Ph.D. straight out of undergrad?

[amandaaimeparis]

Hi--

I'm a senior at a top 30 liberal arts college. I went to the Idealist.org grad school fair in DC last night and was told by a few schools I was looking at that they were reluctant to take students directly out of undergrad for Ph.D. programs. I had known this was the case for masters' programs, but had been unaware that it was the case for Ph.D.s. Is this true across the board, or just at those schools? I know I want to get a Ph.D., and am reluctant to go for a terminal masters' first because of the prohibitive expense. Am I better off looking for a fellowship to pay for the masters' if I get rejected from the Ph.D. programs, or working for a few years to try to save up money/gain experience? (I'd prefer to just go straight into grad school but I guess if it's not possible then...) I would really appreciate any advice, as the grad school fair was rather discouraging and now I'm not sure what to do! thank you!

To be more specific, here are some stats:

top 30 liberal arts college

GPA 3.5 (probably 3.57 counting study abroad grades); 3.7+ in poli sci

planning to focus on comparative with a concentration in European studies

GRE: 96th % verbal, 81st% math, 77th% writing

doing research this semester with a professor who is writing a rec, have two other good recs lined up

extracurriculars really good but don't know how much this matters...

applying to:

NYU, American, Rutgers, Pitt, UConn, George Mason, Syracuse, Brandeis (and two masters' programs in Paris)

[Penelope Higgins]

For a PhD in political science (not public policy or international affairs) this is not an issue. Work experience doesn't matter, so long as you have a clear idea of what you want to study in grad school. Most applicants (and most entrants) are straight out of undergrad.

[polisciphd]

It seems to me like you may be shooting a little too low in terms of the quality of programs to which you are applying. With your grades and GRE scores, you might want to throw a couple of top 20s in there just for good measure.

[NEPA]

Hi--

I'm a senior at a top 30 liberal arts college. I went to the Idealist.org grad school fair in DC last night and was told by a few schools I was looking at that they were reluctant to take students directly out of undergrad for Ph.D. programs. I had known this was the case for masters' programs, but had been unaware that it was the case for Ph.D.s. Is this true across the board, or just at those schools? I know I want to get a Ph.D., and am reluctant to go for a terminal masters' first because of the prohibitive expense. Am I better off looking for a fellowship to pay for the masters' if I get rejected from the Ph.D. programs, or working for a few years to try to save up money/gain experience? (I'd prefer to just go straight into grad school but I guess if it's not possible then...) I would really appreciate any advice, as the grad school fair was rather discouraging and now I'm not sure what to do! thank you!

To be more specific, here are some stats:

top 30 liberal arts college

GPA 3.5 (probably 3.57 counting study abroad grades); 3.7+ in poli sci

planning to focus on comparative with a concentration in European studies

GRE: 96th % verbal, 81st% math, 77th% writing

doing research this semester with a professor who is writing a rec, have two other good recs lined up

extracurriculars really good but don't know how much this matters...

applying to:

NYU, American, Rutgers, Pitt, UConn, George Mason, Syracuse, Brandeis (and two masters' programs in Paris)

I wouldn't worry too much about getting rejected. It's always a possibility, of course, but you've got excellent credentials for those programs. (I'm also applying to Rutgers and GMU!) It seems like in political science going right out of undergrad is the norm. I've heard mixed reviews on the stigma of getting getting out with the terminal masters for those deciding not to finish the PhD, but if you're sure you want to go for the doctorate, go for it! Applying to a masters program by itself would be fairly expensive, whereas you'll hopefully get funding to do the PhD.

[thegradstudent]

Don't apply to terminal MA if you know you want a Ph.D. If you need time to figure out what you want to study and how you want to study it then an MA may be useful. But it seems like you know you want the Ph.D.

Following up on what others have said above, in polisci, it doesn't matter if you are coming straight from undergrad or have taken time off. I came in straight from undergrad (as did a handful of others in my cohort) and we all did well during the application process. Your stats are good and I'd also agree that you should probably throw in one or two top 20 schools.