Narrowing down schools - Seniority

[IRToni]

So I'm just narrowing down my final list of schools. I contacted some professors at different schools, and have heard back from one that he's retired, and therefore doesn't take on new advisees.

 

One of the schools that I'm thinking of applying to only has junior faculty in the subfields I am interested in (the senior guy doing the kind of research I'm doing retired in 2011). Would it be unwise to apply to this school?

 

My current list is:

Princeton

Stanford

Harvard

Harvard PEG

UCSD

UC Berkeley

NYU

Columbia

University of British Columbia

 

Michigan is the school that only has junior people (think assistant professors) that I'd be interested in working with. I ruled out Wisconsin because my PoI there retired in 2012, and as an international, Wisconsin doesn't really seem like my kind of environment for 5 years (not to mention a ridiculously low stipend).

 

Because I'm also applying in Europe (though less widely), I would like to narrow down my list of schools as much as possible.

 

Any tips on narrowing down my list of schools in general, and more specifically regarding seniority of faculty?

 

Thanks in advance,

IRToni

[jazzrap]

OP, 

 

I can't give you any advice on particular POIs. However, I noticed that you are interested substantive IPE-related stuff that employs formal theory? If that is the case, I suggest replacing Princeton with Princeton PE, because that's where the formal theorists and political economists are. And I suspect (imho) that formal theorists will only sit on the admission committee for the PE program, so if you think your profile may impress formal theorists, then go for Princeton PE.  

[IRToni]

Thanks, I'm actually applying to Princeton PE, but through the PoliSci department, since it is my understanding that at Princeton you have to apply for the PE program within Poli Sci. Did I massively misunderstand the procedure?

[jazzrap]

Thanks, I'm actually applying to Princeton PE, but through the PoliSci department, since it is my understanding that at Princeton you have to apply for the PE program within Poli Sci. Did I massively misunderstand the procedure?

You are right. They ask applicants to apply for either Polisci OR econ and check the PE option in their application. 

 

Plus, I am not thinking very hard about POIs. For Michigan, e.g., though I am going to do quant-heavy or at least mixed-method things, all my POIs are qualitative researchers. Let's see:)

Edited November 20, 2013 by jazzrap

[catchermiscount]

Also, many folks within the department proper study IPE using formal tools---certain gradcafe alumni come to mind...