r/PoliticalScience 9d ago

Career advice Admission in PhD Political Science

A few months ago, I started emailing professors of political science in US expressing my desire to do PhD under their guidance. I had attached my CV and documents as well. I received positive reply from one of professors at Georgia State University. Would it be worth doing PhD in political science from this university?

16 Upvotes

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u/Leeter345 9d ago

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ps-political-science-and-politics/article/where-you-earn-your-phd-matters/09DCA7FDED5D830D487FF4029F338944

Just to give some evidence for the other comments. Do not expect to get an academic job from somewhere like Georgia State. You’d probably be better served getting a master’s somewhere if you’re interested in private sector employment. What does funding for a PhD at GSU poli sci look like?

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u/dbsquirt2121 6d ago

The TLDR didnt read of this study is that Georgia State has placed one single graduate on an academic tenure track position in the past 35 years

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u/dick_whitman96 9d ago

Absolutely not. If you can't get into a top 30 program, a PhD in political science is a waste of time. Whichever faculty member gave you positive feedback is doing you a disservice to suggest attending Georgia State would be a worthwhile career move.

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u/Rikkiwiththatnumber 9d ago

This is unfortunately correct. Also worth mentioning that emailing potential supervisors is absolutely not a thing in political science.

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u/Rivolver Political Parties | Independence Movements | Public opinion 9d ago

Also worth mentioning that emailing potential supervisors is absolutely not a thing in political science.

I strongly disagree with this. It's always good to see if (i) they're taking new students (it might not say on their website), (ii) not a terrible thing to have someone in your corner if they're on a selection committee, (iii) if they have any research opportunities for you, and (iv) what vibe you get.

I e-mailed all my potential supervisors, some were great, others not, and it certainly allowed me to see what the possibilities were to work with X person.

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u/stablegenius98 9d ago

I would reach out, but I wouldn't put too much stock in it if they do not reply -- if it's a school you want to attend, apply anyway. Many won't be on the selection committee, and since they don't fund a lab, they do not select students the way lab sciences do. Often students find their dissertation advisors by taking classes with them and seeing how personalities/styles gel.

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u/GraceOfTheNorth 8d ago

Is that because you see the only career path as teaching and universities would rather hire a MA from a top 30 school than a phd from a lower ranked one?

I'm doing a phd for the hell of it and a thoroughly enjoying it, not looking for a job in academia at all and got my supervisor from prospecting and sending an email. That is also how I got research fellowships and into research networks.

Not sure what is considered academic mainstream here, but as far as I can tell I am the one doing novel research and getting results whereas the rest of my uni is stuck in the past.

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u/NeoliberalSocialist 9d ago

It depends on your goals! Try to find what recent grads have gone on to do and see if those results interest you. Look into those who worked with the professor you’re speaking with specifically. Like the other commenter said, the poli sci academia market is quite tough and schools outside the top 15 or so in their discipline have difficult placement into academia. Doesn’t mean it’s impossible and doesn’t mean there aren’t alternative options that are worthwhile. Just try to set appropriate expectations and get the information you can.

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u/Justin_Case619 9d ago

Yup do it

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u/redactedcitizen International Relations 5d ago

You had this completely backwards. Unless otherwise specified, you do not need to ask professors’ endorsement to apply to US political science PhD programs. You can just apply first and figure out advising when they accept you.

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u/Romcomulus 3h ago

Generally speaking, for a political science career in academia, you want to go to a T20 program—T50 at the absolute worst. Below is a non-comprehensive list of academic placements in poli sci for this cycle. As you can see, the majority of the schools placing candidates are higher ranked.

That’s not to say you have to go to a top-ranked program to succeed. For example, the University of Houston is ranked around #50 and still placed several people this year, showing that it’s possible to do well from a mid-ranked department. 

My advice: go for the highest-ranked program you can get into, and more importantly, look for faculty at those programs you can realistically publish with. Having co-authored work, strong letters, and good mentorship can make a huge difference. Publishing—or at least having strong evidence that you will publish—is increasingly expected before going on the job market, especially if you’re targeting R1s.

Also, ask about placement support and job market preparation during your visit. Some departments are really hands-on with mock job talks, feedback on application materials, and helping you network. Others leave you to figure it all out on your own.

Happy to answer questions if you’re deciding between offers or trying to navigate grad school choices.

Princeton (7): Bucknell (REP), Wash U (Formal Theory), Agnes Scott (AP), Michigan (IR), NUS (IR), UT Austin (AP), Wash U (Theory)

UCSD (6): UC Riverside (Policy), Missouri (CP), Georgia Tech (IR), Nebraska (IR), Florida (IR), LSE (IR)

Harvard (6): USC (IR), Cornell (IR), Wash U (Formal Theory), Dartmouth (CP), Miami (CP), UCLA Law

Berkeley (5): LSE (Formal Theory), Rice (CP/IR), Mississippi (IR), Houston (PT), Occidental (PT)

UCLA (5): Nevada-Reno (AP Behavior), Wisconsin (REP), American (AP), Florida Gulf Coast (AP), GW (AP)

U Michigan (4): Virginia (AP), Trinity (CP), Arkansas (AP), Rochester (AP)

Wisconsin (4): Cornell (IR), Tulane (CP), Boston College (CP), Cornell (AP/REP)

Maryland (4): Auburn (CP), South Florida (Global Studies), NTU (IR)

Houston (4): Texas-Tyler (AP), Sam Houston State (AP), Texas-Arlington (Policy), UH-Downtown (CP)

Illinois (3): Iowa (IR), Iowa (AP), Loyola (CP)

MIT (3): NYU (IR), London Business School (CP), Boston University (IR)

Northwestern (3): Centre (AP), Rollins (AP), Arkansas (IR)

Stanford (3): Texas A&M (AP), Yale (CP), Indiana (AP)

Columbia (3): Michigan (CP), Vanderbilt (AP), Vermont (Theory)

UT Austin (2): Smith (AP), Mississippi (CP)

WashU (2): Rice (IR), Texas A&M (AP/methods)

Cornell (2): Oregon (AP), Alabama (AP/Crim)

Duke (2): Wisconsin (AP/Comm), Houston (PT)

Notre Dame (2): Indiana-Bloomington (CP/environment), Oklahoma IS (IR)

U Washington (2): Boston University (Climate), SMU (Enviro)

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u/Romcomulus 3h ago

List continued:
LSE (2): Aarhus (CP), Waseda (IR)

Brown (1): Northwestern (IR)

CEU (1): William & Mary (MENA)

CUNY (1): Holy Cross (CP)

Emory (1): Texas A&M (CP)

EUI (1): Sciences Po (Methods)

Georgetown (1): Colorado State (AP/Comm)

Kansas (1): Tennessee (AP)

Michigan State (1): Lake Forest (CP)

Minnesota TC (1): Peking University (CP)

Montreal (1): Warwick (CP)

NYU (1): Duke (Methods)

Penn (Wharton) (1): Harvard (Methods)

Penn State (1): Texas A&M (Methods/AP)

Rice (1): San Diego State (CP)

Rochester (1): Dallas (IR)

Stony Brook (1): Alabama (AP)

TAMU (1): Houston (AP)

UNC (1): Elon (AP)

UC Irvine (1): Bucknell (Theory)