GPA and PhD admissions

[mutebroadcast]

Hey guys,

 

I am graduating this year from MA in Political Science at Central European University, but it looks like my GPA won't be higher than 3.3 and I don't still have my GRE results. I'm going to apply to PhD programs in PolSci in a few Canadian universities to be enrolled in 2015:

 

1. UBC.

2. U of To.

3. University of Alberta.

4. University of Ottawa.

 

I have 4 years working experience in a field of research in public policy, internship at UNDP, number of publications including publication in journal with impact-factor. Do I have any chances to be enrolled with such a low GPA, or no matter how good my CV and proposal are such GPA definitely means "rejected"?

 

In general what are basic "patterns" of admissions to Canadian universities? On what they mostly pay attention when you are applying to faculty of arts?

 

Thank you in advance.

[AuldReekie]

Hey guys,

 

I am graduating this year from MA in Political Science at Central European University, but it looks like my GPA won't be higher than 3.3 and I don't still have my GRE results. I'm going to apply to PhD programs in PolSci in a few Canadian universities to be enrolled in 2015:

 

1. UBC.

2. U of To.

3. University of Alberta.

4. University of Ottawa.

 

I have 4 years working experience in a field of research in public policy, internship at UNDP, number of publications including publication in journal with impact-factor. Do I have any chances to be enrolled with such a low GPA, or no matter how good my CV and proposal are such GPA definitely means "rejected"?

 

In general what are basic "patterns" of admissions to Canadian universities? On what they mostly pay attention when you are applying to faculty of arts?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

This is the wrong forum, you'll get a better response (and won't annoy people) by posting this in the Political Science forum.

 

Suffice to say your GPA will most likely not rule you out of any university, is your publication in peer-reviewed journal? If so, that's a big plus. PhD admissions are dictated by a whole range of factors and GPA is just one of them . 

 

Head over to the polisci forum and have a search for past topics on the issue, there are quite a few threads on admissions to Canadian universities, although not as many as for US institutions.

[bsharpe269]

What is your undergrad gpa?

 

A 3.3 is almost at the level that you would be kicked out of many programs. Most grad programs I see either have a gpa cut off at 3.0 or 3.3 (though I am in a different field so this could vary). A 3.3 in grad school is closer to a high 2.XX in undergrad. I dont think that this will rule you out of all universities but I think that you would probably want to apply to mostly lower ranked schools (of course, throw a few reaches in there too). Also a peer reviewed publication is awesome but with a masters, I think it is fairly the norm to come in with a publication.

 

I recommend that you really focus on picking schools with a perfect research fit. I would make your research goals very clear in your SOP and apply to schools that fit that goal perfectly. I think that if you apply to a large number of school (like 10ish) with a perfect research fit and get great recommendation letter then you definitely have a shot.

[AuldReekie]

What is your undergrad gpa?

 

A 3.3 is almost at the level that you would be kicked out of many programs. Most grad programs I see either have a gpa cut off at 3.0 or 3.3 (though I am in a different field so this could vary). A 3.3 in grad school is closer to a high 2.XX in undergrad. I dont think that this will rule you out of all universities but I think that you would probably want to apply to mostly lower ranked schools (of course, throw a few reaches in there too). Also a peer reviewed publication is awesome but with a masters, I think it is fairly the norm to come in with a publication.

 

I recommend that you really focus on picking schools with a perfect research fit. I would make your research goals very clear in your SOP and apply to schools that fit that goal perfectly. I think that if you apply to a large number of school (like 10ish) with a perfect research fit and get great recommendation letter then you definitely have a shot.

 

In political science it is rare for even Masters students to come in with peer reviewed publications. If you're only applying to Canadian universities then applying to 10 makes no sense, because you're not going to have a good research fit with 10 of them! Although for the US it is true that applying to 5-12 seems to be recommended!

[victorydance]

^ 
Yeah, but I don't see the point in restricting yourself to only Canadian universities. Even a mid-ranked university in the US is probably the same level or better than most Canadian universities for doctoral political science programs. 

 

Although McGill and Toronto have solid programs, neither place exceptionally well.

[mutebroadcast]

What is your undergrad gpa?

 

A 3.3 is almost at the level that you would be kicked out of many programs. Most grad programs I see either have a gpa cut off at 3.0 or 3.3 (though I am in a different field so this could vary). A 3.3 in grad school is closer to a high 2.XX in undergrad. I dont think that this will rule you out of all universities but I think that you would probably want to apply to mostly lower ranked schools (of course, throw a few reaches in there too). Also a peer reviewed publication is awesome but with a masters, I think it is fairly the norm to come in with a publication.

 

I recommend that you really focus on picking schools with a perfect research fit. I would make your research goals very clear in your SOP and apply to schools that fit that goal perfectly. I think that if you apply to a large number of school (like 10ish) with a perfect research fit and get great recommendation letter then you definitely have a shot.

 

Are u sure GPA for 3.3 is to be kicked out? For example, for University of Alberta GPA 3.4 is okay to be enrolled.