Looking for some Poli Sci Guidance

[asdfasdf456]

I finished my master's in international affairs last semester. That's on top of a criminal justice bachelor's. My original plan was to continue on in the academic world, get a PhD, and teach.

 

Problem is I'm fairly burnt out after finishing my master's, and have been trying to find something else to do for a while as I consider whether a PhD is really right for me. I had a medical issue which made things tough for me for a little while and definitely made my GPA less than optimal (ended up with a 3.0), so I don't even feel too confident at the moment about my PhD admission prospects. One of my advisors suggested enrolling in a terminal masters program for political science, and then hopefully doing significantly better that my previous issues have been resolved, and seeing how I felt about the PhD at that point. Has anyone here taken a path like that? Is getting two masters even the slightest bit common?

 

That said, I don't know what the heck else to do or what I'm even looking for. Instructor positions are very limited from what I've been able to find, and looking for a job in the private or non profit sectors has been a crap shoot. It's overwhelming since my original plans didn't work out and I didn't have much of a backup.  It's very frustrating feeling useless and unproductive having nothing to work on after having worked so hard on getting my masters. Maybe some burn out is normal, maybe I'm screwed, I dunno.

 

I was a TA for a year, enjoyed it very much, and while the IA masters was interesting enough, I still have a strong affinity for US politics.  Any advice of what to look for or where to look would be greatly appreciated.

[cooperstreet]

GPA less than optimal (ended up with a 3.0),

 

Do you mean you had a 3.0 graduate GPA in the US? If so, I hate to tell you this but that will kill your PhD prospects.

[asdfasdf456]

GPA less than optimal (ended up with a 3.0),

 

Do you mean you had a 3.0 graduate GPA in the US? If so, I hate to tell you this but that will kill your PhD prospects.

Unfortunately that is correct. Which is why I'm looking at possibly doing another masters program and performing significantly better this time around. 

[DKSL]

I don't think a terminal masters in political science will be of much help to you, unless it included lots of stats courses. I would say that a "safer" option would be to do an MA in econ, applied econ, or stats. That way if you decide to not pursue a phd, having an econ/stats background should open up more job opportunities (I think, I wouldn't know because I didn't go down that path). 

[asdfasdf456]

I don't think a terminal masters in political science will be of much help to you, unless it included lots of stats courses. I would say that a "safer" option would be to do an MA in econ, applied econ, or stats. That way if you decide to not pursue a phd, having an econ/stats background should open up more job opportunities (I think, I wouldn't know because I didn't go down that path). 

Thanks for the reply. I can't say I'm too excited about economics, and it hasn't been the focus of much of my work so far. My verbal on the GRE was also significantly better than my quant, so it probably wouldn't be a very good fit for me anyways. 164V/152Q. I did get a 5 on the writing portion, but I've heard that really doesn't hold much water. 

[DKSL]

Thanks for the reply. I can't say I'm too excited about economics, and it hasn't been the focus of much of my work so far. My verbal on the GRE was also significantly better than my quant, so it probably wouldn't be a very good fit for me anyways. 164V/152Q. I did get a 5 on the writing portion, but I've heard that really doesn't hold much water. 

Quant GRE can be easily increased. Head over to the GRE forum for great study resource advice.

[AuldReekie]

I don't think a terminal masters in political science will be of much help to you, unless it included lots of stats courses. I would say that a "safer" option would be to do an MA in econ, applied econ, or stats. That way if you decide to not pursue a phd, having an econ/stats background should open up more job opportunities (I think, I wouldn't know because I didn't go down that path). 

 

Alternatively look at programs like Chicago's QMSS (Quant Methods in Social Science) which would allow you to take more relevant research methods courses and work with Political Science professors who will be far better placed to write you references later.

[cooperstreet]

Thanks for the reply. I can't say I'm too excited about economics, and it hasn't been the focus of much of my work so far. My verbal on the GRE was also significantly better than my quant, so it probably wouldn't be a very good fit for me anyways. 164V/152Q. I did get a 5 on the writing portion, but I've heard that really doesn't hold much water. 

Keep in mind if you studying American politics it is going to be very quant-heavy.

[asdfasdf456]

Alternatively look at programs like Chicago's QMSS (Quant Methods in Social Science) which would allow you to take more relevant research methods courses and work with Political Science professors who will be far better placed to write you references later.

 

Thanks. Will definitely have to get my quant score up a good bit to even think about that program though. I've focused on theory and foreign policy, so I've had very basic research methods experience thus far. 

Keep in mind if you studying American politics it is going to be very quant-heavy.

I have heard mixed opinions on the quant emphasis of American Politics. I thought it was more a specific program sort of thing, not necessarily everywhere across the board. 

Edited May 9, 2014 by asdfasdf456

[cooperstreet]

What programs are you looking at, or profs you are interested in working with, who do qualitative American politics?

[aecp]

GPA less than optimal (ended up with a 3.0),

 

Do you mean you had a 3.0 graduate GPA in the US? If so, I hate to tell you this but that will kill your PhD prospects.

Is there grade inflation in American graduate programs?

 

What %age of the class get's A's - > 60%?

 

I thought A's start at marks >90.  Is it really that easy to get >90 at the graduate level - even when papers and essays are involved.

 

Finally what is a very competitive GPA at the grad level? 4.0?

 

Pardon all the questions, but I really do not understand the American marking/grading system.  Please all the info you can provide will be very helpful.  Thank you.

[asdfasdf456]

What programs are you looking at, or profs you are interested in working with, who do qualitative American politics?

My short list at the moment (of programs that include a terminal masters degree) is:

 

University of Oregon

University of Virginia

Boston College

Penn State

University of Nebraska

 

Those would hopefully serve as a stepping stone to a PhD, or at least open up another opportunity in the political realm if I decide that academia isn't really for me. My MA in International Affairs was from a mid size state school and the program itself was relatively new, so the opportunities and connections just don't exist at the moment. 

Edited May 12, 2014 by asdfasdf456

[hj2012]

Is there grade inflation in American graduate programs?

 

What %age of the class get's A's - > 60%?

 

I thought A's start at marks >90.  Is it really that easy to get >90 at the graduate level - even when papers and essays are involved.

 

Finally what is a very competitive GPA at the grad level? 4.0?

 

Pardon all the questions, but I really do not understand the American marking/grading system.  Please all the info you can provide will be very helpful.  Thank you.

 

Yes, there's grade inflation in American graduate programs. Many PhD programs require students to keep above a 3.5 GPA, and from what I understand, receiving a "B" in a grad level course is indication that you're not doing something right.

[hj2012]

My short list at the moment (of programs that include a terminal masters degree) is:

 

University of Oregon

University of Virginia

Boston College

Penn State

University of Nebraska

 

Those would hopefully serve as a stepping stone to a PhD, or at least open up another opportunity in the political realm if I decide that academia isn't really for me. My MA in International Affairs was from a mid size state school and the program itself was relatively new, so the opportunities and connections just don't exist at the moment. 

 

To be totally frank, you'll have a hard time getting into UVA's political science program with a 3.0 GPA. Nearly everyone I met in the program was coming in with a much stronger academic background. I did know someone who'd done a MA prior to entering UVA's MA (though his MA was in Education, so not necessarily a related field), but he did quite well during his prior grad & undergrad studies.

 

You say you feel burnt out, which is totally normal considering how much direct schooling you've gone through! But if you're burnt out, I'm wondering why you're interested in pursuing MORE higher education. You didn't do well during your first MA -- what has changed that will enable you to do significantly better during your second MA?

 

I understand the job market is tough these days, but I highly encourage you to go out and look for opportunities that will not only diversify your resume but allow you to take a break from academia. You'll need to be able to justify why you're making the switch from IR to American Politics, so why not spend a year working for Americorps (very low-paying, but many positions aren't particularly competitive) or volunteering for a campaign (midterms are coming up)?  These seem like better options for you to survey the field and get a better sense of what you want, rather than going into deep debt for another degree that may or may not be relevant for your future career.

[asdfasdf456]

To be totally frank, you'll have a hard time getting into UVA's political science program with a 3.0 GPA. Nearly everyone I met in the program was coming in with a much stronger academic background. I did know someone who'd done a MA prior to entering UVA's MA (though his MA was in Education, so not necessarily a related field), but he did quite well during his prior grad & undergrad studies.

 

You say you feel burnt out, which is totally normal considering how much direct schooling you've gone through! But if you're burnt out, I'm wondering why you're interested in pursuing MORE higher education. You didn't do well during your first MA -- what has changed that will enable you to do significantly better during your second MA?

 

I understand the job market is tough these days, but I highly encourage you to go out and look for opportunities that will not only diversify your resume but allow you to take a break from academia. You'll need to be able to justify why you're making the switch from IR to American Politics, so why not spend a year working for Americorps (very low-paying, but many positions aren't particularly competitive) or volunteering for a campaign (midterms are coming up)?  These seem like better options for you to survey the field and get a better sense of what you want, rather than going into deep debt for another degree that may or may not be relevant for your future career.

Thanks so much for the reply. True, I'm burnt out. I guess I'm interested in pursuing more higher education because it's all I've ever really known and what I had originally planned to do. And the interest is still there. It's tough moving away from that after doing it for so long and being unsure of what else to do. Like you said with the job market being tough it's hard to find opportunities, so in a sense academia has always felt like a kind of safe haven.

[hj2012]

Thanks so much for the reply. True, I'm burnt out. I guess I'm interested in pursuing more higher education because it's all I've ever really known and what I had originally planned to do. And the interest is still there. It's tough moving away from that after doing it for so long and being unsure of what else to do. Like you said with the job market being tough it's hard to find opportunities, so in a sense academia has always felt like a kind of safe haven.

 

Not to be super corny, but the fact that academia is all you've known is MORE reason to try something else! I know I wouldn't have done well in grad school had I gone straight from undergrad because I, too, was quite burnt out. However, a few years in the "real world" has convinced me that the academy is where I want to be. I definitely have more fire in the belly, so to speak, from my years working.

 

I encourage you to apply to full-time jobs, even if it's not EXACTLY where you want to be working, because the experience will be valuable regardless. You mentioned that you enjoyed being a TA; have you thought about entering education full-time? You could also look at volunteer programs like City Year in order to test the waters.

[cooperstreet]

My short list at the moment (of programs that include a terminal masters degree) is:

 

University of Oregon

University of Virginia

Boston College

Penn State

University of Nebraska

 

Those would hopefully serve as a stepping stone to a PhD, or at least open up another opportunity in the political realm if I decide that academia isn't really for me. My MA in International Affairs was from a mid size state school and the program itself was relatively new, so the opportunities and connections just don't exist at the moment. 

 

 

I can say for sure that you are going to have a hard time finding people to work with at Penn State and the University of Virginia who do qualitative American politics. Penn State in particular is known as an especially quantitative department. I mean, they helped create GDELT.

[cooperstreet]

More importantly, what type of research in  American politics would you like to do?

[DKSL]

 Penn State in particular is known as an especially quantitative department. I mean, they helped create GDELT.

What good that did them, but I digress.