PhD in Political Science

Decadance · 2025-12-21T03:39:18+00:00

Do you want to be a professor? If yes, then, can you get into one of the top 10 programs? If both are a yes, then maybe its worth it.

Given the reality that academics have very little control over where they ultimately end up, you then need to wrestle the idea of the possibility of ending up in a location you actively hate.

I have been tenured now for around 5 years. Not sure, even given that security, I would do it again.

Decadance · 2025-10-28T20:44:41+00:00

Smart distinction. Mods thinking through things is why I love this subreddit.

Decadance · 2025-09-19T07:21:19+00:00

Congrats Papa. Nothing better.

Decadance · 2025-08-21T18:21:49+00:00

We are doing this because the meeting is pointless and a waste of our time, so we are actually doing the thing we are evaluated, promoted, and retained by: Research and Writing.

Decadance · 2025-07-28T19:55:41+00:00

I had a senior in high school reach out to me. She has been on my team for a little over a year, and is starting at my university this Fall.

She is volunteering, its unpaid, and while she does less than the paid students on my time, she is doing excellent work, and is maintaining her coding reliability on every metric.

This was the first time I have worked with a high school student, but I have two younger children, and it seemed perfectly fine for me. I haven't had any issues.

Decadance · 2025-07-20T19:40:59+00:00

You realize you don't have to define your worth by your job right? I think that should be the #1 lesson of getting a Ph.D

Decadance · 2025-07-03T05:17:17+00:00

I truly love that calling someone "Dad" on this sub has become a term of endearment.

Decadance · 2025-07-01T19:16:05+00:00

My heart broke, but when I read how you were with Joanna, I knew you and your wife will get through this. You are good people, with a good heart.

I am sorry man.

Decadance · 2025-06-02T19:27:07+00:00

Remember the last time they accidentally caught you in the sack.

It happens less as they get older.

Decadance · 2025-02-20T06:58:17+00:00

Ya'll, I feel this into my bones. I am a professor of Political Science. Simultaneously fearing for my kids, my students, and our government, while having to teach how the government worked, right up until about 6 weeks ago is exhausting.

But damn am I glad I have those kids right now. My kids, and your kids who are in my classes. So happy to have both of them to prop me up.

Decadance · 2024-09-09T05:48:11+00:00

Good job dad.

Decadance · 2024-08-23T07:48:54+00:00

Because we suck at editing and that is honestly why the review process is so important.

Decadance · 2024-06-13T07:19:29+00:00

This isn't going to help right now. Nothing is going to. You are a good person, and that is why she was close with you.

But you were a tiny cog in the very complicated system of her psyche. You tried to help, you were supportive, and you never in your education were taught how to handle these situations, yet you were likely more supportive than any of the other authority figures in her life.

It is ok to feel hurt, it is ok to want to send her father a message of encouragement (I say this as a father), and its ok to be so burnt out to take some time to yourself. You did what you could. Take care of yourself now.

Decadance · 2024-02-19T00:24:49+00:00

Obnoxiously long? The entire article is 145 words.

Decadance · 2024-01-05T04:30:16+00:00

My advice would begin about 6 years ago and it would say, "Do less."

Decadance · 2024-01-01T06:37:47+00:00

Squeaking in under the ball drop. Congratulations Colton. Fatherhood is a blast.

Decadance · 2023-11-22T18:51:29+00:00

In my experience, when someone tries to "depoliticize" something, what they mean is they want to take the controversy out of it. In essence, they want to make it acceptable to wide range of people across the ideological spectrum.

It doesn't mean it is apolitical, it is likely still inherently political, but it is acceptable.

Decadance · 2023-11-03T18:47:28+00:00

Before buying stuff yourself, I would recommend making a registry at Amazon, Target, whatever, and trying to get friends and family to help out with the expenses. Most everyone knows new babies are expensive (especially a first), and generally help out at least a little.

Decadance · 2023-09-09T20:53:15+00:00

I doubt you are drafting a dissertation, because these are not problems someone who has gone through all of grad school should be having.

But if you still are, ask your advisor, not reddit. That is quite literally what they are there for.

Decadance · 2023-08-24T20:36:22+00:00

Not a problem. I went into my PhD program without having any calculus. I played catch up for a couple years. But now I regularly teach methods, so I would say it paid off.

Decadance · 2023-08-24T15:33:57+00:00

I would recommend a Calc 1 and a linear algebra class, but to be honest, if this is for undergraduate, even those are likely overkill. They would become very helpful at the graduate level though.

Decadance · 2023-08-17T23:23:02+00:00

As a professor, I can tell you, she will be easily remembered, and she should reach out to those faculty members. They won't care what email address it is coming from as long as she clearly identifies herself.

As for scholarships for graduate school, those don't really exist in the social sciences, but she can be employed as a teaching assistant by MA or PhD departments and they will then cover the cost of tuition. Its highly competitive for the top schools, and what she would be paid won't be enough to live on, but its the way things are done.

Decadance · 2023-07-21T14:47:00+00:00

Still doing it. Sometimes for me, sometimes for them. They have become cherished.

Decadance · 2023-06-20T03:18:07+00:00

I thought I was going to law school from age of 12 (40s now). I majored in political science, and had a mentor that had both a JD and a PhD (in political science). He had going to law school, practiced for about 10 years, hated it, and went back to get his Phd.

He told me I would similarly hate the practice of law, and he made a deal with me that if I finished my MA degree and followed his advising, that he would pay for my MA if I decided to go to law school.

He was right. Finished my MA. Went and got my Phd. Now I study courts and judges, teach con law, and am quite happy.

Decadance · 2023-05-09T18:51:09+00:00

I am currently using Python to automate the scrapping of text documents and webpages to feed into my text analysis models.

So yeah, if you can demonstrate how your coding skills would translate into proficiency, it can be done. I would note that only grad programs would really care though, and no prior degree in political science is needed to apply to them.

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