[Chances at a Top School]

Thank you for your honest feedback! It's very helpful for me as I consider my way forward.

[Chances at a Top School]

Thank you! This is encouraging for me. I will definitely work hard on that quant, as well as the writing sample. Seems like a simple thing, but your anonymous vote of confidence is really meaningful as I try to reaffirm my decision to go for it. Thanks!!!

[Chances at a Top School]

Hello! I'm posting this in the hopes of getting someone's take on my chances at a top 10-15 poli sci phd program. I know that fit matters a lot and that it's a crapshoot, so I'm not expecting "the truth about whether I'll get in" or whatever. Just people's honest take.

My sense is that my chances of getting into a top place are somewhere in the range of *low but not miniscule*. Does that seem about right based on my stats/record below? I suppose I'm asking because although I know I really want this, if my chances are closer to zero than I think, it might not be worth me busting my ass to try to get in. Any insights people might have would be appreciated.

Type of Undergrad Institution: Top-30 U.S. University
Major(s)/Minor(s): Poli sci
Undergrad GPA: 3.7 (Grades improved by a lot as I went on, if that helps--but that might be wishful thinking)
GRE: V: 165, Q: 160 (haven't taken yet, so I'm basing this on practice tests so far)
Any Special Courses: (1) Studied a politically relevant language throughout college (2) one grad-level poli sci class
Letters of Recommendation: Two from poli sci profs that should be strong, third should also be very positive but sadly not from a poli sci prof
Research Experience: Senior thesis for which I got Magna Cum Laude. Attempting to get a chapter of it published (in an undergrad journal if nothing else) by apps time.