PhD in Political Science/International Relations

[joshc618]

Hey everyone,

I have decided to apply to PhD programs during the next admissions cycle and I just wanted to know if anyone has advice for me. Just a little about me: I graduated from a pretty good state school with a double major in International Studies and French with a minor in Public Policy. I had a 3.85 and was in the top 2 or 3 percent. I wrote a senior thesis on fundamentalist groups in France and how socioeconomic factors affect their growth. Now I am in the middle of a master's program at Sciences Po Paris (was also admitted to LSE) in International Economic Policy which I will finish in May 2013. I decided to go abroad during my master's to have an "international" experience before my PhD. In my program I am required to choose two concentrations, so I took on a "research methods" concentration to show PhD admissions committees that I have a strong interest in research. I am also going to write a master's thesis that is optional here at SP. I will most likely write about the relationship between ICTs and social movements or economic inequality. This summer and for my third semester (fall 2013) I will be in DC working as a research assistant at a major think tank. Luckily I won't be making copies and getting coffee--I will actually be doing research.

I guess I am wondering what to do to improve my application. I haven't taken the GRE, so I need to really work on that. I have heard that it's smart to reach out to professors in the programs you want to apply to. Is that smart? I plan to shoot for the stars and go for the best programs so I'm in need of as much advice as I can get.

Thanks a lot!

[shavasana]

Hey!

I'm no expert, but I do have a couple of pieces of advice. Firstly, I wouldn't recommend writing to professors. A lot of them have a policy about not speaking to prospective students, but I'll also say that any advice they have probably isn't going to make a huge difference in your application.

Focus on your personal statement. That's the biggest deal. You seem like you have a lot to talk about, but be specific in your personal statements.

Also, check out other threads on this forum. They have a lot of advice, and that way people don't have to repeat themselves to your specific question (which is what everyone else is wondering anyway).

But good luck!

[3221]

Hey!

I'm no expert, but I do have a couple of pieces of advice. Firstly, I wouldn't recommend writing to professors. A lot of them have a policy about not speaking to prospective students, but I'll also say that any advice they have probably isn't going to make a huge difference in your application.

Focus on your personal statement. That's the biggest deal. You seem like you have a lot to talk about, but be specific in your personal statements.

Also, check out other threads on this forum. They have a lot of advice, and that way people don't have to repeat themselves to your specific question (which is what everyone else is wondering anyway).

But good luck!

I agree with all this. Also, your course of action is very similar to several students I have met at admit weekends.

Edited April 24, 2012 by 3221

[joshc618]

Thanks for the info, guys. I'll check around the forums.

[metonymy3]

Hi Josh, I'm a fellow Sciences Po student, more or less in the same boat as you are. I just sent you a PM.

[RWBG]