skiergirl24

Like many of you I also scored lower the second time I took the GRE. First time I got an 1180 (560Q 620V) and a 5 on the writing. The second time I scored almost 100 points lower. My philosophy is....this is my best GRE score...if you overlook everything else that I have accomplished then I really don't want to go to your school anyway! I have a 3.88 GPA, 2 years teaching experience, and right now I am an Instructor at the University (they hired me to teach and I am hoping that a full time teaching position will help my chances of getting in to a good program). I think the SOP is most important and I think I really screwed those up when I applied last fall...I just didn't really know what I was doing. This year I have picked a few schools and plan on visiting them and then applying to 3 (4 tops).

It all depends. My score is just around a 1200 (1180) but since I am going for media effects and film studies the math portion of my GRE does not matter as much. I would say...your GRE score is fine...work on your writing sample and your SOP to really set yourself apart from other applicants. A student with a GRE of 1300 and one with 1200....well when it comes down to it I think they look more at experience and your SOP, research, publications etc.

Mich State is a great program. But, I do not think they offer funding to Masters students. I applied there for my M.A. and got in but got no funding...and someone told me they do not fund Masters students.

There are some. If you have no desire to work at an R1 University (publish or perish) then it might be worthwhile to look at some of the schools that are not listed by NCA as 'top notch' but will nonetheless help you succeed in what YOU want to do with YOUR PhD. I am in the same boat as you. I love teaching and that is what I want to do. I'd like to get a job at a state school or small liberal arts college and I would be happy as a clam. Schools to look at: U Denver (I am not sure if they have a Mass Comm program though), Howard U, Texas Tech, GSU is kind of a mixture....(I might be wrong as I am no expert. Good luck! Look around on the net and ask some of your profs and former profs.

Hey PRGuy, thanks for the nice comments. I've narrowed down my list of schools CONSIDERABLY and plan on visiting 2 or 3 to which I am applying: UW, U of Denver, UGA and GSU and then I am stuck about UConn...the fact that they left me hanging really ticked me off....I want to apply because it is a decent program and close to home but I don't want to throw away $140 on sending GRE scores and app fees etc. No thanks.

If you dont mind sharing where you were accepted and what type of funding package you were offered I would greatly appreciate it. $$$ is going to be a big factor in determining where I go.

VENT!!!!!! I hate my thesis. I am crying right now. My committee is all over the place....all disagreeing with each other...i had to switch committee chairs midway through last semester. I am just so overwhelmed I don't know where to start. I am still waiting for feedback on the edits to my first two chapters...but I have to start chapter 3 tomorrow because I need to defend by July 29. I was planning on applying to PhD programs but I'm teaching for a year and then I think I will apply for positions in the administrative side of academia. Seriously, I am in Ohio and I just want to GO HOME and get the hell away from school.

Hi All--I hope those of you that are entering new programs find them to be a great fit! Congrats to all of you! As you know my top choices rejected me and I got into 3 schools but I was offered a full time position at Miami teaching Communications courses and decided to go that route. My plan now is to use this to my advantage. My GRE scores (1200) need work. I plan to study (got two books) and re-take the GREs and then REALLY work on my SOPs and visit a couple of schools. My final GPA is a 3.88 and I am working on publishing one of my articles (I am confident it will ultimately be published before I apply this fall). My top schools are: syracuse uni of washington uni of georgia uni of az Temple safeties: uconn georgia state wish me luck!

This was a terrible experience for me. I still have not heard from 2 schools. I got into two schools but without funding and was rejected by 3. 2 schools sent me rejections right away. The third one I had to call and call and call. Finally someone called back and left me a message on my voicemail telling me I was rejected and that they sent the letters out weeks ago. Riiiiiiiight. Re: funding I know one school has none and there is no hope there. the other school told me funding letters would arrive this week. Nothing came. I called and spoke to them and they told me that funding may come available but that was all they would tell me...it was like talking to a brick wall "We can't make any promises. We may have funding but maybe not. Sorry." My experience was that some of the schools don't care at all about their applicants. They collect your $50 and then leave you hanging. Then they lie about sending rejection letters, refuse to answer your calls, won't answer emails etc. It is almost like they can't be bothered. I mean how hard is it to send a rejection email...send a mass email and BCC every reject. But don't NOT say anything. I am so frustrated with the process I could scream. I am so upset and depressed that I am finding it difficult to function in my day to day life. This just sucks.

Too bad we don't all live near each other...we could have a wine and cry fest. I got into two schools but without funding. I applied for a position teaching where I am now but won't know about that till late April. I am crying almost every day and having panic attacks...I just need to know what is going to happen with my life! ARGHHHHHHH

I accepted. I spoke with several of my Profs and they thought that was the best decision. Thanks for the advice guys!

I called XYZ Uni. They still have not made decisions about funding and cannot guarantee anything at this point in time. "Something might come available" but maybe not. I was told I cannot have an extension and that I must let them know by Thursday as to whether or not I will attend or they will give my spot to someone else. My father thinks I should accept and if I do not get funding, then tell them no, I am not coming. He feels the way they have treated me ...this is justified. I worry about being blacklisted...If I don't get the funding and I then tell them no I am not coming, will every school in the US hear about it? What to do?

I also have a Thinkpad and I love it.

Start calling them and ask abotu your status.