IRmiester666

Your scores are good enough for any quant-heavy school, minus Cal-tech or GSB. Making a case that you want to move to quant, even with a qual background, is not only acceptable, it is something that would be seen as a plus at the margins (unless you study PT or something). So, no, stick with those scores and work on your SOP while you refesh your letter writers' memories of you.

You can apply anywhere and have a good shot. But to add context to your GPA, what type of college/university was it? No specific names, just ball park. Like flagship state school, etc.

NO. Get studying.

Unstandable about the family restraints. Unfortunately, it seems like academia caters to nerdy loners like myself You might want to contact the department about placements in IR.

I know a bit about the progran, but this is probably considered the "normal stuff". IR is pretty good there (probably better than the overall Poli Sci ranking). They have an IR center there too (can't remember the name off the top of my head) that is probably a good resource for research support and sharing ideas. Its a small program though, with a low acceptance rate. I'm guessing it gets a lot of applications because of an interaction of two factors. 1) it is a recognizable, Ivy League university. 2) the poli sci dept is not ranked very high. Perhaps applicants see it as an easy way into an elite university? That being said, you shouldn't pick based on location, but if its just a nice plus, then so be it.

You can figure this one out on your own. If you can't, then your independent research skills suggest that a PhD isn't for you.

I re-read your original post more closely, and I have a couple more comments: Language skills aren't really that important in IR. They are more of a CP skill. Also, the terminal MA programs you are referring to do international affairs, not poli sci IR. In those programs, language is more important since those who enroll are practitioners in the field. But, quant skills are very important to poli sci IR, and since you have no math classes (that's OK by the way), your quant abilities will be judged solely on your GRE. If you do poorly, AdComms will think you won't be able to handle the rigor. I'd recommend the Princeton Review GRE prep book. I found their quant prep to be the best, and it assumes no training beyond high school. Literally memorize all the tricks in that book, and your score will drastically improve. Lastly, do NOT get a letter of rec from someone at State. They have absolutely no perspective on your academic ability. It means nothing to PhD programs (but would be ideal for terminal international affairs programs). LORs should come from all professors (the more established, the better).

You have a good profile, but it is still a crap shoot, as is any application to a top program like UCLA. As far as funding goes, I know someone who got in there last year (I didn't apply there), and she got a very competitive offer. However, they also accept some people without funding. Funding is not shaky there; this is the nature of the program. Some just aren't funded. But I agree with above about applying to more than one school, but I can see the appeal of UCLA given their record in American politics.

The only program with a later than usual deadline that I'm aware of (I'm sure there are many more) is very competitive and not at all easy to get into. If we are thinking of the same school, then good luck with Wash-STL.

Given your GRE, I'd be very nervous about any application going to a top 20. I'm also not convinced that your stats class makes up for this. But I wouldn't be worried about AdComms thinking less of your degrees because of the name of the institution. Your GPA is great and you were an honors student. However, if you are targeting schools that are not on the same level as your previous schools, chances are the AdComm won't know your letter writers. And unfortunately, a letter from a friend at a peer institution is a more creditable signal than an unknown letter, no matter how glowing. I'd say pick a couple elite programs as your top picks and work on your SOP so that it screams "I fit in here and can handle the rigor!". I can only recommend re-taking the GRE if you know you can improve your quant score because if it is sub-700 again, you are sunk at the top because you are demonstrating consistency in test taking as opposed to an abnormally bad test day.

I'm just starting at one of these

Go for it. And since UCLA is a top 10 in poli sci, LORs from PS professors will help. Although, it is arguably one of the best programs out there for American political behavior/campaigns and elections as well as comparative politics, but IR is considered UCLA's weakness. But I wouldn't let that stop you. Aim high, given you're profile.

Linear algebra,elementary scalar calculus, probability theory, and a basic statistics class will put your transcript ahead of your peers. Ace them, and they will be one of the most important parts of your application.

Your choice of schools seems strange to me. You have a mix of quant-heavy programs with traditionally qual schools thrown on your list. If you're interested in PE, you'll be better off targeting quant schools as that is where the lit resides.

I actually started this thread in an effort to troll, but now I'm starting to believe my supporters somewhat.......

You decide.

You talk as if she was forced to post on PSJR. A cursory view of PSJR will confirm the nastiness that you speak of, but she posted there anyway. She even changed her name on this board because people were reacting negatively to her posts. If she had any self-awareness at all, none of this would have happened. But I'll let it go...

Honestly, she was kind of asking for it. This massive thread (and that one on PSJR) gives the appearance that she thinks she is too good for the programs she got into. It gives the impression she only cares about the name of the school, not the quality of the education. And its not like it was only discussed once -- she brought it up to death here, then brought it to another site.

Congrats! Did UCLA offer you any funding?

ok. I totally understand about being honest about other places you are considering.... BUT, what if you got into one really awesome, highly ranked, program and got rejected by EVERY other school you applied to... all of which, are (supposedly) of lower quality. I don't want to give them the impression they made a mistake by accepting me!!!

edit: wrong thread.

What do you say if they ask about other schools that you've applied to? Or other schools you've been admitted to? I don't feel that comfortable talking about it, even if the prof is from the school I ultimately want to attend. Do you guys get questions like this? How do you/should you handle it?