Fletcher17

Hey, I am a Senior, applying to just a few schools this time around for IR/ International development : Brandeis (they're waving my application fee), Korbel School, and Tufts MALD - Map Your Future (eliminates the work requirement and asks the applicant to acquire 2 years of work experience before actually coming to study). I figure I don't have a shot at the big ones like Georgetown, SAIS, etc. considering my lack of full-time work experience. Anyway, here are my stats: Applying to: Fletcher, Korbel, Brandeis Type of Undergrad: Large state school Field of Study: Majors in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish. Minors in History and Economics GPA: 3.82 (will be a 3.83 after this semester), definite upward trend GRE: 170V, 162Q, 5.0Aw Relevant Experience: Studied abroad in Spain, lived in Myanmar for 2 years as a child, Interned in the Education Office of a U.S. Senator, In leadership for my University's college Democrats, 4 years of involvement with a small 501c3 non-profit called Hope 4 Africa (very small, but it has done tangible things: we have 10 clubs at different schools and universities across the country, have raised more than $40,000 for schools in Kenya) - I have always been very high up in the leadership of this organization, which I think is unique, despite its small size Letters of Recommendation: Strong, I believe. One from a Board Member of Hope 4 Africa, 1 from my Honors Senior Project Advisor (project is on education and development), and 1 from a current Korbel professor in International Development who taught me at my undergrad. Statement of Purpose: In my opinion, fairly strong. I'm a pretty good writer and I tailored each to fit the program, but who knows? Language: Native English and Very advanced Spanish Quantitative: Decent GRE Quant score, minor in Economics (4.0 GPA), Calculus Other Achievements: National Merit Scholar, Phi Kappa Phi, Member of my college's Honors Program Any input on what my chances are would be great. Am I right to forego applications to programs like Georgetown and SAIS this time around? I was planning on applying there if I don't get in to schools now; I would work for 2 years then apply to all of the bigwigs, I suppose.

Hey, I am a Senior, applying to just a few schools this time around for IR/ International development : Brandeis (they're waving my application fee), Korbel School, and Tufts MALD - Map Your Future (eliminates the work requirement and asks the applicant to acquire 2 years of work experience before actually coming to study). I figure I don't have a shot at the big ones like Georgetown, SAIS, etc. considering my lack of full-time work experience. Anyway, here are my stats: Applying to: Fletcher, Korbel, Brandeis Type of Undergrad: Large state school Field of Study: Majors in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish. Minors in History and Economics GPA: 3.82 (will be a 3.83 after this semester), definite upward trend GRE: 170V, 162Q, 5.0Aw Relevant Experience: Studied abroad in Spain, lived in Myanmar for 2 years as a child, Interned in the Education Office of a U.S. Senator, In leadership for my University's college Democrats, 4 years of involvement with a small 501c3 non-profit called Hope 4 Africa (very small, but it has done tangible things: we have 10 clubs at different schools and universities across the country, have raised more than $40,000 for schools in Kenya) - I have always been very high up in the leadership of this organization, which I think is unique, despite its small size Letters of Recommendation: Strong, I believe. One from a Board Member of Hope 4 Africa, 1 from my Honors Senior Project Advisor (project is on education and development), and 1 from a current Korbel professor in International Development who taught me at my undergrad. Statement of Purpose: Still writing these, but I am quite confident in this regard. Language: Native English and Very advanced Spanish Quantitative: Decent GRE Quant score, minor in Economics (4.0 GPA), Calculus Other Achievements: National Merit Scholar, Phi Kappa Phi, Member of my college's Honors Program Any input on what my chances are would be great. Am I right to forego applications to programs like Georgetown and SAIS this time around? I was planning on applying there if I don't get in to schools now; I would work for 2 years then apply to all of the bigwigs, I suppose.

Thanks for the response! Yeah, I had issues with seemingly simple concepts that never gave me problems before. I think another month of preparation, paying attention to what you metioned (tricks ETS puts in, what took the most time etc.), would help immensely. It was also, I think, an issue of confidence - I was constantly doubting my answers, and that made me very strained for time by the end. Anyway, thanks again!

Hello, long-time lurker here making my first post. I just took the GRE yesterday. I was quite pleased with my verbal (167) but pretty disappointed with my quant (159), which was much less than I had predicted based on my practice exams, etc. Obviously I'm still waiting on the AWA score, but I'm fairly confident in that regard. Anyway, I was wondering, before I shell out the money for another test, if I should retake it to up my quant score if I intend on applying to: Tufts - Fletcher (MALD, Map Your Future), Korbel, LSE, Maxwell, and SPEA. I will graduate with a minor in Economics, so perhaps that would balance it out on applications, but I'm leaning towards not pressing my luck... I think I should just take it again because there's really nothing to lose (except maybe a decrease in my verbal if I get unlucky). Other relevant info: large state school, 3.82 GPA (I'm currently in my Senior year); Majors in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish; Minors in History and Economics; Honors; a whole slew of volunteer/extracurricular stuff relating to my area of study; haven't written my SOP yet, but I should have strong LOR (one from an associate professor at Korbel who taught me at my undergrad school). Tl;dr - 167V, 159Q: should I retake it for Fletcher, Korbel, etc.?