| Username |
Post |
| bhedo |
Posted
on 05-Nov-02 05:46 PM
What would be considered "solid" GRE scores? I took GRE general test recently in September, and I scored slightly above 2000. What are my chances of getting into a good University for a Master's degree? What about PhD?? I also have some work experience on my back. My GPA is 3.4, and I did not make the dean's list. The field I'm interested in falls under social science.
Or should I take the test again??? Comments appreciated.
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| bideshi |
Posted
on 05-Nov-02 06:17 PM
bhedo,i think in most of the good Universities ,for Phd ,ur GPA score in Masters needs to be 3.5,but if u have a good GRE score,above 2000 ,then u might have a chance . Besides,how much u can impress the prof. matters too.After all they r the one to take the students as the research students!As for masters with this GRE score,u'll get in most of the good universities.Best of luck!Don't think u need to take GRE again! But take others opinion too!
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| ??! |
Posted
on 05-Nov-02 06:21 PM
Your GRE score is not bad in social science field. You should get admission and funding at average to good schools. Other important thing is to get good recommendation letters from your professors. Good luck!
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| bhedo |
Posted
on 05-Nov-02 07:38 PM
Oh, ok. By "good" universities, are you guys talking about first tier colleges? Do you think I have any chance of being admitted to a top 20 University? Or will applying to a top Uni be a waste of money?
Thx in advance.
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| rbaral |
Posted
on 05-Nov-02 08:22 PM
Provided you have a well written statement of purpose, you can make it to wherever you want. Your likelihood of completing a PhD, and potential for a successful career, etc. will have to be reflected on your statement of purpose.
Good luck. Rishi
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| ashu |
Posted
on 05-Nov-02 10:59 PM
To most admissions committees, it's fair to say, there are no "solid" GRE scores.
{Still, anything above 2000, I suppose, sufficiently impresses our own parents,
relatives and Nepali friends for life .. . and they'll be talking about your scores
10 years down the road :-) ]
It all depends where and to what programs you are applying, who your recommenders are and what your OVERALL application package looks like.
For PhD programs -- especially at top-tier schools that are heavily research-based and are PRIMARILY interested in producing the next generation of college professors and scholars -- more than your grades and GREs, your ability to ask disciplinary questions and find answers to those questions (i.e. your demonstrated ability and eagerness to
do research, as evidenced by your recommendations, undergraduate thesis, published work, if any, and so on) counts much more heavily.
Best wishes to you.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| Paschim |
Posted
on 06-Nov-02 05:25 AM
Bhedo -- it's really the whole "poko" of credentials that counts. It is important that you pass their implicit thresholds (minimum expectations) in ALL the individual requirements (decent GREs -- 2000 plus is good, no hopeless transcript, or lousy essay), while shining in at least ONE area -- your recommendations could be stellar or your published paper, etc. Past record is key, but committees also evaluate your "promise" as a graduate student, whether or not you demonstrate the right reasons/interest to pursue that particular program (gauged from what you and your referees write).
At grad school, I served on the admissions committee for a professional Master's degree (not research/PhD). Each and every application was evaluated in detail -- oltai paltai, sabai kura jokhera -- by *three* people separately (mostly busy professors). That's a huge investment of time on the university's part, so if you are applying to a good school, you have to take this seriously -- prepare (draft and revise many times) carefully what you submit, while differentiating yourself. Remember that everyone will have rosy things to say about themselves, and so, you should try to stand out in at least one aspect, while meeting the "minimum" expectations in others.
If you are applying for economics or public policy grad programs, and need more specific tips, you can send me an email.
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| Logical Sense |
Posted
on 06-Nov-02 01:40 PM
Inline with what Ashuji and Paschimji is saying, I would concentrate in only few Universities (applying is full time job) and do lots of research on the department and faculties, researches going on in those Universities, where the funding is going etc.
It should resonate as 'music' in faculties ears when the open your applicaton and all the credentials. It helps if you know somebody in that University to give you more of 'inside story'.
Also, to note,fFaculty in this country has tremendous influence and power. So, if they like you (somehow, say they read your paper in International journal, or you impressed them during a Seminar meeting) then your life is just made.
No kidding, I have few of my friends who got admitted in top US universities without even any TOEFL scores. Some of them even got the two way air tickets for their family. My point, anything is possible!
Back home we may give this a bad name 'source force'' etc. Here it is called good communication my friend!!!!!
Good Luck!!!
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| bhedo |
Posted
on 06-Nov-02 04:33 PM
To everyone who has replied, thanks a lot, appreciate your honest answers. I was planning on applying to about 15 colleges or so, but I guess I should go for quality over quantity, and apply to just 5. I have already applied to three, actually.
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| gbncorg |
Posted
on 06-Nov-02 05:13 PM
Hey, bhedo timi ta Bakhra Banda pani Chalakha Chau...........bheda ko bauko naam ke ho ni???? Bau bhedo ???? That is not me.......ha ha ha.
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| bhedo |
Posted
on 06-Nov-02 05:19 PM
Bhedo ko bau ta khasi po parecha. Khasi lai ta neuter garya huncha bhaneko sunya thiye, tara hoina jasto cha.
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| gbncorg |
Posted
on 06-Nov-02 05:32 PM
ha ha ha, bhedo, you are funny.
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| sally |
Posted
on 07-Nov-02 07:00 AM
Hi Bhedo,
One thing you might want to know while deciding if you really want to narrow that field to 5 is that this is likely to be a tough, competetive year to apply. When the economy sinks, applications to grad school rise. They were up in '02 over '01, and are expected to go up again for '03. So you've got a lot of competition out there.
When there are only X number of slots at any school, a lot of good people who would have gotten in during other years can lose out--and it's just the luck of the draw.
Of course, you're right to narrow the field in the sense of concentrating on those schools where you'd be a particularly good fit. Not only would you have a greater chance of admission--after all, faculty want to work with promising young scholars whose interests match theirs--but you don't want to go somewhere and then have the only person who can serve as your thesis advisor go on sabbatical or move elsewhere. I've seen more than one person switch from, say, Medieval to Renaissance Literature not because of interest, but because of the loss of a faculty member.
My gut instinct is that 15 applications is a lot, but a large number can't hurt, even in a better admissions cycle--as long as you don't mind living on Ramen noodles for a while. After all, it's not just a matter of THEM deciding if they want YOU. Come next April or May, YOU want to be deciding which of THEM you want! And when you've got a couple of closely matched choices, it's much more fun :-)
Good luck!!!
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| bhedo |
Posted
on 07-Nov-02 04:35 PM
Yeah, there certainly is going to be competition, so I guess applying to many wouldn't really hurt me. Perhaps 15 isn't a bad idea. And I want to decide which University I wanna go to.You are right Sally.
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| SimpleGal |
Posted
on 07-Nov-02 11:14 PM
Bhedo bhai,
Which particular social science grad program are you contemplating? If it's in the Anthro/Psych/Socio/Phil depts., then here are some tips for PhD programs. I myself am doing my doctoral in Psychology. So here are my suggestions:
1. *Most important* is solid Research background, whether in academic research or research as internships. Esp. for funding. Independent study projects are highly valuable and make sure that they are the highlight of your portfolio.
You may Supplement your research works, if there aren't many, with your internship/work experience.
2. Research is necessary not just in your field but which specific prof. in the grad dept. of that particular univ. you anticipate working with. Read up the publications of the profs. that interest you and contact them with your ideas in that particular stream. It always impresses profs. and they are eventually the ones who will not only supervise and guide your work, but also *stick by* you during grad school. And that is important. In a nutshell, look for a Mentor!
3. Statement of purpose is crucial since you want to outline clearly WHAT you plan to do as a grad student, whether you plan for a career in teaching/research or are aiming for a Clinical training and state your plans and agendas for action toward achieving them.
4. GRE scores help a great deal, esp. if you are eyeing the top notch schools.
5. Competition is tough as Sally mentioned. So, you should consider more than 5 institutions. However, I wouldn't suggest going overboard with 15 places since then you may not be able to give individual attention to each application and Presentation is also a prominent part of the process. Most of the applications are now available online, so that saves you time. But you want to give EACH application your most Meticulous attention.
6. And lastly, having been a writing instructor throughout my life in various forms, I suggest strongly, as I do my students, that you *proofread* your work!!! Also get feedback from your peers and professors on your written work, esp. your Personal Statement. May sound silly now, but it is a little thing that goes a LONG way!
I wish you the best!
In peace.
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