Question for recently admitted/current Poli Sci PhD students

[Rory_123]

Hi everyone.

I will be attending an MA in International Relations this fall with the intention of continuing on to a PhD in Political Science. My undergrad is in the humanities, so this MA is hopefully going to allow me to make the disciplinary switch to poli sci. What kind of research opportunities should I be looking out for? Working with a professor? Getting funding for a self-designed research project during the summer? Does TA experience make a difference? What about conference presentations/posters and publications? What is a reasonable number of conferences to go to/papers to publish within the first 3 semesters of grad school? Should I take a introductory stats/quant methods series of courses? I am required to take econ, but I'm thinking of adding in stats.

My basic question is, if you were in my shoes, what would you make sure you do before applying?

Thanks!

[polisciphd]

What kind of research opportunities should I be looking out for? Working with a professor? Getting funding for a self-designed research project during the summer? Does TA experience make a difference? What about conference presentations/posters and publications? What is a reasonable number of conferences to go to/papers to publish within the first 3 semesters of grad school? Should I take a introductory stats/quant methods series of courses? I am required to take econ, but I'm thinking of adding in stats.

1. Take as many research opportunities as you can get, one of the main things adcoms want to see is research experience and potential.

2. Work with three professors if you can, so that they can all write detail rec letters for you, saying how that you are in the top five students they have ever had, and that any school would be lucky to have you.

3. Funding for a self-designed project is fine, but the more important thing is coming out with something that you can possibly publish, either by yourself or with a prof

4. TA'ing is not so much of a big thing to adcoms in my experience, concentrate more on research and perfecting your writing

5. If you can publish 1 quality paper while in grad school, then you are ahead of the game. Any more than that is bonus in my opinion. As far as conferences go, if you are presenting at said conferences, then of course that is great. Just going to conferences won't get you any points.

6. Stats classes are important if that is what you are wanting to do in your ph.d. program. However, you can get into stats heavy programs with hardly any experience.

7. Have fun, figure out EXACTLY what it is that drove you to this field, and EXACTLY what it is that you want to spend the next 60 years studying, put this all in a kick butt personal statement, and you should be good to go.

[Rory_123]

Thanks, tidefan.

I was wondering, if RA positions aren't available for the first semester (I have three semesters before I send in my PhD applications), I am planning on taking research design courses (one in comparative, one in IR). I'm hoping that will make up for it.

Also, where should I be looking to publish? My school (top 10 poli sci dept) has a Journal of International Affairs that publishes grad students work sometimes.

Thanks again.

[polisciphd]

Publishing on your own in a known journal as a masters student will be hard. I would try for your school's journal. I did the same while at the Elliott School for my masters. If you can get on as an RA with a prof that likes you, mention to them that you are a big fan of their work and would be very interested in publishing with them in any capacity, this will demonstrate to them how much you like their work and how dedicated you are to the field, which will help come Rec letter time.

[flyingwalrus]

If you want to move onto a PhD program, tech up as much as possible; take as many stats and methods classes as they'll let you.