Hi
I am a native Chinese and a senior undergraduate studying a top 4 university in China. I will apply to several terminal MA programs in Political Science (Duke, UVA, GWU, UC Riverside, Syracuse, and NYU IR), and East Asian Studies (Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, USC, GWU, etc). Could you please evaluate my profile? I would be extremely grateful if you could give me some suggestions.
Major: Japanese Studies.
No double majors or minors
With relevant coursework in political science all passed with A+
GPA: 3.91/4.00; rank: 1/22
Study abroad:
One exchange semester in Japan
Two winter/summer sessions in South Korea
TOEFL ibt: 109 (R30, L30, S23, W25); I was disppointed by the writing score so I have retaken it and I am waiting for the score.
GRE: V 164 (94%); Q 163 (84%); AWA 4 (60%)
Research experience:
RA for a professor of international relations in South Korea: IR realism theory and relevant case studies;
RA for two professors in my home university: contemporary Sino-Japanese relations;
One undergraduate research program in my home university: ethnic and national identity issues in China.
LoR: It is said that letters from Chinese professors would not be trusted. I am planning to have one Korean professor, one American professor and one Chinese professor to write letters for me. I am not sure whether or not their letters will be very strong.
Research interests: IR theory (realism); East Asian International Relations; Ethnic politcs in China
Language skills: Mandarin Chinese(native); Japanese(nearly native); Korean(novice)
Technical skills: R
I have yet to start working on my writing sample......