Cesare

I have currently selected 11 schools, but the problem is that 9 of them are in the top 15 and the other 2 are ranked below 30. I am trying hard to find lower ranked schools, but I just can't seem to find faculty that match my interests. I selected schools not based on rank, but on whether there is faculty that match my interests (at most of the schools I selected there are 2-3, one or two schools with just one POI). My GRE scores are 160+ in V&Q, so I know that my application will at least be looked at. What other factors are you using to select schools? How many POIs should one have in the social sciences? This will be my second cycle so I don't want to be shut out again. Oddly, none of the schools I applied to last year are on my current list....

Your V and Q score are far more important than your writing score. I had a writing score of 5.5, but retook and got a 4.5. However, I have a much higher V and Q score now. As much as I would like to retake (the AW score is killing me because I know I can do much better), I won't because I don't want to risk lowering my V and Q score. I am sure admissions committees will assess your SOP and writing sample more than the AW score as an indicator of your ability to write.

This will be my second cycle and for one of the apps they ask that "if it has been more than 6 months after graduation what have you been doing during that time?" I've been looking for jobs, but that has been ridiculously difficult (not only for me but for several of my former classmates as well). Would it be ok to just skip that question (it is on the general application, not the department specific one)? I just feel weird writing down "unemployed" and "sitting at home."

Thanks for all of the advice. I am still struggling with talking too much about my past research work (I've decided I am only discussing the 2/3 that most relate to the schools I am applying to), but I may be applying to European schools as well and I already have a research proposal, so I am not sure if that future work that I want to do should be mentioned in my US SOP. The issue is that my research question is a bit original and I am worried that it may hurt my application. At the same time, this research topic ties in my research interests together wonderfully and without it I feel like I will come off as unfocused. The research that I am interested in is a result of a finding in previous research, which will be the writing sample that I am turning in.

If you have completed several (ok fine, 5-6) research projects how many should you discuss in your SOP and how much detail should you go in? And how much room should you leave for discussion about future research you would like to explore?

Can't you list your research skills in your CV?

One of my letter writers sends conflicting signals (before I continue I know for a fact that he writes me the strongest letters). One minute he says I will get into any school I apply to, the next he scolds me for applying to the schools that I did. I still feel stupid for receiving some of the comments I did from him. In reality (at least in my situation), I know my research interests better than any of my letter writers, so I will select schools based on what I think is a good fit.

My pet peeve - the way wait listed students are treated. Seriously, the fact that they haven't told you yet is ridiculous. I think it is unprofessional. They act like wait listed students are the "other" and do not have any feelings. As if we are not human.

using the distance formula you know that each side of the triangle equals the square root of 5 and as there are 3 equal sides A = B.

Not sure what field you are in, but in my field it is discouraged to contact Professors. Nevertheless, when I contacted Professors regarding feedback on my application (this will be my second cycle), one was completely rude and just stated that they had over 150+ applicants and the other was very general and stated things like GRE scores (and both of these schools waitlisted me and had me waiting well into April, so I thought, since they made me wait for so long, that the least they could do was provide some feedback...). I may apply to one of the schools again, so writing an SOP for that school will be very awkward. I've had friends contact Professors about feedback and they have had similar experiences that I did, but it still wouldn't hurt to try because you may get useful advice.

For the first time in my life, I've read that admissions committees will see what we write for the analytical writing portion of the exam. Is this true? I thought that they just see our average score.

I will message you.

I would say no later than the end of October (I am assuming that your deadlines are in December?). Have you rewritten your SOP? If you are going to reapply to schools, you probably should send in a different SOP.

I would recommend retaking. It never hurts (if you have time). I strongly recommend Magoosh and Manhattan prep. Depending on how soon you plan to retake, magoosh may be better.

Well, you are very impressive. Many thanks.

That is correct as well. Thanks!

According to ETS, the right answer is 2/7. Thank you so much for this.

No. You SHOULD NOT END YOUR LIFE. This should never be an option. Where there is a will there is a way. Everyone has obstacles in their life, it is how we deal with them that makes us into the people we are. Obstacles can be overcome.

No. You SHOULD NOT END YOUR LIFE. This should never be an option. Where there is a will there is a way. Everyone has obstacles in their life, it is how we deal with them that makes us into the people we are. Obstacles can be overcome.

"As a registered examinee for the GRE General Test, we are pleased to offer you web-based practice for the quantitative section of the GRE General Test. This practice is offered as part of a research project that is conducted by Educational Testing Service of Princeton, NJ." I took the first practice test and got 3 wrong. You can go back and examine the questions, but no explanations are provided. It is probably a bit unethical for me to post the questions, but I also think admissions based off of a standardized test is unethical..., so if anyone can enlighten me on how these can be solved I would be very grateful. 9) The rectangular solid above is made up of eight cubes of the same size, each of which has exactly one face painted blue. What is the greatest fraction of the total surface area of the solid that could be blue? 11) If r and s are positive integers, each greater than 1, and if , what is the least possible value of ? 17) A distillate flows into an empty 64-gallon drum at spout A and out of the drum at spout B. If the rate of flow through A is 2 gallons per hour, how many gallons per hour must flow out at spout B so that the drum is full in exactly 96 hours?

Thanks for this! These games really do help because it makes learning vocab fun. I bought this app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gre-vocab-genius/id380833751?mt=8) and really like it as I travel on the bus/train a lot and I've learned almost all of the words on the go. It is pricey, but I think it was worth it.

My cycle has been long over, but the pain of waiting is etched in memory for the rest of my life. It sucks. While I was waiting, I couldn't motivate myself to apply for jobs because I was always hoping for the best. I also had trouble sleeping. I suggest wine.

Have any of you retaken any of the Manhattan tests? I am just wondering if I will ONLY see questions that I have already taken or if there will be some new ones. If the former, then how accurate could Manhattan be? I mean, if there are no new available questions then the test is not adaptive like they say it is, so it can't be a great indicator of how you will do on the real thing. Here is what they say on their website: "After the sixth exam is completed, you will be given an option to restart at Test 1. After restarting, please be aware that you will see questions that you have already seen. Restarting will NOT erase your exam history."

Great minds think alike. I will be taking the exam on August 21st as well! GOOD LUCK!

I am retaking the exam end of August. I have seen an increase in my practice scores. In addition to my old materials (Kaplan), I am using Manhattan and Magoosh. I've given myself more time than previously and Magoosh/Manhattan are by far superior material to Kaplan, so I think that has a lot to do with it. I still have a fear that come test day, I will get the same score....