PoliSci: The Inside Scoop 2020

[Theory007]

When I was looking at political science departments to apply to last year, I found it difficult to gauge exactly what each department was like. Sure, the department websites will provide some information, but this is usually practical stuff that does not explain what the department is really like. I am interested in getting the inside scoop and I think that others are too. I have therefore created this thread where I wish to encourage present and former students/professors to write their completely honest and unfiltered insights/reviews about each department. While anyone will value anything someone can reveal in honesty about a department, I suggest that the post include at least the following things:

1. Name of department and university.

2. Overall feel/culture of the department. What is the general attitude? Is the faculty approachable and willing to work with students? Are students treated with respect? etc.

3. Academic quality and opportunities. What are classes like? Are they rigorous or not? What facilities are available to students? etc.

4. Department expectations of students. Do most students work as TAs? Is the burden manageable? etc.

5. Are grad students happy? Does a social life exist outside the department? Do people tend to collaborate or compete? What kind of students tend to go to the department? etc.

6. Job prospects after obtaining a degree in the department. etc.

7. What are some juicy rumors about the department as such or people in the department? Who got denied tenure? Who were treated unfairly? etc.

And other relevant things (we can update the list). I encourage everyone to be as honest and objective and unbiased as possible about their experiences in their department, but it is also okay to express personal grievances if they exist. Just make sure to make clear when you talk about things specific to you and not to the department as such.

If people take up my suggestion and provide a bunch of reviews of their departments, I will at some point organize all the reviews into a coherent document, available to all, such that people can easily see all reviews made about department X, Y, Z.

Hope people will use this. I will write my own review in the coming days.

[horololo]

I’m not an insider yet, first of all ?

For some of the questions, I think that poliscirumors.com might be helpful a bit? They have all the rumors about job placements and tenures etc etc. 

But I’m not sure if it’s a “good” website though

Edited January 20, 2020 by horololo

[SeriousDiver]

Definitely, poliscirumors might be useful for answering certain questions, esp. career related. I find it disgustingly sexist, homophobic, and racist, among other things. I avoid that abysmal hellsite. 

 

I really like the idea of this thread, and look forward to contributing my honest opinions after I enroll for Fall 2020

Edited January 20, 2020 by SeriousDiver
Typo

[SeriousDiver]

41 minutes ago, SeriousDiver said:

Definitely, poliscirumors might be useful for answering certain questions, esp. career related. I find it disgustingly sexist, homophobic, and racist, among other things. I avoid that abysmal hellsite. 

 

I really like the idea of this thread, and look forward to contributing my honest opinions after I enroll for Fall 2020

I would also avoid the "juicy rumors". I wouldn't want to be discussing the weighty circumstances of someone's career/ threats to their means of living, unless for some reason, the dismissal or leaving of a faculty member means something for a student wishing to work with them. Lets leave that to the horrid polisci rumors

Edited January 20, 2020 by SeriousDiver

[Theory007]

Your points are taken; I certainly do not want this to be a space where people utter sexist, homophobic, racist, and like slurs. And I can see that my suggestion of juicy rumors could be used for that end. All I meant wanted was to encourage people to reveal insights about the department that are not publicly known and would be relevant to people considering the department. In my MA program for example, 3 out of 8 people left the department within the first semester. I think this is worth knowing for prospective students whom might otherwise never come to hear of it. My point is that all information, as SeriousDiver suggested, should be relevant (and not just bashing) but I agree that it should not be targeted at specific people. The ideal would be if people could write specifically enough to get the point across, but also vague enough not to target identifiable persons.