PhD Political Science Profile Evaluation please

[Shadow70]

Hi there. I am an International applicant (from Europe) applying for PhD programs in the United States.

I have the following profile:

Undergrad: A research intensive UK uni (top 5 in Political Science in the UK)

Major: BA Politics

Undergrad GPA: Class I (Highest)

Grad School: Same uni as above

Grad Program: MSc International Relations

Grad GPA: Merit (second highest classification, lost distinction by 2%)

Quant Prep: an optional Economics class during my BA, Research Methods training, Political analysis (models), Advanced Research Methods (including Econometrics and advanced models), STATA, R-Studio

Research Experience: BA project (equivalent to honor thesis), MSc thesis.

GREs: 155V, 155Q, ?W (scores are unofficial still, I'm a bit gutted at how I did but don't have the chance to retake unfortunately)

Letters of Recommendation: Faculty at my uni (2 IR), my thesis supervisor (comparative-IR), one political theorist.

SOP: Still working on it, hope it will turn out to be good.

Writing Sample: Parts of my MSc Thesis

Publication: Paper in my university's multi-discipline journal.

Presentations: 2 presentations in UK

Conferences: 4 major conferences (academic and professional)

Fellowships/Scholarship: University scholarship to study MSc.

Professional Experience: Research positions (current and previous employment about 1 year now total), internship at my country's ministry during presidency of the EU, army service including special training in intelligence, part-time RAship (unpaid) 

Programs I'm Looking At: Princeton, MIT, NYU, Minnesota, Northwestern, WashU, UPenn, Rochester, Georgetown

Field: IR, security, asymmetrical threats, terrorism, alliance building.

 

Questions: Do you think my GRE scores can destroy my chances? I humbly believe the rest of my profile is decent. Given that I am applying to all sort of schools - from top 5 to top 30 do I have a good chance of getting at least 1 admit? 

Thanks for taking the time to read through my profile

[Determinedandnervous]

There is a good chance that it will hurt you. However, you can always play the odds. Alternatively, you can also apply to some safety schools.

[meteora]

If you are a British, I think 155 (v) will be okay. But if you are not, it will hurt you. 

10 hours ago, Determinedandnervous said:

There is a good chance that it will hurt you. However, you can always play the odds. Alternatively, you can also apply to some safety schools.

Determinedandnervous, 

 

Does your institution have a cutoff score? (though it might me implicit)

[Shadow70]

meteora: Im not British. But if you are asking about my command of English I am considered bilingual by most people and institutions (actually I was reprimanded by my undergrad uni for appearing for the pre-enrollment test and acing it. They said it was a waste of everyone's time). 

[Determinedandnervous]

If it does, I wouldn't know it. Only the adcoms would know, and likely it's an informal cutoff based on the distribution of scores for that particular year. 

[meteora]

6 hours ago, Determinedandnervous said:

If it does, I wouldn't know it. Only the adcoms would know, and likely it's an informal cutoff based on the distribution of scores for that particular year. 

I see. Then, at least meeting the average scores of that specific year would be important. In other words, I would rather maximize my scores....