Advice? Direct Entry into PhD program after Bachelor (Political Science or related + Programs within Canada preferred)

[JesAleksandra]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm hoping to apply directly to PhD programs following the completion of my Bachelor's degree next year. I plan to apply to UBC, UToronto, McGill, and UAlberta, but I'm open to well-funded programs at other institutions, as well.

 

Most political science faculties claim to admit "exceptional students" directly to their PhD program following the completion of a Bachelor's degree if the student has a 3.7 GPA or greater, plus excellent references.

 

However, as most students who are accepted to PhD programs have already completed their Master's degree, I am curious:

 

1. What percentage of students who apply to PhD programs without a Master's degree are offered admission?

2. If you were admitted to a PhD program immediately after the completion of your undergraduate degree, what was your CGPA?

3. What was your average only in political science (or your related major)?

 

In case it helps: It will not be a problem for me to secure outstanding references, I have an "A" average in political science courses, and a 3.85 CGPA.

 

Any other relevant information would be appreciated.

 

Thank you all in advance!

 

Jessica

Edited July 10, 2014 by JesAleksandra

[geographyrocks]

I'm not in your field, but I was directly admitted to a Ph.D. program so this information could or could not be useful. 

 

1) I have no idea.  Don't just rely on the website of the schools you are interested in to say whether they do direct admits or not.  Call the department and make sure that they do direct admits to the PhD program.  I learned that the hard way.

2)  I have no idea what my in major GPA was (they didn't calculate that), but my overall GPA was 3.91.  I came from a small public school where there was no outstanding research. 

 

I think the key is to identify the programs that best fit your interests as well as professors.  You also need to convince the committee in your SOP that you belong in a PhD program.  What I said in my SOP boiled down to: I'm gonna get one anyway so you might as well let me in now. lol

[juilletmercredi]

I am not in political science, but I am in another field where the majority of admits to PhD programs have master's degrees and I entered directly after college. I had a 3.42 cumulative GPA from undergrad, but cumulative GPA isn't the only thing about your application that's important.  My major GPA was about a 3.6, if I remember correctly.

 

There's probably no way to answer question #1 as I don't know if programs keep that kind of data and even if they do, they aren't sharing it and aggregating it.  I think you should just apply, if the programs say that they admit people without master's degrees.