Question about GPA and Quantitative issues for theory programs.

[letterbox]

Hello!

I'd really like to apply to a Ph.D program in political theory, but there are two issues with my transcript that I think could prevent me from being accepted anywhere, let alone to a program of my choice.

My Quantitative score on the GRE was abysmal -- 27th percentile. Verbal was 96th percentile, 5.5 AW.

My GPA is 2.9, but my major GPA is 3.5, and I've never gotten less than an A- in a political theory course. My low cumulative is due to a struggle with major depressive disorder that lasted from my freshman year until recently. I spent my first two years at a Seven Sisters college and kept up a 3.4 GPA, but transferred to a small state university when my funding ran out. My GPA at the higher-ranked school was actually better than my GPA at the mediocre university school. There are two medical withdrawals on my transcript.

I'm a research assistant for my university's only political theorist and have worked with him for the past two years. I was also a TA for him last year in an Honors class, and have TA'd intro Economics classes. I completed an Honors thesis last spring. I have excellent letters of recommendation from professors who are adamant that I pursue my Ph.D, even with the holes in my transcript.

Does the combination of my GPA and Quantitative score put me out of the running for grad school altogether? (I'm pretty sure it does -- no hard feelings if you say yes.) I have no delusions about attending a top program, but I'm hesitant to waste money applying anywhere if I'm doomed to automatic rejection.

Thanks in advance!

[Velocitous]

It never hurts to try. If you really want to be a political theorist, then spending a few hundred dollars on application fees is not some giant loss. It sounds like you have a really strong connection with your political theory professor, and this can go a long way (particularly if he's relatively well connected). A good letter from him that explains your low GPA, talks convincingly about your strengths, and assures committees about your potential could be a game changer.

The low quant GRE issue is harder to finesse than the GPA one. If you think that studying and retaking could bump that up, then it's imperative that you do so. Many faculty use the math GRE score as a hard cutoff and won't read any further on a file with a score in the 27th percentile. If that's the really the best score you can achieve, then you may find that you have limited options, but if you're hitting the 96th percentile on verbal, then it sounds like you have the intellectual horsepower to take on the math section if you buckle down and study.

Finally, many applicants with a low GPA go into a masters degree program, where they can excel, get good grades, and prove they're up to the challenge. You should consider this option.

[letterbox]

Thanks so much for the response! My theory professor knows faculty at UC Boulder and SUNY Albany, and there are people in those departments doing some things that I'm interested in. I just had no idea whether anyone would bother to look at my app with such low numbers.