Phd chances help?

[appleguy]

Hey everyone. So I wanted to see if anyone had any opinions about my chances of getting into a solid Phd program.

I am already an MA student. Essentially, I was really sick for the better part of three semesters in undergrad, and so my overall GPA was really low, like 2.9, even though my grades were super high in the last year and a half and I got a couple of dozen credits of polisci classes at 3.5 or above.

But I got good gre's, 1370, and awesome recommendations and so I decided to go for an MA to decide if I really wanted the Phd and to boost my application. I got in a few places and I'm doing my MA in polisci at GMU. I'm getting around a 3.75, my GRE scores are still decent at 1370, my recs are awesome and I've even been published this year in a peer-reviewed journal of international affairs (so my writing samples will be solid). I'm also doing research in foreign policy at a competitive internship at a top think tank at the same time as classes (yes I'm tired).

I'm not aiming for Harvard, but I am looking to apply next season for places like UVa, SAIS, American, and maybe UNC or UPenn (and GMU cuz it's free to apply for me and I know some good researchers already). Thoughts on my chances? Much appreciated!

[Tufnel]

None of us have a clue. Truth be told, your UG GPA is going to hurt you and your MA GPA is not exceptionally high relative to other MA GPAs. On the other hand, your pub may help a lot if it's in a respected journal. And if your LOR are truly exceptional, that's obviously a boost.

But again, we don't have a clue. The best advice I or anyone can give you goes as follows:

Apply to a bunch of programs (8+, I think). Write an incredible SOP. Apply based on the fit of the program's research with yours, not because of any perceived prestige or locational preference. Apply to a wide variety of schools, from UNC to a few modest choices. Then see what happens.

[appleguy]

None of us have a clue. Truth be told, your UG GPA is going to hurt you and your MA GPA is not exceptionally high relative to other MA GPAs. On the other hand, your pub may help a lot if it's in a respected journal. And if your LOR are truly exceptional, that's obviously a boost.

But again, we don't have a clue. The best advice I or anyone can give you goes as follows:

Apply to a bunch of programs (8+, I think). Write an incredible SOP. Apply based on the fit of the program's research with yours, not because of any perceived prestige or locational preference. Apply to a wide variety of schools, from UNC to a few modest choices. Then see what happens.

Thanks for the response. I know that a lot of people have just gone through the process, and so I guess I really wanted to know if my ballpark for program difficulty was ok, or if anyone had any other suggestions. I've been looking at researchers and so on, and these schools seem good matches. I've always wanted to go to OSU, because they have a few big names in theory and social IR, which is part of what i am researching.

Any opinions would be appreciated. thanks!!

[maicondouglas]

Other than my undergrad gpa, you seem to have better stats than me (GRE, publication, etc.) and I got into two top 25s, one of which was WUSTL which has a comparable ranking to UNC. So it's completely doable.

[ElanMorin]

To Appleguy - I'm in a very similar spot (though with a lower uGPA, higher MA GPA, and higher GREs) and am also finishing an MA and looking to apply for next year. The advice that I've gotten from everyone is that applying with a sub 3.0 GPA means that its even more of a crapshoot then it is for everyone else, but that you still have a reasonable shot if the rest of your app is strong. I'm planning to apply to at least 10 schools, mostly mid range programs that are strong in my specialty but a couple top 25 ones.

Also, if you were legitimately ill in undergrad and that's a reason for your low grades in a couple semesters, it might be worth mentioning somewhere on your application. Alas for me, I have no such excuse, other than that I was young, played too much Half-Life, and went to a school that fought very hard to buck the trend on grade inflation.

Also, would love to hear what your experience is at GMU. I've heard very good things about the program there, and was considering applying to the PhD program this fall.

[Tufnel]

Thanks for the response. I know that a lot of people have just gone through the process, and so I guess I really wanted to know if my ballpark for program difficulty was ok, or if anyone had any other suggestions. I've been looking at researchers and so on, and these schools seem good matches. I've always wanted to go to OSU, because they have a few big names in theory and social IR, which is part of what i am researching.

Any opinions would be appreciated. thanks!!

Understood.

Having just gone through the process myself, I will say that's its not so direct. In law school applications, acceptances are directly related to tangible factors measuring the strength of your application. Those factors are the LSAT, GPA, and, if applicable, URM status. Once those are known, one can more or less know where they will be accepted.

PhD programs are, on the other hand, far more opaque. I was accepted at multiple top-10s and rejected at 2 schools in the 10-20 range. The latter two rejections were each from schools that were simply ill-fitting concerning research interests.

Your GPA, GRE, etc are all supposed to prove your intellectual aptitude. Once that's no longer in question, it comes down to research fit and awareness of legitimate political science. Those are proven in your SOP, though your sample and LORs certainly play into the equation too.

If you want a serious gauge of your potential, talk to the faculty in your program (especially the younger ones or those who recently sat on admissions committees). Let them read your SOP (and correct it). They know your work and will be able to give you better advice about your chances.

But on the basis of what we have, I'd say apply to UNC. Apply to a few schools in the top-25 and some below. You might get in.

It's impossible to tell much though without knowing your undergrad and reading your SOP.

Good luck!