. Judging by the schools you are looking at, Brown, British Columbia, UCLA, Berkeley, University of Delaware, and Cal Santa Cruz might be places to look at. If you are thinking about funded masters programs, Alabama's Women's Studies (really gender and race studies) program places a lot of people into good schools and does a lot of the kind of theory you'd be interested in (and our political science department has two interesting IR theorists in Waleed Hazbun and Daniel Levine you could also take classes from; fair warning, though, Alabama is a horrid place to live). University of Victoria has RBJ Walker and University of Hawaii has Michael Shapiro, and depending on your career goals, could be good places (I wouldn't recommend anything but top 40 if a job at an R-1 political science department were your goal). Also, you might look at ISA-NE when you get to going to conferences.

PROFILE: Low tier Type of Undergrad Institution: small, state school Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science Undergrad GPA: 3.63 Type of Grad: Large, state school Grad GPA: 3.93 GRE: 161V/154Q/4 Any Special Courses: Letters of Recommendation: three well published critical theorists Research Experience: RAship building a large dataset for which I am writing conference papers now, worked for Correlates of War (doing so again) Teaching Experience: 2 years, excellent teaching reviews Subfield/Research Interests: IR (theory, civil conflict), Political Theory (international ethics, empire, postcolonial/decolonial & queer theory) Other: RESULTS: 1 Acceptance ($$ @75-85 rank, waitlist @ top 20, rejected at 8 other schools ranked from top 5 to top 40) Going to: The school I've been waitlisted at if accepted, otherwise staying where I currently am. Transfering is difficult unless you have extraordinary circumstances (which, being gay in the deep south isn't easy) or are transferring to a less prestigious program, I don't know that I'd recommend trying. The best advice I've got is that rejections aren't an indictment on your potential or character. If I had to speculate on what to avoid based on my experience, I think retaking the GRE if your quant score is lowish (undergrad scores, figured graduate grades in stats/methods would compensate) and varying the 'type' of recommender might matter. Was told by all recommenders that my application materials were excellent, but I'm sure that my writing sample and statement of purpose weren't perfect.

They have Dr. Ashutosh Varshney who is an incredible scholar. If you are thinking about doing ethnic politics as a part of your work he would be an amazing person to be on a committee. Snyder has also done some interesting stuff on the 'resource curse' in civil conflict. I'm sure they have other very good comparative scholars, but those are the two that stick out from the work I've encountered in graduate school.

I've heard that telling them if they send you an offer you will accept it will sometimes move you up the waitlist YMMV. I'd wait for more input.

Northwestern does have a shortlist, but is unlikely to move on it. Good luck to anyone else on it, this is the only offer I have outstanding, so fingers crossed (but fortunately am already in a PhD program).

Is anyone else still waiting to hear from Northwestern? Emailed people again, but no luck.

Notre Dame is a good program, you'd have no guarantee of a better offer after CIR. That being said, a better offer would still be possible, so it's really up to you.