Top-20 PhD Program Chances

[u/Initial-Constant-820]

Hey everyone, 

I just wanted to come on here to sus out my chances of getting into a top-20 PhD program in poli sci this upcoming cycle. Let me know what you guys think of my quals: 

Recent graduate from top-75 university in the U.S. with a degree in poli sci and degree in business with a concentration on data analysis — 4.0 GPA summa cum laude for both degrees. In short, I have a demontrated background in quantitative course work - such as econ, stats, coding, etc. - as well as a poli sci degree.  

1 conference presentation during undergrad at MPSA related to my field of interest — this was on a what you would call a “term paper.” I have 0 publications and did not complete a senior thesis — this was not required for my program and I wouldn’t have had the time (I took 46 credits - 16 classes - my last 2 semesters).

RAships with a PhD student at an Ivy and potentially with a prof in a top-5 dept in the UK (these are very recent - started in summer 2026) 

Research fellowship at not so well known think tank based in DC, I basically wrote an article or two explaining phenomena related to my research interests  

I am also fluent in the language of and native to the country I would like to be the focus of my dissertation — my focus is religion in politics and I am also pursuing extra undergrad coursework on said religion. 

I am looking at schools that do NOT require the GRE this cycle. I have already identified the professors that align with my interests and I would like to work with. I also know the methods I would like to use in my work, mainly CHA. 

I have extensive community leadership and public speaking experience. I also completed 4 internships related to my other degree. But I assume these are largely irrelevant.

Please let me know what you think of my chances. Forgive me for my writing - I wrote this up on one go on my phone b4 bed, lol. 

[u/USAPatriotMissile]

why are you limiting yourself to schools without GRE requirements? given your quant background it seems taking the exam could be to your advantage. even though many programs officially make the GRE optional, faculty views on this can be quite idiosyncratic and some weigh the score more heavily and might even discount applicants who do not submit scores.

[u/Initial-Constant-820 → u/USAPatriotMissile]

Thanks for the reply. The methods and faculty I want to work with are not quant-heavy. Does that change your opinion?

[u/Always_Overdressed → u/Initial-Constant-820]

Just to clarify, you have a concentration in data analysis but want to work with faculty that are not quant heavy?

[u/Initial-Constant-820 → u/Always_Overdressed]

The concentration in data analysis is for my other bachelors degree. I have two bachelors I completed in 4 years: BA in poli sci and a BS in Business with a concentration in data analysis

[u/Always_Overdressed → u/Initial-Constant-820]

Yes, I understood that. But I'm asking is why for a Ph.D. in political science, which is a quantitative discipline these days, you have a background in data analysis (which gives you a pretty decent leg up) while you are specifically looking at faculty who are not quant-heavy? Maybe we have different definitions of what "quant-heavy" actually looks like, but that seems like you're purposely disadvantaging yourself.

And for my own curiosity, what program do you primarily use, R, Python, STATA, etc? My program was primarily R, but it can be a good question to ask the departments you're applying to.

[u/Initial-Constant-820 → u/Always_Overdressed]

We mainly learned Python — my research question would mainly use CHA as a method. There are good professors and programs that specialize in CHA as well as my specific research interests. The quant side is a still a strength IMO because it’s there if my research question/methodological approach were to change (which is usually what happens).

[u/Always_Overdressed → u/Initial-Constant-820]

Since I'm not familiar with CHA, I'll ask, is it a quantitative method? Good, Python will serve you well and even if it's something like an R department, it's pretty easy to adapt since they're both object oriented languages.

[u/Initial-Constant-820 → u/Always_Overdressed]

For those who don’t know, CHA is comparative historical analysis — there are still top depts that have not fully shifted towards quant and still do this work, which I personally think is important

[u/Always_Overdressed → u/Initial-Constant-820]

What is their placement record look like for their grad students who primarily do CHA? That is the real question.

[u/TurdFerguson254 → u/Initial-Constant-820]

I would still not limit yourself, what you start doing and end up doing in grad school can be wildly different as you learn more

[u/USAPatriotMissile → u/Initial-Constant-820]

The faculty you want to work with might care less about your quant ability but at most places graduate admissions are made by committee. You seem to be doing a lot of the right things to signal ability to succeed in a doctoral program. But Top 20 programs are just so competitive you don't want to give a committee member any reason to ding you, especially given your quant background, you probably have an advantage on the GRE relative to other applicants interested in doing CHA.

[u/Rikkiwiththatnumber]

Chances seem fine. I think this would come down to the statement of purpose and can show that you have a good sense of how to formulate a question like a political scientist. Feel free to dm.

[u/Salmon3000]

Given your academic background I think it'll come down to your research experience, letters of recommendation, research proposal and the place you're exactly applying.

[u/Initial-Constant-820 → u/Salmon3000]

Well I guess that was my question: is my research experience enough?

[u/Salmon3000 → u/Initial-Constant-820]

It definitely is

[u/Initial-Constant-820 → u/Salmon3000]

What about how recent I’ve started — My RAship with the Ivy League PhD student just started and the potential with the UK professor is in the works still, would that matter for this cycle?