Stanford PHD Polysci

Chance Me / Match Me
1

So I wasn’t a very good undergrad student, I got a 3.2 in Political Science from Florida State. Currently I’m getting an MAT from South Florida, which I will probably have a similar GPA when I graduate. I’ve recently had a change of heart and am thinking of continuing my education in Polysci. But I would only want to get a PHD from a great program like Stanford. So I am going to get a masters in polysci online. If I get a 4.0 from Nebraska-Omaha with a masters in polysci and retake the GRE and get really good scores, you think there is a chance I could get in? Or will they see my first two degrees and the low GPA’s and automatically count me out.
Last question, how much differently do you think they would view a Masters in polysci from a place like University of South Florida, compared to an online degree from Nebraska-Omaha?

2

Is this forum for undergrad only?

3

You got a very low GPA from a bottom-tier university and you want to attend an elite graduate program at one of the top universities in the world.

Wave a magic wand and pretend you got in. You’ll be competing with kids with 3.9’s from Princeton as your classmates. How do you think you’ll do?

4

You feel better about yourself now?

5

you insulted my university and didn’t even answer my question

6

fsu has a top 40 polysci program, when i was there it was top 30

7

While soze could have made that point in a far less blunt manner, it is likely that a student with a 3.2 GPA at a university which - while hardly third-tier - isn’t an intellectual pressure cooker like Harvard or Yale would struggle as a Stanford PhD candidate. There are 50-60 “top” schools for political science - and nobody should see Stanford as their only choice, whether at the undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate level (except Malia Obama, who’ll get in wherever she applies for obvious reasons).

8

Totally, I know that. What I’m asking I guess, is if I get a 4.0 for my master’s can that turn around? Or will they still see 3.2 and count me out

9

I know if I applied right now I’d have 0% chance. However, I get a master’s in polysci with a 4.0 and get really high GRE scores, will I be considered?

10

I’m no expert on PhD programs, but online schools in general are not considered very rigorous by many universities. So on the question of Nebraska-Omaha vs. USF, I’d go with USF every time.

11

Thanks for the info!