Just a very confused applicant looking for help...

[rtuva10]

Hi all,

ANY help or response would be appreciated here. I graduated from a top 25 public university with a 3.9 cumulative, 3.9 major GPA with a degree in politics. I am re-taking the GRE (690 V, 670 Q, 4.5 AW (ugh)). I did not write a thesis, and I do not have a strong quantitative background. I had a good internship, scholarships, etc. and now I work at a prestigious law firm. My recommendations will be OK but not spectacular. I would like to obtain a terminal MA to overcome these weaknesses in my resume, get to know some great professors, and maybe narrow my interests of study before applying to a PHD program. So far this is my list of schools... is there anywhere I'm missing--perhaps a good school where I would have a better chance of getting into? A great school where I have a shot at the PHD? Is a terminal MA a bad idea in my case? Any advice would help, I'm so lost...

 

Columbia: MAO NYU: MA in IR at the Wilf School

Georgetown: MA in Democracy and Governance

 

Johns Hopkins- SAIS M.A.

YALE- Jackson institute for Foreign Affairs

Chicago’s One Year IR MAO

George Washington University Elliot School?

UVA- Perhaps apply to the PHD program and ask to defer the application to the master's program if I don't get into the PHD

 

Thanks!

[hopes_]

Hi all,

ANY help or response would be appreciated here. I graduated from a top 25 public university with a 3.9 cumulative, 3.9 major GPA with a degree in politics. I am re-taking the GRE (690 V, 670 Q, 4.5 AW (ugh)). I did not write a thesis, and I do not have a strong quantitative background. I had a good internship, scholarships, etc. and now I work at a prestigious law firm. My recommendations will be OK but not spectacular. I would like to obtain a terminal MA to overcome these weaknesses in my resume, get to know some great professors, and maybe narrow my interests of study before applying to a PHD program. So far this is my list of schools... is there anywhere I'm missing--perhaps a good school where I would have a better chance of getting into? A great school where I have a shot at the PHD? Is a terminal MA a bad idea in my case? Any advice would help, I'm so lost...

Columbia: MAO NYU: MA in IR at the Wilf School

Georgetown: MA in Democracy and Governance

Johns Hopkins- SAIS M.A.

YALE- Jackson institute for Foreign Affairs

Chicago’s One Year IR MAO

George Washington University- Elliot School?

UVA- Perhaps apply to the PHD program and ask to defer the application to the master's program if I don't get into the PHD

Thanks!

Aw this post has had so many views and I totally empathize with your confusion, I wish I could help. I'm just a newcomer to this field so I have little clue as well. Good luck!

Edited November 9, 2010 by hopes_

[adaptations]

Please pardon the fact that I am re-posting part of an older post of mine, but I think it is still relevant:

I'll focus on your question of whether or not to apply to a terminal masters to make yourself more competitive for a PhD program later. Given your background, you have a reasonable chance at getting into a strong PhD program, and so I would advise against the terminal MA as a first option. If you apply to places like Chicago and are denied to the PhD program, they will almost certainly consider you for one of their masters programs. The masters can certainly make you a stronger PhD applicant, but if you can skip that step and save a lot of money, there's not a lot of reasons to do the MA, assuming you are really confident you want to get a PhD and go into academia.

Essentially, the MA is a great way to strengthen your credentials and get better LORs (it's what I ended up doing). But, if you are confident you want to earn a PhD, I would encourage you to apply directly to PhD programs, and some MA programs as backups. If you get into a good PhD program, you can save a lot of time and money. (The key is being confident you want to do the PhD)

[GopherGrad]

Keep in mind that professional programs like SAIS are very different in scope and effect on your career than PhDs (or MAs taken to prepare for PhDs).

You can cut your options roughly in half by simply asking what you'd like to do with your life. Graduates from SAIS-like programs work as diplomats, with banks analyzing political risk or economies or with NGOs doing program design and implementation. Think meetings and powerpoints.

PhDs usually teach and research, most often at universities and think-tanks. Think conferences and book chapters.

[Zahar Berkut]

Agree with the poster above who said that if you know you want the PhD, apply for PhD programs as well. In fact, I'd suggest applying to both PhD programs you're interested in and a few options that could help you bolster your credentials if you don't get in.

Also agree with poster above on SAIS and Elliott: these are policy degrees that will not help much for the PhD.