jackassjim

Do you even know what a ponzi scheme is?

2 lesser known but good ones: The European University Institute in Florence is apparently very good. Plus, it's located in one of the most wonderful cities on earth. I'm not sure if they grant MAs, but the info should be rather easy to find. Zurich ETH might also fit the bill: http://www.ethz.ch/prospectives/program ... urse_id=53 2 obvious and very good ones: Science Po, Paris is another obvious choice, no? What about Oxbridge? PS: I'm curious to know why you didn't include the last two I mentioned. My optimal list: LSE Oxford Florence Science Po (the one in Paris, not the others) Pick one in Barcelona

You're thinking about Public Policy PhDs, not Political Science PhDs with an IR concentration. Different degrees, different requirements. I'm not sure there are even 15 policy schools that could be considered "top-schools" in foreign-policy-related stuff.

Because those of us who will study abroad have been paying taxes since we are 16 and working part-time, and because our parents have been paying taxes for much longer. Because SSHRC funding for students who go abroad is not that costly when you really think about it (vs federal science budget). Because a significant portion of us will eventually come back to the Canada, bringing with us some of the most cutting-edge skill-set that can be thought to anyone. Because only subsidizing students who study here would lead to the same type of incestuous atmosphere that prevails in departments that hire their own graduates, only at a national level. Because it still costs the government less to finance us than those who study domestically (public university system, etc.). Because we are ambassadors of Canadian universities. We are living examples that our education system produces capable individuals, and we show the stars in our respective fields that we are intellectual peers (Canada's prestige). Because some of us (not me unfortunately!) are brilliant students who NEED the resources available abroad to fully actualize their research potential. It would be a shame to penalize those who simply cannot get what they need from the Canadian system. I might be able to go on...

That`s very strange. My letter mentionned nothing about funding period. I just assumed it was the first 3 years.

Thanks! I`m VERY happy with how things turned out for me with applications. It was mostly luck, and the good fortune to have some truly dedicated advisors to walk me through the process and write great letters... Good luck to you with SSHRC. The odds are in your favor!

Exactly. You get sent to SSHRC = A-list You don't get sent = B-list

fqrsc results are in. MUCH less pressure on me now! 8)

Here you go: 1 Harvard 1 Princeton 1 Stanford 4 Michigan 5 Yale 6 Berkeley 7 Columbia 7 UCSD 9 Duke 9 MIT 10 UCLA?

You're joking, right? Policy-relevance doesn't matter, and understanding basic statistics impedes our ability to produce good research and analysis?

Il me semble que ces dernieres annees les resultats etaient annonces a une date precise (le 15, non?). J'aimais beaucoup mieux ca que la formule generique actuelle.

I applied for the Master's twice. The first time, I was rejected and they sent me a letter to say that the committee which evaluated my application gave out 4 grants for a group of about 25 applicants. I have heard that the odds for the PhD are slightly better (don't bet your next paycheck on that info though...)

Anyone has privileged info about the FQRSC process?

If you are to believe J. Nye (check his recent Washington Post op-ed), political scientists have lost their way.

As could have been expected, nothing really happened. This is a double blow to SSHRC. (Although, to be fair, the conservative govt did announce massive investment in scientific infrastructure. This, however, mostly means updating research labs, and does not include any financing for researchers themselves. If we're lucky, we might get new pc labs equipped with the brand new version of SPSS :roll: )

I wonder how the new massive cuts that the govt has made in the budget of "public science" will affect next year's applicants (see today's paper). I sure hope I get the grant this year.

Right, sorry to have insisted. I just don't think I would have the energy to apply next year again, so I was kind of surprised. But yeah, with one very good offer under your belt, the whole process is bound to be much less stressful. Good luck to you. I'm sure everything will sort itself out soon. Ciao

I second the question...

I've already put my 2$ down earlier in the thread!

Remember this goes both ways. The poster above you was more balanced. Some guys I know have definitely settled for less...

I think you don't have to attend the whole thing (= less $). But yeah, it is really expensive and I could not afford to go either.

That's it

Write a better statement of purpose. Tailor it to every school you are applying to. Don't apply anywhere you don't have a great match with the faculty. Go to ICPSR and get letters from profs that you meet there!(is it too late to register?). Unless you publish the additional research, I don't see how helpful it's going to be. If it can help you present a better writing sample, then go ahead. Make sure a prof reads it before sending it though. Work as a research assistant for a prof that lets you do something else than coding.

I get the feeling that applying for admission to PhD programs in view of pursuing a career in academia is not really an option you can casually keep open as a Plan B. If you go the policy route, you will have serious explaining to do in your statement of purpose, and you better be able to show that you know what is an interesting research question in political science. I do think it's possible though, but I tend to agree with your profs that it's putting yourself up for an uphill battle. Also, from the other perspective, the policy degrees will probably open much more doors when comes time to find a job in a field where people actually work for a living (you know, saving the planet and such...). Sorry I can't give you any better advice. I've never been on an admission committee obviously. Maybe you want to go ask in the "Prospective students questions" section of the job rumors website.

Since this is a first draft, my critique is bound to sound too harsh. Nevertheless, here you go: Tone down the "fancy" vocabulary. The words "fortuity, multifarious, cognizance, coalesced, & burgeoned", in particular, make it sound like you are reaching and trying to make it sound too literary. This is not a poem. It is a statement of purpose, which should be simple and to the point. Plus, you do not seem to have the writing skills to pull off using words such as those in correct context. "My affection towards international affairs": Affection? You have a warm tender feeling toward international affairs? "temptation of why people": Does not sound right. Some people recommend the book "The Elements of Style" to brush up on proper grammar and good sentence structure. "a career in international security and relations": That's not a career. What do you want to do exactly? If you are applying to a PhD in political science in the U.S., they'll want you to show you want to become a professor and research. Int'l security would then be your subfield of specialization. If you want to do policy, choose your program carefully; think about policy schools. I hope this helps. Best, Jim