territhemayor

So I have yet to hear anything at all from Notre Dame. Anyone received an official rejection from them yet? I want my hundred bucks back!

Type of Undergrad Institution: Top 10 liberal arts college Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science (Theory) Undergrad GPA: 3.85/4.0 Type of Grad:N/A Grad GPA: GRE: V 169 / Q 159 / AW 6 Any Special Courses: Letters of Recommendation: 1 from mentor, respected but not famous polisci prof (somewhat straussian), 2 non poli sci, Research Experience: Nothing special, honors thesis. Teaching Experience: None Subfield/Research Interests: Theory Other: RESULTS: Acceptances($$ or no $$): Duke phd ($$), Chicago MAPSS (70% funding), New School MA (70% funding), NYU MA (No funding). Waitlists: None Rejections: Harvard (assumed), Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Social Thought, NYU, Northwestern, Cornell, Berkeley, Pending: Notre Dame, Cambridge MPHIL intellectual history (expected acceptance) Going to: Duke LESSONS LEARNED: SOP: Took some risks and proposed an original, somewhat unconventional area of study in political theory. I do not think this was well received, although I still believe it to be important and interesting. I don't regret doing it because I still had a good outcome, but it's possible that a more conventional SOP could have intrigued other schools more. My mentor has major connections to Duke and has sent several other successful students there, so his recommendation counted for much more than any other shortcomings in my file (i.e. unconventional SOP). So I guess I would suggest looking at the personal connections your professors have and exploiting the opportunities there. Also, I recommend definitely looking beyond the top 10; there are so few spots there, you can easily come back with all rejections. But in the end, I trust those departments that rejected me. As far as I can tell, grad admissions is about fit above all, and the professors themselves are the best judge of that fit. So I trust their decision not to want to work with me is the best one. Plus a part of me wonders if things would have been better if I had just been rejected everywhere and dodged the academia bullet altogether. Only time will tell. Good luck to all.

Got my no from northwestern which makes me 1a/8r/3p I'm happy with my acceptance and will probably be going to Duke (theory).

They'll probably get to you soon enough. Yale reject here lol

anyone claiming the u Chicago social thought admit?

Someone post this brown letter if it's so harsh!

Is there anything I should do once I get into a program? Duke sent me a welcome letter from the DGS. Should I respond with a thank you or just radio silence until I have something to say?

Accepted duke for theory. First acceptance. Spoooky feeling. Good luck to all.

In case nothing works out for me for theory phds this cycle (all quasi-rejections so far), what's the protocol for MA programs? Anyone have any info about the best MA programs for political theory? I've heard of Chicago's and Cambridge Mphil in intellectual history. Are these MAs thought to be worth it or a complete waste of time?

Anyone have a clue about when the u Chicago committee on social thought sends acceptances? Congrats to all, by the way!

Haven't heard a peep from Northwestern, Princeton, or Berkeley. Applied to all three. So I guess those are three no's. Still waiting for duke, Chicago, and many others. Still, thought all three were pretty good fits for me. Theory subfield here. It's a tough game we're in, boys and girls. Good luck to all.