Sad Politics

Claiming another WUSTL admit! But I did get it a couple minutes after @NeedaMormon posted so it does look like individual emails might still be rolling out.

It looks like an individual email from the DGS. Oh my goodness I am shaking and I should be focusing on the class I'm in right now.

I GOT INTO WUSTL OH MY GOSH

I have been a long time reader of the site and was wondering if anyone could give me a rough idea of where I should likely try to target my applications and what I can do over the rest of my junior year to increase my chances of getting into a better program. I posted once before but I figure since more people are on now it may be worthwhile to get s0ome more opinions from people who just went through the process
Type of undergrad institution: Public T40 in Political Science 
Major/Minor: Political Science / Economics and Statistics 
Overall GPA: 3.76 Major: 4.0 Statistics 3.75 Economics 3.4 (ouch I know)
Special Courses: One graduate level game theory course, one graduate level IPE course, analysis of economic data, econometrics, research methods in poli sci, multiple 4000 level stats courses 
GRE: I have been prepping for around 6 months and think a combined 325-330 is likely with mostly the same quant and verbal 
LOR: Two from professors, one Tenured I have done research with for one semester, 1 full in the school of business who I am co-authoring with and had a yearlong RAship turn into a DIS, the other is an economist by PhD but in the Poli Sci dept. and then a professor who knows me very well from the Community College I went to while I was dual enrolled in HS, also TT. 
Research: Full academic year of research on business sustainability, two DIS, another semester working with the political economy and game theory 
Teaching: None
Subfield/Interests: Mostly interested in IPE and Development 
Other: One poster presentation about the sustainability project, one co-authored paper with professor from business school and a presentation forthcoming in the fall and then a standard B.S. senior thesis. 
 
I really appreciate anyone who took the time to read this! I have been stressing like crazy over what to do where I can likely get in so anyone giving me a general range of colleges would be appreciated. 

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on a couple of acceptances I would kill for, especially given the current state of admissions. I also wanted to say that I appreciate your response. I’m scared my economics class GPA may mar my chances a little bit, I noticed you were in political economy so I wonder if you could speak at all to that. Second thing I would like to ask is as follows: given your recent cycle success, do you have a rough recommendation for the range of schools I should apply for? I was thinking it looked like the 15-25 range but I’d appreciate anything! 

Thank you  

I think that you have a strong profile. Getting a good GRE score would be very good for your chances. Even though the GRE may be optional for some programs, good scores would allow you to apply anywhere. Some places (e.g. NYU) still require the GRE. Apart from that, focus on writing a very good SOP and having a good writing sample. Ask your LORs and any academically inclined friends you have to read your file. Regarding where to apply, ask your POIs and check the kind of research done by the department to see if there is a fit with your interests. Rankings matter (it is obviously very hard to get into Stanford) but your fit with the department is also very important. In my experience this year, fit has been a far better predictor of where I get admitted than the ranking of the school. Start preparing your file early and you will have great chances. I wish you good luck in your applications next year. 

If anyone is comfortable moving outside the US/CA/EU spectrum, I wanted to recommend the master's degrees in IR/GA/PS offered at some top Korean universities. Most of their applications have yet to open for Fall 2021 and they offer generous scholarships to international students. 

Claiming an admit at Michigan (Law & Politics)! Received it yesterday, but it got stuck on my spam folder. 

Also waitlisted by Chicago. Congratulations to those admitted!

Claiming a Duke admit! Political Institutions/CP

Also waitlisted by Chicago. Congratulations to those admitted!

I GOT INTO UCHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

Claiming a Duke admit in Political Economy.

I have no idea how we'll really get this information virtually via Zoom...

And also same here

Also same here