kufambrian

Has anyone else received a strange email from OSU saying "congratulations on being admitted" with virtual tour dates, dates, they previously received an email stating that the program was full? I'm really confused. Thinking they may have just sent it out to everyone who applied on accident.

This was my first cycle applying to PhD programs, and I was rejected by all of the schools I applied to. The natural next step is for me to gain research experience as a research assistant to boost my application. I have two degrees, one in psychology and one in polisci. Where I live, there are only psych research assistant jobs, and no political research jobs (as far as I can tell from looking in the job field for the past year). I can't move within the next 6 months because of my lease, so I have to accept a one or two year research contract here in Portland, Oregon. I've had interviews recently for higher-profile psych research jobs, and I expect at least one offer soon. Because of this, I'm wondering if having psych research experience will be irrelevant to future politics PhD applications since it isn't in the same field. I am, however, mainly interested in political psychology and only applied to (and intend to apply to) programs that have a poli psych minor. What is everyone's opinion?

I'm under the impression that at this point, since I haven't received a UW-Madison interview, I'll probably be rejected. Disappointing--my OSU application also says pending still.

U Michigan - Ann Arbor, OSU, U Minnesota - Twin Cities, and U Wisconsin - Madison. I'm specifically interested in polarization and urban-rural divides, as well as political psych (I have degrees in polisci and psych), and these are the only four programs in the country that meet those interests. I think applying to less is better if they're the best fit! Also, I couldn't afford to apply to more.

Hi, all, I'm a junior at small liberal arts college that is top-ranked in private research universities. I'm also graduating a year early, so I'm currently 19--not sure if that matters in my applications. I will be submitting applications for a political science PhD next November and December, with current top schools being Stanford and UC Berkeley (I plan on expanding my school choices after more research). I aim to include some psychology in my PhD, if possible. Because of this, I'm trying to make a list of everything I need to maximize my chances at getting accepted. So far, I am double-majoring in Political Science and Psychology with a 3.98 GPA. I have TA'd for one class and will be doing so again during the spring semester of this year (the first was a humanities class and the second will be psychology). I have taken college math only up to pre-calculus at a CC in high school, and general elementary statistics in college. I don't have time to take Calc I and II unless I drop my psychology major to a minor--thoughts? I have interned in one major state-level campaign and will be interning in another state campaign this spring. I am currently in a psychology research methods and statistics class, in which I am doing a group study on EDC exposure (more biology/psych than anything); I'm first author. We are going to submit it for publication after it is complete. This will be my most notable paper and project before I submit my applications. Although it is not related to polisci, should I submit it as my writing sample? Polisci research at my university is difficult, because while the faculty in my department are fairly well-known, there are only 4 faculty members. I've asked about research opportunities and am waiting for a response, but I fear they will be difficult to find. However, I have the opportunity to further research on the EDC study next year; this would be a biology/psych study as opposed to polisci. Does it matter if my research opportunities are in political science? Overall, what does it look like I will be lacking and what parts of my college career appear strong? I appreciate all the feedback I can get.