My Chances

[lic]

I am new here...so greetings from me to everyone and thanks in advance for your advice

So if possible I would like to know more about my chances to get into a top 30 PhD program for the coming admission season (with Dec 2010 deadline), given my background (my potential interest is the political economy of development, with a likely focus on urban development/political economy):

- did undergrad in an Ivy school and graduated with two degrees in 2009, one in a humanities subject (which actually has quite a bit to do with my potential regional focus in polisci) and the other fairly irrelevant to polisci/social sciences. overall cumulative GPA wasnt too satisfactory (~3.3), mainly due to the downward drag of the irrelevant major (~3.2). But the one in humanitities has a much more decent major GPA, which is above 3.7 and that let me gain a distinction in that major/degree. Also I did a minor in math in the meantime, in which most courses were graded satisfactorily except a C+ in statistical inference and a C in linear algebra.

- currently doing a MA program in international relations/international political economy in an institution whose polisci program (phd level) is ranked top 10 in the country. expected to graduate with something like 3.4 (3.3 in the worst case scenario, as calculated). among the courses I took there are two in polisci, and I got A- for both (both are phd level courses). will complete MA thesis in August this year, which is also directly related to my research focus/direction.

-GRE: planning to retake in August/September this year. quant will be 800 almost for sure, verbal wise tryinghard to get over 600, or at least not lower than 550, writing wise trying to get sth over 4.5

- research experiences: got a couple of call for papers conferences, invited to submit papers and as speaker. of those one is directly related to my future focus area in polisci. On top of that, I have submited abstract (also related to my researc focus) for another conference, and is in the process of consideration. I am also doing RA work for a posdoc instructor here and may co-author an article with him in the following months. I have published a couple of articles primarily in school publications, but currently all those were done when I was an ungergrad, so the topics arent quite relevant to polisci (actually in humanities).

- professional experiences (dont know how much these weigh, just providing them for reference): once worked in a financial institution (did sth like banking), and a macroeconomic research institute (which is a sub-division of a larger financial institution) during past summers. I will do a one-year public service internship in urban planning/development in the city government of one of the largest metropolis in this country, starting from June this year.

- others: did a study abroad in a country where my future research focus will likely to be on, language preparation is sufficient. currently serving as treasurer for a club related to IR and development in the school and won a grant of $10000 recently, and some other positions in other clubs.

anthying from feedback, critique to suggestion on improvement are welcome. Thank you!

[lic]

Anything is welcome...please:)

[lorinho]

Anything is welcome...please:)

My advice to you, and to all of the, "my chances" types is: Don't do this to yourselves. I realize that you are hoping for some insight, or privileged information, and there may be some around, but I don't think it is going to be on this forum. There are a few people who cruise the forum that actually are on admissions committees, and they tend to have really good information... about one school. The truth is though that the process is fairly inscrutable, and subject to factors completely out of your control, and until they are studied (which they probably never will be) out of anyone's ability to accurately describe.

This does not mean give up, but instead look at the facts objectively. Most schools are upfront about their minimum GPA's and scores, and what they want in students. Odds are they are not changing that. If you have that minimum, you have a shot; if you don't, you don't, so don't apply. Then look at the percentage of acceptances, and follow that with the percentages of placements in jobs that you want. Then apply as broadly as you dare, into consideration, and do your cost benefits analysis. Bear in mind that the cost of applying is fairly low, and you aren't committed. Moreover, you are like a paratrooper who is in the plane already, almost everything you can do, you have either done or not done already, and there is no going back. You can jump, or not. However, unlike a trooper, who might die if not completely prepared, you may only have to deal with some rejection. If you can't deal with that little bit of rejection, then don't apply.

Bottom line, no one here knows what your chances really are, so the decision is ultimately yours. Don't torture yourself by asking others to basically guess at your chances, and don't turn your fortunes over to strangers you barely know on the internet.

[SansSociety]

I think the advice about the process being a bit unpredictable is valid. Since you're interested in the political economy of development, I think I can provide some advice, given that I'm about the pursue a PhD in that field as well. First, know that as a a sub-discipline, it's covered relatively less than the others out there by the "top 30" departments. Some places have people working on it, other places do not. So in this regard, fit is an absolute must. Secondly, make sure you indicate what you think political science's contributions to the study of economic development is, with regard to the relevant debates on this, etc. The development literature is fairly diverse and its easy to get mixed up, methodologically - I know I did.

In terms of chances, it's difficult to say. I don't see any red flags, but know that there are many qualified applicants with amazing stats that get turned down. Much your success will come down to what kinds of questions you are interested in answering and how good you are in asking social science questions. The statement of purpose is so important in demonstrating this. Just know that it's a very competitive process at many places and that you will be up against some amazing people out there.

Best of luck.

[mrmirv]

Many of us PHD hopefulls don't mean to ask these questions. There is no other place to ask. It seems a lot of the places one applies to are on almost a bell curve. What I mean is that many of them are based on who also applies. Lets say there is 5 spots. 20 applicants. They judge 5 people who have better GPA, GRE, recs then you...you loose...you could have a 3.8 and 700 on verbal and math...but if the rest have close to a 4.0 and 750 on each..you loose...seems that simple.

[napoleonrulz]

Many of us PHD hopefulls don't mean to ask these questions. There is no other place to ask. It seems a lot of the places one applies to are on almost a bell curve. What I mean is that many of them are based on who also applies. Lets say there is 5 spots. 20 applicants. They judge 5 people who have better GPA, GRE, recs then you...you loose...you could have a 3.8 and 700 on verbal and math...but if the rest have close to a 4.0 and 750 on each..you loose...seems that simple.

I don't actually think it works like that. I was told by my advisor (who used to read grad school apps at her former school) that there are several rounds in which candidates are evaluated (a top-10 school is likely to get 400-700 applications for 15-25 spots). In the first few rounds, it is about the numbers, but not exclusively. It also matters where you went to school, and what names are underneath your letters of recommendation. In the final decisions, once the pool is narrowed down, they look a lot more at other factors; one professor at the school i will be attending in the fall (top 10) told me that it was in fact my writing sample that carried weight in my case because it was a critique of one of their professors. She also told me that they are really looking for people who will a) be able to design their own research and that are a good investment, meaning that they won't drop out after two years. My advice, therefore, would be to put your energy into a stellar writing sample and solid statement of purpose. Has anyone heard anything similar?

Edited July 23, 2010 by napoleonrulz

[mrmirv]

I don't actually think it works like that. I was told by my advisor (who used to read grad school apps at her former school) that there are several rounds in which candidates are evaluated (a top-10 school is likely to get 400-700 applications for 15-25 spots). In the first few rounds, it is about the numbers, but not exclusively. It also matters where you went to school, and what names are underneath your letters of recommendation. In the final decisions, once the pool is narrowed down, they look a lot more at other factors; one professor at the school i will be attending in the fall (top 10) told me that it was in fact my writing sample that carried weight in my case because it was a critique of one of their professors. She also told me that they are really looking for people who will a) be able to design their own research and that are a good investment, meaning that they won't drop out after two years. My advice, therefore, would be to put your energy into a stellar writing sample and solid statement of purpose. Has anyone heard anything similar?

I think your advice is outstanding and give a true "inside" perspective. Thank you.

[GopherGrad]

She also told me that they are really looking for people who will a) be able to design their own research and that are a good investment, meaning that they won't drop out after two years. My advice, therefore, would be to put your energy into a stellar writing sample and solid statement of purpose. Has anyone heard anything similar?

Yes. Standard wisdom is that numbers get your through the door, but SoPs, writing samples and LoRs are how they choose among qualified candidates.

Also keep in mind that while schools are looking for brilliance, they don't recoup the stipends through alumni donations. As a TA or researcher, you're going to be a slave to the department; they want to know it's worth feeding you.