Profile Evaluation: IR/PT

[Hamb]

Undergrad: (B.A.) World Politics Major, Philosophy Minor from a mid tier Big 10 institution. 3.8+ GPA

Master's Degree: (M.Sc.) Interdisciplinary program in Politics, Economics, and Philosophy from a European school. The university has an ok reputation overall, but our program is pretty selective at around a 10% acceptance rate. A- equivalent GPA

GRE: 160s Verbal, 160's Quant, high AWA

LOR: 2 from Undergrad institution. One I had 2 courses with and they also supervised my bachelors thesis. Another I only had one course with but it was a smaller class and I'm extremely comfortable with their ability to speak to my academic strengths. Both wrote LoR's that helped me get into selective master's. Finally a professor with a PhD from an ivy league school who I had all semesters of my master's and is supervising my master's thesis.

Research: Probably the weakest part of my application, I have my bachelor's thesis, master's thesis, and mostly just work in class. Any internships and jobs I've had haven't really had an academic research side to them, which is why I'm hoping that my LoR's can sell my research and writing ability.

Focus: I would describe my focus more on specific topics themselves (almost all within global governance issues) and not the standard subcategories that schools typically pursue, and so depending on which department I'm applying to will apply to different fields. One question for those uncomfortable with evals but open to other questions, how hot is interdisciplinary studies these days? I've heard extremely mixed attitudes from Professors, some saying it's really attractive and other's saying that subfield loyalists are often times dismissive. Which have you experienced more? 

Schools: Planning on applying to 3 top 10's, 3 top 20's, and 4 in the 20+ category. I'm really unsure if my application is competitive enough for top 10's or 20's, as my limited research experience seems a detractor. However; I'm also hopeful my master's might carry a little bit of weight, but once again I'm unsure if interdisciplinary will help or hurt. Thoughts on the range of schools I'm likely to be accepted to? Am I doomed to 20+?

Thanks for any feedback. 

Edited October 31, 2017 by TakeruK
Some specific details removed

[audre.bored]

I'm sure others will be more helpful, but on the interdisciplinary question, I think the mix of responses you've seen is right.  I've seen suggestions to not mention an interdisciplinary approach to research; however, I've also seen program descriptions which encourage taking classes in allied fields.  I would say emphasize the interdisciplinary aspect in applications for schools that explicitly value work in allied fields and give it less prominence in apps for schools that aren't so explicit. 

Also, I think 2 theses is pretty decent research experience.