International Students applying for US PhD Programs.

[AuldReekie]

Hello everyone,

Just wondering if there are any other Internationals on here that are thinking about applying for a PhD in Pol Sci next year?

I'm currently in year 3 of a 4 year undergraduate MA in International Relations at a medieval British university. I should hopefully graduate with a First Class honours degree which I'm struggling to fit into the GPA system and have spent the past three years studying IR almost exclusively. Not looking forward to the GRE.. I know that we're disadvantages at certain state schools for example the UC system and some others.

Probably applying to places that I have no hope of getting into.

If any current/previous applicants have any advice it would be more than welcome!

Edited March 17, 2011 by Rlemkin

[Tufnel]

You can't get money at UCSD, which is a bit of a downer depending on what you study within IR.

I frankly don't know what an undergraduate MA is, though I guess it's a combined BA/MA? To do both in 4 years seems quite fast.

I imagine you'll be fine as long as your class rank is good and you do well on the GRE (which shouldn't worry you - it's not a difficult test).

Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, etc, are all well-regarded in the states. It's the grad work that gets knocked, especially in IR. Graduate work at those places is quite different from that in the states. However, from what I understand, that difference is less consequential prior to graduate school.

If you write a good SOP and do well on the GRE (no lower than 1400), I think you'll be fine. That said, I've never read your sample and don't know what your professors think of you.

Best of luck.

Edited March 17, 2011 by Tufnel

[Charlie2010]

The GRE will matter everywhere, although it will vary slightly how much. Most top schools have at least one faculty member who has studied or taught in the British system so they will know how to interpret your performance even without a GPA. At any rate, GPAs are hard to compare even across American institutions, so you're not going to get excluded anywhere serious just because they can't assign a point value to your GPA.

[MJ0911]

If any current/previous applicants have any advice it would be more than welcome!

I considered it, as I am a UK student but spent 2 years working as a fellow/research scholar at american universities.

The GRE is harder for UK students I think, purely in terms of standardised tests not being something we are used to. I last did maths at SCE level so struggled with that (though the other sections were v easy) so it's one thing you should focus on brushing up on, especially since maths is taught very differently in the US. I came out with almost perfects score on the verbal and writing, and was in 40th percentile in maths after a month's preparation, just to give you an idea (I am admittedly hopeless at maths, but graduated with a first in BA, distinction in Masters etc so I'm not an idiot, the maths just killed me!)

Another thing to keep in mind is that British LORs and SOPs are very different to American ones - LORs in the US are generally much longer/more effusive, British ones tend to be shorter and more reserved, even if they think very highly of you. Similarly SOPs are very different - in the UK you would be expected to submit a research proposal and an SOP outlining your interest in the program etc. In the US it's completely different (check individual schools for their requirements). I've had US friends laugh at my SOP since it seemed so dry, and I in turn have wondered if my American friends have mistaken their SOP for a romantic novella. Be aware of the differences so you can write accordingly. Make sure your professors where you are know that you are planning on applying, and make sure they know who you are!

I've no idea about funding, but if you are graduating with a first then well done! I'd recommend trying to find departments/supervisors who match well with your interests first, then looking at the funding arrangements of those schools, rather than the other way round. You should also be eligible to apply for a Fulbright as well.

Edited March 21, 2011 by MJ0911

[emmajane]

Judging from the description of your undergrad, I'm (almost) certain I know where you are studying. If I'm right then I'm in your department and I went through the US application process successfully this year. I'd be happy to talk to you about my experiences and see if I can offer any advice if you want? PM me if you would like to talk and we can arrange a time. Either way, good luck! It's a different application process to the UK one but it's worth persevering.