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Median · 05-07-2007, 12:55 AM

To get this forum started and follow the good tradition of the econ PhD forum, let's post some profiles and results to give future applicants some indication what to expect.

Profile
GRE: V670, Q770, A5.5
Undergrad/Grad: Decent university, German Diplom (Master) in PoliSci
GPA: 3.8-4.0
Classes: a ton of PoliSci classes, grad level core classes, some undergrad econ and statistics, Master level game theory, linear algebra, multivariable calc
Research Experience: worked as RA for one year
Teaching Experience: nada
LORs: Three well-known profs from top ten US research university
SOP: talked mostly about research interests and fit with faculty
Interests: Comparative and International Political Economy
Other: international student, some scholarships in the past (Fulbright, ...), exchange student in Duke grad program for one year, Internships in Int. Org. and Investment Banking

Results:
Stanford - rejected
Princeton - rejected
Yale - rejected
MIT - rejected

Duke - accepted, with full funding
Columbia - accepted, with full funding
NYU - accepted, with full funding
Harvard PEG - accepted, with full funding

What I learned / what I would do differently:
Well, my applications turned out really well - I think it is harder to give uniform advise to students compared to Econ PhD admission. PoliSci lacks a common understanding which background a good applicant should have - I know people being admitted with very unorthodox backgrounds. In my case LORs were a major factor - without them, coming from a foreign not well respected institution, I barely would have stood a chance.

fp3690 · 05-07-2007, 01:53 AM

Harvard PEG?

ekonomiks · 05-07-2007, 03:54 PM

Why didn't you apply to Rochester poli sci?

Median · 05-07-2007, 05:17 PM

I thought about it, but I already had quite a few applications to handle and I don't think my girlfriend would have been too happy moving to upstate NY. Rochester is definitely a fantatastic place for quantitative/formal PoliSci!

ekonomiks · 05-07-2007, 05:54 PM

Given their placements, I wonder why Rochester is not ranked near the top? Is there a reason why you chose Duke over NYU, Columbia, and Harvard? Your MIT rejection seems pretty random, by the way. I still can't make sense of poli sci admission. What do they look for?

Median · 05-07-2007, 06:11 PM

Well, in my opinion I think the differential between the top ten programs in polisci is smaller than in econ. If certain standards are met (matching faculty, good methods training, funding), your placement success is mostly determined by the quality of your research.
That being said, I chose Duke because they have outstanding faculty-student relations and atmosphere, just recruited two new professors for my field of interest, I can take all Econ core classes (if I want to) and I already have one year of coursework, giving me essentially one extra year for research.
Honestly, that is probably just rationalizing my gut feeling - I was really torn between NYU (great department!!), Duke and Harvard and followed my instincts.

ps. weather and cost of living are great in NC

ekonomiks · 05-07-2007, 06:29 PM

That was a bold decision you made. I think anybody who can turn down Harvard is brave. Do you have a formal/quant leaning as well, given that you're taking all these econ classes?

Yeah, NYU is a great department, but it's another curious case: it seems like their placement record could be better, given that awesome group of faculty.

By the way, where can you find all the information about poli sci departments and admissions? Is there a website devoted to that?

Median · 05-07-2007, 06:39 PM

I think Rochester has to fight with the same reputation as Washington St Louis, NYU and CalTech. They are all very good in methods and formal theory but that is still regarded as a too narrow focus for a polisci department.
The discipline is still digesting the whole rational choice wave of the 90s and the contributions of economics. Going to either of these places makes you into the methods guy and you will have a harder time moving out of that corner.

loudandclear · 11-06-2007, 01:46 AM

I realize this thread is pretty old, but may I ask whether you were admitted in the poli sci or econ track? Is one more selective than the other? I'll be applying to PEG, but I can't decide whether to apply in poli sci or econ.

michaeldorcas · 02-07-2008, 01:43 AM

According to yuster, it looks like quite a few people got rejected from Stanford recently:

Stanford Political Science PhD

05-07-2007, 12:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Median Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	Profiles and Results 2007 To get this forum started and follow the good tradition of the econ PhD forum, let's post some profiles and results to give future applicants some indication what to expect. Profile GRE: V670, Q770, A5.5 Undergrad/Grad: Decent university, German Diplom (Master) in PoliSci GPA: 3.8-4.0 Classes: a ton of PoliSci classes, grad level core classes, some undergrad econ and statistics, Master level game theory, linear algebra, multivariable calc Research Experience: worked as RA for one year Teaching Experience: nada LORs: Three well-known profs from top ten US research university SOP: talked mostly about research interests and fit with faculty Interests: Comparative and International Political Economy Other: international student, some scholarships in the past (Fulbright, ...), exchange student in Duke grad program for one year, Internships in Int. Org. and Investment Banking Results: Stanford - rejected Princeton - rejected Yale - rejected MIT - rejected Duke - accepted, with full funding Columbia - accepted, with full funding NYU - accepted, with full funding Harvard PEG - accepted, with full funding What I learned / what I would do differently: Well, my applications turned out really well - I think it is harder to give uniform advise to students compared to Econ PhD admission. PoliSci lacks a common understanding which background a good applicant should have - I know people being admitted with very unorthodox backgrounds. In my case LORs were a major factor - without them, coming from a foreign not well respected institution, I barely would have stood a chance.

05-07-2007, 01:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
fp3690 TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 518	Harvard PEG? _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "If you torture the data long enough, nature will confess!"

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05-07-2007, 03:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
ekonomiks TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 598	Why didn't you apply to Rochester poli sci?

05-07-2007, 05:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Median Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	I thought about it, but I already had quite a few applications to handle and I don't think my girlfriend would have been too happy moving to upstate NY. Rochester is definitely a fantatastic place for quantitative/formal PoliSci!

05-07-2007, 05:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
ekonomiks TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 598	Given their placements, I wonder why Rochester is not ranked near the top? Is there a reason why you chose Duke over NYU, Columbia, and Harvard? Your MIT rejection seems pretty random, by the way. I still can't make sense of poli sci admission. What do they look for?

05-07-2007, 06:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Median Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	Well, in my opinion I think the differential between the top ten programs in polisci is smaller than in econ. If certain standards are met (matching faculty, good methods training, funding), your placement success is mostly determined by the quality of your research. That being said, I chose Duke because they have outstanding faculty-student relations and atmosphere, just recruited two new professors for my field of interest, I can take all Econ core classes (if I want to) and I already have one year of coursework, giving me essentially one extra year for research. Honestly, that is probably just rationalizing my gut feeling - I was really torn between NYU (great department!!), Duke and Harvard and followed my instincts. ps. weather and cost of living are great in NC

05-07-2007, 06:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
ekonomiks TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 598	That was a bold decision you made. I think anybody who can turn down Harvard is brave. Do you have a formal/quant leaning as well, given that you're taking all these econ classes? Yeah, NYU is a great department, but it's another curious case: it seems like their placement record could be better, given that awesome group of faculty. By the way, where can you find all the information about poli sci departments and admissions? Is there a website devoted to that?

05-07-2007, 06:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Median Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	I think Rochester has to fight with the same reputation as Washington St Louis, NYU and CalTech. They are all very good in methods and formal theory but that is still regarded as a too narrow focus for a polisci department. The discipline is still digesting the whole rational choice wave of the 90s and the contributions of economics. Going to either of these places makes you into the methods guy and you will have a harder time moving out of that corner.

11-06-2007, 01:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
loudandclear Eager! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 72	I realize this thread is pretty old, but may I ask whether you were admitted in the poli sci or econ track? Is one more selective than the other? I'll be applying to PEG, but I can't decide whether to apply in poli sci or econ.

02-07-2008, 01:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
michaeldorcas Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	According to yuster, it looks like quite a few people got rejected from Stanford recently: Stanford Political Science PhD

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