Ways to improve profile over next two years?

[TChrTri]

Good evening all.

 

Forgive the somewhat long post. However, I am a bit lost as to how to improve my profile to be a bigger challenge for a PhD program in political science (preferably top 40). I recognize that the quandary is broad and there are more specific questions below but I would be indebted to any assistance provided.

 

I just started my MPA program and will not be set to graduate until Fall 2016. The plus side to the timing of graduation is that I can use my exit paper as my writing sample for my applications. While it is not an MA thesis on paper, I have already approached my exit committee chair to have the paper go this direction he approved it – on the condition that it incorporates some Public Administration elements into the paper per exit paper requirements.

 

My general profile and questions are below.

 

Interest fields: International Relations, International Organizations, Human Rights, Methodology

Degree History 

• Master of Public Administration - University of West Georgia (in progress)
• Bachelor of Science in Political Science - University of West Georgia
• Associate of Arts in History - Gainesville State College

GPA

• Undergrad: 2.94
• Major (overall): 3.833
• MPA GPA: TBD - Projected to be a 4.0 with 9 hours completed

GRE

• Verbal: 149
• Quantitative: 149
• Analytical: 3.5

Quantitative Background: Linear Algebra, Calculus I, Calculus II, Mathematical Probability (Calculus-based)

Independent Research

• Undergraduate: "The Arab Spring's Impact on Religious Liberty In the Middle East" - Paper written for independent study for a grade and neither published or presented.  

Publications: None

Conference Presentations: None

Relevant Work Experience

• Undergraduate Research Assistant at UWG’s Communications and Marketing Office (Fall 2014)
• Graduate assistant in UWG’s Political Science Office (starting this Fall)

Specific Software Knowledge: SAS (in progress), SPSS (in progress), R (in progress)

 

Concerns/Questions

1. GPA prior to transfer to UWG was weak at a 2.7. Despite a 3.83 major GPA, it only went up .24 points due to 90 hours of mediocre work while in pursuit of my Associates Degree. I was unfocused during my AA pursuit but slaughtered almost all of the remaining work for my bachelor degree. I am sure this can be written out with an outstanding CV and SoP, but how big of a concern should this be on the overall picture?
2. Because of the low GPA, I did not see much option than to jump into the MPA program at the school – I had no chance at other in-state schools and had no money to go out of state. Transferring this degree over to a PhD program within my interest fields will be difficult. I am looking at performing independent studies, but I may be doing well to get three, maybe six, hours of it into my studies depending on what the rules are for directed readings. In this light, what would be the best options to help compensate for this discrepancy as most applicants I will be with will either have a masters in political science or will be coming straight out of undergrad with a political science degree?
3. To gain research experience, would it be best if I tried to connect with a couple professors I know to see if I can be a contributor or try to wing it on my own with conference paper presentations?
4. Is my GRE score low enough in the quantitative section to consider retaking in order to make an argument for a methodology minor and/or get into a quantitative-heavy program?

 

Once again, thank you for your time and your assistance.

[rwillh11]

Since you laid out 4 questions, I will give answers to each. Keep in mind that I am by no means an expert-I've just gone through this process and so hopefully I have some insight, but don't take my word as the truth....its biased from my own experience.

1. Very concerned. For some schools, your UG GPA will be below the funding threshold, which will make it hard to admit you. It is also low enough that I would imagine it disqualifies you, by itself, from many "top-top" programs. For some programs, you may be able to explain it away by highlighting your MA + your general improvement as an undergrad, but this will be a tough sell at top programs, which will see a stream of applicants with 3.75+ GPAs.

2.Not sure what you mean by "transferring". You should be OK in that regards, having a bachelor's in Political Science, but all I can really say is do as much Quant as you can, read the top journals in your field/subfield regularly, and be as familiar with as much literature as possible. While an MPA is not the typical path to a PhD, I would imagine it is also not that unique....it is at least a related field.

3. Connect with profs for sure....this could also help you get good recs. If you can get your name on something, awesome, but its not like its impossible to get in without publications or presentations.

4.You could not get into a good PhD program with that score. Full Stop. Especially with your GPA you need to be (at minimum) pushing 160/160. 149/149 is just super low for a PhD program, especially without compelling other reasons to admit you. 

 

I know the above sounds super negative. I am not trying to dissuade you, but rather give you a realistic (as far as I know) picture of what you would need to do. 

[duran0]

What are your specific interests within IR? Do you have the language ability to back it up?

The GPA will probably disqualify you from the top ten programs, maybe even the top twenty programs. If you want a shot in the top 50, you will want to aim for above 160 on both sections of the GRE to compensate for the GPA, as the previous commenter said. Honestly, the higher the better. From what I understand, the MPA might help, but a number of political scientists don't see professional MA programs as good preparation for PhD programs.

I echo the suggestion to get in as much quant as you possibly can. Good luck.

[TChrTri]

What are your specific interests within IR? Do you have the language ability to back it up?

The GPA will probably disqualify you from the top ten programs, maybe even the top twenty programs. If you want a shot in the top 50, you will want to aim for above 160 on both sections of the GRE to compensate for the GPA, as the previous commenter said. Honestly, the higher the better. From what I understand, the MPA might help, but a number of political scientists don't see professional MA programs as good preparation for PhD programs.

I echo the suggestion to get in as much quant as you possibly can. Good luck.

 

My current interests within international organizations is currently in the impact of human rights in the relationship of IGOs and NGOs. At this point, I do not have any language proficiency to note of but I do hold some background in French and Arabic at the undergraduate level - approximately one year of coursework for both.

 

As a clarification, would these issues with my GPA still be in play even if I get a 4.0 in the MPA program? If so, how strong of a profile would I need to overlook it, assuming it can be at all? rwillh11 and yourself noted some difficulties with top programs and I already eliminated the top 5 as an option for application. However, is there even a chance at the top 20 with vast improvements or should my search be set exclusively at the 30-50 range regardless of what everything says?

[duran0]

There are a number of other factors that will go into your application (fit, lors, writing sample, etc), so I hesitate to say that anything is impossible. But my sense is that your MPA from a small regional college will not entirely offset the GPA. I think the top ten programs would be really difficult. Political science is a prestige driven field.

Do you have a good advisor that will give you honest and constructive advice?

In terms of immediate steps, do as well as you can in your MA and get the GRE as high as possible.

Good luck.

Edited April 10, 2015 by duran0

[rwillh11]

My current interests within international organizations is currently in the impact of human rights in the relationship of IGOs and NGOs. At this point, I do not have any language proficiency to note of but I do hold some background in French and Arabic at the undergraduate level - approximately one year of coursework for both.

 

As a clarification, would these issues with my GPA still be in play even if I get a 4.0 in the MPA program? If so, how strong of a profile would I need to overlook it, assuming it can be at all? rwillh11 and yourself noted some difficulties with top programs and I already eliminated the top 5 as an option for application. However, is there even a chance at the top 20 with vast improvements or should my search be set exclusively at the 30-50 range regardless of what everything says?

I would say Top-10 is just out. IF you can bring your GRE way up, and have excellent letters, writing sample and a compelling statement of purpose, then maybe you have a chance at something top 25...its certainly worth applying. I think professional master's programs are viewed as super easy, and a 4.0 would be viewed as the norm, rather than exceptional. That said, if you do really good work, and write a great thesis maybe it makes a difference.

Right now you have two glaring red flags...the GPA and the GRE. You cant fix the GPA-it probably disqualifies you from top 10-15 programs. The GRE is fixable, and if you could get it to a 160/160 then maybe it helps compensate for your GPA. The truth is, the lower your GPA, the higher you need to get that GRE. If you can't get the GRE up, I would think that the whole of the top-40 would be out. Maybe I'm wrong about this, as I wasn't primarily focused on applying to that range, but that is my impression.

I think its always worth applying to a couple schools that you figure are "reaches" if there is really solid fit. All it costs is time and money. However, a 149/149 strikes me as being way below the cutoff for most schools, even lower in the rankings.

[fakeusername]

Your undergraduate GPA is done; there's nothing you can do about it now, so there's no reason to worry about it excessively.  People with similar GPAs have gotten into top 10 programs, just don't shoot yourself in the foot by applying only to top ten programs.  Save enough cash to apply to a ton of programs (shoot for at least 20) that are spread out across the top 40, and you're bound to get at least a few good offers.  

The good news is that nearly two years is plenty of time to dramatically improve a file.  My two cents:

1) Your GRE needs to be significantly improved, and it's the worth investing the time needed to boost it up as high as possible.
2) Seriously try to publish something.  If you get an R&R from a decent journal, it will signal that you have an understanding of political science research is all about, and this will dispel any doubts about your coming from an MPA program. 

Also, why not consider PhD programs in public policy/administration too?  They generally require an MPA, which you will have, and the market for those is much better.  I'm assuming here that you have some interest in this study, since you're in an MPA program instead of a terminal MA.

[law2phd]

You've received a lot of good advice here.  I think that getting into a Top 20 or so program is going to be a massive uphill battle without something really special about your file (a solid publication, a couple of stellar LoRs from famous professors, etc.).  Given the school that you are at, the publication is probably the most doable.  

 

It's my understanding that the GRE quantitative is probably the easiest aspect of your file to bring up, since it requires only practice of high school level math (albeit with somewhat tricky problems); you should be able to enhance both your pattern recognition for types of problems and speed at which you work them.  I would think that 160/160 would be an absolute minimum; you are going to want to use your GRE to prove your competence despite your undergrad-GPA, which will require a higher score than you would need with a good GPA.

 

I don't want to be negative, but I think we would be doing you a disservice if we didn't caution how difficult you might find it to get into a reputable program.  You have an enormous amount of work ahead of you in convincing reviewers that you can succeed despite your undergrad GPA.  Even if you do everything right, I would think that your chance of admittance to a good program will be far lower than 100%.  The good news is that if you're really certain this is what you want to do with your life, you have plenty of time to enhance your file.

[rwillh11]

 

I don't want to be negative, but I think we would be doing you a disservice if we didn't caution how difficult you might find it to get into a reputable program.  You have an enormous amount of work ahead of you in convincing reviewers that you can succeed despite your undergrad GPA.  Even if you do everything right, I would think that your chance of admittance to a good program will be far lower than 100%.  The good news is that if you're really certain this is what you want to do with your life, you have plenty of time to enhance your file.

Seconding this. Especially the bold...its not fair, but it is what it is. There are far fewer spots than there are qualified candidates.