Jump to content

PoliSciGuy00

Members
  • Posts

    71
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

Everything posted by PoliSciGuy00

  1. Hi Theory007. It’s good to hear from you. I hope you’ve been doing well. I’m sorry to everyone for my absence. Like many folks, I got off gradcafe during grad school, partly for mental health reasons but also because of the whirlwind of graduate school. Now that I’ve had a bit of time to reflect, I’d like to share the following: Several years ago I decided to attend a somewhat lower ranked program because I believed I would get better mentorship than a higher-ranked program I was also admitted to. I’m not sure that was a *mistake* but, like every decision, there are some things I know now that I wish I knew back then. I’ve gotten good mentorship at my program, but I realize that mentorship isn’t the only thing that is necessary to produce good research. In my opinion, most of us on this forum need four things to produce good research (we’re all smart enough, I imagine). (1) Patience. (2) Mentorship and advising. (3) Money/time. (4) Research skills. I’ll skip over patience because I think that’s relatively self-explanatory. In my somewhat lower ranked program, I’ve struggled with numbers 3 and 4. Research is a time-consuming process that can be expensive and requires technical skills. What I’ve learned now is that sometimes the best mentorship in the world doesn’t help if you simply don’t have the skills or time or money to actually write or run your data or visit the archives or whatever. And now back to the ultimate point of this section: picking PhD programs. If you’re lucky enough to get more than one choice I’d say there’s two general methods for deciding: picking the highest ranked program or going with your gut. I went with my gut—but knowing what I know now I’m not sure I would’ve made that same decision. Visiting days can be perfect but that doesn’t mean the program itself is perfect. Furthermore, I think it’s safe to say lower-ranked schools will hustle to recruit you, whereas higher-ranked programs generally don’t. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a better experience at a lower-ranked program. I’m not sure if going with your gut or simply picking for prestige is better. But I’ll offer just a few more thoughts. If you’re deciding between a prestigious program in the cold northeast or a lower ranked one in balmy LA, and you’re someone that absolutely can’t stand snow and would be miserable in the cold, then perhaps it makes sense for you to go to LA. Why? Because you know with a high degree of confidence that LA is warm. Picking based on factors like mentor quality is riskier because your information at the time is limited. Without picking on my current program too much—there’s too many miserable people on the internet—I just want to reiterate that factors like endowment, wealth, and prestige can be important, measurable factors you should consider. I didn’t pay as much attention to that as I should’ve. Generally, but not always, those are synonymous with a higher-ranked program. Those factors can determine whether or not you have the time and money to actually complete a (good) dissertation. Also, try and talk to as many grad students as you can at the programs you are seriously considering. Don’t stop with the students that show up on admitted students’ day. Generally, they are the most engaged and getting the most out of the program. You need to make sure you talk to the median student in the department to understand what experience you’re most likely to have. So, anyways, that’s my two cents. I wish everyone here the best of luck. If you have more specific questions, please PM me. I’m gonna try and hang around here at least a bit, but I probably won’t be posting anymore on the forums.
  2. Well said. I will also be around, especially during this summer. Feel free to DM me and I will do my best to respond.
  3. Just wanted to make a quick note here for anyone accepted to Chicago MA programs, its worth asking them for more $$$, especially if you have a funded offer somewhere to use as leverage. There's no guarantee of course, but Chicago is a wealthy school so its worth asking them for more $$$.
  4. Great advice here. I'm not sure I have much more to add, except that I'd echo point #3. This is especially important, and hard to do, unfortunately, on Zoom. I'm not sure I really have a good answer. Although its a pain, try really hard to talk to at least 2-3 current students.
  5. I see. In that case, I'm not sure I have a really strong recommendation for you. I would agree with you that if you go to Columbia, or anywhere else, for a 1 year MA, it would probably make sense to wait a year, as you won't really have gotten out of the program what you need in just 2-3 months. If you're going to put the effort/time/money into an MA, I think it makes sense to wait until you have finished one year before applying to get the real benefit of the degree during PhD apps. I don't think there's any harm in waiting, personally. Sometimes professors will hire, either full or part time, former students to serve as RAs. That's no guarantee, of course, but it could be possible at somewhere like Columbia. The only other thing I'd say right now is not to focus too much on the "type" of master's degree, but to consider what you think you can get out of the program in terms of (1) coursework and (2) connections with faculty. Speaking hypothetically, and if finances roughly equal out at different schools, if you think you could develop stronger connections and take more rigorous coursework at LSE vs. Columbia, then I'd go there (I'm not sure if this would be the case, just using an example). I know its hard to gauge this stuff, especially during Covid, but just go with your gut and get as much info as you can. Some master's programs, too, will offer much greater flexibility in coursework, so keep that in mind. If you're trying to be competitive for a PhD, you don't necessarily want to spend all your time in a master's program taking classes on project management or leadership or whatever, you need to have some freedom to take classes that will help you develop research skills. I'll chew this over and see if I have anything else to contribute later.
  6. Hi friend, Congrats on making the decision to pursue the (long) PhD journey. Before I give any specific recommendation, I just wanted to ask for some clarification. You say you have a Fulbright secured for a 1 year MA at Columbia? Does this mean you would have tuition covered and a stipend for that one year? Furthermore, does that Fulbright apply to any other school, or just Columbia? If it is only Columbia, I would absolutely suggest you go there. As anyone on this forum will tell you, debt sucks. It sucks even more if you are trying to get a not super lucrative job in academia. Columbia, while I have my problems with it, is an excellent option if funded. It sounds like that is the case for you, but I'm not entirely sure based on the info you provided. If that is your only funded option, I'd go there without a second thought.
  7. This discussion shows that people can have productive conversation on the internet....and on this forum! Who knew.
  8. I think both of the above comments are excellent. I'm not sure I have much more to add. As someone who is prone to mental health issues, I think you ought to know that a PhD can be a lonely and sometimes disheartening experience. It can be hard for me to be alone all day and see my worked picked apart by professors and peers (even if the feedback is very positive and constructive). I'm sure Covid has a part in this that hopefully won't be a factor by the time you are looking at apply. That doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue a PhD, you certainly should, but it does mean that you try and select a department (if you have a choice) that seems well-functioning and supportive. Also, it seems to me that most American PhD programs will give you health insurance that includes free or low-cost therapy and you should absolutely use those services if you feel like you need them. I'd also note that I don't think you necessarily need to do a second master's program at a prestigious school like Oxbridge or LSE or wherever if you excel at your first, even if its at a school with less name recognition. Names matter in this industry, of course, but if you get stellar grades, recs, and research experience at your first program, I don't see any reason to apply for a second master's without giving PhD apps an earnest attempt. Study hard for your GRE, but understand that it isn't everything. Make a point when you're in your master's program to write at least one or two strong pieces of writing that are 20+ pages that you can polish later and use as a writing sample. I'd echo what others have said too, fit matters. When you are selecting what program to apply to, don't blindly follow rankings, match your fit with faculty members in the program. Best of luck to you!
  9. Nice to see a law student on here. One of my mentors had a PhD and law degree and was a terrific scholar, teacher, and mentor, so I don't think that will work against you at all. It will probably help. I think you have a great profile, but as smug-face mentioned, those are all highly competitive programs and even top students may not get in. I e-mailed with a faculty member at UChicago last year and they told me the department generally receives around 500 applicants each year and maybe admit 25-30. I imagine the other programs you applied to are just as competitive. Covid might throw a wrench in that this year, for better or worse, I'm not sure. I don't say this to add to your angst, but rather to suggest that if you aren't admitted anywhere this year that you broaden your list of schools to maybe 7-10 if you choose to apply again. Most people on this forum apply to at least one or two "safety" schools that are outside the top 10-15. In my *limited* experience these schools generally get 250-300 applications instead of 500+, so that improves your chances and can still give you great career opportunities. But now that your apps are presumably finished, I'd do your best to relax and not stress too much. I think you've got a fighting chance at all those schools, but don't immediately bag the whole enterprise if you aren't admitted this year.
  10. Thank you for your kind words. Glad I was able to find a way to make my procrastination socially responsible. Good luck with the process!
  11. Nothing wrong with shooting for the stars. Of course, everyone could've always applied to more school, but I think you have a strong profile. With my limited knowledge of your situation, I'd say apply to Vanderbilt or Texas-Austin only if you can really imagine yourself going there. Both are strong programs, but I don't think it's worth "anxiety applying" if you're not serious. I'm not sure about European schools. Ultimately, at this point, most of your work is finished. Take a few days off this weekend, and keep away from this forum, and then see if you feel like you really need to apply to more schools.
  12. As I've said to others, I think you have a good chance of getting at least one admit, and perhaps more. This year is weird because of COVID and the lack of GRE, but I wouldn't stress too much.
  13. I would not panic. I think you are very likely to get at least one acceptance at your schools and probably more. This is a weird year because of funding and GREs, so that adds uncertainty, but I would rest easy.
  14. I would not do this. You can probably get away with a few extra pages on your writing sample. But, don't do it with your personal statement. A few sentences is probably okay, but unfortunately OP should cut down to 2 pages double spaced. 2 single spaced is too long.
  15. I listed all the classes for my master's and bachelor's. Definitely was a huge pain, especially because I wasn't admitted, but I would do as much as you can. If you don't have textbooks, that's probably okay, but I'd at least list the class.
  16. I hate to say this, but I would do it all. I know it's a huge pain...but if they're asking you to do this, I would do it. I applied to MIT last year and was rejected, but I still went thru this whole song and dance. Sometimes you don't have textbooks, and that's okay, but I'd fill in everything you do have.
  17. I don't know very much about UC San Diego specifically, but here's my speculation: Most joint degree programs with policy schools are more geared toward research careers in industry, think-tanks, or government, rather than academia. I imagine that's what is going on at UC San Diego. The political science program is aimed toward students who are primarily interested in academia. Of course, students from polisci do end up working outside academia, and vice versa, but if you're in a policy PhD program you will likely find more professors engaged in policy oriented research. There really isn't a good forum on this website for policy-oriented PhDs. Most people on this forum are interested exclusively in polisci, whereas most folks on the government affairs forum are looking only at MA degrees. Whether or not you want a policy-oriented PhD or a traditional political science degree comes down mostly to what you want to do after grad school. I will say traditional political science programs are generally better funded. I wouldn't recommend going to a PhD program UC San Diego GPS, or any PhD program, without substantial funding that allows you to avoid debt. Hope that's helpful. Best of luck!
  18. Agreed with 5698wh, go for some top 10 programs.
  19. Hi friend, Cornell admit from last year here. Timeseries' advice is sound. 15-25pp is good.
  20. I would not worry too much about this. I'd say take the risk with the class. I personally don't think anyone will hold a B/B+ against you, especially if it's a high level quant course and if you signal in your PS that you aren't applying to be a hardcore quant scholar. Your 162Q is also pretty good, too. Others may have a different view, but I'd say stick with keeping it graded.
  21. Thought I'd thrown in my two cents here. I applied to 11 programs. Some were definitely reach schools, but I wouldn't say any were that safe. I was ultimately admitted to two pretty strong programs. In the end, as anyone can tell you, its mostly a crapshoot. I'm not sure there's a "right number." I'd say don't apply to anywhere, unless you are planning to transfer out (which is unusual) that you aren't very serious about both academically and geographically. Good luck to all of you this year.
  22. I don't think so. If you can get to 325 or 330 on the GRE, I'd say you will be in good shape. There's different thoughts on this forum about reaching out to professors before you apply. I don't think it's decisive for apps, but I did it and generally found it to be a helpful experience. At several schools I learned that X professor had left or was retiring soon, or that, despite a number of professors in my field of interest, the program had admitted a lot of students in the past years that were studying in that area and wasn't looking for anymore right now. If the thought of reaching out with a brief e-mail explaining your interests and asking if they are planning to work with graduate students doesn't scare you to death, I'd consider doing it. Some professors were more helpful than others and some weren't answered, but I never got the sense I was annoying anyone.
  23. I would absolutely recommend sending in your scores. You are correct that your verbal score isn't great, but I think everyone on this forum will agree that having a good quant score is important, and a 165 quant score is excellent. If you have a strong personal statement and writing sample, most people won't be too concerned about a 157 on verbal, and even that isn't *too* bad. If you can afford it, I'd send them in. If others have different thoughts please feel free to say so, but I think a 165 quant is pretty strong and should be sent in.
  24. Hi Friend, Congrats on finishing university so quickly! I applied, and was admitted to CIR several times, but ultimately chose to pursue different professional and academic opportunities in a another program. I think it is a strong program, although, as I'm sure you've seen, others on this forum think differently. I think, given that its only one year, you may not get what you need out of it if the your classes are entirely online (like strong LORs and good thesis advisement). Keep this in mind. I think you should apply to CIR. But, mind Dwar's comment and be cautious about debt. If you are admitted to CIR, ask for more money and try to get as much out of them as possible. If the program is going to put you in a significant amount of debt, I'd apply again the next year, maybe with a strong GRE score. One other thing to consider here: I'm not sure what your undergrad situation is like. Depending on how much you're paying for undergrad, and how strong your program/professors are, I think it might be worthwhile to stay around another year in your program and write a terrific thesis, work as an RA, get closer to professors, take methods classes, etc. I think finishing in three years is much more common and PhD adcoms (and CIR) would be more comfortable with that. You mention that you're from a big 10 midwest program. If you have great LORs, a strong GRE, a thesis, methods classes, and research experience, I'd say you'd be a in a very strong position to do well in PhD admissions. Consider sticking around for another year, getting those things, and then applying straight into PhD programs. If your department is toxic or full of professors that checked out 20 years ago, finish up in two years. But, if there's more you can get out if it, I'd think about sticking around.
  25. I guess one other thing to consider here is whether or not you find some modicum of joy, satisfaction, or meaning from being in a doctoral program. In other words, might it be intrinsically worthwhile? I for one am thankful to be a doctoral program right now. It's stressful, to be sure, but I appreciate the opportunities I have here that I almost certainly would not have in the private or public sector, namely a guaranteed income and health insurance for five years to take classes that interest me, write (and try to publish) about things I am passionate about, develop in-demand and non in-demand skills, be in a city and area that I really like, and be around really smart people all day that care about my success. I know a lot of people have strong feelings about this, but I just wanted to throw my two cents in. Like most other people on this forum, there's definitely an opportunity cost for me. I could be making more money, possibly a lot more, in the private sector. But for now, I'm happy where I am.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use