gpa for admission into phd program?

Question

I am almost done with my MA in international relations and wanted to go on and get a phd in political science. Schools list gpa's for undergrad students looking for a phd, but is it different for students that are coming out of grad school with a MA? Do schools still want to look at undergrad grades, or only focus on grad school work? Also, are master's students given a preference over undergrad students in the admissions process since they already took some grad classes? If anyone has gone from a MA to PhD I would be glad to hear your opinons, thanks.

Answer 1

1) As you know, anything under a B spells doom in terms of graduate study. Therefore, a GPA under 3.2 will pretty much discount you in terms of PhD admissions. In my experience, grades between a 3.75 and 4.0 are the norm.

2) PhD programs will indeed look at your undergraduate transcript. But they will focus more intensely on your graduate work.

3) Generally, PhD programs have both MA/PhD admissions and PhD-only admissions. They have a certain number of slots open for each. (Most often, there are considerably fewer slots for PhD-only because the department's own MA students usually get preference.) Therefore, MA-holding students are not competing with BA-holding students. The students with MAs are competing only with each other.

Answer 2

Get an MA from Harvard college Extension in government (it relatively is in all probability like political technological expertise, besides the shown fact that they have got a brilliant array of electives, or interdisciplinary analyze MA), which demands a 2.5 front yet you will possibly desire to guard a three.0 in a rigorous curriculum to graduate. this college is regarded fondly upon with the help of the Harvard school that teaches on the school, as they instruct the comparable classes at Harvard college, use the comparable checks, and comparable grading scale. They get excitement from the scholars that decide for to get a physically powerful education yet produce different issues happening of their lives. as quickly as you get an MA, you have a miles extra suitable shot at entering into an Ivy league college Phd software, as I even have study that a lot of human beings bypass directly to Harvard college, Princeton, Yale, and MIT that have ranges from Harvard extension. this methodology replaced into designed for busy human beings, that have jobs and a kinfolk to shield, so as that they are able to bypass section time, yet a lot of human beings bypass there finished time. as quickly as you get at that school, you will meet loads of Phd's from Harvard that are coaching your classes that may get you into the blue blood community and write you unbelievable letters of commendation on your appropriate Phd college. additionally in case you safeguard a three.3 after an MA or 32 credit i believe you're immediately allowed to sign in in a pair classes in line with semester at Harvard college. you in addition to might get a Harvard identification card, and can use all components of Harvard college. you additionally can i believe do the degree on line. you in addition to might get to attend all alumni purposes with Harvard college, and Harvard extension, and could in all probability meet loads of rich human beings in politics at those purposes. no be counted what human beings inform you, no be counted how grandiose your purpose could be, there is usually a course to realize your dream that may no longer taken too many times.