Take GRE again? Also chances.

[hopefulfall12gradstudent]

I'm applying for PhD programs for Fall 2012 in American Politics (Congress, Elections). I want to go to a top program, top 20 for sure and top 10 if possible.

My first question: Should I take the GRE again? I took it twice before. The first time I got in the high 500s on verbal and the high 700s for quant. The second time I got in the mid 600s on verbal and the low 700s on quant. But I got the same overall scoreboth times- I basically transferred 60 points from quant to verbal and kept the same composite (1360). Is this too low for top programs. I know it won't help me a lot, but will it exclude me? I feel like my biggest weakness on verbal, analogies and antonyms, is not going to be on the new test. So I was considering one last hurrah to try for a boost. Is this a good idea? Oh, my AW is a 5.5.

Second Question: How are my Stats for programs I am interested in (planning to apply to about 10 of the top 20, plus a few schools below that for backup)

UG School: LAC in the US News 20-35 range.

GPA: Mid 3.8s (above 3.9 after first year)

GRE: see above

Research Exp.: Worked for Regional/ State polling firm for two summers, Research Assistant at a Top 6 over the summer, Intern at a DC policy think tank helping with research. Wrote junior honors thesis, writing senior honors thesis. Presented Research at Conference Poster Session.

LORs: Prof I was a Research Assistant for at top 6, Political scientist I intern for at think tank, professors at school who I worked with for honors. Also, for quant-leaning programs is it appropriate to have a math department professor write a letter? I got one of the highest, if not the highest class in the stats class I took last semester and wrote two papers for the class that were social science oriented that went very well.

Math: A in stats, took AP Calc in HS, Going to take Calc II and Advanced Stats next school year, Some of my research was also very quant oriented.

Chances? Suggestions? Advice? Schools I should avoid or definitely apply to?

[RWBG]

My two cents:

Probably not worth retaking the GRE, unless you're pretty sure you can get 600+ and high 700 on a retake. As it is, over the two tests, you have high scores in both, so that may be enough.

Regarding math profs as letter writers, maybe not, unless you're doing heavy formal theory and they can speak to more than what would be reflected in the grade. However, if you did a stats class (presumably metrics/regression oriented?) that involved empirical papers, and they went well, it might be useful to have a prof who can speak to your ability to do empirical work. Depends on the opportunity cost though; are you getting them to write you a letter at the expense of someone who might be better known in the field? That being said, holding everything else constant, having letter writers that can speak to different aspects of your abilities is probably better.

[hopefulfall12gradstudent]

Thanks for the advice. Ia lso emailed some departments and found that at least three I am applying to take the highest score from each section even if on different days, which would give me a 1420.

And on the math prof, I'm not plannning on doing heavy formal theory but was just wondering on whether having someone like that write for more methods heavy schools would be good.

My two cents:

Probably not worth retaking the GRE, unless you're pretty sure you can get 600+ and high 700 on a retake. As it is, over the two tests, you have high scores in both, so that may be enough.

Regarding math profs as letter writers, maybe not, unless you're doing heavy formal theory and they can speak to more than what would be reflected in the grade. However, if you did a stats class (presumably metrics/regression oriented?) that involved empirical papers, and they went well, it might be useful to have a prof who can speak to your ability to do empirical work. Depends on the opportunity cost though; are you getting them to write you a letter at the expense of someone who might be better known in the field? That being said, holding everything else constant, having letter writers that can speak to different aspects of your abilities is probably better.