I Can't Tell If I'm On the Right Track (Need Some Advice)

[iamdanthemanstan]

I'm freaking out a little over what sort of program I can get into and I need some advice. I was an English major in college, but I've always been very interested in politics, and after living in China for the past five years I'm planning on applying to some graduate programs. My ultimate goal is get a PhD, but my GPA is pretty bad 3.1 and I just never developed great contact with any professors so my letters of recommendation are going to be fairly weak. On the plus side I'll probably do well on the GRE, I always do well on standardized tests and I've been doing really well on the practice questions. My plan was to go for a Master's degree. It should be easier to get into than a PhD program and that way I can develop better contacts and show that I can do the work. But now I'm freaking out a little over if I can get into any decent Master's programs. A lot have requirements I don't meet, like having taken econ. courses, or being fluent in a foreign language, I can speak a little Chinese, but not much. One wanted a 20 page writing sample, unless they want a short story nothing I did in college is very applicable. I can't tell if I have a chance to get in somewhere or am just totally screwed. Thanks for taking the time to read all this, I'd love any thoughts.

[3221]

You might want to take a look at terminal MA programs at places like Chicago and Columbia. I know they sometimes offer scholarships and can be useful as feeders into other PhD programs. Good luck!

[adaptations]

The previous poster's advice is spot on. Columbia and Chicago's programs are well known for feeding people into PhD programs, even if it isn't at those schools. Chicago has CIR and MAPSS, while Columbia has a range of program from Political Science to quantitative methods in the social sciences. There are many other master's programs that may serve you well, but be sure to examine their success at feeding into PhD programs. Getting to work with and know well-known professors will be a huge asset when applying to PhD programs, in addition to getting a much stronger GPA. If you're willing to spend the time and money, you should be able to get into some of these types of programs and then have a good shot at a PhD program down the road.

[GopherGrad]

I have a story similar to the OP's. I would echo the advice given so far and add that you should strongly consider less well-known schools, especially at universities that do not offer PhDs. Of course you can and should apply to Chicago and Columbia if those programs seem attractive, but being a bigger fish in a smaller pond has its advantages.

In my case, I received full funding and I've had tremendous access to faculty who will rank me among the top students they have worked with. Is this enough to overcome the prestige factor of the MAs consistently suggested on this site? Time will tell, I'm firing up my applications now.

[RWBG]

I have a story similar to the OP's. I would echo the advice given so far and add that you should strongly consider less well-known schools, especially at universities that do not offer PhDs. Of course you can and should apply to Chicago and Columbia if those programs seem attractive, but being a bigger fish in a smaller pond has its advantages.

In my case, I received full funding and I've had tremendous access to faculty who will rank me among the top students they have worked with. Is this enough to overcome the prestige factor of the MAs consistently suggested on this site? Time will tell, I'm firing up my applications now.

Hey GopherGrad! Good luck with it.