everytearcameredemption

Hi @AP!! Thank you so, so much for your thorough and thoughtful answer! In regards to asking about my interests, here is what I'm interested in: I want to write a text (or multiple) on female political leaders throughout history. Specifically I'd like to do research on female prime ministers throughout history, the role of women in the political arena in those countries (India, Pakistan, etc) and the connection between women and those elected to office. I also would like to research women's political history in the U.S., in which I am leaning towards applying to Rutgers with their CAWP. Thus, I would be mixing my interests in political science with my history interests. I want to be a professor at a university while doing this research and writing, etc. Thank you for your emphasis on how wanting the degree is not enough, and how important the research interests are behind it. It's easy to get caught up in the allure of the PhD and not always fully consider all the work and depth that will be behind it. A poster on another site recommended that I take a few undergrad courses in History (akin to a minor) and excel in them, in order to strengthen my package for application, to prove my ability for success in the field/show I am prepared, and to be sure that's what I want to be pursuing. Thus, maybe a preliminary idea would be to work next fall while taking one to two upper level undergrad courses in history? Or should I try a grad level course in history? What do you think? I've taken two classes in history during my undergrad: US History up to 1877 (A) and Russian History from 1900 onwards (B+). I really enjoyed both of them but I haven't taken one in about two years so I think I'd like to try another to make sure. Plus, I definitely need more experience with primary source materials and basic historical research. I'm happy to know funding, decisions, etc aren't 100% said and decided on GPA & GRE. That was my biggest concern. I'm not worried about showing my interests and what direction my research is going in, I'm more worried they won't consider me qualified whatsoever. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm very interested in Rutgers and their Center for American Women and Politics. Clearly this would be a great location for what I'm interested in researching and writing about, in terms of my interests in U.S. politics and women. I plan to confer with a wide range of professors tomorrow in order to see what they think. Obviously I have no plans set in stone, just sending out feelers, trying to get as much advice/input/knowledge from a wide range of sources as possible.

Hi everyone! I'm new to thegradcafe.com but I desperately need some advice, guidance, ideas, etc. I'm really torn as to what my next move is academically and life-wise. I will be graduating in the spring of 2017 with an overall GPA of 3.2, my degree will be a BA in Political Science with a French minor. I want to go on to get an MA & PhD. The two fields I am leaning towards are History and English/Writing. Clearly I don't have a high enough GPA to get into an upper-level school, so to speak. However, I really want to get my PhD from a top 20 school. My GRE scores were: 148 quant, 162 verbal, 5 writing. I plan to retake the GRE in the spring to see if I can get higher scores. So, what next steps would you recommend? Here is what I've considered. -Go home, work for a year (maybe two) and attend a local university to take one or two graduate courses to make a firm decision on what to get my degrees in. Then apply for an MA/PhD program or just an MA and then my PhD at another school. -Begin an MA program at my state school (a good one) and get that degree, then go on to a top 20 school for my PhD. Basically what I'm wondering is this: -With my current academic standing, would it be beneficial for me to take a few grad courses at my local school, excel in them and then attend a matriculating MA program somewhere that better suits my interests? -Is it frowned upon to get an MA at one university and go to a different one for a PhD? -Would working for a year or two while taking classes (and getting the best grades possible) improve my application package for programs? -Should I take some extra undergrad classes at my local university in history or english since those fields weren't my major field? -Is there any chance, if I excel in an MA program and prove to be a valuable asset, I could be fully funded for a PhD program/get assistantships, etc? -Is there a chance I could go to a lower-ranking school for my MA and potentially get funding if my GRE scores were fantastic? -Is it bad to take a few years away from my undergrad, work and such, and then formally apply for an MA program? I'm dead set on getting a PhD so I know I will go back to school no matter what. I'm leaning towards going home to work, save money, and try a grad class or two to confirm it's what I want to pursue. However, what is realistic for me to pursue after I take those classes and excel? Thank you so much for your time and thoughts! Any and all advice is welcome.