Realbadgal

UT Austin offer claimed. Just received an admission email from DGS!

Great suggestions! I will browse the PhD students' websites then. Thank you!!

Thanks!

Hi! I am here to ask for help in choosing a good master program in political science. I have now received admission from Duke, UChicago, UCSD (MCEPA), and U of T. I am particularly interested in authoritarian politics and the political economy of development, with a specific focus on China. I can't decide upon Duke or UCSD. Here are the pros & cons of both schools. Duke: PROS-good placement (except for this year), small class size, good training. CONS-People studying authoritarian politics basically reach out to Professor Manion and Malesky. I am afraid that I can't stand out and get a strong LOR from them. UCSD MCEPA: PROS-more diverse, good faculties, a good place to study China, intensive training in quant, and probably more RA opportunities. CONS-no one entered into top Pol Sci PhD programs before (the cohort is relatively small and only 13 students graduated from this program in the past three years.) Too many required courses are focused on China and I can take only up to four PhD-level courses from the pol sci department.

Hi! I am here to ask for help in choosing a good master program in political science. I have now received admission from Duke, UChicago, UCSD (MCEPA), and U of T. I am particularly interested in authoritarian politics and the political economy of development, with a specific focus on China. I can't decide upon Duke or UCSD. Here are the pros & cons of both schools. Duke: PROS-good placement (except for this year), small class size, good training. CONS-People studying authoritarian politics basically reach out to Professor Manion and Malesky. I am afraid that I can't stand out and get a strong LOR. UCSD MCEPA: PROS-more diverse, good faculties, a good place to study China, intensive training in quant, and probably more RA opportunities. CONS-no one entered into top Pol Sci PhD programs before (the cohort is relatively small and only 13 students graduated from this program in the past three years.) Too many required courses are focused on China and I can take only up to four PhD-level courses from the pol sci department.

Good to know that! Thanks! Congratulations to you too!

I got the 'nominated for admission' email for MCEPA program this morning! Does this mean that I am nearly admitted? btw I submitted on Jan 14th and didn't have the interview.

Update: I wrote to the graduate committee. One of the counselors replied that my application is currently under review and they will send the invitation once the interview is needed. She also emphasized that 'the interview is in no way indicative of what your application outcome may be'. Some students also got the admission without the interview in the past cycles. I guess we can only wait and see:)

Just applied for MCEPA on Jan 14. Does anyone know if the interview has begun? Is interview a prerequisite for admission in the past years? (The official website says that not everyone would be interviewed).