Waits

It seems those with the strongest applications like to come on here and post up their stats to get some kind of extrinsic confirmation to what they already know inside... Hmm ... yeah I can definitely see how it reads like that - apologies, not at all the case. I think firstly, coming from outside the US, I've a permanent fear of my qualifications not being recognised as equivalent - university prestige isn't really a factor in choosing your undergrad, so I don't have that, and final degree grade is just based on your last year of work, so transcripts from earlier years are, for most people mostly B's and C's But point taken!

Lol I hadn't even noticed that was there - I had thought of applying to pol sci a few years back, but since changed affiliations. Very happy with all the scores, but you know the way the mind gets irrational at these times!

I am getting zero work done at the job that I generally like a huge amount. I'd say the IT folks are wondering what this odd 'gradcafe' site that no one has ever heard of before is, now that its topping their usage stats. Bleugh. Long time lurker here - I applied to three top ten schools, and four top twenty schools. I've a 1450+ GRE and first class honours BA and MA from the UK (top 5% or so of both classes), confident of my reccs, writing sample etc, excellent fit with the schools I applied to. So I THOUGHT I should apply to top20 - but now I am wishing I had several safety schools, I'm so convinced I won't get in anywhere! Oh the drama...

Thanks! Yes, my own sanity is my major concern;-)

I submitted by application to Northwestern GSAS on December 15th. Since then, my application status has been showing as 'incomplete' and saying that my GRE scores haven't been received. However, I had my GRE scores sent to Northwestern when I took the test in June. I'm just wondering has anyone else had the same message? It might just be a delay in updating the system, but want to check if its something I should pursue?

***Bump*** This thread from a few years back pretty much EXACTLY sums up how I feel. Has anyone re-read and re-critiqued every part of every application a hundred times by now? And convinced themselves they were crazy to think they'd get in anywhere let alone all those presitigous programmes? Another two months of this madness...

Resurrecting this to warn all others from rereading SOPs once submitted! I just did and realised I forgot to remove a mention of Northwestern from my Chicago statement. Lordy. Ah well, I'm going to give the adcomms the credit of remembering what applying to so many places is like. ..... ??

Longtime lurker etc! Have just submitted two of six apps for sociology programmes. Usual trend of gone from very positive to thinking 'Why would anyone let me into Berkeley etc.?" overnight! Best keep busy for a few months!

Hello all, I had timed taking the GRE based on ETS' websites guidelines that it takes 10-15 days to report scores officially to you and your selected four schools, and then another five days to send out additional reports. So I'm taking the GRE on 4th November, and thought that was plenty time to ensure all my schools got scores before December deadlines. But now I'm reading in different forums that it can take 5-6 weeks for them to send out scores? Is it really that bad? I sort of presumed they were obliged to keep to whatever guidelines they give on their site ... naive?! Any experiences on this?

Thanks all for the advice, much appreciated! Yes, you're right, "qualitative" isn't quite what I was going for, it was more shorthand for "not focused exclusively on empirical work no matter what"! All those responses pretty much supports my own research - my own preferences at this stage would be Cornell, Northwestern and Chicago and Berkeley, with UCLA and Johns Hopkins as possibilities. What I've realised though is that (for theory at least) these are the more competitive schools, and I don't feel I could bank on any of them. I'm at a bit of a loss as to what sort of "safety" school I could add to that list. Any thoughts? Again, I've so little idea of my chances, I don't want to end up totally over-shooting! Thanks a million again!

Hi all, I'm currently beginning to plan applications to PhD programmes on both sides of the atlantic. As I'm sure you're aware, the process for applying to US universities is quite different to that for Ireland and the UK. I'm slaving away at a 3000 word PhD proposal for my UK applications which will have no bearing on US colleges, for one example! Anyhow, I have a few questions additional to the (very helpful!) information I've found here, I hope some of you have time to reply. 1) I'm a bit put off by US universities' reputation for placing a far greater emphasis on quantitative/empirical research than their European counterparts. Without starting a discussion on polsci methodology (another time!), I hope for some advice on which of the top-50 or so schools where this would not be the case. I am interested in post-structural political theory, radical democratic theory, post-foundational ethics, with a broad focus thematically on social justice issues, domestic and international. While all schools claim to be 'methodologically diverse' I presume some will be more so than others. Of course I understand that quantitiave methods study will be required, which I'm fine with, but are there higher ranking universities which have a reputation for being particularly strong in the "postie" side of things? I have of course been looking at faculty interests, but given the broader set of courses required by US universities 2) I'm at a bit of a loss as to my chances of being accepted into top universities, mostly because the whole issue of the quality of your university doesn't really translate to Ireland, where universities are more or less of an even quality (I think, at least!). I ranked in top 2% of Irish college entrance exams (A-level equivalent), and I did an undergrad (history and italian) and an MA (international politics), where I ranked in top 6% in both courses, with a 1:1/GPA in or around 4.0. The MA was quite research-heavy so I've a lot of writing experience, and training in methods and theory already. I'm certain nobody has heard of my universities, and they don't rank internationally (but I think international rankings are really only relevant to graduate study, since they are exclusively research-focused). Likewise my letters of reference would be great but again, from unheard of lecturers. I speak a lot of languages, and have since worked for a year with NGOs and a year with the UN. I'm aiming for above 700 in both GRE exams. But I suppose what I'm worried about is the lack of a "prestige" factor - is this enough for me to be doubtful about top25 or top 50 universities? Are international applicants' universities less significant? 3) This is a long shot, but are there schools where comprehensive exams consist of essays rather than examinations? 4) Is there any way to make use of that PhD proposal?!!! I'm sure I'll have thousands more questions! But any help much appreciated. Thanks!