I Need Lots of Help

[GopherGrad]

Two years ago, I applied to a few terminal Master’s programs in IR and was rejected everywhere. Recently, I approached a former prof for advice about finding work in the fields that interest me, and she suggested that my goals and academic history would better suit me for a PhD. I’m considering applications next year at this time and I need some advice regarding which schools best fit my area of interest, whether I’m competitive for those schools and how I should approach gathering the pieces of my application together. I will obviously be doing much more research myself and relying on my professor for advice, but insight from the foxhole will be really helpful. Thanks in advance for any answers.

Here’s a little bit about me:

I’m interested primarily in corruption and how fragile state structures respond to organized violence and crime. I want to study how violent enterprise responds to waxing and waning efficiency and credibility of state services and how states make their first steps toward transparency and accountability in the face of violent pressure.

Undergrad GPA 3.45 (English at a Big Ten public uni)

JD GPA 3.0 (about middle of the curve at a top 20 law school)

GRE 800V/750Q/5 AW

I took a fair amount of relevant coursework in law school (development, comparative law, international law, governance of corps and non-profits), produced an unpublished seminar paper on economic reform and it’s effect on organized violence and had an internship with the Department of State focused on researching corruption. I have no other relevant research experience.

I have three years experience in private litigation.

My letters of recommendation will come from:

-an associate prof of linguistics (who taught me a foreign language); this one will be glowing

-the law prof that oversaw my seminar paper (I don’t know her as well)

-I don’t know; I have a prof from a study abroad during law school that really liked me, but that I haven’t been in touch with. Or I could take a graduate level polisci course and hope to perform well enough to get a rec.

So here are my questions:

1) Fit.

Is my area of interest sufficiently narrow? Which schools cater to that subject matter? It seems like everyone’s got “development of governance” courses and dissertation sponsors interested in organized violence and/or corruption; how do I know where I’ll have the best opportunities?

2) Competitiveness.

I know my intangibles count for a lot, but based on what’s available, am I competitive at top schools? If not, which schools should I target? How much does my lack of research experience hurt? Can I sell law school and legal practice as one big qualitative research experience?

3) Application Procedure

When should I contact potential dissertation sponsors? LoR writers? Any advice on choosing between my two final LoR options?

[natofone]

I can't speak to which schools you should be applying to, but I would try to ensconce yourself into one of the primary literatures within political science, and then apply to the places where people work on these topics. This way you will: A. know the literature better, B. be able to apply to the correct places, and C. craft your personal statement around this literature. A good place to start is with reading lists from syllabi of pertinent courses (off the top of my head, I know that Humphreys at Columbia and Simpser at Chicago teach on these topics). You're going to run into the problem that many of the scholars on these syllabi will be economists.

Competitiveness is a tricky question. Your GRE is fine, but your undergrad GPA is relatively low (similar to mine) for the top schools. I don't know if law school GPA is considered equivalent to MA GPAs, but that seems low - no? The best way to make yourself more competitive at this point is to write a great personal statement.

[GopherGrad]

Ha. Was it that easy to tell I'm not "ensconced in the primary literature"?

Good suggestion, though. I see all three advantages as important. Thanks for the advice.

As to the grades, it's tough to tell. I've gotten some differing advice. The prof that suggested the PhD (who sits on our admissions committee) scoffed at the idea that my UG GPA was too low. When I posted for advice from the counselor on admissionsboards asking specifically about Columbia, she didn't mention my GPA, saying "You sound like you have a lot of the pieces to put together a strong application."

But instinctively, I agree with you. I'd like to think the C- I got in Intro to Visual Arts when I was 18 doesn't say anything about my 30-year-old's ability to learn a topic that I love. But how else can they pick? These places can't be taking everyone with a good GRE score and a well-articulated desire to study something similar to faculty. This is really one of the things that's got my head twisted after than meeting.

The JD grades are hopefully viewed differently than MA grades. My school had a strict curve at 3.0 and I'd bet more than 50% of my class fell between a 2.9 and 3.1. There were a lot of smart kids pulling Bs. Also, and maybe I'm being arrogant, but I think generally speaking law school cirriculum is viewed as more demanding than most social science MAs. Whether an adcomm will turn it's nose up at a 3.0 or just view well respected JD as proof I can hack it curved against other smart kids (and a bonus for someone that wants to develop legal institutions) is a mystery to me.

[GopherGrad]

Just for the sake of argument, let's say it doesn't lead logically. Let's say I got a double degree in English and Theater because I wanted to write plays, then got a law degree because I was sick of being poor.

Let's say I took a political development course in UG that I loved, which led me start reading loads and taking relevant courses helter skelter and that now, almost a decade later, I'm just sure that studying these problems is really what I want to do. What IS the logical next step? What should I do to have that career?

Also, for whatever it's worth, my JD coursework focused significantly on comparative law, development of legal institutions, and governance of transnational corporations and NGOs. I also studied my second year in Holland. I'm hoping that, despite the obvious domestic bent of any American JD (and my subsequent practice), this type of prior study establishes that I'm not a total novice in the field and that my interest in it is not entirely spur-of-the-moment. (To wit, my recommendations come from a professor who taught me language, a professor who oversaw my writing about organized violence, and a third which will either come from a polisci prof or the prof that taught my Governance and Ethics of Aid Organization course.)

To the extent that Adcomms expect some sort through-line in one's academic history, how convincing is this?

Edited December 30, 2009 by GopherGrad

[natofone]

Very convincing, I wouldn't worry about that element given that you can demonstrate a command of the literature that you intend to contribute to. (in your statement and choice of schools).

Edited December 30, 2009 by natofone

[GopherGrad]

Encouraging to hear. Is this the sort of argument/presentation I should weave into my statement of purpose? Or will it be evident?

[natofone]

It will be evident. You just need to establish that you know what political science is, you understand what a social science question is, and you grasp some of the mechanisms through which political scientists conduct research.

[thegradstudent]

It will be evident. You just need to establish that you know what political science is, you understand what a social science question is, and you grasp some of the mechanisms through which political scientists conduct research.

Yeah, I agree with natofone. It's evident to the adcoms. The problem with studying organized crime, corruption, crime and other illicit activities within the subfield of IR is that it is very difficult to find data in order to study these topics empirically. Most of the scholars that do work on these topics are already tenured and have the time, resources, and name to delve into these topics without needing to publish their work on things illicit in top journals. So I see this as the fundamental weakness in your application. You need to sell HOW you are going to be able to accomplish the research that you want to accomplish. Not just what you want to do, because what you want to do may not be possible to do empirically (and we all know that methods and quant work matter greatly in IR, especially at top programs).

As for programs, I know that you already applied to terminal MA programs a while back and your prof recommend doctoral programs, but Marquette (with Dr. Friman) would be a good option as a terminal MA. Marquette is a major feeder into top Ph.D. programs and a year or two at a terminal MA may help you figure out what specifically you want to do and how to approach your research questions. As for other programs, Duke and UCSD are two other good options.

[GopherGrad]

Interesting advice, thanks! I've got to admit, the idea of adding options is a little daunting. That being said, I do feel prety amatuer to be going after a PhD at this stage.

The terminal IR programs that rejected me were all SAIS/SIPA types that anitcipate (I think) the majority of their students to work after graduation. Maybe a more academic progr that knew I meant to doctor up would look at me differently.

In any event, I get to heap more reading on my plate prior to applying next year.

[thegradstudent]

Yes, definitely. Those SAIS/SIPA programs are policy-oriented and meant for those who want to immediately go and work after graduation. Rigorous research-oriented Ph.D. programs don't really care whether you are an applicant with a BA or an applicant with a SIPA M.A. because academic Ph.D. programs are so different from SIPA MA.

If you're unsure of the Ph.D. route, a terminal MA from a research oriented program with strong feeder ability into top Ph.D. programs would probably be your best route. I know that Marquette and other research oriented MA programs also have some funding available for terminal MA programs as RAs to the faculty so that may help offset some or all of the cost. If you have any other questions, feel free to pm me if it's info you don't want to put on the boards.

[GopherGrad]

That's an awesome offer. I've hit a busy patch at work, but I'll look into a couple MA programs (esp. Marq.) when things slow up next week and PM you when I've got more constructive questions.

[GopherGrad]

Also, natofone, I just got around to checking out those syllabi. It looks like there are some great sources to address your advice. Thanks again.