Utopus

Thanks for the replies. I also have submitted some of my writing samples without adding a "Contents" section. Do you think it will be a problem?

Do you think I should put an index in my writing sample. I am an international applicant so I don't know what US universities are expecting in a writing sample. I am always adding the abstract in the paper, do you think that is necessary?

I am an international student, applying for political theory(9 schools in US, 1 in Canada), and international relations (2 schools in US). I have a terrible undergrad gpa, a good master's gpa, and good gre scores except for the AW. Applying for a wide range of schools.

I am an international student too. My score is V 161/ Q 168/ AW 4.0. I am applying for political science phd programs and I believe that my gre is actually improving my chances. A 3.0 in AW would hurt my application, but that is because I am a political science major. I think in engineering you can survive with a 3.0, as long as you have a good toefl score to show that you are fluent in English. Of course if you can get your AW score higher, it would be better for you; but if you forgot some stuff about Q&V, and you have to study them in order to take the test again I think you should leave it as it is. Instead get a high toefl score, write a good sop and if you are thinking of applying next year prepare a good writing sample and send it even if it is not mandatory. Show them you can actually write in English and you will be fine. I know that some engineering schools are not even looking at the AW score, also as an international engineering student you have a great verbal score. I think you will be fine as long as the rest of your application looks good. By the way, what kind of an engineering program would require a 4.5 in A.W. It seems completely idiotic.

I am new at this site too and I didn't know about the "Results Search" section, thanks for pointing that out. Now, I am checking all of last year's results.

I am in a somewhat similar situation, but all of my LORs are coming from professors. I am currently doing my Master's and all 3 of my LOR writers are professors in the school I am currently in. I didn't ask for any of my previous professors from the college I received my Bachelors. Do you think it will pose a problem or is it enough that all of my LORs are from academicians who know me well. I should also note that it is my 2nd year in Master's, but I have spent 5 years as an undergrad. Do you think that they would expect at least one letter from my previous professors?