Graduate School FAQ

I want to get a PhD but I didn't do X. Should I get a Masters degree instead?

Unless the Masters degree will address a specific deficit (e.g., you need to take more math classes), I recommend applying for PhD programs directly. PhD programs are funded and most award you a Masters degree after finishing coursework (1-2 years). You can leave after the Masters degree if you discover you really don't want the PhD. Few Masters degrees are funded and most -- including Masters programs in Ivy League+ schools -- are designed to be cash cows for programs.

Where should I attend for graduate school?

With exception go to the highest ranked program that will fund you. Job placement in academia is hierarchical and dominated by a few programs.

Do not go to graduate school unless someone else is paying your tuition and providing you a stipend.

US NEWS rankings aren't perfect, but they capture the general rankings. Don't go to a program below the top 50 or so. Students below the top 50 get jobs, but it's much harder. If you want a job at a research university you should be aiming for a top 10~ program.

Can I ignore rankings if I want to go study with super famous person at X University?

No. Individuals frequently move universities and don't always tell prospective students. I have more than one friend who went to X University to study with a super famous person only to discover that the person had left. If you have multiple offers from highly ranked programs, go to the program that has MULTIPLE people who could mentor you.

I don't think I'd be accepted into an Ivy League+ program. Should I bother applying anyway?

Apply widely to schools in the top 50 range. You never know where you'll get admitted.

X University is in an expensive city, in the middle of nowhere, etc. Should I go anyway?

You will only be in a graduate program for 5~ years. You shouldn't place much weight on the location of the University itself. Regardless of where you go, you are going to be poor and too busy to go out much anyway. Focus on the ranking. Higher ranked programs are better in placing students in good jobs. Long term what matters is what job you get after graduate school. The one exception is for minorities and women; don't study in a place that treats you like a 2nd class citizen.

I want to work for Google/NASA/etc. Should I get a PhD?

No. A Political Science PhD program primarily trains people to be Political Science professors. It's okay if you decide you want a data science job at Google, but there are easier ways to get a job at Google/NASA/etc.

I already took X class as part of a Masters program or as an undergraduate. Do I really need to take it again?

Yes - coursework has two purposes. First, courses are intended to guide you through the core literature. Second, courses are a chance to interact with faculty and get a sense if you want them on your committee. Even if you've taken the class before, it's worth taking it as a chance to interact with faculty.

When should I go to office hours?

You should go to office hours often as a chance to interact with faculty, especially if they're in your primary field and/or likely committee members. Once you decide on a chair, I would recommend setting up a standing meeting with them. You shouldn't associate office hours with courses TBH.

One of the big differences between undergraduate and graduate study is that courses don't really matter. You should work hard in courses, but no one will hire you because you got a 4.0 in coursework.  You are going to be hired based on publications and teaching experience. BTW grades in graduate school are all inflated. A is the default grade. B is a bad grade. C or below is failing.

Will coursework prepare me for comprehensive exams?

Coursework will provide you with the bare minimum literature you should know. There simply isn't enough time to cover everything. You should be reading outside your coursework, especially in your primary field. If you only read what is assigned during courses, don't expect comprehensive exams to go well.

Should I ask super famous person in a different university to be on my committee?

No. You're more than welcome to reach out to them to get coffee during conferences and they can be informal mentors, but your committee should be people at your home institution. Having outside people is a logistics nightmare and -- to be brutally honest -- they're probably too busy with their own students to think much about you. 

I would only suggest someone outside your home institution if they're physically nearby (i.e., if you're at CU Boulder and they're at Colorado State University or the University of Denver) and/or they're close friends with your advisor.

Your chair should never be -- and in most programs can't be -- from outside your home department. Your chair should be someone who you can easily access.

Who should chair my committee?

You ideally want a tenured or soon to be tenured faculty member as your dissertation chair. Don't choose a new Assistant Professor; there is a high likelihood that they'll move institutions before you finish. Plus you want someone who has an existing network that they can use to help you secure opportunities. Few chairs can get you a job by picking up a phone, but they can help you get the initial interview.

It's best to choose an advisor who is sufficiently well read in your subject area to give you useful feedback, but they don't need to do the exact same thing you do. Your goal isn't to become a clone of your advisor. At the end of your dissertation, you will be the expert in X topic. If your advisor is trying to make you their clone - RUN!

Your chair doesn't have to be your best friend, but you should be able to work with them. Go to office hours with multiple faculty and try to get a sense of what their working style is. If you need someone to give you constant attention, don't choose a chair who is hands off.

Don't choose an advisor simply because they're 'nice'. You need someone who is willing to sit you down and tell you what you need to improve on. You don't want someone who only criticizes you, but you do want someone who can give you constructive criticism on how to improve your work.

Is the academic job market really that bad?

Yes - this can't be stated enough - the chance that you will end up in academia after getting a PhD is incredibly low. Approximately ten percent of job market candidates are placed in any academic post in any university. This includes research universities, teaching focused universities, and community colleges. Less than one percent will end up in a research university. 

While higher ranked places have better placement rates, and are better able to place their students in more desirable positions, this is a discipline wide problem.

If you really want an academic position, be ready to go on the market multiple times and be open to where you'll end up. If you are only willing to work in a research university in NYC, don't expect to find employment. It is possible to move towards a more desirable position after getting your first academic job,  but you can't be picky about your first job if you want a job in academia.

While on the market, don't compare yourself with the record of already tenured faculty. Compare yourself with postdocs and junior Assistant Professors. As the market has worsened, the profile of a competitive job market candidate has changed drastically. Many senior faculty were hired in a different era where having publications as a graduate student wasn't the norm. Job candidates today have multiple publications.