Odds/Chances - RST

[sleepingdogmatist]

I've seen that, in the past, UC Santa Barbara (Religious Studies) sent out their acceptances and rejections sometime in early to mid-March. Since the deadline was December 1st, I've been going completely insane wondering about what my chances might be at this point for the Ph.D. program.

Here are my stats:

GRE: V 700 (97%), Q 620 (53%), AW 6.0 (96%)

GPA: 3.93 -- BA in philosophy (4.0 within major, 3.93 overall), also in honors program, Marshall University (West Virginia)

Other: University department top graduating senior, statewide political science writing winner, have done some graduate-level coursework and received high marks. I also submitted four letters, all of which should be quite good (hopefully, unless they secretly hate me). Finally, one of my recommenders received his Ph.D. from the department.

Possible problems: My statement of purpose was not as polished as the work I generally turn out, mostly because I didn't think that it would be possible for me to do graduate study in the upcoming year up until right before the deadline. Although not atrocious, there are some problems with the document, most all in simple things like formatting.

Does anybody have any guesses as to what kind of chances I might have at Santa Barbara? Any kind of word or guess from informed folk should calm me down a bit, hopefully.

[Canadianpolsci]

You have a chance. But maybe go do an MA.

[unknownscholar]

Your numbers are great though, especially the GRE scores, which speaks volumes for any "less reputable"undergrad education.

Good Luck!

[nertperson]

I can't believe the mods think it's appropriate to call someone's university "sucky".

[rising_star]

I can't believe the mods think it's appropriate to call someone's university "sucky".

Nertperson, Canadianpolisci is not a mod on this forum so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

[nertperson]

The last time I called him rude the mods jumped to his defense. I maintain my initial analysis. Ban away, mods.

[JackofSpeed]

I like your chances based on your superior verbal and writing score and above average math. Your GPA indicates you're one of the best students from your undergrad so I don't see why you would need to replace your undergrad with a masters program to make you a better candidate. I don't think a master from even a name school would help you. In your case, I think letters of rec are what will be decisive and you need to have profs really singing you up. You need to be the star of your program to get into a competitive PhD (which you may very well be).

Words like "one of the most brilliant students I've taught" are hopefully spouted from the mouths of your recs...that, along with your excellent stats, statement, writing sample, should put you in the running. Good luck.