Bibica

Agree with @Comparativist. Most of the programs I was accepted to would require you to take comps in 2 subfields (and credit out of one more). These are not that important, however--one professor told me that if you passed with honors you were trying too hard. They are boxes to check, but in the job market it matters more what you've written/published and how you sell yourself.

In your position, I would choose Chicago. The money thing is no joke, and not having an MA thesis would concern me. I think the most important thing you should ask yourself (outside of personal stuff like, "am I willing to spend $73k for a year-long program," which some people are more okay with than others) is: at the end of this year (or two), will I have three letter writers who have worked with me/gotten to know me/can attest to the quality of my work? I personally feel this is easier wen an MA thesis is involved, but it is also largely up to you. I don't know any people pursuing MAs at these schools, but if you could get in touch with some of them and ask them whether the faculty makes time for them, that would probably aid your decision more than any advice we can give here, unfortunately.

That's too general. Maybe some men are, but many very intelligent women are in happy relationships with men. I feel awkward putting myself in the category of "successful women" but I'm personally in a relationship, and have been for 3 years. Before that I'd been single a while, but I never felt that I couldn't get a date, just that I didn't want to date at that point in time. Maybe you should open yourself up to different types of relationships? You mentioned in another thread that you're only attracted to academics, but plenty of non-academics are intelligent and interested in smart/funny/interesting women. A lot of people meet their partners online nowadays, so that's an option. There's also nothing wrong with being single... although I have noticed that when people focus on themselves and getting to a good place in life, they'll often stumble into a healthy relationship along the way.

Keck retired at JHU. She was a big deal.

@Mike_Novick thanks! I'm not decided yet, but I'm really grateful. It sounds like your scores are fine, and networking may be the answer, as well as reworking your SOP and everything suggested above. Let me know if you ever need any help with that! There are scholars doing qualitative work at Princeton, Yale, and Notre Dame that I know of. Others probably, I lean more toward quantitative work so I don't know.

@StrengthandHonor all things equal I would go to the higher ranked institution. By all things though I do include funding, location, etc. You need to be happy to be productive, so if Program B is in a great city near people you know/love then that may tip the scales. Otherwise, A.

Hey @Mike_Novick, sorry to hear you didn't get into the schools you wanted this time around. Also, greetings from a fellow Brazilian (admittedly with dual citizenship, so our experiences don't overlap as much as our research interests). Is there any possibility of you taking classes in/doing work through a Brazilian research institution? I'm thinking FGV or something similar; there are many Brazilians there that are well-known in American academic circles, which otherwise tend to be insular and hard to penetrate (imho). For example, Cesar Zucco is there, and Lucio Renno is at UnB (don't know where you're at). Maybe connecting with academics who float between Brazilian and American institutions will help. Collaborating on something with one of them (or someone similar) would be a huge help. I don't know how your GRE went--would that be something you could improve upon? I know the Brazilian grading system does not translate well into GPA, so perhaps a weakness in these hard numbers affected you as well? You might also benefit from looking at institutions that emphasize methodological pluralism or even which explicitly favor qualitative methods, since that is where the bulk of your experiences lie. If you decide to get an MA in the US/UK, that would help, but also come with a pretty hefty price tag. Policy programs might be good since they weigh your work experience more, I think. Honestly, so much of academia is networking, that unfortunately international students are placed at a disadvantage from the get-go.

I agree with @VMcJ. Although I would also say that within the Top 5 or 7 (basically, CHYMPS + Berkeley, etc.) your personal fit with the faculty matters much more than the subfield rankings. This is especially true for comparative politics, I think, where some programs are really strong in some regions but not in others (Stanford, for example, has only one Latin Americanist that I know of. Columbia, much further down the rankings, has 2 or 3.)

Might want to ask in the Government Affairs forum.

Agree with everything that's been said above, but I also want to add that there's no problem with saying you're weak in X area (like quant.) and want to improve upon it. You might even learn about extra resources on campus to help you address those weaknesses. For example, I have a very limited methods background (at least, compared to some of my friends who transferred from math/physics to political science). I mentioned this concern to a potential adviser, stressing that, while it isn't my best subject right now, I am really interested in and excited about the methods training at the university. He explained to me what we are expected to know going into the program and gave me suggestions for what to read/practice before then. Your program might also have a stats/methods boot-camp situation for people coming in with no background in quantitative methods. You wouldn't want to miss out on something like that. Lastly, though, I would say it is important to dedicate time this summer to mindless fun, since you'll be busy over the next several years (not to say you won't have fun, but you probably won't have weeks without work). I think this is especially important if you're coming out of undergrad, and likely moving away from your friends/support network.

@RevTheory1126--same. Just received the email. Officially done with this cycle! What a relief.

So rank tends to matter for people who are going into academia in the U.S. I'm not sure how much it matters for you, or whether you should consider fit the most. Will you be attending visiting days? I would recommend doing that, talking to professors at UCLA and Cornell to determine fit, and then making your decision. You could also email Cornell and see when they expect to let you know their final decision--technically you don't have to say yes to any schools until April 15th, so if you aren't 100 percent sure of where you want to go then I would wait.

Hey @em97! I am considering both of these programs, also for Comparative Politics (regional concentration in Latin America, I'd be getting a minor in Methods). I really recommend emailing/calling potential advisors--I have had the opportunity to speak to faculty and graduate students at both schools and it has been very helpful. They're generally pretty honest/don't sugar coat things. I would say that both institutions are probably going to be liberal leaning, as are most college campuses across the country. As far as rankings, the US News ones are based off of how professors in the field view each program, so I would say to look to them. They're so close in ranking that it wouldn't really matter, I don't think. Both are well respected Ivies, so I wouldn't worry about public reputation either. If you aren't sold on academia, I would say Columbia is your best bet. You say location does not matter but being near so many NGOs (and the UN) can only help you. You'd also have SIPA as a resource at Columbia, which would put you in contact with more policy-focused/non-academic types.

It usually takes a little while. If you're eager to get one you could email Thom Wall, but at this point it is safe to assume rejection if you haven't heard back.

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad Institution: Ivy League Major(s)/Minor(s): Government/Sociology double-major, Latin American Studies minor Undergrad GPA: 3.87 Type of Grad: N/A Grad GPA: N/A GRE: 168V/160Q/5.5AW Any Special Courses: Methods course, Python, 2 seminars in Latin American Politics Letters of Recommendation: 2 well-known Latin Americanists, one was my thesis adviser in Government. 1 sociology professor, thesis adviser and Director of Undergraduate Studies. Research Experience: Research assistant for 2 professors, 2 university-funded undergraduate research projects, 1 summer research program with a well-known Latin Americanist at a different institution, 2 honors theses. Teaching Experience: N/A Subfield/Research Interests: Comparative Politics, regional focus on Latin America, substantial interest in political behavior RESULTS: Acceptances($$ or no $$): UT Austin ($$), UNC ($$), Pittsburgh ($$), UMN ($$), Princeton ($$), Berkeley ($$), Yale ($$), Columbia ($$), Johns Hopkins* Waitlists: Duke Rejections: Harvard Pending: Notre Dame (implied rejection) Going to: OMG NO IDEA * Declined before official offer/funding details LESSONS LEARNED: - I think the strongest parts of my profile were my personal statement and my letter writers. There is something to be said for making strong connections with people in your field. You do this my networking (which is hard, I know) and by being an attentive scholar. Go to office hours, volunteer for research projects (just ask!). - Extra-curricular are not important unless they relate to your work as a scholar/contribute to skills that would make you a successful PhD student. For people with a few years left, try to find a research group, do summer research, take methods classes or join a club that does consulting, etc. - Calm down. Step away from your computer. You will be absolutely miserable refreshing your email all the time. I did not take this advice, and now have to work twice as hard to finish my thesis in time. I wish I had kept it all in perspective. - Impostor syndrome is real. Remember that you’ve worked damn hard to be here and that countless people have done the same to push you to this point. Don’t dishonor your work or theirs. - Rejection hurts, no matter what. Keep in mind that rejection of your application is not a rejection of you or your work. There are a lot of reasons why a department would have to cut you from their consideration. There will always be stuff you wish you had done better, but don’t obsess over it. - No one has really mentioned it so I thought I should. Applying with an SO is hard, even in the best of circumstances (and I think I/we got incredibly lucky). Be honest with one another from the start, it will make or break your relationship. How much are you willing to compromise on location/program? Are you willing to do long distance? How much distance? These are all important considerations that you should discuss BEFORE acceptances start rolling in. A lot of people make love in graduate school work, but others don't, and you need to be realistic in your expectations. SOP: PM me, I’ll consider it.