bigmood

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad Institution: R1 Big state school Major(s)/Minor(s): BS Political Science, minor in Economics Undergrad GPA: 3.2 Type of Grad: n/a Grad GPA: n/a GRE: V162/Q168/AWA4.5 Any Special Courses: computer science and advanced math coursework, advanced research methods Letters of Recommendation: one professor who's my research adviser, professor who's the head my my undergraduate thesis program, professor who taught my methods class Research Experience: independent undergraduate research and a senior thesis, department award for top undergrad research paper Teaching Experience: n/a Subfield/Research Interests: American, political methodology Other: Started school as a computer science major so my math and coding skills are above average RESULTS: Acceptances($$ or no $$): Princeton $$, TAMU $$, Emory $$, URochester $$, WUSTL $$, NYU $$ Waitlists: Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, UCSD, UNC- Chapel Hill Pending: Going to: LESSONS LEARNED: 1. Fit and research matters more than your numbers 2. Talk to as many faculty members as you can about where you're thinking of applying, what their experiences were like (esp. if they went to a program you're interested in) 3. Apply to schools even if you question if you have a shot; PhD admissions are unpredictable and mildly arbitrary sometimes

Princeton and URochester have both cancelled. Princeton says they'll try and do a virtual event.

Anyone hear anything from UNC? I’m just antsy to get some sort of answer at this point. Considering they had an earlier deadline than a lot of my other programs, I’m a little bummed to have not heard anything by now.

I got admitted to a top 5 school with a <3.4 GPA, but I had good research experience, pretty solid LoRs, and a good fit with faculty in the department. I think things like GPA and GRE are less important than people think they are sometimes.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Sub 3.5 GPA and so far I have acceptances from two top 20 and two 20-25 schools. I think research fit makes such a difference when departments are reviewing applications.

Anyone have info on the two people who've posted acceptances into Harvard's Government program? I thought their decisions usually came out kind of late?

Claiming another acceptance for Princeton!