What do graduate schools look for in a candidate?

Graduate school admissions committees are interested primarily in your academic record.  Good grades, a solid GPA, and the nature of the undergraduate institution from which you are  applying are all taken into account.  In addition, letters of recommendation, particularly from faculty members are seriously considered. Candidates may be distinguished by  special skills in research, statistics, computer applications, writing, and foreign languages; essentially, traits that might set up apart from other candidates. Along these same lines, overseas experience vis-à-vis study abroad or other programs, work experience, and internships are important in distinguishing you in the applicant pool.

Most schools also take into account your GRE scores. Almost all schools require you to take the GRE General Exam; some require a subject exam as well.

For additional information about the GRE, go to the following link:

GRE® - Graduate Record Examinations

In general, the better your academic record, the higher your chances of getting into graduate school. Of course, your chances will vary from program to program.

How do I choose a program?

Do I apply for a Master’s program or a Ph.D.? In what? Where do I want to go? 

In selecting a program, there are many factors to take into consideration. First, why do you want to go to graduate school?  A careful introspection about what end graduate school will serve for you and what you hope to do after grad school will have a lot to do with what sort of program you will choose. 

You can do preliminary research on the job prospects for a particular field (i.e. Public Policy, International Affairs, Political Communication, Political Management) by going to school websites and reading their descriptions. Most graduate programs devote some discussion of what their graduates are doing as marketing tool. Use this to your advantage.

Where do you want to be? Geography, as silly as it may sound, is often a key determinant of where people apply to school. Where would you like to be, the New York metro area? Washington DC? Do you have family considerations? These should be included in your search to narrow down programs.

As additional factor to consider are Rankings.  What does particular program look like in comparison to other programs?  What is realistic for you? How competitive are these programs? One way to calculate this is by considering external rankings. These look at admissions criteria, graduation rates, faculty, financial packages, etc.  One such set of rankings may be found at :
http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/political-science

Faculty and specialties are important in narrowing  your choices. Who is there at the institution? What do they do? Is there a particular field in Political Science you want? Is there a professor who teaches and conducts research in that area? 

Financial Assistance is another factor important in selecting a program. Does a program offer opportunities for fellowships, teaching and /or research assistantships, financial aid? Is this limited to Ph.d. versus Master’s programs?  Do they require a FAFSA form?

To review:
In choosing a program you should:

• Identify your career goals
• Decide on which type of program is best for you (MA vs. Ph.d.)
• Narrow your choices to more specific interests (Region, theme, etc)
• Identify programs that fit! (geography, finance, etc.)

The Application Process

Start Early!

You should begin the process above at least the summer before your senior year if not sooner.  The application process, as it was for undergraduate institutions, is lengthy.

What you need to do:

• You must prepare and take the GRE. Identify convenient testing times well in advance of the application deadlines. Usually this means at least by December.  If you do not consider yourself  to be a stellar test taker, you should make arrangements to study. This might mean taking a course or buying a review book. You will also have to explore whether some of the programs you are considering require both the general and subject tests.

• You must identify suitable people to write letters of reference. Each school will vary on the number of referees required. Generally, three are necessary. You should ask people familiar with your academic work and/or professional skills. You must ask them well in advance and furnish them with the necessary paperwork.  See “guidelines for letters of reference” on our homepage.

• You must write a personal statement.  Graduate committees want to know why you want to go to grad school.  This is your opportunity to highlight your career goals and reasons for pursuing graduate study.  This is where you can identify what distinguishes you as a candidate and why you would be a good fit for a program.  Be sure to write several drafts and have others look at your sample.  It is very brief, 250—500 words, so be sure to be clear and concise and persuasive.

• Writing sample. Some programs might require a writing sample.  This should be an example of academic writing that you feel reflects your best effort.

• Transcripts. Most graduate programs require an official transcript from all of the undergraduate institutions that you have attended. These need to be requested through the Registrar. Be sure to leave enough time for the transcript to be sent.

Important Links:

Find the Graduate School that is Right for You
http://graduate-school.phds.org/

Master’s Vs. Ph.D. programs, courtesy of the Princeton Review
http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/masters-vs-phd.aspx

Ranking Political Science programs
http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/political-science

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