tnj1234

Hi everyone, I am a senior at a top 40 undergraduate institution. I am actually graduating early (3 years as opposed to 4). I am in the BA/MA Political Science program here, so I will be getting both degrees when I graduate in May 2017. I am planning to apply to JD/PhD programs. Since they are separate applications, I would like an evaluation of myself as a candidate for a Political Science PhD program. GPA: 3.95 GRE: V: 164, Q: 161, AWA: Pending (I am a little worried about my verbal score for the schools I am applying to) Schools: I am planning on applying to top tier schools (Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, Stanford, Columbia). The reason I am not doing any safety schools is because I plan on accepting only an offer I am 100% happy with. If I do not like my offers (if I get any), I plan on taking some time off and working. Research Interests: International Relations, security studies, war causation and duration, intervention, nuclear tactics, asymmetric warfare. I have a minor in Muslim Societies so I have a slight regional interest in the Middle East. My thesis is on how intervention factors into war duration for extra-systemic wars. I will be using a combination of regression analysis and case studies. Research Experience: Here is where I am extremely worried. I am writing a thesis for my MA but it is no where near complete. I have not had any published articles. I have written long papers for classes and some of my more research-focused internships. Internships/Extracurricular: I have had many internships ranging from government offices to non-profits to think tanks. I also hold a couple leadership positions in some clubs on campus. My main fear is that schools might see me as too young and inexperienced (especially with research). I understand that those critiques might be accurate. However, I really do enjoy academic research (what I have done for my classes/internships) and I can definitely see myself in a university setting in the future. Please let me know what my chances are. Thank you!