StarkDark1

Echoing this.  This community made the stress and anxiety tolerable.  Best of luck to people applying next year!  

Thanks everyone for another season on this forum!
I'm proud to be associated with you all (even if we're anonymous) and grateful that we are such a good community! The main application thread had, as you can see, well above 500k views since November, which is really quite mind-blowing to me.
To those of you who will be reapply next year, I'll be back then and look forward to reconnect. I'll sign in from time to time and please feel free to reach out if there is anything I can do, help with, or give you advise on. I certainly do not know everything but I do know some things and would be happy to help.
Best wishes to you all!

Yes! It's not absolutely certain that you will, but I'd reach out tomorrow if you did not.

Just passing by to say thank you guys for the community that came together on this forum for this cycle. If you look at other programs in gradcafe, I would definitely say that we are one of the most active communities and a very positive and healthy one.
Fortunately, I will be attending a program next year, and I am very happy. The cycle was brutal; it is obvious that many people were not accepted even though they could surely be great scholars. I think that with so few slots to fill, budget restrictions, and more applications, those who, by effort or privilege (or a combination of both) were in a better position, are the ones that got prioritized.
This is not especial to the pandemic or to the discipline. Since programs make a huge investment in students, the natural behavior is to look not only for promising candidates but also for people who are less "noisy" about their information and qualifications. In other words, I think that committees are not only trying to look for high potential candidates but also for less risky candidates. That means that people with well-known recommenders or graduates of well-known programs (Bachelors or Masters) tend to fare better. As I said, this is only normal, but I think it was a more pervasive factor in the context of this cycle. 
So, for people that didn't have that but were outstanding students or had good "local" recommendations (I am thinking especially about people outside the US or Europe) and a good research experience track, the battle was more uphill. In my opinion, if you are passionate about politics and research but you did not get accepted, it makes sense to try again. Doing more RAships, working on research, trying to land small publications, maybe improving other parts of your application should be the way to go.

Congrats!  So happy for you!  I know how tough it's been waiting all this time.  Glad it all worked out.  ?

I got into UT Austin off their waitlist! Heard from them this morning (IR). I am DELIGHTED! And I will be accepting the offer  
I have also contacted Rice to ask them to take my name off their waitlist, so hopefully it might help someone there  

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad Institution: R2 private university 
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political science
Undergrad GPA: 3.98
Type of Grad: R2 public university
Grad GPA: 3.95
GRE: 165V/155Q/5.0V
Any Special Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 3 profs (1 independent study supervisor, 1 MA thesis supervisor, 1 professor from my MA).  
Teaching Experience: 2 terms of TAing.
Other: 
RESULTS: 
Acceptances: UC Irvine ($), UC Santa Cruz ($), UMass Amherst ($)
Rejections: Northwestern, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, UVA, 
Pending: Michigan (unlikely), UBC (unlikely), York, BU,  Boulder
Going to: I'll never tell ?
1. It definitely helps to reach out to professors beforehand.  I reached out to faculty for all 3 of the the programs I was admitted to.  It signals interest, and in a competitive year like this one, it's an additional boost to your application.
2. Start your SOP early.  I started mine 2 or 3 months before the deadlines, although some start even earlier.  My first and last paragraph were the same for all programs, but the contents were tailored to specific programs.  I wouldn't advise writing a generic SOP.  Adcoms can spot it in a mile away, and it won't do your application any favors.  Demonstrate interest by talking about your interests and how they fit with that of the program.
3. Make sure your SOP delves into specific research questions and puzzles, instead of just outlining the work of others.  During the last cycle, I made the mistake of spending 2 or 3 paragraphs outlining a professor's research, and then spending 2 or 3 sentences vaguely connecting it to my interests.  Needless to say, I wasn't successful that year.   The professors already know their own research, and I didn't need to provide a long summary of their work to demonstrate interest.  This year I devoted the bulk of my SOP (3 or 4 paragraphs or so) to fleshing out my own research question, and then I linked it with the profs' interests briefly.  If I was a prof, I think this is what I'd want to see.  They want to see that you can think for yourself and ask probing questions to research.  
4. I'm glad I did an MA, because I had a solid writing sample to attach to my application.  Definitely important to pick a good writing sample.
5. Make sure that the programs you are applying to are strong in your sub-field.  I applied to Michigan, for example, mainly because of its prestige.  But I realized after being on the wait that it is not so strong in theory.  My acceptances can compete with Michigan in theory, even though they may not have the same overall rank.
6. This has been an exceptionally tough year, so I just feel glad that I've either been accepted or wait listed at more than half the programs I applied to.  In the end, it was never-wracking, but I am happy with my results!  And this community has been wonderful.  
 
 
 

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad Institution: R2 private university 
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political science
Undergrad GPA: 3.98
Type of Grad: R2 public university
Grad GPA: 3.95
GRE: 165V/155Q/5.0V
Any Special Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 3 profs (1 independent study supervisor, 1 MA thesis supervisor, 1 professor from my MA).  
Teaching Experience: 2 terms of TAing.
Other: 
RESULTS: 
Acceptances: UC Irvine ($), UC Santa Cruz ($), UMass Amherst ($)
Rejections: Northwestern, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, UVA, 
Pending: Michigan (unlikely), UBC (unlikely), York, BU,  Boulder
Going to: I'll never tell ?
1. It definitely helps to reach out to professors beforehand.  I reached out to faculty for all 3 of the the programs I was admitted to.  It signals interest, and in a competitive year like this one, it's an additional boost to your application.
2. Start your SOP early.  I started mine 2 or 3 months before the deadlines, although some start even earlier.  My first and last paragraph were the same for all programs, but the contents were tailored to specific programs.  I wouldn't advise writing a generic SOP.  Adcoms can spot it in a mile away, and it won't do your application any favors.  Demonstrate interest by talking about your interests and how they fit with that of the program.
3. Make sure your SOP delves into specific research questions and puzzles, instead of just outlining the work of others.  During the last cycle, I made the mistake of spending 2 or 3 paragraphs outlining a professor's research, and then spending 2 or 3 sentences vaguely connecting it to my interests.  Needless to say, I wasn't successful that year.   The professors already know their own research, and I didn't need to provide a long summary of their work to demonstrate interest.  This year I devoted the bulk of my SOP (3 or 4 paragraphs or so) to fleshing out my own research question, and then I linked it with the profs' interests briefly.  If I was a prof, I think this is what I'd want to see.  They want to see that you can think for yourself and ask probing questions to research.  
4. I'm glad I did an MA, because I had a solid writing sample to attach to my application.  Definitely important to pick a good writing sample.
5. Make sure that the programs you are applying to are strong in your sub-field.  I applied to Michigan, for example, mainly because of its prestige.  But I realized after being on the wait that it is not so strong in theory.  My acceptances can compete with Michigan in theory, even though they may not have the same overall rank.
6. This has been an exceptionally tough year, so I just feel glad that I've either been accepted or wait listed at more than half the programs I applied to.  In the end, it was never-wracking, but I am happy with my results!  And this community has been wonderful.  
 
 
 

PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad Institution: R2 private university 
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political science
Undergrad GPA: 3.98
Type of Grad: R2 public university
Grad GPA: 3.95
GRE: 165V/155Q/5.0V
Any Special Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 3 profs (1 independent study supervisor, 1 MA thesis supervisor, 1 professor from my MA).  
Teaching Experience: 2 terms of TAing.
Other: 
RESULTS: 
Acceptances: UC Irvine ($), UC Santa Cruz ($), UMass Amherst ($)
Rejections: Northwestern, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, UVA, 
Pending: Michigan (unlikely), UBC (unlikely), York, BU,  Boulder
Going to: I'll never tell ?
1. It definitely helps to reach out to professors beforehand.  I reached out to faculty for all 3 of the the programs I was admitted to.  It signals interest, and in a competitive year like this one, it's an additional boost to your application.
2. Start your SOP early.  I started mine 2 or 3 months before the deadlines, although some start even earlier.  My first and last paragraph were the same for all programs, but the contents were tailored to specific programs.  I wouldn't advise writing a generic SOP.  Adcoms can spot it in a mile away, and it won't do your application any favors.  Demonstrate interest by talking about your interests and how they fit with that of the program.
3. Make sure your SOP delves into specific research questions and puzzles, instead of just outlining the work of others.  During the last cycle, I made the mistake of spending 2 or 3 paragraphs outlining a professor's research, and then spending 2 or 3 sentences vaguely connecting it to my interests.  Needless to say, I wasn't successful that year.   The professors already know their own research, and I didn't need to provide a long summary of their work to demonstrate interest.  This year I devoted the bulk of my SOP (3 or 4 paragraphs or so) to fleshing out my own research question, and then I linked it with the profs' interests briefly.  If I was a prof, I think this is what I'd want to see.  They want to see that you can think for yourself and ask probing questions to research.  
4. I'm glad I did an MA, because I had a solid writing sample to attach to my application.  Definitely important to pick a good writing sample.
5. Make sure that the programs you are applying to are strong in your sub-field.  I applied to Michigan, for example, mainly because of its prestige.  But I realized after being on the wait that it is not so strong in theory.  My acceptances can compete with Michigan in theory, even though they may not have the same overall rank.
6. This has been an exceptionally tough year, so I just feel glad that I've either been accepted or wait listed at more than half the programs I applied to.  In the end, it was never-wracking, but I am happy with my results!  And this community has been wonderful.  
 
 
 

I just moved off from the waitlist and got accepted at UGA's PhD program.  IR/subfield.
I'm so thrilled!!!!!

I do agree with the above comments. I am also telling him just pick one. Extra time he will get like 15 days or even a month won’t change anything his life but would have a huge effect on others. He is in the psychology department by the way- most political science applicants asked me the name of the schools. One reason, I guess, why he does this that graduate director from one university pushes him to accept or decline the offer as soon as possible even the deadline is the midst of April. It does not legitimatize his actions but he received four or five e-mails from the director. I think it is also weird but anyway I will tell him to decline other offer since those two universities, as you said, are not different that much from each other. Thanks everyone!! I will show him the comments too which can be harsh but maybe can make him decline the other offer!!

I doubt that most universities will have that knowledge. However, in the upper tiers it would not surprise me if adcoms across schools were in conversation with one another in order to admit as efficiently as possible. They all know one another anyway.
Having seen many people struggle through this process, I have fairly strong opinions about this stuff.
As you suggested yourself, the real problem is that it's really unethical to accept two offers knowing that one will ultimately have to return to one of the schools with some excuse. There are so many waitlisted people, sitting on the edges of their seats, waiting to hear back from somewhere. And it's devastating to have no where to go after after having been waitlisted for, say, three months. Maybe it is possible to admit people after they have been rejected from the waitlist, but it's not very nice for anyone. Besides, persons rejected from a waitlist (due to your friend's decision) may then make other arrangements and then accept other offers if they have any. So people who are re-admitted off the waitlist must now 1. either do what your friend did and turn down a school from which they had just accepted an offer, or 2, still due to your friends actions, loose out on (maybe) their dream school and stick with their original acceptance. And this is all because your friend could not decide between two offers. Your friend's actions may have pretty far reaching consequences and I would appeal to him by pointing these consequences out.
An even more serious problem is that your friend starts his career in political science by lying, or being deceitful at least, to a whole bunch of people who have decided to take a chance on him. Perfect strangers who wanted to give him an opportunity. It seems to me that people like your friend is not just a "person who happens to lie" at a moment, he is just a liar. And it would not surprise me if his general attitude is in favor of cutting corners and do whatever is expedient in any given situation. This does not bode well for a career in academia and I would hope that such a person would reflect on his priorities. I do not know exactly what it takes to succeed in academia (does anyone?) but I do know that the kind of attitude that your friend seems to embody will not get him far. Literally everyone sees through that stuff right away.
I said above that adcoms will likely not find out that one has accepted two offers - but if they do it would not surprise me for a moment if both programs retracted their offers. This should be deterrence enough. If I was you I would grab my friend encourage them to do the right thing. Besides, if your friend has a hard time choosing it's likely that the two offers are equivalent. So just pick one.
I don't mean to come across overly harsh, but the whole application process takes a psychological, and even physical, toll on so many people and what your friend is planning on doing makes this, already very difficult process, even harder for everyone.

April 15th is approaching everyone and this is a very nerve-wracking time!!! Hang in there!!
I've both been rejected and accepted off a waitlist and know how tough the wait is. I was literally going insane checking and rechecking my email. It seems that most students with offers really do not make up their minds before April 15th so be prepared to wait another 2 weeks or so. In the unfortunate event that you do not get off the waitlist, you leave the application process with very important knowledge. There is a program out there that wants you and your chances should be good if you decide to apply again next year. My point is that if it does not work out, it's not all for nothing.
Anyway, good luck everyone!! I really hope you all get admitted to your program of choice!

I can log in to portal, too. I guess it was just an error that they fixed. I e-mailed York again telling that almost all universities in US and Canada released the results. They responded  "Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control, we do not have results to report on PhD admissions for international students. We are hopeful that these results can be released in the next few weeks."

Anyone who applied to York: are you also having difficulties with logging into MyFile? 

Hey All, 
Not sure if this has already been talked about, but US-News has recently updated their Political Science rankings for the first time since 2016. While the importance of ranking in actual outcome can be debated until the sun goes down, it is still noteworthy when they update the ranking list. 
Take a look (link)

Claiming an acceptance from Cornell off the waitlist in CP. So thrilled! 
2a/2w/8r/1p

Hey yall, I got off of the waitlist at Maryland as well this week and am likely to accept their offer after speaking with my advisor. I plan on declining my Illinois offer soon, hopefully that helps one of you guys! Thanks to those who made it possible for me to get off of my waitlists, and thanks for all the support on this forum and good luck to all ❤️

If you're talking about York-- I emailed them recently, and they told me they hope to get back to international applicants in the next few weeks.  

Hello! Yes,indeed, thats what they have told me too. Lets wait for some time and keep each other informed if we get an update!

Accepted off the waitlist at UIUC! I am so relieved and thrilled and all of the emotions!

Just wanted to say I've enjoyed being on this forum.  Thank you all for being so supportive! This place has been a haven amid all the stress and anxiety.
I'm still waiting on a couple of programs I'm interested in (Michigan and UBC).  I also have a UCI acceptance, so at this point I know I'll be going to one of these 3 schools.  It might take a month to hear back from the waitlist though, so I'll be bowing out. 
Best of luck to everyone!
 
 

Just wanted to say I've enjoyed being on this forum.  Thank you all for being so supportive! This place has been a haven amid all the stress and anxiety.
I'm still waiting on a couple of programs I'm interested in (Michigan and UBC).  I also have a UCI acceptance, so at this point I know I'll be going to one of these 3 schools.  It might take a month to hear back from the waitlist though, so I'll be bowing out. 
Best of luck to everyone!
 
 

Just wanted to say I've enjoyed being on this forum.  Thank you all for being so supportive! This place has been a haven amid all the stress and anxiety.
I'm still waiting on a couple of programs I'm interested in (Michigan and UBC).  I also have a UCI acceptance, so at this point I know I'll be going to one of these 3 schools.  It might take a month to hear back from the waitlist though, so I'll be bowing out. 
Best of luck to everyone!
 
 

JUST GOT A FULLY FUNDED OFFER FROM CONCORDIA!!!!!