Profile evaluation (low in GRE verbal)

[lalalalovesong]

I am especially worried about my gre scores.

I've searched average gre scores for each program, but most programs were looking for 160+ in verbal basically.

Where would be my chances for ph.d program with this low score?

Maybe programs of ranking between 30-40 (or 50) would be safe for applying with this low gre scores?

I am looking for the program which offers me full funding, cause I can't 

Given the fact that it's already November, I don't think I can take a test again. 

I am really really desperate

 

Undergrad: top university in my country (East Asia)

Major: BA History and Polisci

Undergrad GPA: 3.7/4.0

Graduate School: top university in my country (same with my undergrad)

Graduate Program: MS in Polisci 

Graduate GPA: 3.8/4.0 

GRE: 155V, 164Q, 4.0W 

Letters of Recommendation: all from professors of Polisci department 

Research:  Masters thesis

Publication: 1 peer-reviewed publication(the journal in my country), 1 peer-reviewed under review(guess mid-tier rank journal in US polisci field)

Presentations: one poster presentation and one paper presentation (both in US), one paper presentation in my country's conference

Teaching: 1.5~2 year of TA

Fellowships/Scholarship: TA scholarship during most years of master degree, one fellowship from a Foundation, scholarship from my country(during master's)

Experiences: volunteer  in UN regional office, undergrad research in abroad, student exchange program in another country

Programs I'm Looking At:   Hopefully UC Davis, UC Irvine, or SUNY ??

Field: I intend to do AP or CP (quant), but I have no experience in using quantitative methods ( I have mainly focused on qualitative methods during my undergrad and master)

 

Edited November 7, 2016 by lalalalovesong

[Determinedandnervous]

Given that you're from East Asia (and I'm assuming English is not your first language), the low verbal score, while somewhat low even for national students, is completely understandable. If your TOEFL score is where it needs to be, it shouldn't be an issue. Your quant score is great.

Your profile is otherwise competitive for pretty much every school, so don't be afraid to shoot for the top. Your verbal score may be used as a cutoff for some of them, but your profile is good enough to where if you have the resources to apply to some top places, you absolutely should.

Just two things: 1) Any PhD program worth its salt will give you not only a full ride, but a stipend you can live on while you're in the program. I wouldn't be surprised, with your profile, if you got fellowships. 2) Not having quantitative training is not an issue, just make sure you indicate that you know vaguely what quantitative methods are.

I would also suggest narrowing it down to one subfield (unless it can easily transcend American and Comparative, which is true in my case, because I study parties and elections in advanced democracies). You don't have to stay with the idea you put in your SOP, but it's always good to appear focused on a certain puzzle.

[lalalalovesong]

I really appreciate your comments, @Determinedandnervous !

However, I am not sure about quant training when applying for Ph. D, because many professors of my department strongly recommend students have quant skills, especially if students are applying with already having master's degree . This makes me extremely nervous . 

If applicants do not know about quant skills, then how can they demonstrate their quantitative approach in writing sample??

In this regard, I try to write a writing sample which only uses given statistical information as sources (not using a statistical program from raw data) and I am not sure if this writing sample would be fine for showing that I willingly want to do research in Ph.D with quant approach.

 

 

Edited November 8, 2016 by lalalalovesong

[krapp]

One thing to keep in mind is that in the US a significant number (the majority?) of incoming PhD students haven't done a masters program before. So they likely coming in without significant methods training. It's something that programs are expecting (to a degree). You've already demonstrated an ability to understand math with your GRE score. One way that you may consider showing that you understand quantitative methods may be to mention a particular quantitative method that you're interested in applying - that shows that you understand the field a bit and have done some research into it, even if you don't yet know the particulars of how to execute the method.

One other points - you have SUNY listed as a program of interest...which SUNY? Just asking out of curious (native New Yorker), but also because you'll be applying to a particular university within the SUNY system. 

[meteora]

Last year, I applied to UC Davis with the same verbal score (155). I was rejected from the institution, and low GRE score was written as a reason of the rejection. I guess that international students have to have higher GRE verbal score for the institution and other similar level universities.