nivy25

If you are confident that your end goal is a PhD, I would try to apply directly to some PhD programs as well and have some Masters programs as a backup. Masters programs are incredibly expensive and I would get that if you don't get into school for a PhD, and feel comfortable paying that much for a Masters. If you still only want to do the MA programs then here's what I think: Since you are interested in a broad array of things going across methods, comparative studies and IR, I would get a generic MA if I were you. Go for one of the specializations if that is exactly what you want to do, or super close to what you see yourself doing in your PhD program. Narrowing down too soon, especially if you're not sure, is not a good choice in my opinion. A generic program like Chicago's CIR, Columbia's MA or any MA in Political Science at any school could give you a broader idea of the topics you're interested in, and help you narrow down your interests. In a generic program, you could also do some quantitative coursework. However, if you are positive you want to go down a certain research path then applying for a more specialized program is great, as when you apply for a PhD, you'll have evidence to back up your research interests and an existing deep familiarity with your area.

Thank you so much! this is the kindest community ever and I can’t wait to interact with some of you’ll in the coming years.

Thank you

I got into UT Austin off their waitlist! Heard from them this morning (IR). I am DELIGHTED! And I will be accepting the offer I have also contacted Rice to ask them to take my name off their waitlist, so hopefully it might help someone there

Has anyone heard from UT Austin about the waitlist?

Waitlisted at UT and Rice and I feel you. I just wanna know!

Just wondering if there's any more UT Austin admits who have rejected their offers for IR or may be doing so in the coming days? The waiting period is really getting worse and more brutal as days pass.

I have no idea about the education system, or the scope of Poli Sci in Australia. However, I have seen ANU pop up often on the websites of good US PhD programs when looking at their placements. If after getting an American PhD, people go to ANU then I'm assuming the gap isn't too wide and it might be similar?

You're absolutely right. I have been thinking about it and UT Austin will be a confirmed yes on my side if I do get off the waitlist. And at this point, I can see myself at Rice too. I appreciate your opinion. Sometimes when you look at T10 and their placements you feel like every other place is almost "inferior" (for the lack of a better word), but I'm realizing that there's a lot more to it. I'm grateful to have a space like this where I have been able to openly discuss my doubts and all this feedback almost serves as a wake-up call. At this point, I do think CIR will serve as a solid "backup" only if both the waitlists don't end up working out.

I got funding information for CIR. They will be covering 20,000$. Which is almost 1/3rd of the tuition. However even with this the total cost with living expenses might come to around 60,000-70,000$.

Would you say the same if instead of the lower-ranked fully-funded MA program, it was a mid-ranked fully-funded PhD program? (Think Rice and Austin, since I'm waitlisted here and I've been thinking about what to do).

OMG I AM ACTUALLY SO HAPPY FOR YOU! How do you feel about this?

I haven’t heard yet! I totally get what you mean tho, I feel the same. They said it’ll follow “soon” which could mean a few days, or it could also mean a few weeks. Who knows.

Is anyone attending UT Austin's visiting day that's coming up this week?

+1 for the CIR offer! Same as the person above, more information will follow later! At least I have a solid back up if the waitlists don’t work out

I'm sorry to hear that, but congratulations on all your acceptances. This cycle was actually brutal, and obviously the programs you got accepted into are no ivy leagues, but they're still awesome! I heard about UF kind of coming up in the ranks recently with its placements! Also, my current professor spoke very highly of UMass.

That’s awesome. I just got little keychains and I’ll do a thank you note with them I guess. I’m still an undergrad so I don’t wanna do too much because I don’t want them getting uncomfortable or anything!

That's actually really sweet! Just curious, what sorts of gifts did you send?

Haha it really does. That being said, even the admissions process is equally competitive and I am GRATEFUL to even have been waitlisted by 2 great schools. On a side note: This is just another reminder/request to everyone who got accepted to UT Austin or Rice and is not planning to go there to decline as soon as they feel comfortable doing so. The anxiety is real, and the uncertainty makes it worse. Every day that I spend waiting for UT Austin/Rice to get back to me regarding my waitlist is filled with extreme uncertainty, and also a lot of hopes that something might work out after all.

Definitely! That would be great as a sort of backup perhaps, because at the moment I would still like to see myself pursue academic jobs!

I see what you mean. Very few people actually prefer industry jobs, unless the pay is exceptional. I'll try my best to seek answers from both the schools in question about their placements.

I appreciate all your inputs! I am aware that rankings aren't the only thing that matter, and my goal will be to get a feel of both the programs' environments through talks with my POIs and maybe even current graduate students. I'm just afraid of not getting a TT job at a R1. I know how horrible the job market is, and I am not being naive. I just want to try my best to maximize my chances and not make decisions that would jeopardize them, which is why I asked for advice in the first place! Your input on the way I should frame my question is super helpful. I'll probably ask something on similar lines and see what they think about it.

I am currently on the waitlist for both, and I am meeting with my POI from Rice and UT Austin this week. I just wanted to make sure I get all the possible information about these two. My personal career goals are to research at a university that actively researches and shapes my field. I want to make sure going to either of the two, if I am accepted would be the right choice and would actually help me achieve that goal. Rice seems very welcoming. If I'm being completely candid there's only two red flags for me with respect to Rice: 1. The ranking is a little lower as compared to all the other schools I applied to and 2. As you mentioned, the placements in the last few years have been very different from what I would like to do. Barely any student has been placed in a R1 in the last couple years. I don't know if that's because the students' goals were not to pursue that path, or is there some reason why Rice graduates aren't being offered jobs at R1s?

I would add UT-Austin. They are pretty quantitative, but at the same time, having extensive quants knowledge isn't something which they look for. I got waitlisted here, and I have almost no quants knowledge!

+1 on the Yale rejection. The cycle is pretty much over for me! I was wondering if I could have your opinions on something: What are your views on UT Austin and Rice University for IR, with respect to placements in R1s, and the overall benefit of going to either? Please do respond to this! Especially if you applied to either of these schools, and even if you didn't apply to either but you know anything about them.