Inside Look at Top-10 Department

[123321123321]

My friend is applying to political science programs and says he got this from someone at UCSD. Take it for what it is, but it's an interesting read.

 

https://anonfiles.com/file/6042bf992e3000b7d21aae2866849974

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Umm... is this a safe download?

[catchermiscount]

INCREASE YOUR SIZE!  CLICK HERE!

[jazzrap]

Hey SCREW YOU!

[jeudepaume]

I wanna increase my size. where can I click?

[jane4jane4]

Anyone downloaded this? İs it safe or a scam?

[milox]

I downloaded it. It is really a document from the PoliSci Department at UCSD. But make sure you click on the small Download button and not on the flashy, big and attractive one.

 

Edit: It's a PDF

Edited February 18, 2014 by milox

[AuldReekie]

Non-scary link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Pq4TjvfqRjQV9zaE05akh5ZUk/edit?usp=sharing

 

EDIT: Interesting snippet regarding their grad program.. aiming to drop from ~93 students to ~80

 

"The unexpectedly high yield of acceptances to our offers for fall 2013 has stretched our

resources to the breaking point and we hope to reduce new enrollments in fall 2014 by one‐third or

more. A total of 21 new students enrolled in fall 2014; we need to keep this below 14 for 2015 and the

next few years."

 

Edited February 18, 2014 by RLemkin

[IRToni]

Thanks for taking one for the team, and trying it!

 

Those that read it: Isn't it fishy that they already have enrollment figures for 2014? Or is that 2013? That would mean that they accepted a lot less this year?

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Thanks for taking one for the team, and trying it!

 

Those that read it: Isn't it fishy that they already have enrollment figures for 2014? Or is that 2013? That would mean that they accepted a lot less this year?

 

They have years of statistics to make yield predictions. They indicate a goal class size, not an actual one, for what it's worth.

[MrLister_The_Sister_Fister]

They also say from 2007-2013, they placed ~75% of their grad students in TT positions, ~10% in post docs, and ~8.5% in the government, leaving only like what, 7% of students without a job? That's pretty good, I'd say. Also, they've placed in some good departments too.

 

Bottom line: Get into a top-10 department if you want a good job after you graduate.

[IRToni]

They have years of statistics to make yield predictions. They indicate a goal class size, not an actual one, for what it's worth.

 

I realize that. However, wouldn't they have just admitted less students this year then, if they were aiming for less people. Since they were not sure about the outcome of the hiring thing when they wrote this document, they must have written it before making decisions (the MR thing has been clear since August...). Do we know who the GT offer went out to, BTW?

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

I realize that. However, wouldn't they have just admitted less students this year then, if they were aiming for less people. Since they were not sure about the outcome of the hiring thing when they wrote this document, they must have written it before making decisions (the MR thing has been clear since August...). Do we know who the GT offer went out to, BTW?

 

Yes, I'd imagine a smaller acceptance pool, maybe a larger WL pool, too.

[AHL]

In this document:

 

"Unlike previous plans for future hiring, our planning for this three‐year hiring cycle is complicated by the anticipation of substantial turnover through retirements and other separations. In the next four years we anticipate eight to ten such retirements and separations—about a quarter of our entire faculty. Half of these are likely to occur in the field of American politics, but all fields (including Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Methods) face the likelihood of one or more losses."

 

So sad.

Edited February 18, 2014 by AHL

[IRToni]

In this document:

 

"Unlike previous plans for future hiring, our planning for this three‐year hiring cycle is complicated by the anticipation of substantial turnover through retirements and other separations. In the next four years we anticipate eight to ten such retirements and separations—about a quarter of our entire faculty. Half of these are likely to occur in the field of American politics, but all fields (including Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Methods) face the likelihood of one or more losses."

 

So sad.

I wonder who they're talking about! Sounds like those that are going to UCSD for AP (especially) should be asking their PoIs some hard questions. I dont think it will be very relevant for me personally, though. Really hoping they'll be able to fill the GT position next cycle!

Guess we have accepted this doc as real, them?

[AHL]

I wonder who they're talking about! Sounds like those that are going to UCSD for AP (especially) should be asking their PoIs some hard questions. I dont think it will be very relevant for me personally, though. Really hoping they'll be able to fill the GT position next cycle!

Guess we have accepted this doc as real, them?

I can't think of why this document might not be real. In fact, it confirms my worst fears. I think that the AP faculty they're talking about are Jacobson, Kernell, and Popkin, or at least two of these three, all of whom are my POIs. I will definitely have some questions to ask during the phone call that has been scheduled.

 

It was clear in my application that I'm interested in working with these people. All of them were listed in my SOP. My question is whether the fact that I was accepted means that (they think) I don't have that much to worry about... In any case, I thank the starter of this thread for sharing this document and alarming me about the severity of the situation.

Edited February 18, 2014 by AHL

[IRToni]

I can't think of why this document might not be real. In fact, it confirms my worst fears. I think that the AP faculty they're talking about are Jacobson, Kernell, and Popkin, or at least two of these three, all of whom are my POIs. I will definitely have some questions to ask during the phone call that has been scheduled.

 

It was clear in my application that I'm interested in working with these people. All of them were listed in my SOP. My question is whether the fact that I was accepted means that (they think) I don't have that much to worry about... In any case, I thank the starter of this thread for sharing this document and alarming me about the severity of the situation.

I had heard of a UCSD exodus in AP. they do seem willing to adress this problem, though, which is good! I'm also wondering whether the smaller class sizes might not actually work to students' advantage. Placing is impressive, from what I gather?

[TheGnome]

My question is whether the fact that I was accepted means that (they think) I don't have that much to worry about... 

 

Hopefully this is the case, but it wouldn't be wise to rely on that. I don't think you are, but in case someone reading this thread does. The reasoning may simply be that they think you are a smart student who would be a good addition to the cohort and that your interests will kind of sort themselves out in the years to come. This line of thinking does not take into account the student's best interests and it will be the student who will bear most of the costs in the end. You simply cannot know which one was their rationale based on the fact that they accepted you, so you have to pry information from the folks over there.

[AHL]

Hopefully this is the case, but it wouldn't be wise to rely on that. I don't think you are, but in case someone reading this thread does. The reasoning may simply be that they think you are a smart student who would be a good addition to the cohort and that your interests will kind of sort themselves out in the years to come. This line of thinking does not take into account the student's best interests and it will be the student who will bear most of the costs in the end. You simply cannot know which one was their rationale based on the fact that they accepted you, so you have to pry information from the folks over there.

Thanks. I will definitely ask and cannot give them the benefit of the doubt.

[IRToni]

Thanks. I will definitely ask and cannot give them the benefit of the doubt.

You should do that, especially as you have other amazing options for AP!

[jazzrap]

I apologize for my previous reply. I thought that it was a spam.

[CGMJ]

I wonder who they're talking about! Sounds like those that are going to UCSD for AP (especially) should be asking their PoIs some hard questions. I dont think it will be very relevant for me personally, though. Really hoping they'll be able to fill the GT position next cycle!

Guess we have accepted this doc as real, them?

 

Despite the sketchy link, I can confirm that this is a real document cc'ed to the department. 

[IRToni]

Those of you considering UCSD and not in AP, does this document affect your impression of the program? If so, how? Looks like UCSD might be the best option for me (currently anyway...), but I'm unsure of whether I should/can expect a significant drop in ranking (and more importantly) placement in the next 5 years.

[IRToni]

Despite the sketchy link, I can confirm that this is a real document cc'ed to the department. 

 

Thanks for confirming!

[CGMJ]

I'm not an Americanist so I can't really speak to this, but people in the department will likely be upfront about expected departures if you ask them!