FlynnMAK24

Oooops! Will find the appropriate thread

Hey folks... love this thread and the specificity of the answers I see on here. Definitely looking for feedback and thoughts on how I can increase my competitiveness given that my top program has just decided to wait on accepting new Phd candidates until the fall 2022 term due to COVID. This gives me some time to consider if I need to do anything to up my chances, what I can do to get there, etc. So here goes: I'm applying to a narrow list of schools as there really are only a few that are doing research in my interest area (especially within the top 20 which everyone continues to advise is the only way to go). Generally speaking, I'm interested in environmental security and peacebuilding and am looking at Phds in relevant fields (international relations, public policy, political science, etc.) I think my background is... perhaps a bit confusing? But is generally all relevant. Undergraduate institution: A pretty much no-name liberal arts college. A real pro is that students graduating from this school have to pass written and oral comprehensive exams, plus conduct some kind of senior project, in order to get their degree. I earned Distinction on my comps. But again... the school itself is not well known or notable outside of its own small network. Undergraduate GPA: 3.382 Undergraduate Major: BA in International Political Economy Graduate Institution: A much more competitive and well-known professional masters program. Routinely ends up in Foreign Policy's top 20 (although at the lower end). Not an academic sort of place, but not NOT that as well. Mostly trains people for work in government or with NGOs/IGOs. Strong reputation for service and distinguished alumni in various fields around the world. All students have to take languages AND economics to graduate. Graduate GPA(s): Cumulative - 3.83 (MPA - 3.85 / MA - 3.79) Graduate Degrees: Master of Public Administration with concentrations in Sustainable Development and Conflict Resolution and a Master of Arts in International Environmental Policy Studies with a concentration in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Economics. GRE scores are... not great but not terrible (I hope): GRE Quantitative Score: 154 GRE Verbal Score: 163 GRE Analytical Writing Score: 6 Quant/Research Background: Lots of sort of ad hoc work in analysis and some basic applied statistical stuff. Mostly program evaluations with non-profits/NGOs and stuff in indicator design and assessment. Worked at an on-campus analysis initiative while in grad school. I think of myself as a "numbers guy" but have a loooot to learn (GRE probably reflects that) Schools applying to: American University School of International Service PhD in International Relations, UT Austin LBJ School PhD in Public Policy, Duke PhD in Environmental Policy. Other possible applications: May also apply to UC Irvine in their Social Ecology program... they have an environmental security guy there and maaaayyy apply to Josef Korbel at U Denver for the PhD in International Affairs. Have to learn more about how competitive I am and where I could go at those schools. Years Out of Undergrad: 6 Years of Work Experience: 3 full time post-graduate school, but also worked part-time doing relevant stuff throughout graduate school for 2.5 years and a year before that post undergrad. Combined I'd say that counts for essentially 5 or so years of professional experience. Describe Relevant Work Experience: This is where things might get confusing mostly because it jumps around a lot. But again...all relevant. In reverse chronological order - Currently waiting on clearance to begin a Program Analyst position in the policy division of an environmental bureau of a federal government department. - Peace Corps Volunteer (Community and Economic Development) - Regional Organizer with a major environmental advocacy organization - Full-time Assistant Professor of International Relations at my undergraduate program (immediately post-graduate school, served as a visiting scholar and helped take the program through a period of transition as the only POLS/IR faculty member on campus that year. Taught 12 courses across the breadth of the program.) -Environmental Education Program Facilitator with a land trust - Instructor of International Politics and Economics at a summer college program in my home state -Various analytical and consulting jobs I did with NGOs in grad school and for a little while after (again, mostly in program eval but also organizational assessment and policy analysis) - TA for Development Economics for 2 years of grad school (worked with 2 faculty and actually taught a parallel course for students taking Dev Econ) -Data Analysis Coordinator with an on-campus analysis initiative -Program Facilitator/Trainer leading workshops in Excel and RQDA for grad students / local nonprofits/NGOs -Community Development Research Specialist with a small nonprofit in my home state after college Other qualifications: Certificate in Project Management for International Development, three foreign languages (Spanish - Intermediate, Albanian - Intermediate, Macedonian - Intermediate) Strength of LORs: I think they'll be pretty strong, but no one can fully speak to my research ability because of my liberal arts/professional masters background.

Hey folks I've actually got a few of questions under that more general heading I've titled this post with. They're listed and explained a bit below. 1. Best programs to explore that fit my interests Generally speaking, I'm looking to conduct policy-relevant research in the field of environmental security. Research Focus: I'm particularly interested in the relationships between regional environmental change and specific sub-national conflict dynamics related to armed groups, polarization between conflict parties, and national governance in developing states, as well as how environment specific humanitarian aid and response programs can be designed to best encourage peacebuilding in these environments. Where I'm looking: I'm mostly interested in US-based programs, largely due to the fact that they generally offer more training and I'm coming from a more applied research/non academic background in some key respects. Currently, I've shortlisted Duke's University Program in Environmental Policy (UPEP), the School of International Service (SIS) at American University, George Mason's School for Conflict Analysis & Resolution (SCAR), and the LBJ School of Public Policy at University of Texas at Austin. This feels like a very narrow list, but I've been unable (so far) to find better matches. I'm curious if anyone as any insight that might be able to expand my search? IE what programs offer similar degrees with similar foci and have possible faculty matches? 2. Typical Funding Amounts at a few programs I've been looking into Another thing I'm trying to find out is if there is any data available on what I *might* be able to expect in terms of funding. Obviously this is dependent on a lot of factors, many of which will be grounded in my application, but a general range of funding amounts or an exact amount for the typical package at fully funded programs would be helpful in decision-making about my search. Some places publish this info, others don't seem to from what I've found. But if anyone on here has pursued similar degrees at the institutions I've mentioned above (Duke, American, U Texas at Austin, George Mason) or any others, I'd be interested to hear from you. 3. How my own profile stacks up (i.e. how competitive am I and where should that lead me to set my sights) Finally, I'm well aware of the pressure to get into a top program if you desire a career in academia (although I see my own career kind of straddling work in universities with work in government or policy think tanks) and I'd be curious to get some general opinions on the basic elements of my profile. I'll list these below: Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in International Political Economy, GPA 3.34, Graduated Cum Laude, Bethany College, 2014. Bethany is a small liberal arts college in WV without much reach but it does distinguish itself in being one of the last hold outs in requiring students to take Senior Comprehensive Exams in order to earn their degree. I earned Distinction on my exams and got an A on my senior research project on the effects of FDI flows on developing state labor market regulations. I was also a member of three honors societies, Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science), Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics), & Pi Gamma Mu (Social Sciences) Graduate Degrees: Master of Public Administration in Economic Policy & Development, GPA 3.85, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, 2016 & an MA in Environmental Policy & Natural Resource Management, GPA 3.79, also MIIS, 2017. This was a dual degree program at a sort of mid-tier professional graduate institution. MIIS consistently ranks around the lower levels of the Top 20 in Foreign Policy's Best Masters Programs for Careers in International Relations but is not a research-focused school and does not traditionally train people for careers in academia. Research Experience: Largely applied research projects with various NGOs around the world. I have a decent bit of training in quantitative research methods, and some qualitative, and have applied my knowledge to program evaluations, policy analysis research design projects, composite indicator design for international development, and community based research projects with small NGOs. Relevant Professional Experience: I'll explain some of this stuff in the comments if it's needed but here's a list: - Currently a Peace Corps Volunteer serving as a Community & Economic Development Associate in N. Macedonia - Regional Organizer/Campaign Liason with the Climate Reality Project -Assistant Professor of Political Science & International Relations at Bethany College (full time, taught multiple courses including American Politics, International Relations, International Development, Environmental Politics, International Terrorism, International Human Rights Law & Policy, Advanced Policy Writing & Design Seminar, Research Methods in Political Science, Political Economy, etc.) -Consultant with multiple NGOs Foreign Languages: Albanian (Intermediate High), Macedonian (Intermediate Low), Spanish (Intermediate Mid) Anyway... thanks for reading through this if you've made it this far haha