Likelihood (GPA: 3.2; GRE: 155/155; international)

[curvilineardisparity]

Hi everyone!

I have finally gathered all my documents to apply for a PhD in the United States and would really appreciate to hear your inputs on (a) the likelihood of being accepted, (b) suggestions of universities to be included or excluded from my list, and (c) ways/tips to increase my chances. Thank you very much!

Education:
Master in Public Economics, Law and Politics (2 years, Germany) - GPA: 3.2 (on going)
Master in Public Management and Society (2 years, Brazil) - GPA: 4.0
Bachelor in Economics (5 years, Brazil) - GPA: 2.5

Exams:
GRE: 155V/155Q
TOEFL: 104

Work experience:
~ 10 years in political parties
~ 6 years as fundraiser in NGOs
~ 1 year as lecturer in a vocational/technical institute

Others:
4 publications in unknown journals on political science, international relations and economics & law.
Speak Portuguese, English, Spanish and some German.

Research focus: political parties in Latin America (comparative politics)

Targeted universities (ordered): George Mason; Pittsburgh; Syracuse; UC-Riverside; Tulane.

Again, thank you very much!

[Determinedandnervous]

You should probably try to get your GRE score up if you can, since your GPA for your MPA and BA are low and they use GPA/GRE as a cutoff very often before looking at much else. It would also help to know what you mean by unknown journals. Are they Brazilian journals? European journals? American journals? If they're American journals that will make you pretty competitive, but otherwise it's nice to have but may not add much.

[curvilineardisparity]

On 10/21/2016 at 7:17 PM, Determinedandnervous said:

You should probably try to get your GRE score up if you can, since your GPA for your MPA and BA are low and they use GPA/GRE as a cutoff very often before looking at much else. It would also help to know what you mean by unknown journals. Are they Brazilian journals? European journals? American journals? If they're American journals that will make you pretty competitive, but otherwise it's nice to have but may not add much.

Thanks a lot, @Determinedandnervous! Unfortunately I am not $able$ to take the GRE again at this point, so I'll be obliged to use it.

In regards of the grades, I do agree with you, especially regarding the ones at the BA. Are you aware how is it usually assessed? I mean... As I am doing my second MA now, will they still consider my BA's grades?

The journals are the Journal of International Studies (Poland) and three of them from Brazil (Conjuntura Global, Revista Economia & Gestão, and Publicatio Ciências Sociais). They are totally unknown in the US, I guess. On the other hand, I have done oral presentations at the congresses of the International Political Science Association, Development Studies Association, the European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy and some others... Maybe it is a plus...?

[Warelin]

The way they look at undergrad GPA might differ by college. A lot of colleges set a base undergrad gpa requirement of 3.0. Failure to meet that and they might not even look at the rest of your application. These requirements are usually set by the Graduate College, and not the program itself so it's a bit harder working around it.

[curvilineardisparity]

On 10/23/2016 at 9:17 AM, Warelin said:

The way they look at undergrad GPA might differ by college. A lot of colleges set a base undergrad gpa requirement of 3.0. Failure to meet that and they might not even look at the rest of your application. These requirements are usually set by the Graduate College, and not the program itself so it's a bit harder working around it.

Thanks for the information, @Warelin! I wasn't aware of it. I will definitely e-mail the universities to double-check it.