The most prestigious grad school admissions discussion board in the world.
|
 |
 
|
Poli Sci: Formal Modeling
Poast new message in this thread
Date: September 13th, 2006 8:36 PM Author: Emerald beady-eyed cruise ship I am applying to political science PhD programs this year. I am a math & poli sci double-major at an unknown public school in Texas. I am interested in positive political theory, IR, and political economy (econometrics, etc).
Applying to: Rochester, Cal Tech, NYU, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Texas A&M, Wash U,
My GPA is 3.91. I have taken many math courses (including DFQ, abstract algebra, linear algebra, real analysis, graduate-level measure theory, probability theory), political science courses, and economics classes(intermediate micro/macro). My quantitative score on GRE will be higher than 760 for sure (I have not taken it yet). I have attended ICPSR to take the advanced game theory class and presented a paper at a conference. I have TA and tutoring experiences.
My professors tell me that I should be able to get into one of the above programs, but I am just not sure.
I would appreciate any honest comment.
Thanks.
|
 |
Date: September 14th, 2006 1:08 AM Author: Bearded elastic band double fault Stanford will be tough because their program is so small, but you should be okay. Coming from an unknown public hurts you becasue your profs don't really have connections, and a lot of graduate admissions are done based on the reputation of the recommender. But with your impressive resume, you should have no trouble getting in basically everywhere.
You should also add Michigan to your list. |
|
Date: September 14th, 2006 2:46 PM Author: Emerald beady-eyed cruise ship I appreciate your advice. I definitely should add Michigan.
Here is my new concern. If I didnt get into one of the top poli sci programs, my friends tell me that I should go to a lower-ranked economics program to study quatitative stuff. Their argument is that a PhD in poli sci from a school other than top schools is not worth it. If I want to study quantitative and mathematically rigourous materials, they tell me to go for economics.
What do you think? |
|
Date: September 14th, 2006 3:32 PM Author: Learning Disabled Crackhouse i really agree with your friends
econ is very marketable and there are many more quality departments - compared with the other social sciences which get light pretty damn quick as you move down the food chain |
|
Date: September 14th, 2006 4:41 PM Author: nofapping circlehead correct. if poli sci is not top 15, it's not worth much. econ can always go to banks or elsewhere on the market. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=488855&forum_id=3#6613822) |
|
Date: September 14th, 2006 6:00 PM Author: Bearded elastic band double fault You are going to be a rare, rare applicant for a polisci phd with that sort of quant background. I'm not entirely sure Harvard is a match for you, but maybe they've added some people in methodology since I was an undergrad.
I would agree with your friends, but caution you that a non-top PhD in general probably isn't worth it. You shouldn't splits hairs over rankings in terms of a PhD -- if, for example, there is a great comparative polisci group at Duke and you are weighting an option at Yale where they aren't as strong (just making this up) -- go with the stronger department in the area you are interested in. However, a PhD from Western Michigan isn't worth a whole lot, and you should keep that in mind.
Look into the more quant driven PhD programs offered by business schools that study international issues. I think Northwestern has one, and there are others. That could be a good deal. |
|
Date: September 14th, 2006 7:21 PM Author: Bonkers tan meetinghouse stain stanford also offers political economy t hrough their GSB. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=488855&forum_id=3#6614729) |
|
Date: September 14th, 2006 11:38 PM Author: Emerald beady-eyed cruise ship I appreciate all your insightful comments.
I was thinking that if I could get into top 50 in economics, I should be able to equip myself with a good amount of quantitative methods.
I was considering Northwestern and Stanford Business schools, but I heard they are VERY competitive. I just didn't think I would have any chance of getting into those programs.
|
|
Date: September 15th, 2006 1:42 AM Author: very tactful business firm you should consider Chicago for PS (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=488855&forum_id=3#6617073) |
|
Date: September 15th, 2006 4:14 AM Author: Emerald beady-eyed cruise ship I did not even think about Chicago because I thought Chicago was known for their political philosophy. But you are right. They do have a few good formal modelers there. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=488855&forum_id=3#6617328) |
|
Date: September 15th, 2006 1:07 PM Author: very tactful business firm snidal, glaser, others (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=488855&forum_id=3#6618234) |
|
Date: September 15th, 2006 4:44 PM Author: Emerald beady-eyed cruise ship Does anybody know about the Political Economy & Government program at Harvard?
I have very impressed by Andrew Kydd's work, so I was wishing to study under him someday. But I am aware that I am not from the Ivy schools and it's almost impossible to get into those small programs.
Is there any chance that I could be accepted to the Harvard Poli Econ program? |
|
Date: October 15th, 2006 2:28 AM Author: Silver school It can't hurt to try, though I think it's crazy competitive. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=488855&forum_id=3#6790832) |
|
Date: October 15th, 2006 7:36 AM Author: Azure headpube kitty cat I would agree with your friends, but caution you that a non-top PhD in general probably isn't worth it. You shouldn't splits hairs over rankings in terms of a PhD -- if, for example, there is a great comparative polisci group at Duke and you are weighting an option at Yale where they aren't as strong (just making this up) -- go with the stronger department in the area you are interested in. However, a PhD from Western Michigan isn't worth a whole lot, and you should keep that in mind.>>>>>>>>
This is a statement often thrown about by top school grads that is very often untrue.
Is it easier with a top five, obviosuly, but advisor quality and reputation is very important.
|
|
Date: October 15th, 2006 2:27 AM Author: Silver school This is a bit belated, but you should be fine with those programs -- your math background is incredible for poli sci, and your numbers are great. I would definitely add Michigan, and maybe Princeton: I'm not sure how their methodology people are, but they're chomping at the #1 slot overall in most sensible people's ranking.
(I'm a phd student at a top-N poli sci school.) |