CarefreeWritingsontheWall
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Posts posted by CarefreeWritingsontheWall
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Just now, hdfries49 said:
It's killing me! I do excellent on the Manhattan and not so good on the ETS. Took second ETS test, smashed it. Took another, did poorly. I am fairly consistent with my Manhattan scores, however...
I think it would be worth it to consider what types of questions came up on the first ETS test that tripped you up. I know that I'm very good at a particular type of word problem, but if specific ones come up I might get stuck - which is all the luck of the test. Verbal might throw at you a bad passage. Have you reviewed the question types and the answers? Where did you get stuck? Might be good to practice those specifically.
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Ah yes! Great advice. I have the same approach when it comes to preparing for vocabulary. I've kept up with the Magoosh app and Manhattan flashcards. I'm onto the advanced sections now, and I have a list of complex words in my phone that I wasn't familiar with, paired with words I am. It seems to be helping and I'll admit, I'm learning words I never thought existed lol. I haven't completely avoided studying for Verbal, but I feel that practice is all I need to get it to being in the upper range. Congrats on a 166, that's fantastic!
Admittedly my Math score does need to be higher than that expected average of 151 for the programs I'm applying to - this is largely because most of them are focused on quantitative methods approaches to political science and they're within the top 15 schools in the US. The math itself isn't that difficult, it's more practicing and getting used to the time constraints - right now I'm getting over the 'panic under pressure' issue. I figure this isn't really going to go away until I've reviewed the content enough not to doubt my intuition, and I've practiced enough that I don't feel short on time. The Magoosh prep has already helped me to correct a lot of silly mistakes. I've also taken quantitative methods (statistical regression etc.) for a year now, both at my home institution and at reputable summer programs abroad. I have As in those courses and quantitative papers, which in a way could offset lower Quant score, but it's not guaranteed that they'll look for reasons to keep my application in the pile if my Q score remains in the 37th percentile (which is where I scored originally).
Across the next three days (MTW) I plan on going through the rest of the math I have yet to review (geometry, powers/roots, counting/probability) along with flashcards before I have two solid days of just practice questions (Thursday/Friday). I plan on doing sets of 20 verbal and math throughout both days and reviewing as I go. Right now I tend to get tripped up on Verbal questions only because I'm not reading the question clearly - so I'm going to focus on breaking that habit and getting used to what they're asking for. Test day is Saturday afternoon - 5 days to go!
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3 minutes ago, greMS15 said:
Hi,
Can you please let me know where can i find prompts for both issue and argument essays in ETS GRE website ?
Many thanks!!
Pool of Issue Topics: http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/issue/pool
Pool of Argument Topics: http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/argument/pool
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I know the initial conditions of my first take of the GRE strongly affected my scores, especially verbal. Now that I'm almost done my MA, the concepts aren't that foreign. I've found that I fall for particular traps largely because I don't pay enough attention to the specifics of questions. A little bit of practice on that front will probably secure me staying around that score (which is what I'm hoping for). Reviewing my mistakes through Magoosh has reminded me of some basic concepts I still know but forgot to apply and specific areas to focus. I have a plan for the weekend, I just need to stick with it.
Thanks for the tip. I have the 8 books from Manhattan, which are useful refreshers and full of good strategies in the areas of math that I struggle (and some good verbal recommendations too. Writing isn't something I'm worried about, and to be honest the first time I wrote the test I went in having never written a practice questions though I did read what the questions were looking for. I know I'm in a different position than many people as writing is a core feature of what I do (and I also spend a lot of time writing as a hobby) whereas others don't have to focus on it at all. For people who aren't in my position (which is the majority of people) I would tell you to practice but write about things you're interested in. The ETS GRE website has their database of prompts for both issue and argument essays. It's worth skimming them and finding one that appeals to you. The first time you do it, don't time yourself. Break down the issue or argument. I always develop a structure first (during an exam or even a paper) and then step back before I write to see if all of these parts are cohesive. If each part supports the next, as well as my overall argument, I move onto writing. As I write, I keep this structure in mind. If a new point comes up that I didn't initially think about, I add it in but I'm careful not to make it a tangent. Everything you present should be concise and related to your argument. Be specific and avoid using passive voice. I'm not sure if these things help, but I know writing about things I'm interested in both in terms of deconstructing arguments made in pieces (try doing it to news articles on topics of interest, or even journal articles in your field) and making a statement about something I'm interested in (do I fall into the same logical traps?)
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Ah! I know how you feel. I did a full Magoosh practice test this morning and got a 160V, and 148Q - a sign of my inability to remember basic Geometry and remember the strategies to conquer the different question types. After taking it I know exactly where my Math weaknesses are as well as where to focus some quick practice for Verbal. Oddly the percentages, statistics, counting and probability questions were the only things I tended to get right because of my quantitative methods training. I think there's something to be said about pushing through it. I was very tempted to call it quits and push it off until next Fall (after I graduate) when I realized I had 2 weeks to go with very little studying logged. That would mean applying for Fall 2017, so there would be an 8 month gap between when I finish/apply and then when I could start. Doing what, I don't know. But, then I got to thinking, the sections themselves are short (20 questions each) which feels like nothing when I consider the length of exams I've completed in far less time. I'd also kick myself if I didn't try and have the option to attend a program.
The practice test was definitely helpful today, though exhausting. I definitely have a lot to get through in 7 days. I'll be sure to check in here as I go, and after my test day.
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Thanks! Thankfully I do have a one month subscription to Magoosh already. I agree that their tutorials have been helpful. The few I've seen have left me confident they'll be useful and worth watching for at least a day where I know I need some real help. I'm just unsure if my time is better spent practicing or focusing on lessons first. The 7 areas to focus are a great help. I've skimmed part of ETS' official guide and their Math review. Definitely a go to for the things that I'm unfamiliar with on top of the Manhattan books. I've like their strategy tips thus far too.
Unfortunately there's only one other TA for the course I'm covering, and they're pretty overwhelmed by their workload as it is. Asking them to cover my four tutorials is too much, but I've already got the next week of material covered and prepared for. I also don't have the money to pay them for covering my hours, or the time to return the favor down the road. I'm not super worried about the commitment. It's normally 10-12 hours of work a week, but the majority of my prep is done so it's really the 5-6 hours of teaching and office hours next week between Monday/Tuesday. Pretty minor.
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Hey all. I'm in a little bit of a dilemma (most of which is my own doing). I wrote my GRE two years ago when I finished my BA and got a 154V, 149Q and 5AW. I spent the majority of my time practicing and studying for Quant for about 6 weeks. At the time I was working, and I had a lot of family issues. I also panicked after a power outage occurred and my computer terminal turned off right as I submitted my second essay. They didn't explain to us what would happen in the event, and I had to sit and stare at a blank computer for 40 minutes in silence while it rebooted wondering about anything and everything. I can remember being about halfway through and just wanting to get out of there. All this considered, my scores were pretty good. Now I'm working towards PhD applications and I know I have to re-write the test. I am scheduled to do so on November 14th (so just 10 days from now).
My coursework as an MA student this Fall has been working out my vocabulary and critical reading skills these past few months and I did take an intensive 4 week quantitative methods course this summer so math isn't entirely foreign but the basics are pretty raw (oh geometry...I can't remember the last time I used that really beyond considering planes of data). But yeah, I have 10 days and I'm lost as to where to focus my preparation. I have, by luck, the Manhattan prep series of 8 books, and both sets of their vocabulary flashcards after a lucky find on craigslist. I've been reading through their reading comprehension tactics and going through about 50-75 flashcards a night. When it comes to Quant, I'm not sure what the best balance between tutorials and practice is. I have signed up for the one month of Magoosh prep, and I also have a copy of the ETS official guide. I've watched a lot of the basic videos. I haven't had much time yet for formal practice. I intend to write a practice test over the weekend, and a second next week after a few more days of practice.
I've dropped as many commitments as I can these next two weeks, but I am a TA and my coursework can't drop off the face of the planet entirely either. My stress other this test and how badly it went the first time has left me with a ton of anxiety. I also had a very bad application cycle when I was applying out to standalone MA programs following my BA so the process is something I'm not confident in despite my profile. I asked my supervisor if I would be better off focusing on my current work and applying next Fall after I've graduated, effectively taking time off in the middle since I'm set to officially graduate by August 2016 and writing to wrap up in April (bureaucratic red rape means it takes 3-4 months to process everything when it's submitted). He said two weeks seemed like enough time for me to prepare without going crazy. A few friends who have applied out to top-15 PhD programs in international relations and been successful also said the same given the rep of my home institution and the rec letters I have behind me. Having done my BA and MA at the same institution is something of a blessing as my supervisor and my mentors know me very well. That said, I'm still looking for advice. Where are the best tips and tricks for quant? Is it all about practicing as much as possible or would the tutorials help?
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I'm re-writing the 14th based on the 15 day guarantee. I could be screwed, but I unfortunately couldn't find a test date at a time and place that I could make before that.
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Just got SSHRC at McGill. Hallelujah! <3
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I believe you can 'redeem' just a partial amount of it. E.g. if your degree only carries on for 8 months after you get it, you would get 2/3 of the funding. I'm not positive about this, but you should look into it.
Yeah. I caught a few people saying something about that. I was really hoping for summer funding as the job market has been a total flop and I can only count on an RAship for four months that's hourly pay. I know my supervisor wouldn't entirely leave me hanging, but I know they're waiitng to hear back from SSHRC as much as I am. Like a lot of other people here, I have no idea where I rank on the waitlist - as it's already been two weeks since most people found out about CGS-M SSHRC, I doubt I'm high up there.
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Yes, I got an email that my status changed. It was identical to all the other status change emails.
Thanks so much! I think I'll have to reject the offer if I receive one later than May. I'm already 1 year into a 2 year master's and I don't want to drag it out past next April in order to hold onto the award. If I'm not mistaken, I have to take it for a full 12 months, no? Really sucks to be stuck waiting. Looks like a ton of people got their alternate statuses changed really quickly.
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Albeit a random question, but one that's been burning on my mind. I was declared an alternate at McGill for CGS-M, SSHRC. For those of you who had their 'alternate' status turn into an offer, did you receive an email saying that your status had changed/is that something I should be looking forward to? Does anyone know the last date my offer status could be updated?
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Hey all! I applied to graduate school last Fall, and am currently an MA student in IR. One of the dilemmas I came across during my application process was the decision to apply to more professionally oriented MA programs (SAIS, MSFS, the like) versus more academic ones (the non-policy school options. Ultimately my hand was dealt in a way that the academic program was my only option and I couldn't be happier. While I've found myself to be more academically inclined (and very much considering applying out to a PhD program when I finish), a lot of my cohort members and even my supervisor have brought up the issue of pursuing a job in policy when I'm finished.
Personally I never thought the divide between the two was all that significant, after all you are studying political behavior and processes in both. However, the more it's been brought up, the more people have discussed how the two paths (further down the line than my current position) are quite different. I've never quite understood the debate, though I can understand how someone could say a more academic degree is likely to be one step removed from the political processes under study.
I guess my primary question is whether an MA in international law or political science from a policy school, as opposed to an MA from a standard top-tier university, is all that different? What does one offer that the other doesn't?
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From your stats, you certainly fall within the ideal statistical class of students applying to those schools. I think you need to ask yourself more about "fit" in terms of research interests. Do you have a specific topic or interest within conflict and development, and does this line up well with scholars within any of those programs? Can you attest to this in your personal statement well, given how short it has to be? And can your LOR writers attest to your passion and knowledge of this subject? I can't speak for attrition rates at the schools you mentioned, but programs tend to see people drop of PhD's most frequently after their comps - when they have to decide what they're going to write their dissertation on. By all means, no subject needs to be set in stone, but specific interest is going to need to be there for some of schools you listed there. You should also be conscientious of the viewpoint you frequently take in your work - not only what puzzles you like to investigate but how you answer them. That will also show admissions committees that you may be more suited to working with specific faculty members.
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I'm starting my MA (Social Sciences) this Fall, but my primary supervisor will be someone I've worked for as an RA for the past year and a half. He also happened to be my supervisor for my undergraduate honors thesis. When my thesis started he told me that he usually saw his students once a month. I wound up seeing him once a week, if not every other week, however, when a bunch of RA tasks picked up in February. I never met with him for longer than 15 minutes to discuss my work (or the things I was doing for his projects) however. The majority of the real debate came in email correspondances, particularly towards the end of my project when I was drafting. I expect this dynamic to change, but I may be wrong and it may wind up being more of the same. I also know I'll have more than one supervisor (it was hinted at) so that person may meet with me more regularly.
I know for me it was important to establish something of a regular meetings. It helped to keep me on track and limit my procrastination. Even if it's brief, checking in never hurts.
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I've been fortunate enough to thus far avoid a formal moving company but I have yet to move 'across country' per se. I started my undergrad roughly 600km from home. We drove a large SUV full of stuff in the first time. My mother then shipped me a few things by mail. I didn't have to worry about furniture for the first two years as I lived in furnished housing (first year was in residence, second year in furnished all inclusive building). To cut costs in third year I moved again into a one bedroom where I accumulated my first apartment's worth of furniture. I fully intended to stay there for my last two years, but they wanted to raise my rent by almost $100 a month after renovations were done to the building the year I lived there. I moved again at the start of my forth year and was forced to downsize. That move was the most stressful as the decision was made last minute after months of trying to figure out whether I could cut costs and stomach the rent increase. At the end of the day, I found a place that was half the rent so the expense of moving was worth it.
When I moved out of that apartment, I was working from home during the summer. Problem number one: to rent a U-Haul we had to pay a much higher rate because we weren't renting one within the city, or even the same province (I'm Canadian). I strongly agree with everyone as well that you should make your reservations far in advance. We've run into troubles repeatedly with short term bookings and we've rented large SUVs instead twice because we were stuck. Problem number two: I had no time to sell anything, and I didn't want to throw anything out. What I wanted to keep went into storage, but about half of my stuff came home. My Dad and I did all of the moving ourselves as my Mom was sick, my brother was working and my friends had left town already for the break. It was perhaps the most stressful move we had, all the while my Dad was cursing that I had so much stuff. We drove everything home, settled and such. Then came move into apartment four.
We made the decision to ask the place where I stored my stuff over the summer if they knew of a cheap moving company that would lend us a hand for an hour or so. I lived on the forth floor of a building with no elevator and the staircases were narrow. Luckily he suggested two guys that worked in the warehouse and could get downtown. They came and hauled up the majority of my things in an hour and we paid them $60 each for their effort. This was moving about 30 boxes/rubbermaids, as well as nearly assembled furniture (shelves, table, chairs, desk). What was left I hauled up myself. Admittedly we were lucky that these guys were responsible and willing to help even though they weren't part of an official moving company. But I underestimated how helpful those extra hands were.
I'm now in the middle of move number five within the same city (circumstances have me moving again as I start my MA). I'm moving the majority of my things myself as the new place is only a few buildings up the street, but I do plan on getting help to move the bulky things. I'm wrecking my body doing most of it on my own, and I'm exhausted. Thankfully I don't have work to do in the meantime, and I'm selling quite a few things to minimize what I have. This is probably the cheapo way of doing things - just doing it myself - but it's incredibly laborious. I'm doing it over two weeks, and I know that not everyone has this kind of time on their hands.
Prior to these moving experiences, I did move from BC to Ontario in high school. We moved through Atlas Van Lines, and one of their smaller local companies. My dad had a moving stipend from a new job in the GTA, so his company actually paid movers to pack our things and ship it across. We were extremely worried about things being damaged or lost, but my Dad spent time getting to know the truck driver responsible for shipping our stuff. Everything turned out. They were late though because the truck broke down halfway through the trip. I think we got something back for that, but I'm not sure. I do know the cost was over 10k to do it that way though - but I consider it the luxury of luxury: we didn't have to lift a finger of our own throughout the process.
At the end of the day, I think you have to evaluate the value of your time and effort in relation to the cost of movers. For this move right now that's ongoing, I could have had myself moved in a day if I had help. Instead it's taking two weeks. But can I afford movers right now? Nope. But at the end of the day it all works out.
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If I might ask - why is it that you're so 'geographically' limited?
If you intend to pursue a PhD, my main suggestion would be for you to apply to the programs you know suit you best. An MA will serve as your launching pad into a good program, not necessarily because of prestige but in how you get along with an avdisor, who you get to network with and the connections you make with your peers. For an MA I would not suggest a distance learning program because you'll miss out on some key interactions and research dynamics if you're simply doing the work from home. You may not find yourself as involved in your work if you're not surrounded by both physically and mentally.
If you want to complete a PhD, your MA will count. And if you want to make this a career, it's worth considering moving (even if it means moving your family if that's the issue) because this is just a stepping stone, not your end goal.
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When I spoke to my current institution about how many graduate students they admit, I was told that the number of spots could also depend on the number of advisors capable of taking on more students. That is to say, they won't accept a ton of people in IR if they know they only have three faculty members capable of taking on 6ish students on top of existing students and their workload. This isn't a make or break it type issue though nor is it the first way they decide to accept students. It becomes more of an issue after the fact most times if more students accept their offers than anticipated. Moreover, this becomes more of an issue in universities will smaller political science departments (like my own).
But I do agree with Lemkin - don't manipulate your field of interest. Your strengths will naturally come through in your application regardless.
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I applied to SAIS straight out of my undergraduate degree and the principle issue they had with me (which was very well outlined in a personalized letter) was my age. They said that I was too young in the sense that I lacked the life and job experience they wanted in most applicants. The average age of their graduate student body is 26-27 according to my letter. They expect people to have taken time off to work - though this is not always the case, as they do regularly admit people in their early 20s (I just wasn't one of them).
So you're definitely good to go and in no way will you feel like the odd man out.
@Achieve: Almost all graduate programs in political science, or public affairs, will always require at least one methods course, if not more. That said, methods varies between quanitative and qualitative approaches. Each school tends to have their own specialization. Overall, quanitative methods are very 'in' in certain fields. Particular schools may lean one way over the other. It just requires a little bit of research on where you're applying.
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I have amazing people to thank for getting me a spot in our MA program here. I won't be applying again next year, in fact my current thesis advisor asked me if that was what I intended to do, and if that was the case not to because it would burn a lot of bridges. I intend to commit to the program. If I fast track it I can finish in a year and a half, but I think I will take my time and finish according to the two year timeline. It'll let me figure out if I want to go with a more academic route when I finish (that is, jump from an MA to a PhD) or if I'm more interested in a practical policy/trade law oriented job (in which case my MA here will be enough to get my foot in the door of some amazing internship opportunities). I was also shocked to find that they offered me partial funding (and I have an external scholarship that will carry over with me next year) so I'm financially covered. I'll also have teaching assistant options and I was given a research fellow position. I'm thrilled with the way this worked out, and I have great supportive faculty to thank. Admittedly it's not IHEID, Georgetown or a policy school in DC. My parents and a few of my friends definitely raised an eyebrow, and wondered why I didn't want to take a year off since I had the chance to. To be honest, I know I'm not ready to be out of school yet. I feel like I won't be productive enough to make it worth it and I won't have the money to travel. So I intend to make the most of my summer. Definitely happy and at peace with this whole process. :]
yay! Congrats. So there was a silver lining after all
It's good to hear from you!!
And it's great to hear that you got a good option working with ppl u know!
Will you apply again next year, or finish your MA first??
Glad to hear something's worked out for you! Your faculty does sound truly amazing and entirely supportive, so I'm sure the best is still to come for you.
Keep us updated a you go along! -
Hey all. Looks like some of you have received some great news recently. :] Sorry I haven't been around as I've been caught up in meetings and work and just everything gah. I just wanted to extend a sincere thanks to everyone who stuck out the waiting period with me, and was there for me in the face of three rejections. I am beyond fortunate to be working with amazing faculty where I am. They've offered me an MA spot, so I'm staying put and continuing on with my studies in this way. I won't be moving back in with my parents afterall. xD
- dpgu800, mych and kittythrones
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Previous Schools (Name, type, or tier): Tier 1 Canadian University, top 25 in the world.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: Joint Honors Political Science/History, CGPA: 3.72 Poli GPA: 3.9
GRE Scores (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing): 154/149/5* (See Explanation Below)
Previous Work Experience (Years, Type): 1.5 years formal RA work with a top ranking researcher/professor.
Math/Econ Background: Basic statistics/quantitative methods, economics minor at the undergraduate level
Foreign Language Background (if applicable to your program): Fluent in French, basic Italian knowledge
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: International Trade Law/Financial Crises. This tends to fall under an International Law concentration, or an International Relations degree with a concentration in international political economy. Different schools organize it differently.
Long Term Professional Goals: Originally considered trade law and policy analysis to be my route of choice, that is a more practically oriented career.
Schools Applied to & Results: Georgetown MSFS, Johns Hopkins SAIS and Graduate Insitutute Geneva - Rejected from all schools.
Ultimate Decision & Why: Staying at my undergraduate institution for an MA program (likely fast-tracked) before applying again for Fall 2015 or 2016.
Advice for Future Applicants:
Oh boy where do I start. I think the first thing I can say here is that I'm surprisingly not upset (though perhaps that will come later). I really only decided to pursue a graduate degree last April. I had been recruited as a research assistant for one of my professors earlier in the year. Discussions with him, and the research process itself, made me reconsider staying in school beyond my BA. Come May I knew I had to write my GRE, but I was also lined up to do RA work remotely from home on top of a full time retail job. Looking back, I realize now the combination was pretty toxic. My retail job would not allow me to prioritize anything else, but I couldn't walk away from it because of financial needs. I also walked into it thinking my manager would be someone else. Come June I signed up for a basic 'at your own pace' Kaplan prep course and set my test date for late August. I started studying in June, but my work was again derailed by my retail job. By the end of June those hours pittered out, but I began to have personal problems crop up. July I traveled, and studied hard. My test date was just after the middle of August. I buckled down, cut my retail hours down to ~11 a week. RA work dissipated (prof knew I was set to write ad was traveling himself). The week of my GRE test date, however, my aunt had a breakdown and was hit hardest by her depression for the first time in some years. My Mum leaned on me for support as we helped her sister. At the same time my best friend had a personal crisis and breakdown, and as a result I was fielding phone calls and messages every hour at least, if not more so. I considered moving my test date, but as I was returning to school and starting my final year of undergrad, I decided I could handle it. I crammed, I practiced. I did everything right and was confident going in. Right after I submitted my second essay there was a power outage to the building, however, and while it came back on immediately my computer took 35 minutes to restart. All the while I had to follow procedures, stay put, and remain silent. I am going to be honest here: I panicked. As a result, my essay writing score was a 5 with really limited effort, and my Verbal and Quanitative scores suffered as a result. I knew my focus was shot right away, but I couldn't afford to re-write the test, nor did I have the time to (I would have to schedule it 30 days from then by my university). I submitted my scores and walked away from it. I thought the rest of my application could make up for it, and I was (at the time) considering schools that didn't need the GRE. I was also told by my thesis advisor and professors that they could, to a degree, explain the results in their LORs. I didn't think much of it after it happened, just that it was an absolute nightmare of an experience. Looking back on it now, I realize it was detrimental to apply to the programs I did with scores like mine.
So, my advice to people who have to write the GRE is to run through practice tests like none other. I focused on timed sections (I would run through a fake quant section timed etc.) not full tests which left me unprepared for the actual exam. It helps you get used to how long it is. At the same time, I would also suggest taking it twice, because the actual experience of writing it in that test center was extremely unnerving. That said, it's a test you can master (as others have said) so I will be preparing for it again and writing it a second time this summer.
My second bit of advice is that for a practical program, experience counts. By experience, I mean travel and work experience (study credits abroad, a month in a different country, formal internships, jobs etc.) I lacked this and had thought my research assistant work counted toward that. At the end of the day, my research work came off as more academic. This is not to say that you cannot get in without this (some people go straight through) but I think it does help your application, particularly to programs like SFS and SAIS which are practically oriented, not academically.
Third, I think that when it comes to applying for these programs you really have to ask yourself if you want to work in a practical capacity, or an academic one. I was directed to these programs by people I spoke to about graduate school options precisely because I told them I felt I wanted a more hands on approach to policy. Looking back at myself and the things I've done, it's evident to me that I may be more academically oriented. I really love the reseach process, as well as writing papers (including my senior thesis this winter). As a result, I know that come next year I will be applying to more academically oriented degrees, and perhaps a few PhD programs because research may be the end game for me. Still, at the end of the day not knowing what you want is fine as well. Who is supposed to when they're 21? Or at any age for that matter. Not getting into these programs may be a blessing in disguise (as much as it's painful to know how much I've spent on the whole process). I think it also shows that having top practictioners and even alumni from the schools in question behind you does not mean everything. Given how holisitic the review process for applications is in the US, I think it's important to consider each component of your application individually, while understanding that some weaknesses are a given. In my case, my LORs and Academics were above average, but they could only compensate for so much. My GRE scores are very weak compared to the likes posted on this board. My lack of experience drags me down further. But drive and the motivation to try again is everything. So bottom line, don't rejection hinder you for a second.
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Yep, same here @carefreewritingsonthewall, rejected! Totally okay with it though, felt like I knew it was coming since most had received their info last week or so!
Definitely, though one can never be sure. Best of luck to you!
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Finally receievd word from Georgetown. Was a rejection. Apparently because I applied through SFS the process is more rigorous - would have had a better shot through their school of government. It is what it is.
I have options, and I'm surprised by the level of support my existing faculty have given me already in the past few hours. Thanks for all your help this cycle everyone. I'm sure I'll still lurk around.
10 Days To Go - What's My Best Study Tactic?
in GRE/GMAT/etc
Posted
I don't doubt that you've reviewed everything in that amount of time - but the difference in scores has to be coming from getting particular question types you might be continuously having issues with. They might pop up on one version of the test, but not the other just because of how the questions are drawn from the entire universe of possible questions that could come up. This is what I meant by looking for the questions you got wrong, and what about them might lead you to get those questions wrong, rather than others. Is there a substantive difference between the type of questions you answered in one practice test vs. another? I think this is why you asked how close both practice tests are to the real one. The thing is, they all draw from the same universe of possible questions, but it could be that you have one test randomly pulling up a bunch of question types that you struggle with more than the others never do just by chance. That's where you might be best placed to focus or pay your attention with only 3 days to go, but this is only my opinion. E.g. I'm good at word problems overall, but the distance gap/motion questions trip me up most. If I had a test with decay/sequences/groups I would be fine, but one with distance might hinder me so that's where I'm focusing my practice.
I would also suggest you relax and take some time for yourself. Let go of the stress of putting in all that time. Sounds like you're ready more than anything to just get it over with.
Do the score predictions between those practice tests vary significantly? (by more than 5 points?) There is another thread in this forum where people write out the results of different practice tests they took as they studied to show their progression vs. what they actually got. I don't have much to compare because my studying has been more condensed than most people. They tend to say that Manhattan and ETS are close to reality, but can under-predict what your scores will be - most prep software tends to be conservative in that respect. I'm also not sure, but the power-prep software has the exact format of the real test, does Manhattan have an identical layout?