Mike_Novick
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I think one of the worst feelings those that have been repeatedly rejected by each one of your dream schools may sense is the lethargy that derives from the lack of understanding about the reasons for these failures. Is it fit? Is it the non-stellar GRE? Is it for being an outsider? Is it because I did not try to approach POIs? Is it because I'm older? Is it due to being an international applicant? One of the most important lessons I've learned by studying strategy planning (and by implementing it in government) is that without knowing the causes of issues that affect material reality, it is impossible to act properly to tackle them. Hence, when analysed from an individual point of view, numbness becomes some sort of body defense to ignorance. Interesting, but agonizing experience this one.
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- guanyinmiao, HiFiWiFi and NoirFemme
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I hope good news has made its way to you and the comments below aren't needed!
Not sure I have much to add but my advisor told me that older applicants are a bigger risk for schools - we are more set in our ways etc. I hadn't thought of it as akin to a graduate training program in the corporate world, where it's best to get people in when they are young enough to mould into the corporate identity. In addition to some specific programs she suggested looking at public policy PhDs and crafting a SoP for more of a public policy approach.
Her second piece of advice was, which surprised me because (i) as an international I don't see the point in GREs; and (ii) thought GREs might matter more for people recently graduated without much professional experience, work on getting as high a GRE score as possible. (I asked about the GREs in an interview recently and was told that it is true that some schools use GRE scores as a way to cull applications.)
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Thanks, for your answer and insights, @cydxb. Unfortunately, I've received 12 rejections so far (3 more schools to go). After speaking with so many people in order to understand what's going on with my application, another overlooked factor did appear as a factor to explain it is the international reputation of Brazilian universities - which is much smaller than I thought. I've been researching about fellow nationals who currently are PhD/DPhil candidates at some of the universities I've applied to and I found no one that was admitted having a MA and a BA completed here (in Brazil). Actually, that was the case as well considering Latin Americans at large - a few had a MA from their countries, but then they managed to complete other at a Top 10 University before being admitted to pursue their doctorate studies. I think that is unfair in a way, but it seems that is the way the game works. Hence, I'm really leaning towards changing my strategy for next cycle: perhaps completing a Masters in US/UK would signify a relevant credential to my application (as well as increasing my GRE scores to +330). Moreover, it really seems that my experience in public service does not mean much to PolSci departments (Public Policy schools would probably considering this background more positively).
Thanks again and all the best!