ZebraFinch

There's some grammar/typos here, but beyond that, what really helped my AW score the second time around was writing A LOT. I wrote "straight to the point" type essays the first time around, got a 4. Second time, i just babbled on and on... 5.5, even though I feel they were inferior essays in term of content and I didn't check for spelling/grammar.

Yeah, I'm thinking of doing just that, because now my undergrad uni informed me the transcripts they've sent are HANDWRITTEN. Yeah. I did call Korbel and they said they wouldn't accepts transcripts via email.

Well, I'm writing this in case it happens to anyone else: If your scores are put on hold without you having requested a review, it means ETS/your exam proctor/etc thinks you cheated. This "hold" means that you or your scores are being investigated and your scores, depending on what they decide, may be "cleared" or "cancelled". ETS did not inform me why or what triggered it, but they did tell me today my scores have been "cleared" so they found me to not have been cheating. They did say it might have been the proctor reporting me, or that my answers were similar to someone else's in the room and the system "flagged" me. I did NOT cheat, and yes my scores did improve because I studied my behind off for two weeks before the test. The employee I spoke to yesterday was incredibly rude and cold about this situation that had me losing my mind all night, but today the lady who I spoke to was very kind about it. Needless to say, the GRE experience has been by far the worst of this whole grad school process and I hope one day we move on to a more competent method of evaluation. Thanks to this snafu my improved scores will certainly not arrive to my schools by their deadlines.

I just called and they said my most recent scores are on "hold"? Anyone knows what this mean?

Master of International Studies at Korbel.

You have so much time! I would definitely take it at least twice more if needed. I'd think you could study a lot and aim to get 165+ per section.

I'm thinking a max of seven business days after the deadline. I'm just freaking out because I had called last week, and they said I could email scans of unofficial transcripts but apparently that person was wrong.

My undergrad is in a country where the holidays are extended till the 8th of January or more. I requested official transcripts, but between their 5-7 days of processing time AND mailing them, there's no way they'll get to my programs on time. Is there anything I can do? My university does not do e-transcripts either so that's not an option.

I am, just terrified of the QEP part. But yeah, I gotta try the Civil Service too. Thanks!

Yikes. I made the mistake of reading some of the profiles of past fellows and feel very very uncompetitive. But hey, if it doesn't happen this year, I'll keep re-applying till eternity...

I'm applying as well! My Honors Program director called the Pickering fellowship, and I quote, "stupidly competitive". From my likely inaccurate calculations, the odds of getting it or the Rangel are about 12%, which actually isn't too bad.

My understanding is your GPA/GRE can vary, but meeting the minimum TOEFL scores is a must.

There's many factors beyond your GRE that need to be considered as well. I'd look in the forum that relates to your field to see what the profile of successful applicants looks like.

You can't do much about your GPA, so if were in your position, I'd study the heck out of the GRE, get higher scores in V (which isn't bad but not spectacular) and Q, and your AW is solid anyway. Of course your work experience is great, but you still have a lot of time to improve the GRE.

Are you looking into Fall 2015 admission? At least for Georgetown, you're on a tight timeline with the GRE, as I understand. I've heard that related work experience is the most useful, of course, but it seems finding this relevant experience is a challenge itself.

Yeah, it was my highest score in total so I'm just extremely disappointed. It's not like I did so well that 2 points is meaningless. What I really don't get is that it was showing up the same all this time until today when it's suddenly different, so my "official" score according to them was the 2 points higher one.

I took the test twice in December, and the score I saw on the test center (for the first test) is now different from the one showing up on my ETS account, lower by two points! What gives? The percentage did not change, so I have no idea what's going on. I'm furious.

Your scores are not good by any means but they're not awful either, and given your background I still say you have a good shot.

Sorry to break the bad news, but for an engineering applicant, they're low.

I also used the Magoosh app, but honestly the test has little on vocabulary while a whole lot on reading comprehension, so I'd focus on that.

The fellowships I'm applying for ask for a financial need statement. I'm already sending my FAFSA stuff, and I'm having trouble asking for money for grad school (since I can't go otherwise) without it sounding too much like begging. Anyone ever had to write these and is willing to offer some guidance?

These are very competitive schools, perhaps apply to more "safe" schools besides these, or re-take the test?

Program: International Affairs Schools being considered: Georgetown, GWU, Penn State, may consider others Undergrad Institution: US territory school with strong reputation there but people in the US don't know well Major: Political science and only one class short of econ GPA: 3.69 GRE score: 159V, 139Q, 4 AW Years since undergrad: Less than 1 Work experience: Internship at FSI is the most relevant, otherwise I've volunteered locally Career Goals: Foreign Service as Consular Officer. Quant Coursework: intro to macro and micro econ, intermediate macro and micro econ (highest level my school offers at undergrad), year of statistics, course that was called "math for economics" but combines a lot of stats and calculus work. Research methods courses that used stats stuff as well. A's and B's in all of these Language skills: Fluent Spanish, working professional Russian Statement of Purpose: Strong, but I have to explain my medical issues that affected me during undergrad. Can't figure out how to write about them without it sounding like an excuse. Letters of Recommendation: Honors Program director, career FSO who I worked with during my internship at FSI, and from top Econ prof in my undergrad Concerns: Horrible, embarrassing GRE. I don't know if I should even apply this year. I have tons of experience abroad so I hope that helps. My undergrad is also a bit of a rollercoaster as I had three surgeries one after the other during my undergrad so I go from all A's one semester to A's and B's the next. I'm willing to hear and consider any advice.

56%. I have no idea as the programs I'm interested in just mention average scores in the verbal and quant section. I'm ESL and expected to get a 3 or so in AW.

I'm retaking it again on December 29, it's pretty tight but I hope it's enough. Found out I got a 4.00 in AW, is that good?