animal_whisperer

PROFILE
Type of Undergrad Institution: State School (R2)
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science and Economics 
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: didn't take 
Any Special Courses: lots of quant background, even though my subfield and speciality don't require much (or any) quant. 
Letters of Recommendation: extremely good. All three are professors that worked/supervised me for years. 
Teaching Experience: Not a TA position, but similar teaching capacities/responsibilities at the undergraduate level 
Other: research conference presentations, thesis, research grants  
RESULTS
Acceptances: University of Michigan, UChicago, Berkeley
Waitlists: Cornell
Rejections: Princeton, Northwestern  
LESSONS LEARNED
This cycle was very challenging so kudos to everyone that had the energy/resources to go through it!!
I don't come from a background that 'preps' you for academia/graduate school, quite the opposite actually. For future applicants that have the odds stacked against them, start preparing early!! Make spreadsheets, go through each faculty profile, go through graduate student profiles, look at recent graduates, recent dissertations, etc..Determining fit is much harder than people make it out to be. I still believe that I was rejected from places that had a much better fit for me. However, you can't tell if your professor of interest is not taking any students this year, going on leave, new hiring happening, grad students with similar research interests are staying longer than expected, or if there's no grad student with similar research interests. This is why it is very important to reach out to grad students that have similar interests. Don't send them vague emails!! Make sure you have done your research and ask questions that can help you determine if you should apply and how to tailor your SOP. A lot of grad students would be happy to help and direct you. Also, look into PhD pipeline programs, diversity visits, and summer research opportunities. Anything to signal basic familiarity with the field would be helpful (depending on your background, extensive knowledge of graduate level political science is not needed nor expected). 
 
Also, tailor your SOPs!!! Don't write them with only 1-2 faculty in mind, think about the department and subfield as well. I didn't tailor my SOPs, and I regret that (also, good SOPs take a lot of time). 
 
Always happy to connect with future applicants!! Good luck to all. ?

PROFILE
Type of Undergrad Institution: State School (R2)
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science and Economics 
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: didn't take 
Any Special Courses: lots of quant background, even though my subfield and speciality don't require much (or any) quant. 
Letters of Recommendation: extremely good. All three are professors that worked/supervised me for years. 
Teaching Experience: Not a TA position, but similar teaching capacities/responsibilities at the undergraduate level 
Other: research conference presentations, thesis, research grants  
RESULTS
Acceptances: University of Michigan, UChicago, Berkeley
Waitlists: Cornell
Rejections: Princeton, Northwestern  
LESSONS LEARNED
This cycle was very challenging so kudos to everyone that had the energy/resources to go through it!!
I don't come from a background that 'preps' you for academia/graduate school, quite the opposite actually. For future applicants that have the odds stacked against them, start preparing early!! Make spreadsheets, go through each faculty profile, go through graduate student profiles, look at recent graduates, recent dissertations, etc..Determining fit is much harder than people make it out to be. I still believe that I was rejected from places that had a much better fit for me. However, you can't tell if your professor of interest is not taking any students this year, going on leave, new hiring happening, grad students with similar research interests are staying longer than expected, or if there's no grad student with similar research interests. This is why it is very important to reach out to grad students that have similar interests. Don't send them vague emails!! Make sure you have done your research and ask questions that can help you determine if you should apply and how to tailor your SOP. A lot of grad students would be happy to help and direct you. Also, look into PhD pipeline programs, diversity visits, and summer research opportunities. Anything to signal basic familiarity with the field would be helpful (depending on your background, extensive knowledge of graduate level political science is not needed nor expected). 
 
Also, tailor your SOPs!!! Don't write them with only 1-2 faculty in mind, think about the department and subfield as well. I didn't tailor my SOPs, and I regret that (also, good SOPs take a lot of time). 
 
Always happy to connect with future applicants!! Good luck to all. ?

Got into Chicago Harris! I'm over the moon -- such a great way to end the cycle!

Claiming MIT admit!
Brief email, no status change on portal

I just received an offer from MIT
 
No idea if the previous ones were legitimate though.

PROFILE
Type of Undergrad Institution: State School (R2)
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science and Economics 
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: didn't take 
Any Special Courses: lots of quant background, even though my subfield and speciality don't require much (or any) quant. 
Letters of Recommendation: extremely good. All three are professors that worked/supervised me for years. 
Teaching Experience: Not a TA position, but similar teaching capacities/responsibilities at the undergraduate level 
Other: research conference presentations, thesis, research grants  
RESULTS
Acceptances: University of Michigan, UChicago, Berkeley
Waitlists: Cornell
Rejections: Princeton, Northwestern  
LESSONS LEARNED
This cycle was very challenging so kudos to everyone that had the energy/resources to go through it!!
I don't come from a background that 'preps' you for academia/graduate school, quite the opposite actually. For future applicants that have the odds stacked against them, start preparing early!! Make spreadsheets, go through each faculty profile, go through graduate student profiles, look at recent graduates, recent dissertations, etc..Determining fit is much harder than people make it out to be. I still believe that I was rejected from places that had a much better fit for me. However, you can't tell if your professor of interest is not taking any students this year, going on leave, new hiring happening, grad students with similar research interests are staying longer than expected, or if there's no grad student with similar research interests. This is why it is very important to reach out to grad students that have similar interests. Don't send them vague emails!! Make sure you have done your research and ask questions that can help you determine if you should apply and how to tailor your SOP. A lot of grad students would be happy to help and direct you. Also, look into PhD pipeline programs, diversity visits, and summer research opportunities. Anything to signal basic familiarity with the field would be helpful (depending on your background, extensive knowledge of graduate level political science is not needed nor expected). 
 
Also, tailor your SOPs!!! Don't write them with only 1-2 faculty in mind, think about the department and subfield as well. I didn't tailor my SOPs, and I regret that (also, good SOPs take a lot of time). 
 
Always happy to connect with future applicants!! Good luck to all. ?

I just got a call from the program director for Government & Social Policy at Harvard letting me know I've been accepted!
Really can't believe it, I had completely given up hope for this cycle.

PROFILE
Type of Undergrad Institution: State School (R2)
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science and Economics 
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: didn't take 
Any Special Courses: lots of quant background, even though my subfield and speciality don't require much (or any) quant. 
Letters of Recommendation: extremely good. All three are professors that worked/supervised me for years. 
Teaching Experience: Not a TA position, but similar teaching capacities/responsibilities at the undergraduate level 
Other: research conference presentations, thesis, research grants  
RESULTS
Acceptances: University of Michigan, UChicago, Berkeley
Waitlists: Cornell
Rejections: Princeton, Northwestern  
LESSONS LEARNED
This cycle was very challenging so kudos to everyone that had the energy/resources to go through it!!
I don't come from a background that 'preps' you for academia/graduate school, quite the opposite actually. For future applicants that have the odds stacked against them, start preparing early!! Make spreadsheets, go through each faculty profile, go through graduate student profiles, look at recent graduates, recent dissertations, etc..Determining fit is much harder than people make it out to be. I still believe that I was rejected from places that had a much better fit for me. However, you can't tell if your professor of interest is not taking any students this year, going on leave, new hiring happening, grad students with similar research interests are staying longer than expected, or if there's no grad student with similar research interests. This is why it is very important to reach out to grad students that have similar interests. Don't send them vague emails!! Make sure you have done your research and ask questions that can help you determine if you should apply and how to tailor your SOP. A lot of grad students would be happy to help and direct you. Also, look into PhD pipeline programs, diversity visits, and summer research opportunities. Anything to signal basic familiarity with the field would be helpful (depending on your background, extensive knowledge of graduate level political science is not needed nor expected). 
 
Also, tailor your SOPs!!! Don't write them with only 1-2 faculty in mind, think about the department and subfield as well. I didn't tailor my SOPs, and I regret that (also, good SOPs take a lot of time). 
 
Always happy to connect with future applicants!! Good luck to all. ?

PROFILE
Type of Undergrad Institution: State School (R2)
Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science and Economics 
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: didn't take 
Any Special Courses: lots of quant background, even though my subfield and speciality don't require much (or any) quant. 
Letters of Recommendation: extremely good. All three are professors that worked/supervised me for years. 
Teaching Experience: Not a TA position, but similar teaching capacities/responsibilities at the undergraduate level 
Other: research conference presentations, thesis, research grants  
RESULTS
Acceptances: University of Michigan, UChicago, Berkeley
Waitlists: Cornell
Rejections: Princeton, Northwestern  
LESSONS LEARNED
This cycle was very challenging so kudos to everyone that had the energy/resources to go through it!!
I don't come from a background that 'preps' you for academia/graduate school, quite the opposite actually. For future applicants that have the odds stacked against them, start preparing early!! Make spreadsheets, go through each faculty profile, go through graduate student profiles, look at recent graduates, recent dissertations, etc..Determining fit is much harder than people make it out to be. I still believe that I was rejected from places that had a much better fit for me. However, you can't tell if your professor of interest is not taking any students this year, going on leave, new hiring happening, grad students with similar research interests are staying longer than expected, or if there's no grad student with similar research interests. This is why it is very important to reach out to grad students that have similar interests. Don't send them vague emails!! Make sure you have done your research and ask questions that can help you determine if you should apply and how to tailor your SOP. A lot of grad students would be happy to help and direct you. Also, look into PhD pipeline programs, diversity visits, and summer research opportunities. Anything to signal basic familiarity with the field would be helpful (depending on your background, extensive knowledge of graduate level political science is not needed nor expected). 
 
Also, tailor your SOPs!!! Don't write them with only 1-2 faculty in mind, think about the department and subfield as well. I didn't tailor my SOPs, and I regret that (also, good SOPs take a lot of time). 
 
Always happy to connect with future applicants!! Good luck to all. ?

Rejected from every program I applied to.
And then... Stanford!
 
Want to thank everyone on this forum! Your positivity kept me alive!

Thank you! I truly appreciate you all taking my best interests into account! I have indeed made up my mind about USC based largely on my experience with its faculty, which seems much more collaborative and supportive which is of utmost importance to me. 

I have accepted an offer despite pending decisions because I feel confident in my decision. 
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad Institution: Public EU Uni 
Major(s)/Minor(s): Law
Undergrad GPA: 3.7, with honours 
Type of Grad: Top 3 UK 
Grad GPA: Distinction, equivalent to 4.0 
GRE: N/A
Any Special Courses: Stats with R, Quant Analysis 
Letters of Recommendation: 2 tenured profs, 1 associate prof - all know me very well and I took courses and conducted research with them
Teaching Experience: N/A
Research Experience: 3+ years RA experience, several research internships w/ governmental department 
Other: Several publications in peer reviewed journals and blog posts 
 
RESULTS (PHD)
Accepted: USC, UChicago (both funded) 
Rejected: Indiana, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Boston U, LSE
Waitlisted: Georgetown
Pending: 2 EU options 
Going to: USC
 
Lessons
As this was my first and only cycle, I really consider it a success and am so grateful to have gotten any offers given the immense competition. 
What I strongly recommend/advise: 
1) Have professors (especially the ones writing your recommendations) and current PhD students read your statements. Make sure they are tailored to each department you are applying to and always highlight POIs. 
2) Don't apply to places where you don't have fit. 
3) Rankings are not everything, especially depending on your expectations of a program, and your end goals/ career trajectory. 
4) Don't be hard on yourself if you don't get any offers from 'higher ranked' options or any offers at all. It usually isn't a reflection of your abilities, rather it's a reflection of the reality that there are hundreds of equally qualified and capable scholars out there. 

I would also like to point out that most of the top US programs are VERY orthodox and VERY narrow-minded in what constitutes "worth pursuing." To the point that there are many good (and scholarly articles) out there about how political science is writing itself out of relevancy. I didn't apply to any top 10 programs this time for that reason, because I am passionate about my research and much life and professional experience has convinced me of its relevance. I was specifically told by a political science professor this year to keep in mind that, "just because it is a compelling real-world political problem, doesn't make it an interesting political science question." While I can see how that might theoretically be the case, there is still a huge problem with the privileged ivory tower getting to decide which random and often irrelevant political science questions deserve attention this decade. I have no idea what your specific research focuses on, but if you are passionate it, don't give up. Don't let a very small portion of the profession that has made up the rules on what is worth pursuing or not tell you otherwise. The rules are constantly rewritten and the more scholars that are out there pursuing interesting, relevant, cutting edge work, the more that becomes the norm. I'd urge you to seek out other scholars who are interested in similar questions, and worry less about the rankings of the programs they are at (not that you didn't do that this time - I don't want to assume!). But I do know that a lot of amazing academics who wrote the book on something didn't come from top ten or top twenty programs, but wound up redefining how those programs taught. 
I'll get off of my soap box now! Sorry for the ramble, I know I don't know you, but you've been a good influence on this forum and I hate to see great potential scholars disheartened by a system that isn't designed to create innovation and advancement but rather to replicate itself over and over again. I hope the future sees an army of political science renegades constantly redefining the profession we are all so passionate about!
(To be clear, I'm not putting down anyone who goes to or got into a top 10 program - that is amazing, and if your research interests fit go get it! I'm just advocating that there are other very relevant areas of research outside of what some of those programs are willing to consider.)

Two admissions is nothing to sneeze at! And while it's fine to change your research interests in grad school, don't do it just because you weren't the right fit for other schools. You might be able to pursue those interests at the programs you're admitted to--indeed, they may be excited for you to do so! There's so much that goes into an admit decision and so much of it is beyond your control that I would urge you not to give up something you're interested in. 

Longtime lurker here (sorry, I know that sort of decreases any incentive to trust this, I'm just not a big internet poster!). I can claim a Cornell waitlist in CP. It didn't look like a mail merge, so more could certainly be coming but I honestly don't know. It's a dream program for me, so I'm really hoping it works out! 

To be honest, I hate questions like this because I need to work on my self confidence and identifying and accepting my strengths. But, I will try to answer it for you  
I think it’s two things. Firstly, my graduate level research experience and publications. My background is not purely political science so I have been insecure during the entire application process. So I think my master’s degree and publications really showed my competences and abilities.

Secondly, my statement was very strong. I got feedback from various professors and current PhD students. I think it’s very important you know how to show that you’re knowledgeable of political science generally, as well as the specific areas of research interests and then work in your past experiences to show your competences etc. I also didn’t try to ‘force’ my fit anywhere except BU and Princeton (and I got rejected soooo). 
 

Waitlisted at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor!  Dear god, this is so nerve-wracking.  Never thought I'd even be wait listed at such an amazing program.  In shock.   

Received a Cornell acceptance earlier this morning!

~7:15 Pacific Standard Time. And thanks! 

Got an email from my POI at Georgetown indicating that they are interested in my research but cannot admit me at this moment. Placed on a 'very short waitlist'. No other info. Good luck to everyone else waiting!
Congrats to everyone who heard from Cornell! Really hope I can get some good news from there! 

Received a personalized Cornell acceptance (IR) and emails from two professors to talk about the opportunity and shared research interests. My research "fit" is good and one of my LoR is from a well-known Cornell International Relations Alumni, but I'm still really surprised. Wow, just wow.

Hey, can anyone claim the Cornell acceptances?

Thanks for letting us know!!!  

I think him having written ‘notifications will be sent... shortly thereafter’ could also indicate next week, if decision making concludes on Friday, for instance. So I’ll try not to keep my hopes up too much haha

Nothing on my portal either...

What an absolute cracker of a day! I am ecstatic! I have been accepted into Syracuse and Maryland. I am over the moon! To all those who have interviews with Maryland - spoiler alert - you have been accepted! The DGSs are delightful! Come prepared to ask questions about the program. I cannot begin to describe the joy of being accepted in such a tough year to such amazing schools. 
To those still waiting - we are still early in this process. You are all so brilliant and supportive. This is a tough year and I wish you the absolute best of luck. 
Now to the stats: I am IR. 2a/1w.