Nastasya_Filippovna

one of the schools I am applying to requires you upload a copy of your own score report in addition to the sending your official scores (why, I have no idea), and I simply made a little fold in order to remove the other test I took out of the paper- should I attach a note to my app explaining that I did this? I don't want it to appear shady, but I don't think I should be required to have my lower GRE scores revealed on my personal GRE report, given that ETS allots for score selection

I wish you were considered a minority if you were whiter than normal- I'm like, ridiculously pale, and I can't tan. I think being GHOSTLY white should count as a minority lol!

It's what I'm doing too, and I feel that with an abstract, while of course it's far from the rest of the paper, it situates the central argument enough to orient them. I am simply selecting my main section to be a part that is pretty holistic - it's a part that centers on various scholars' interpretations to the topic in question and my specific arguments to claims they make. There are one or two sections I'd like to include- and I'm waiting...and waiting....to hear back from my profs to hear exactly what you bring up- which of these sections would be most salient to include, as I can't decide (they both seem equally important and I don't want to include the wrong one and have a section seem to appear confusing to a reader who hasn't perused the entire thesis).

you know it's interesting you brought this up- I am a white woman, and I have felt terrible about admitting this, but I am nervous about clicking the voluntary race information on the application- I think on one hand - if I do, could that be, as you put it, an ultimate tie-breaker against me, OR, if I choose to not answer, will they correctly figure I am white and eschewing the answer and therefore get angry at me for doing so and hold it against me because "the white person doesn't want her race to affect her application." Yeah, I have been overthinking every detail to the extreme. I figure that just answering the race question is the best- I feel they really might be upset if I withhold my race- I mean who would really do that but us white folk? lol!

can I ask you if you came from a masters program or straight from undergrad? And if you came from undergrad, were you from a very "prestigious" or well-known institution? Just curious!

you and me both. Nearly everybody I have seen on this site and others perform better on the real GRE, and I even took several practice tests on Magoosh which I hear is the best. I really can't figure it out but I can't take it again - can't afford it and obviously this is my trend. So disappointing.

haha, the timing of your post is ironic- I just emailed my former thesis advisor today (I'm using sections from my thesis for my sample, and he's guided me through what sections to use for my sample). I said to him- so, I feel uncomfortable, that's it? I feel I should just keep going back and gut the entire thing over and over again but I am pretty confident it's in great condition and he believes I should leave it as is. I never feel at ease with a paper, but I don't want to get to the point where I end up making it worse, like a woman who starts overapplying her makeup. I don't have any other professors to seek assistance from at this point either! I just feel very strange with the concept of not editing further- it's counterintuitive to me!

your thoughts precisely mirror my own. I feel that establishing a good rapport could do wonders, but the risks are substantial that at least some professors out of the list to which I'm applying could take umbrage at the contact.

this appears to be such a controversial topic. My professors are strongly encouraging me to do this, but I remain hesitant. I feel that, if the particular professor does not receive this well, I could be immediately shut out of the admissions process. From what I understand some profs do not take kindly to being contacted during the admissions process even if they are being engaged in a professional and courteous manner (ie, the email is not fawning, a resume of accomplishments, or juvenile, but an intellectually mature and well-researched attempt to inquire about the research they have done and founded upon articles they have already written). Some immediately write it off as brown-nosing. Anybody have advice? My intuition is that if there is something to lose with this strategy, don't risk it, only put the hard effort into this if there is nothing to lose and everything to gain!

that's interesting that your professors responded with an emphatic NO at your question- I thought they would advise you to the contrary given that I heard likewise that adcoms get offended when provided with samples significantly longer than requested! Just personally I feel that if a 7k sample is your pinnacle work it is a shame you have to provide a longer sample to schools that require more (just as I feel it's a pity that a fine piece of work needs to be significantly edited when a smaller sample is requested). I am sending a shortened version of my thesis (29pgs), but only designating which sections to read depending on the required length. For the 15p or 5k, I'm only picking sections that equate these qualifications, although admittedly they amount to about 17pgs/ 5600 words, but I just refuse to quibble

precisely my problem!! I have my thesis divided into sections, and while the most salient part will suffice for the 5k requirement, it just breaks my heart to part with two more small sections that I really want to include with EVERY writing sample I submit- in other words, a 7k writing sample is what would be, for me, the minimum for genuinely appreciating the argument. I'm afraid that I'm just going to have to compromise more than I like, which is hard for me, because I'm greedy If only they all asked for 20 page samples

ok does anybody know how hard and fast the rules are when it comes to writing sample LENGTH- for example, when they say 5,000 words, does that mean they will become apoplectic if the sample would be- hmmm, 7,000 words? Any phd students care to provide insight?

Insightful point, let's hope for the best! Good luck to you as well!

this is slightly off-topic but I see on your list of tentative programs to apply you have UC Boulder. They have a spectacular program for my particular interests as well, but do you think they will end up taking apps for Fall 2015? I have the fantasy that if they do, perhaps they will receive fewer apps following their recent scandal but I know in my heart that this is a pipe dream given their illustrious reputation.

is it just me or is the GRE weighed much more heavily for grad school admissions than the sat/act was for college admissions?

You aren't alone- I just retook my GRE- I got a 159 Verbal, 148 Quant, and AW not yet received. Looks like we both have the same cumulative score of 307. All my practice scores (nonetheless from Magoosh too) were much higher and yet my GRE results were lower. I can't afford a retake and it is what it is. I know this will be a deterrent at some schools, but I'm hoping that my application will still be considered at some, given the fact that my overall resume is quite strong (3.98 GPA, strong letters of rec and what I believe to be a strong writing sample). Just wanted to offer my company and any input from current students would be appreciated as to whether a score such as this would still be considered at some schools given an otherwise strong application.

looking at the schools you're applying to I think it's a superb choice- especially MIT and Rutgers- they are gonna eat that topic right up!! Perfect alignment for their specialities!! I love hearing everybody's topics- it's where you see how passionate people are with their philosophy and particular fields of interest!

your nietzsche paper sounds fascinating! The overman is such a compelling topic, and oh, Nietzsche- he is infinitely compelling to me as well! I too am not pursuing a concentration in ethics so have no fear but the sophistication of both your papers is quite impressive! I'm quite proud of my paper, and I'm quite worried that it may not be read if I'm cut out of consideration based on GRE scores- I've read your comments on that topic and I couldn't agree more :/ I wish I too could apply overseas, but as a single parent the move wouldn't be a viable option.

really neat topics!My topic argues for a purely Dionysian interpretation of Nietzsche's Overman. I am so sad about cutting it down It was my senior thesis. But such is life!

It's so interesting what you said in regards to working from Kant to Fichte to Schelling to Hegel- when I took my course on German Idealism I had a professor who did just that. He said that there was no way to situate Hegel or understand him unless you had a firm command of these previous philosophers, and that many undergrads missed the opportunity to study the works of Schelling and Fichte in between. I'm so glad I had an introduction to those figures because I now see the necessity of that timeline. Of course there is only so much you can learn in one semester, but it was an essential component to the introduction of Hegel, and I firmly believe that it contributed to the reason that Hegel (right at the end of my undergrad career, given that this was my last semester), struck me with the impact that he did. We only got to read Phenomenology of Spirit and a bit of his work on Religion, but I'm dying to explore him further. The man is simply profound.

Hey I will certainly give that a go, I have nothing to lose! The irony is that I excel under pressure- with the exception of these standardized tests, and this has been a life pattern, so meditation might assist. Thank you for the link! By the way, your resume is incredibly impressive- can I ask you what your topic is for your writing sample? Don't worry I won't steal! I already have mine written- just have to pick what section I'm using If you prefer not to tell I completely respect that!

I did Magoosh and Kaplan and took practice tests from Magoosh, Kaplan, Manhattan, Barron and ETS, all with those same higher practice scores! That's why I was absolutely incredulous at my results! And if there had been some extenuating circumstances that I knew explained the scores then fine, but there werent. I've always done awful on standardized testing- timed tests are not my forte, nor are tests that aren't essay tests. Quant is easy to explain- I am terribly challenged with math and simply need copious amounts of time so succeed, and as far as verbal goes- I overthink. I did poorly on the SAT as well. However, I'm baffled as to why I didn't get the mediocre scores I at least thought I would receive. I believe I am capable of a 160. I am retaking this monster again. One last time because of the score select option so I have nothing to lose. If I yet again don't improve then it is what it is.

This is what what is so terrifying- what if they don't even bother with reading your letters of rec or your writing sample if your GRE scores are atrocious? I would imagine that coming from NYU perhaps ameliorated the effects of the GRE and maybe that's why they did look further into the rest of the dossier. I just took the GRE for the second time- literally all of my practice tests were coming out much better than my original test- the original was 143 quant 158 verbal; the practice tests 148-151 quant (I know still poor but at least an improvement) and 160-162 verbal. I ended up scoring 145 quant and 157 verbal- I have no idea what happened- I felt fine during the test, and here I went down on the verbal. The rest of my application I believe to be stellar aside from the fact I come from a small, unknown college and these blasted GREs. I am terrified at this point frankly.

haha I take it you aren't a Rorty fan!! Did you ever read the little back and forth they had many years back? I'm trying to recall which collection of Rorty's essays in which it was printed, but it was a good read. Regardless of who you agree with, Haack is a very lucid writer and interesting philosopher.

you know I have confidence that once I've retaken my GRE I'll definitely get back into a reading groove (right now I've been studying about 10 hours a day for it because I'm determined to get my scores up from the previous round), but I've found that I have been drawn into this lurid habit of turning to TLC shows to unwind for a bit after study sessions- this has never happened before! I'm guessing it's because I haven't watched TV in years, and now that I've graduated I'm like, "so what is this square device in front of me? I guess I'll turn it on and find out!" I'm so embarrassed and I guess this is my guilty confession! But my God, BEST WISHES ON YOUR PROPOSAL!!!!! Maybe I'll see your future fiance on Say Yes to the Dress during one of my TLC binges!