[altenative plans-NYU' MA, STEM programs, or MPP?]

Stony Brook's two MA programs have core faculty teaching courses (e.g., Feldman, Huddy, Jerit, Krupnikov, Barabas, DeScioli, Lahav).

[Fall 2016 Waitlist Thread!]

It depends on the school, depth of their applicant pool, their resources, their competition. Ideally they'd tell you where you stand, but sometimes they have an incentive to hold back. 

If you get into another school but are really interested in the one where you are waiting, you should contact them to see if the new information moves you off the list.

[Is it possible to complete a PhD in 4 years?]

Agree with other posters. If you have an MA or are transferring from another program, and you have the outlines of a dissertation already, then it might be possible. You'd also have to be very disciplined. Otherwise, not realistic.

[Math or Statistics major for Political Science grad school?]

Yes, both math and stats would be useful for your application and beyond. The same goes for economics.

[how important is GRE analytical writing score for polisci?]

I think it matters more if the English skills of the student are questionable for some reason, but even then there are other tests for that.

[Up and Coming Departments]

If I had seen this post several years ago, I would have reacted differently. As it stands, I agree that Amherst has been doing some hiring that could pay off.

[I applied to Phd programs in History with no luck, now I want to try Poli Sci Phd programs. What do I need to know?]

Easier to move into history from political science rather than the reverse, in my opinion.

[Columbia Application]

mine too

[Advice from an actual PhD (redux 2)]

Also consider UNC, Florida State, and TAMU for quantitative IR/Conflict.

[UCSD IR/PS vs. Political Science]

Lots of other places to do IR.

[Ohio State vs Minnesota]

I echo the last post. OSU has lost a lot of faculty in American/methods. For political psych, think about some others too: Stony Brook, Florida State, Illinois.