Last Minute-Worth Applying?

[WestCoastChap]

I graduated at the top of a top law school in 2006 and, after four years of corporate law hell to repay the loans, intended to transition to the public sector. But I have always harbored some hope of ending up in academia so I took the GRE last weekend and did fine. I'd only go to a top PoliSci or MPP program, and only with funding--I'm leaving a $200k job behind. So, in what I am sure is an annoying repeat of many past threads, can I get some thoughts on my chances in applying this late?

GRE: 770V, 740Q, AW?

LSAT: 99th%

2006 JD top 5 school, top 10% class

2003 BA from good but not spectacular college, polisci major, magna

How high can I reasonably shoot?

Thanks for the time and best of luck to all!

[balderdash]

I graduated at the top of a top law school in 2006 and, after four years of corporate law hell to repay the loans, intended to transition to the public sector. But I have always harbored some hope of ending up in academia so I took the GRE last weekend and did fine. I'd only go to a top PoliSci or MPP program, and only with funding--I'm leaving a $200k job behind. So, in what I am sure is an annoying repeat of many past threads, can I get some thoughts on my chances in applying this late?

GRE: 770V, 740Q, AW?

LSAT: 99th%

2006 JD top 5 school, top 10% class

2003 BA from good but not spectacular college, polisci major, magna

How high can I reasonably shoot?

Thanks for the time and best of luck to all!

Well, from a current applicant, for what it's worth: you should be fine if you can write a good SOP and give a reasonable argument for why you're passionate about what it is you want to do (saving Malthus from the crypts of political theory, arguing relativistic epistemology in the Kosovar context, or whatever ridiculously specific subfield). If you're going to write "I did corporate law, didn't like it, so now I want to do a PhD in Poli Sci because it's interesting," don't waste your time. Also, it should show that you have some background/experience in the area. I think admissions would question your passion for your intended area of inquiry if you did it at undergrad then left it for 6 years to do corporate law instead, without any time researching, writing, or traveling to further this passion.

And you're not late, so long as you can meet the deadlines. By "Top" I'll assume you mean HYP, whose deadlines are the 15th of December. If you can get everything in by then, you're in the same (only) batch of apps as everyone who turned theirs in back in October.

[WestCoastChap]

Well, from a current applicant, for what it's worth: you should be fine if you can write a good SOP and give a reasonable argument for why you're passionate about what it is you want to do (saving Malthus from the crypts of political theory, arguing relativistic epistemology in the Kosovar context, or whatever ridiculously specific subfield). If you're going to write "I did corporate law, didn't like it, so now I want to do a PhD in Poli Sci because it's interesting," don't waste your time. Also, it should show that you have some background/experience in the area. I think admissions would question your passion for your intended area of inquiry if you did it at undergrad then left it for 6 years to do corporate law instead, without any time researching, writing, or traveling to further this passion.

And you're not late, so long as you can meet the deadlines. By "Top" I'll assume you mean HYP, whose deadlines are the 15th of December. If you can get everything in by then, you're in the same (only) batch of apps as everyone who turned theirs in back in October.

Thanks very much. Yes, HYP-ish (depending on the wife's geographic needs) is my intended target, and my legal career is related to my specialty--well, at least the JD is. And the SOP itself should demonstrate the relationship.

How has your application process worked out--happy to be done (if not already) with the selling-yourself portion, and ready for the bargaining time? That pesky waiting gets in the way, but it's better than learning vocabulary or factorials.

[db2290]

I agree with above - if you can make your application look like it wasn't last minute, then you obviously stand a good chance with your academic record. What will be important in your SOP is to demonstrate that polsci was always on the agenda in the great career plan and wasn't just a spontaneous escape from a legal job..