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Olivie_via Might you share your stats with us? I wanted to preface this message with, something is wrong with the admissions process. Something very, very wrong. Why do I say this? I have spent the better part of my twenties trying to get into a Sociology PhD program. After 3 rounds, and roughly $10,000 later, what do I have to show for it? A beefed up CV. That is it. When I initially applied to 10 PhD programs, I was fresh out of college with poor GRE scores and a gpa of 3.16. Only a couple of MA programs accepted me. I accepted an MA program, unfunded. Then, after grad school, I applied again. This time, with a graduate GPA of 3.77, 1.5 years of research with CDC, slightly below mediocre GRE scores, and a co-authored paper. Again, I was rejected from all 6 PhD programs. So I worked. During this time, I worked 4 more years, designing and conducting research with several state and federal agencies. In addition, I taught college level courses at multiple colleges. And I co-authored papers and attended conferences. I applied to 12 tier 1, 2, and 3 universities. I had everything, an MA, GLOWING LOR from professors and researchers, a perfectly crafted personal statement with a clear research goal, 6 years of research and teaching experience, articles, and conferences. Everyone thought I was going to get in. Friends and family assured me this was it, and always spoke as if I was going off to another state any time soon. Two months later, I have been rejected from all programs except one, and the one I got into has yet to offer me funding. I have literally made every effort to get into a program. I even reached out to professors, spoke with them on the phone, and followed up in emails, discussing how we would be mutually beneficial. Despite this effort, I have been rejected by 11 more universities. In total I have been rejected 27 times over the course of 10 years. Do not accept the statement "You are not made out for graduate school." Because look at me. I am your ideal candidate, who has made every effort to grow over 10 years, and I am still being met with a no. Despite this, seniors are being admitted fresh out of college, with great grades, and little to no experience. Just follow these blogs to see who are getting in. A professional in their field, with years of actual, real world, research experience with state and federal agencies, is getting turned down for individuals with BAs and no real research or teaching experience. None of this makes sense, and there isnt much to do other than try and try again. Despite me saying I am done, its likely ill be back here again, applying and wasting money to a new set of schools. Just like I have done all through out my twenties. Good luck.

No fucking way. Congratulations.

Your background sounds wonderful. Are you getting any bites? If not, it sounds like the GRE scores may be doing you a disservice. I even reached out to a few programs to "implore" them to view my application despite my GRE scores. I know they are use a filtering system, which may not be fair for someone like you or me.

I applied to Tier 1, 2, and 3 universities. I have my BA and MA in Sociology. My GRE scores were V154/Q153/W3.5 (not the best and I've taken 8 times). I have six years of research experience, a few co-authored publications, and two years of experience teaching my own classes. I reached out to only the professors in the Tier 1 universities, and shared how my research interests relate to theirs, and how we would be mutually beneficial. Upenn and UT Austin basically told me they cant speak with me as it would be unfair to other applicants, UMD ambiguously responded, avoiding the question of whether or not they would be interested in working with me, and Chicago totally ignored me. UC Irvine was the only university who expressed an interest in working with me. Despite this, none of this worked in my favour. So far only 1 university accepted me. It is frustrating, to say the least. What about yourself?

Congratulations on New Mexico!! It's good to see this is a common experience. I'm leaving a cushy research job for this. Gotta have funding to pull me from a salary with benefits!

With word? Or without word? If word, what did they say?

Ah! That makes sense. I contacted them and they said they will alert me of funding in the next few weeks. They mentioned they wanted to let me know immediately. So I guess this is a way of side stepping the elaborate process to grab me quickly? thanks for the informative reply!

Has anyone heard from George Mason, and if so was there any word on funding? I just got accepted to George Mason University's PhD Sociology program but did not receive any word on funding. Is there anyone else who got accepted to their PhD prgram and did or did not receive word on funding? This is too early in the process for them to admit people without funding (applications were due January 15, 2017), so I hope funding is included in this acceptance.

Sure. I heard from them on Friday February 3 at 2am. However, this was for Sociology. You look you are from a different program, and perhaps they have a different procedure?

@chloensWrong thread. I think this is for Sociology.

Oh my god. Thank you so much for this. I didn't realize this was such a dense, thorough, holistic process. Although this is poster is from Stanford, I hope all universities are doing this, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

HAHAHAHA

Oh shit. Then yeah, that would definitely deter me too! Luckily all the professors kindly responded and assured me all aspects of the application were being reviewed, and that my application was not being overlooked. But your experience is different, and I wouldve done the same thing! Thanks!

What types of cons are there? I imagine if you were considerate about it, it could either do nothing or benefit you. For example, I am dissatisfied with my mediocre GRE scores and, since I feel they are doing more a disservice than good, contacted a few universities to review my application regardless of the scores (e.g. GRE cut off numbers) because I have YEARS of grad school and research experience . I cant imagine they would give your application more negative weight because of this request.

This makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the response as this adds some extra depth to the admissions process.

I am noticing a lot of people being either rejected or wait listed. Although I have encountered 3 rejections, I am not getting any wait lists. Do they notify you of when you are wait listed? I ask because I am assuming that my low rates rejections might imply I am potentially being considered. However, wouldnt a consideration imply some sort of wait list? But if i am not being notified of a wait list, does that mean I am not being considered? Perhaps the programs I applied to dont particularly wait list and this logic doesnt apply. Applied 12/12 Brandeis, UT Austin, UC irvine, UMD, UVA, GMU, UPenn (Sociology) Chicago, BC, and Commonwealth (Social Work) UMD, Loyola Chicago (Research methods) Interviewed 1/12 (Loyola Chicago) Accepted 0/12 Declined 3/12 (UT Austin, UMD (MSE), UMD (Sociology))

Contacted Irvine because I saw some people already receiving acceptance letters. Person I spoke with said although they have sent out some acceptances, they arent really sending out declines yet because they have had instances where they regretted declining people. Can anyone confirm or deny this? Are there people who have received declines from UC Irvine? Applied 7/7 Interviewed 0/7 Accepted 0/7 Declined 1/7 (UT Austin)

I have applied to 13 universities, across three subjects- Sociology, Social Work, and Research Methodology- and do not think i will get in to any. There is a reason for this. I seem to always approach the application rounds with such hesitancy because I've done this two times, and rejected from all universities (up to 6, each time). Its been 4 years since i last applied. The difference this time around is I have 6 years of research experience, 2 publications, and 2 years of experience teaching college classes. I am eagerly awaiting feedback as well. I should be getting responses from January to March.

Hey guys. I am applying to Sociology programs to assess immigrant families and second-generation child development. Could you please review my statement and provide honest feedback? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks! P.s. its currently too long and could use some advice on where to cut. Personal Statement_UT Austin.docx

I have decided to study for 3 months. I will use Magoosh's 3 month plan. And @Vince Kotchian GRE Prep I will definitely check out your website. Thanks for your input guys.

@Vince Kotchian GRE Prep Very good point. The first few times (back in 2008 and 2009), I used Princeton Review Online and Kaplan classes. These included books, flashcards, and online/ in person classes. Those did not help very much; especially Kaplan. Then, starting in 2012, I began looking at Magoosh. @nevermind At first, I used Magoosh's 1 month daily study plan. However, that was just enough time to memorize content, as oppose to understand it. I was trying to learn to short-cut the test. Magoosh study material initially helped raised my scores from (Q) 150 V (151) to 153 and 154, respectively. However, this time around I plan on using Magoosh's 3 month plan. This includes a day to day schedule on the study material. Despite the previous success, I am wondering if it will be worth the trouble. 154 to 160 is quite a jump... It has been 2 years since my last exam. During this time I have been performing quantitative research and reading mounds of scientific literature for work. In addition, I have been teaching college courses, on my research. So I have some experience, but welcome any advice or study tips. So far, all I've got is Magoosh and their 3 month plan.

I will try to make this short. I am mainly interested in knowing, from other's experiences, If I should invest the time and money to take the GREs again. I took my GREs 2 years ago, and got a mediocre score V(154) Q(153) 3.5 Analytic. Based on my research, that is a set of SLIGHTLY above average GRE scores (for these specific programs). My background I am applying to 3 types of PhD programs; Sociology, Social Work, and Research and Evaluations. - I am interested in research methodology and family structure I have an M.A. in Sociology, with a concentration in research methodology I work full-time conducting social research, as a senior research analyst, and have been for the past 5 years I teach college level courses, mainly in research methods I have 1 publication (3 years ago) I will have 3 GLOWING recommendations from researchers and faculty members Experience with GRE I am horrible with these tests. I have taken it 6 times, over the course of the past 8 years. I study 2-3 hours a night, for a month, prior to the test. My score only improves by a couple of points each time. My anxiety is horrible, which interferes with my test taking abilities. This will have been the 7th time I took it, and I don't know if it will improve by that much. With that being said, do you guys think it would be worth my time to study and take the GRE again? Your feedback is very appreciated.