2026-2027 Application Thread

[OBD]

1 minute ago, poliscicomm said:

where did you hear that? 

I am gonna visit Emory😊

[GoodLuckToAll]

11 hours ago, OBD said:

I heard that Duke just offered three students for this year!

I was interviewed but rejection comes later.

IR  

May I ask if this is IR admits only, or you mean three for all subfields in total (that would be crazy)? Also I wonder where you get the info from?

[OBD]

5 hours ago, GoodLuckToAll said:

May I ask if this is IR admits only, or you mean three for all subfields in total (that would be crazy)? Also I wonder where you get the info from?

All subfields

UNC prof told me

[PolSci445]

10 hours ago, OBD said:

I am gonna visit Emory😊

Congratulations! 🎉

When are you going to visit the campus? I'm trying to figure out when to expect a rejection from them. 😅 It's a bit frustrating that they take so long when it seems like they've already made decisions.

[OBD]

41 minutes ago, PolSci445 said:

Congratulations! 🎉

When are you going to visit the campus? I'm trying to figure out when to expect a rejection from them. 😅 It's a bit frustrating that they take so long when it seems like they've already made decisions.

Hi thank you!

March 19. 

They will announce final results after this visit.

[Unobtrusive Owlet]

I was so hopeful that Gtown would release today, but it's the end of the business day on the east coast and nothing in my portal and nothing on the results pages. :(((((( 

Was hoping to close out the cycle today and MOVE ON. 

 

[ComparativeScholar]

Hello everyone. Is there any UT Austin Political Science Phd program waitlisted applicants? Do you have any guess whether there is any move out of waitlisted applicants?

[ws45hju]

I hate being on the waitlist

[KBO Master]

18 hours ago, ComparativeScholar said:

Hello everyone. Is there any UT Austin Political Science Phd program waitlisted applicants? Do you have any guess whether there is any move out of waitlisted applicants?

I heard that there might be an opening in the AP subfield (Heard from graduate student at UT Austin)

[ComparativeScholar]

Hi everyone; I hope we would hear more positive news in the upcoming weeks concerning our application results. I have one question as my friends wanted me to ask: What kind of paper you submitted as part of your writing sample during your applications; was that your MA Thesis or quant focused writing sample?

He wonder whether Admission committees really read these writing sample in detailed way, namely whether intergrating advanced quant methods in the writing sample sends any positive signal for the admission committees? I had submitted a Machine learning paper for instance but I didnt see its clear benefit, to be honest 🙂

[M1nT]

24 minutes ago, ComparativeScholar said:

Hi everyone; I hope we would hear more positive news in the upcoming weeks concerning our application results. I have one question as my friends wanted me to ask: What kind of paper you submitted as part of your writing sample during your applications; was that your MA Thesis or quant focused writing sample?

He wonder whether Admission committees really read these writing sample in detailed way, namely whether intergrating advanced quant methods in the writing sample sends any positive signal for the admission committees? I had submitted a Machine learning paper for instance but I didnt see its clear benefit, to be honest 🙂

AdComs never read with an eye for a lot of detail, they have to check >5 docs per applicant, with >100 applicants, many more in some cases. They check for markers of good writing, independent critical thinking and quant-focused work, not the details of such documents. Your MA/MSc thesis is good IF it checks those boxes

[whydoidothis]

Can anyone who got into UC Berkeley's political science program tell me how many people they admitted this year, a breakdown by subfields, whether they cut the cohort number, and how many people are on the waitlist? I'm a waitlisted applicant whose top choice is Berkeley. 

[waitingforpoliscidepts]

Anyone who got into NYU and WashU, do you know whether all the offers have been sent out..? I just want this cycle to end so I can move on.

[poliscicomm]

10 hours ago, waitingforpoliscidepts said:

Anyone who got into NYU and WashU, do you know whether all the offers have been sent out..? I just want this cycle to end so I can move on.

I might be wrong but it seems like they are finalizing the list now. Some people posted that they got rejections via portal. WashU has sent out some offers already, and been dealing with the rest of applicants recently, I guess.

[PeculiarTheory]

On 2/24/2026 at 6:02 PM, PeculiarTheory said:

Has anyone heard from the University of British Columbia (UBC) for their phD program?

Hey! I am wondering if you ended up hearing back from UBC? 

[OBD]

3 hours ago, PeculiarTheory said:

Hey! I am wondering if you ended up hearing back from UBC? 

nope, not yet!

[elainez]

Hi everyone! I'm on the waitlist for Northwestern. Does anyone know about the chances of getting off the waitlist from Northwestern? I tried to search past results, but it looks like they don't typically give waitlists (?) Also, has anyone ever turned down their only acceptance, feeling it's not a good fit? Any information would be greatly appreciated😭

[waitingforpoliscidepts]

On 3/10/2026 at 11:57 PM, poliscicomm said:

I might be wrong but it seems like they are finalizing the list now. Some people posted that they got rejections via portal. WashU has sent out some offers already, and been dealing with the rest of applicants recently, I guess.

Thank you for your response. I asked both NYU and Washu, and they told me they are still reviewing the applications. Although I assume it may be a rejection, I guess I just have to wait another one or two weeks. 

[M1nT]

9 hours ago, waitingforpoliscidepts said:

Thank you for your response. I asked both NYU and Washu, and they told me they are still reviewing the applications. Although I assume it may be a rejection, I guess I just have to wait another one or two weeks. 

WashU is killing me

[erm]

Hey guys! Popping in here with a little bit of good news! 

Earlier this week I was accepted off the waitlist to Michigan State with a fully funded offer, my top choice!!! I applied to 14 PhD programs in AP straight out of undergrad and it has been nothing but rejections and three waitlists. I had given up hope completely when this came into my inbox. For all of you other waitlisted people, do not give up hope! this cycle has been so brutal and your admissions results do not define your worth. Hoping for good news for all of you soon!

[Unobtrusive Owlet]

Well, my cycle is over with an assumed rejection from GU. Received four offers, including my top choice. Maybe I'll see you all out on the admitted students visits. Best of luck going forward! 

[PS2026]

What's with everyone in this thread coping that they got into their top choice?

@Unobtrusive Owlet, you were applying to SIPA and actively waiting for Georgetown-you did NOT get into your top choice.

@PoliSci2026 You didnt get into Harvard and were waiting to hear from Georgetown (very different ranks), you did NOT get into your top program.

Let's all face it, this was a hard cycle. Most of us didn't get offers and those who did received them at schools that were not their top choice. But everyone here trying to smile and say that they got into their top choice is lying. Even more so than usual the top 5 departments admitted the same students who get all the choice while the rest of us have to beg for a place at a poorly paid program where we wont ever place into academia. 

The whole thing's a sham.

[PoliSci2026]

16 minutes ago, PS2026 said:

What's with everyone in this thread coping that they got into their top choice?

@Unobtrusive Owlet, you were applying to SIPA and actively waiting for Georgetown-you did NOT get into your top choice.

@PoliSci2026 You didnt get into Harvard and were waiting to hear from Georgetown (very different ranks), you did NOT get into your top program.

Let's all face it, this was a hard cycle. Most of us didn't get offers and those who did received them at schools that were not their top choice. But everyone here trying to smile and say that they got into their top choice is lying. Even more so than usual the top 5 departments admitted the same students who get all the choice while the rest of us have to beg for a place at a poorly paid program where we wont ever place into academia. 

The whole thing's a sham.

I don't know who you are, and with what knowledge or authority you decide that people are lying about getting into their top choice or about anything else. Why would we be lying? This forum is anonymous, no need to pretend.

From what you write, I understand you're frustrated with this cycle's results, I understand you hoped for better results. But don't lash out at me. And most certainly, don't tag me and accuse me of lying. Since I last wrote here I had several updates, but I'm most certainly not feeling like sharing them now.**

Many of us had several complicated months. For some it was better, for some it was worse. Being nice to each other won't hurt.

 

** and for all those who are anxious and following for every piece of information - my updates are already in the admission results page, just not linked to this profile/forum

Edited March 17 by PoliSci2026

[PS2026]

5 minutes ago, PoliSci2026 said:

I don't know who you are, and with what knowledge or authority you decide that people are lying about getting into their top choice or about anything else. Why would we be lying? This forum is anonymous, no need to pretend.

From what you write, I understand you're frustrated with this cycle's results, I understand you hoped for better results. But don't lash out at me. And most certainly, don't tag me and accuse me of lying. Since I last wrote here I had several updates, but I'm most certainly not feeling like sharing them now.

Many of us had several complicated months. For some it was better, for some it was worse. Being nice to each other won't hurt.

What programs are you getting into? How can you get into your top choice and be applying to Harvard but waiting for Gtown? Harvard is the #1 program in most subfields, how are you getting into your top program if you're rejected at harvard? Did you get into Yale or Princeton, probably not. Just take the L.

[PoliSci2026]

Just now, PS2026 said:

What programs are you getting into? How can you get into your top choice and be applying to Harvard but waiting for Gtown? Harvard is the #1 program in most subfields, how are you getting into your top program if you're rejected at harvard? Did you get into Yale or Princeton, probably noton

1. A top choice doesn't have to be the #1 program, there are other factors.

2. Waiting for GU doesn't tell you anything about my other options. It doesn't tell you where I applied, or where I got into.

3. I'm not going to tell you where I got into, not with this attitude of yours. But I'm happy with the options I have. You can believe me or think I'm a liar, it won't change the reality. 

4. I won't "take the L" because I didn't lose. I'm thrilled with this cycle results. Did I hope for more acceptances? Sure. Did I get into places I'll be happy to get into, including my top choice? Also yes.

5. I'm sorry for you that the cycle went badly for you, it doesn't mean this is the case for everyone else.

6. I'm even more sorry for you that your way of feeling better is lashing at random people in the internet and trying to make them feel bad with themselves. 

7. I respectfully ask you, leave me alone.