Do I have a shot at Northwestern?

[horacepinkert]

I'm a philosophy student and I know what kind of programs I would be competitive for in my field but I thought I might ask you guys about Northwestern's PhD program. I am really interested in political philosophy/ theory and Northwestern looks like a really good fit considering my interests- (critical theory, philosophy etc).

I got a BA from a run of the mill school in philosophy with a minor in poli sci. GPA was 3.98

I've got an MA from a fairly respectable philosophy program (we placed guys in phd programs at Ivy leauges, top ten schools). GPA should be 3.9 or 3.8

I have a writing sample that I'm pretty stoked about on the tension between Kant's ethical and political theories. I will also have really strong letters.

I've got research experience (I'm helping to edit a prof's forthcoming book), and have one publication in a peer-reviewed journal. I have a few presentations and some different awards n' such.

I bombed my GRE. I've got a 650 verbal, 600 math, 5.0 on my writing. last time around, I didn't need one for the program I was applying to and got into the school of my dreams. When I realized at the last minute i wasn't going to be able to afford that program I had to haul ass and take the GRE to submit for other programs. I'm pretty broke and won't be taking it again any time soon. I think my record can speak for itself with this one hiccup.

So, do I even have a shot at being competitive at Northwestern or should I just save my cash? -Thanks

[adaptations]

Of course you have a shot. The only blip on your application is your GRE score, but other than that you will be a strong candidate. I don't think anyone on this forum can say for certain how the GRE will be viewed, but I wouldn't let your test score get in the way of applying.

[horacepinkert]

I guess I'm worried that they would spot my GRE scores and not even look at the rest of my file. Does anyone know if you get your writing sample read based on GRE scores at NW?

[anthropologygeek]

I've never heard of a gre cutoff being above 1200. NW might be at that 1200 but your above it. It may affect funding but then again it may not. I know schools only look at gre to see if you reached the min and value everything a lot more

[Penelope Higgins]

Speaking from personal experience, cutoffs can be quite a bit higher than 1200. I know nothing about where they are at Northwestern. My sense is that admissions are quite competitive there. But horacepinkert should certainly apply; the rest of the file looks very strong.

I've never heard of a gre cutoff being above 1200. NW might be at that 1200 but your above it. It may affect funding but then again it may not. I know schools only look at gre to see if you reached the min and value everything a lot more

[horacepinkert]

I've never heard of a gre cutoff being above 1200. NW might be at that 1200 but your above it. It may affect funding but then again it may not. I know schools only look at gre to see if you reached the min and value everything a lot more

I am concerned because I know that at top 20 phil programs, my writing sample and SOP would never get read because of my GRE scores. In terms of Phil programs- Although I don't fall under a particular cutoff, I would be so far down in the stack of applications that applying is a waste of my time. I know that some programs even say on their websites that anything below a 1400 counts against an applicant even though there is no hard cutoff.

Edited September 26, 2010 by horacepinkert

[interista]

Verbal score is very good; quant is probably too low to get into NW. I'd study up on the math and retake. Theory is competitive enough that a bad quantitative score could ruin your application (I do envy your grades)...definitely worth spending the extra $160 if you're planning on investing thousands in opportunity costs to attend a PhD program.

Edited September 27, 2010 by interista

[GopherGrad]

Your particular weak point (GRE Quant) is maybe the easiest single element of an application to change. Consider studying and re-taking. I doubt NW would rubbish a near-4.0 with a master's on that one score, but it can't hurt.