Need advice about school selection

[lilchinaboy]

Hi guys! I have been researching schools that offer program in political science/international affairs/relations, I am thinking about applying during 2012 or even 2013 cycles. I need some advice about what schools I should apply for, since my personal case is somewhat different from other applicants.

I am an international student with a not so strong background, I did my undergraduate in Italian Studies in China. Now I am working on my master of science degree on international affairs and global studies at Northeastern University in Boston. My first GRE try was in early 2009, and it was a disaster, V370, Q560, AW3.5, there's no way I can apply with this sort of thing, especially as a Chinese student, basically all the other Chinese students get 800 for Q, as you may already know. I'm thinking about taking GRE again, some time in the near future, I am expecting something like 1100-1300, I will do my best. My undergraduate GPA is unknown, because in China we never use letter-graded GPA system, my current graduate school GPA is 3.838.

That said, I don't think expect I have a shot with TOP50 programs, I am expecting something more realistic for my personal situations, no political science undergraduate background from a foreign country, master's degree in a so-so American institution with acceptable GPA in related field of political science, not outstanding GRE, a couple of NGO intern experience, mediocre references (from Northeastern University). My goal after completing, I don''t really expect to get any top tenure-track positions, or research position, I am willing to take any job offer as long as the employer is willing to sponsor me for a working visa in the US, a teaching job in community colleges, small and local colleges/universities, I don't really care if they are in the middle of nowhere, such as Nebraska or South Dakota, but I am not willing to go to Alaska!

What kind of schools I should apply for? I've been researching...on many schools, I think I should exclude those in good locations--such as CA, Boston or NYC/DC, I am considering my chances in schools like U of Oklahoma, U of Kansas, U of Conn, U of Miami, U of South Carolina, U of Nebraska, Georgia State, U of Georgia, U of Kentucky, U of Tennessee, and my current school Northeastern. As you can see, many of the schools I was researching are from Midwest, I hope that's where competition is weaker, and I may have a bigger chance of being accepted.

What do you guys think?

Thank you so much, guys!

[kaykaykay]

Even if you did not have letter graded evaluation system you must have some sort of transcript ( and basis of a GPA) from China. I cannot imagine that there is such a thing as GPA unknown. How did you apply to Northeastern???

[Bukharan]

I can only say that you seem to be knowing what you are doing. You are rationalising things; you know your strengths and weaknesses. I think you are doing everything well. The range of schools you outlines sounds about right.

Have you thought of applying to Europe? Not to generalise but it may be easier to get into a top school in Europe (true, way harder with funding). Living in Europe will also be beneficial for your language skills and all kinds of cool summer internships in IR.

[lilchinaboy]

Even if you did not have letter graded evaluation system you must have some sort of transcript ( and basis of a GPA) from China. I cannot imagine that there is such a thing as GPA unknown. How did you apply to Northeastern???

Sorry I didn't explain it well enough, well yea I have official transcripts from China, the courses were not graded on "letter" system like here in the US, they were graded on percentage system, I would say my overall GPA on a percentage level is something like 80%, I don' t how to covert it into a 4..00 GPA like here in the US. Actually I got accepted by two programs last year, a master of arts in international policy studies from Monterey Institute in CA, and this master of science in international affairs at Northeastern in Boston. I couldn't afford Monterey, Northeastern is actually cheaper, believe it or not! I just hope my master degree to be earned in the US will help me somewhat in applying for a PHD program in the US.

Edited March 7, 2011 by lilchinaboy

[lilchinaboy]

I can only say that you seem to be knowing what you are doing. You are rationalising things; you know your strengths and weaknesses. I think you are doing everything well. The range of schools you outlines sounds about right.

Have you thought of applying to Europe? Not to generalise but it may be easier to get into a top school in Europe (true, way harder with funding). Living in Europe will also be beneficial for your language skills and all kinds of cool summer internships in IR.

Hi, thanks so much for your advice about Europe.

But I simply don't want to leave the US. To me this is the best country in the world ...(ok, food here sucks compared to China!) I like living in modern places like the US, cars here are cheaper, gas is even cheaper than in China, it's spacious and not crowded, it's so open to immigrants, and the minuted I arrived in this country for the first time in 2008, I felt like I was already part of it. I returned to China to complete my undergraduate and I came back here for graduate school in 2010. I wish I had been born here. Besides, if I returned to China someday, American degrees and educational experience are way more valuable in China than those from Europe, Chinese employers basically believe the US has the best education in the world, in everything.

[azure]

if you want to stay in the US, you should look for a job in the country after earning the MA, rather than applying for a phd program.

[lilchinaboy]

if you want to stay in the US, you should look for a job in the country after earning the MA, rather than applying for a phd program.

Thanks so much for the reply. Yes I know that looking for a job might be a better choice for me, however, I have to take into consideration that the possibility of not finding a job after I complete my master's in a year or so. If that happens, I would have to return to China,and it's certainly not what I expect. I'm not interested in becoming an illegal either. So doing a higher degree sounds like the only way to "extend" my stay in the US, legally, and after all, getting a higher degree doesn't sound bad at all, at least it's what my parents are expecting me to achieve.