Department of Political Science, University of Michigan

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Graduate Program: Frequently-asked Questions regarding Admissions

1. When will decisions be made?

The key dates are as follows: December 15: Applications are due and the process begins. January 6 through April 1: The Admissions Committee determines admission status and notifies students of its decisions. April 2 through April 15: Applicants who have been accepted for admission must notify the Department and Rackham Graduate School of their decision.

2. Will my funding package include opportunities for research with a faculty member?

All admitted applicants are offered support in a combination of fellowship, teaching and/or research for five years contingent on satisfactory progress and performance in the Ph.D. Program. Students may contact individual faculty members about possibilities for working as a research assistant sometime during their program. Research positions at the University of Michigan are often handled through one of the research centers. Students seeking research positions should apply to the centers directly. Centers and Institutes that have employed political science students in the past include: The Center for Political Studies (CPS) and the Institute for Social Research (ISR), the School of Social Work (SSW), and the Ford School of Public Policy (FSPP). These positions usually require strong quantitative skills.

3. Can I send application materials (i.e. transcripts, recommendations) separately?

The Department requires that all application materials be sent together as one package in order to ensure that pieces do not get misplaced or lost. Please utilize the on-line submission service for materials. Transcripts and letters of recommendation (if not submitted on-line) must be sent to the Department in signed and sealed envelopes

4. How will I know if my application and supporting documents have reached the department?

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application and supporting materials reach the Department by the deadline. All supporting materials and the application should be submitted on-line. Supporting materials not submitted on-line, must be sent directly to the Department as one package. Your application will not be considered if we do not receive a complete package. Therefore, it is your responsibility to collect (if not submitted on-line) all transcripts, letters of recommendation (in signed and sealed envelopes), and writing samples and forward them to the Department in one package. Applicants may check on-line to see if their application is complete. Please make inquiries about missing materials after January 15.

http://www.rackham.umich.edu/

5. Do I have to submit a Personal Statement and a Statement of Purpose?

Yes! Both are required by the Horace H. Rackham Graduate School. The Department requires both a Personal Statement and a Statement of Purpose.

6. Do I have to submit two official transcripts (one to Rackham and one to the Department)?

Yes! Applicants are instructed to submit official transcript(s) to both the Rackham Graduate School and the Department of Political Science.

7. Do I have to submit an official translation for international transcripts?

Yes! Applicants are instructed to submit the official transcript(s) in the native language and also provide an official English translation of the transcript and diploma to both the Rackham Graduate School and the Department of Political Science.

8. What are the institution and department GRE codes?

The University’s Institution Code: 1839

Political Science Department Code: 1902

9. Is it possible to be accepted into your program without taking the GRE (GRE and TOEFL for international students)?

The Department of Political Science requires GRE (General) test scores (and TOEFL for International students). GRE Scores are valid five years from the date of the test and TOEFL are valid for two years. Applicants who have earned a degree from an institution where the language of instruction is exclusively English, (i.e. U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia) are exempt from submitting a TOEFL score.

The Admissions Committee will be unable to consider your application unless we receive these test scores.

10. What are the mean grade point averages and examination scores for admitted students?

The Department received approximately 315 applications for entry into the program in the fall of 2006. Of those, 39 were accepted. Their mean undergraduate grade point average was 3.66 on a 4-point scale. The mean GRE scores were 667 verbal, 729 quantitative and 6 analytical. The University of Michigan has made a commitment to create a diverse intellectual community. As a result, the Department of Political Science has no strict cutoffs for either GPA or GRE scores. We are looking for intelligent and motivated scholars. We tend to admit students with good grades in challenging courses, who have solid test scores and the ability to do both qualitative and quantitative research.

11. Do you accept students for the winter term?

No! The Department accepts students to start in the fall term only. Applications and supporting documents should reach the Department by December 15.

12. Are applicants able to defer?

No. The Department of Political Science will consider deferment on a case by case basis after the applicant is recommended for admissions.

13. Will I receive any credit for course work completed at another university?

The Rackham Graduate School will allow students to transfer six (6) credit hours into the program. This must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Political Science and the Records Office of the Rackham Graduate School. Faculty may also recognize previous course work by allowing students to enroll in more advanced courses, or by taking preliminary examinations earlier than the third year of study.

14. How do I get an M.A. in Political Science?

Although an M.A. in Political Science is regularly awarded after two-three years of successful study in the Ph.D. program, it does not represent a separate degree program to which students can apply for admission. Students can only apply for the Ph.D. program. We do not offer a separate M.A. program.

15. What do the majority of graduates do with their degree?

The majority of students that have completed the Ph.D. program with the Department of Political Science become college professors. Some of our graduates have been placed at the following colleges and universities: Carnegie-Mellon, Chicago, Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Oberlin, Princeton, Purdue, Rochester, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Yale. Many others work in policy think tanks, non-profits, and for governments.