ashiepoo72

I'm just going to lay this out there...as a working woman in graduate school with a child, it was very hard for me to find time to study for the GRE. I didn't need to focus on the quant because of my field, so I studied vocab for the verbal and that's pretty much the extent of my preparation other than taking free practice tests. I ended up in the 95th percentile in verbal. I didn't need a class or a million test prep books because I read academic writing every day. For pleasure, I read high-brow magazines like The New Yorker and The Economist. I live an academic life--that is the BEST practice for the verbal section of the GRE. I don't think the actual material is useful knowledge for graduate students, just like I don't believe most of what I learned in undergrad was. It's the methods of learning, digesting and articulating knowledge gained through a serious academic career that make one succeed in graduate school. These methods should get you through the GRE verbal with a reasonable score. The biggest impediment to success on the GRE, IMO, is not taking the time to learn the test. Once you take several practice tests, you should be able to figure out where the test is trying to trick you, how the questions and answers are structured, etc. You should be able to manage the time limit--as someone else mentioned, completing tasks in a timely manner and under pressure is what grad school is about. Some things are a slow burn, but others need immediate attention and completion. Without studying for the quant AT ALL and not touching a math problem other than basic algebra since high school, I still managed around 50th percentile. That's nothing to write home about (though for my major it's pretty respectable!), but I'm someone who dislikes math, isn't great at it, did not study and practiced halfhearted guessing on that section of the exam. My basic high school knowledge of math got me halfway there. Had I studied, I know I would have gotten a more respectable score. From everything I have heard, the quant section is easier than the verbal if you take the time to study the material. The verbal takes a years-long commitment to intellectual and academic stimulation, whereas the quant covers high school math so, ideally, it should only take people a refresher to be up to snuff. I don't doubt that socioeconomically underprivileged students struggle more because they often don't receive as strong of an education in secondary school. I'm not being patronizing--I worked as a tutor in an area that, pretty recently, was the murder capital of my state. My students were wonderful, but they struggled because of things both outside and within their control. The outside issues were more egregious because the students' self-sabotage often stemmed from a sense of hopelessness and alienation because of said outside issues. I think GeoDUDE is on the money that a college education should mitigate some of this--it's really tragic that this often does not occur. I also don't doubt that certain people have test anxiety and mental issues that factor into lower scores. There is a reason the GRE is only one aspect of the application process. That said, most programs that state their GRE threshold outright fall around a combined 300-310 score. This means you only need a 150-155 on both sections. For the verbal that is 52nd-67th percentile and for quant that is 40th-60th percentile. When I look at those scores, I can't help but feel that most students, barring some extreme circumstances that OF COURSE should be taken into account, should be able to score in or around the 50th percentile on both sections.

Technology makes the waiting worse. Even if I'm away from my computer, my phone notifies me of new emails.

There's still plenty of programs that haven't started notifying and plenty of time for programs to notify guys! Try not to psyche yourself out. Keep in mind we aren't even in February yet, and that's when most programs will get back to us. jump4444-- I didn't hear anything from MSU about number of applicants. I had heard from different schools that there was a drop last year, no clue if that's continued this year although anecdotal evidence suggests it has at some places.

Nope. I put headers that had my name, the term I was applying for, and the title of the document. Cover page isn't necessary for an SOP.

I just tried to explain to my brother why I'm so ecstatic over one of my classes. When I told him it's because the professor structured the reading assignments as though the syllabus was a work of art (the flow of the reading is just gorgeously done...ugh, I'm such a nerd), he looked at me like I grew another head. I should be used to the incredulous looks by now haha

Congrats!

The post on the results board was a POI email, so I'm not surprised you haven't received any information yet. Some POIs will send out emails ahead of the official notification, others won't.

Congrats to the UNC and Berkeley admits!!

Most programs don't have official interviews. Usually it's a POI wanting to get in touch informally. Others can probably inform more about programs that tend toward more formal interviews. Only one of the schools I applied to does, and even then it's not consistent. Don't fret just yet! I know it's awful seeing the interviews pop up on the results board when your inbox stays empty, but you'll be hearing back soon enough!

Heimat -- don't worry! You're going to rock that interview! Magellan -- I'm sorry to hear that. There's still a ton of schools that haven't notified, I'm sure you'll get into a great program! anthrohis -- thanks for doing me a solid and yeah, I was dreading the first notification, but having positive news certainly lifted a weight off! I'm over here keeping my fingers crossed for everyone and sending y'all good vibes!!

congrats on MSU anthrohis! I'd upvote you, but it seems like I was overzealous with my votes earlier!

I tried to upvote your comment but I'm out of upvotes for the day!! How can that possibly be?! I will be drinking craft beer and eating pizza with friends tonight. Then I need to get started on reading for next week's classes! Have fun with your bestie, girlscoutcookies!

no offense girlscoutcookies, but I'm also glad you're not a modern Americanist nonetheless I am so excited for you! OSU is a great program.

I love how German sounds. I'd like to learn it for fun, but I'm trying to learn Russian right now...well, at least enough to read. Next up, Vietnamese and Korean! I WILL be a polyglot by the time I'm through!

Do you speak German, Heimat?

Also, going abroad is a great idea! It provides good experience and you can boost your language skills. Plus traveling is just plain fun

I study modern U.S. history, focusing on World War II and Cold War interventions. My work is transnational in nature, and touches on stuff like propaganda and the construction of a public, "official" understanding of periods of conflict.

a.rev -- have faith! You'll end up where you need to be

I would wait on contacting departments. Most won't start notifying until February, and it could drag out into March.

You guys...I was just accepted to MSU with full funding. I'm totally floored.

a.rev I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope you hear some good news soon.

Well, Heimat, it's really quite simple. To be an obsessive thread stalker like me, all you have to do is go through every year's applicant thread with a fine-tooth comb (you may or may not do this multiple times, just in case you missed something the first time you read it word-for-word). I'd Start with "Fall 2014 applicants" and work my way backwards

From what I understand, OSU does one wave of admits funded via fellowships and one wave of applicants funded via TAships. Source: obsessive stalking of previous application season threads.

Ahh...I was looking at the actual dates, not what week of the month.

Elinen--that's so funny! I bet they'll get a laugh out of it. I'm still shocked OSU started notifying this early...I wonder why. A week seems like a big difference from last year, but I guess it's just the nature of the thing. Here's hoping all the programs want to be early birds, too!