barilicious

In my study materials it said about 700 words for the Issue Essay & 400 words for the Argument. I got a 5 out of 6 but don't really know how long each was. Both were 5 paragraphs, but my Argument essay paragraphs were a little shorter.

I took many different practice tests from many different study materials. I found that PowerPrep definitely gave me the most accurate score of what I ended up getting on the actual test. I did think that the actual test was harder, but I scored 1300 on PowerPrep and a 1280 on the real thing - so the scores were barely off. However, I typically scored WAY higher on my PR test, but that could have just been me. All in all, I say trust your PowerPrep score the most, but try to take as many different practice test as you can as getting familiar with doing a million GRE questions really does help. Best of luck!

From my understanding of lurking here & reading about the grad school app process elsewhere is just try to get a 1200 or higher. It seems a 1200+ helps get you past the first round of cut-offs, where the adcomm will then definitely look at your presentations and publications. Obviously, make your SOP and writing sample strong as well - as they will be reading these and judging you from these even more so than your presentations and publication on your CV. I freak and have anxiety about standardized tests as well (and studied for 4 & a half months for the GREs), and ended up with a 1280. Obviously not the greatest, but I'm hoping it is enough (along with my GPA) to get the adcomms to look at the rest of my apps at each school I'm applying to. In the end though every school is different, and each one is just a different crap-shoot. Good luck! And it is easier said than done but try not to stress - the GREs are just one part of the app process!

My favorite professor from undergrad got his PhD from CUNY, and I would be applying there as well if they didn't have a foreign language requirement. I know he loved his experience there and got to work with some amazing faculty, plus it seems like they are doing some awesome research there right now. As far as career opportunities, he is TT at the university I went to (good private university - PM me if you want to know which school exactly), and it was the first job he applied for right after getting his PhD, so I'd say he at least did well. All this is just from one person's experience, but CUNY seemed to have done well for him!

Hello & welcome! First off we have VERY similar research interest, which is always exciting to see! I'm also very much in to intersectionality theory, with specific interest in race, gender, and sexuality. With that said and seeing we have similar interest, we are also clearly applying to some of the same schools. From the schools you are applying to that are the same as mine, obviously as you know the GRE scores that you have been getting are lower than their averages. However, as many posters on this forum constantly say - you're GREs are only 1 part of the application! Many people say you should at least shoot for a 1200 in order to make cut-offs (don't know how true this is), but even if you don't get a 1200, hopefully you're high GPA can offset the low GRE score and still will help you make cut-offs. The rest of your application seems extremely strong, so study a little more for the GREs, but I'd say focus more on you're SOP and Writing Sample. Good luck!

Ditto! 15 days for me as well. I took it on the 12th and got the scores on the 27th. 5.0 writing for me as well!!

Wow! Awesome scores!! Congrats!

I have no idea what other test people were taking. Praxis? Some people were in medical scrubs, so MCAT? You aren't really suppose to talk, so I didn't ask anyone. Yes, the lady would individually take your picture, explain whatever test you were taking, then walk you to your computer station. It was very different than how I imagined it as well. But if everyone started the test at the same time (and were all taking the GREs), then you all have your break at the same time, which would make it complicated getting you all back in the computer lab within the 10 minute allotted break time - so I guess it is for the better.

Everyone entered the computer lab at different times. Some people were already testing when I went in (I was like 5th in line), and many other people were brought in to the computer lab while I was testing. Most people were not taking the GREs though - just one other person and me out of like 40 different people.

I just took the test this past Monday, and while I'm sure every test center has its own idiosyncrasies, I'm sure overall they have the general same standards. To answer your questions from my own experience: 1. I took my test in the morning (8AM), so was set to arrive at 730AM. I got there around 720 and had to wait in my car because the test center did not open until 730. The test center was pretty crowded, but my center was pretty efficient in handling everyone, so arriving 30 mins early is plenty of time (I started taking my test around 750AM). All you need is your ID - no paper confirmation (unless I think you opted to bring an electronic ticket or something). I showed my ID, they checked me off, then I had to read over a bunch of forms and fill out this paragraph and sign. After this, I was put into another line to enter the computer lab of the testing center. Each person waited to enter, where they checked you off again, signed a sign in sheet, took my picture, verbally explained the test and experimental section to me, then took me to my PC to begin. 2. At my testing center, when I got to the 10 minute break, I just stood up and left the computer lab. I then had to sign out, used the restroom, then had to sign back in and show my ID to re-enter to go back to my PC and begin the next sections. 3. From my understanding every testing center provides lockers. When I signed in, they gave me a key with a locker number that EVERYTHING had to be put in except your ID. Hope this answers your questions

Hey all, I just took my GREs this past Monday! Wow, it was beyond stressful and way harder than any of the million practice test that I took. However, I managed to get a 1280 (620V/660Q). I'm hoping this number is good enough to at least get me considered at all of the schools that I'm applying to. My areas of interest are sexuality, gender, race, and queer theory. I'm sure we all will be getting rather acquainted as app season is quickly approaching!

Hello, I just took it today, and my section was an identified quant section at the end. I was ready to be done, so I didn't even look at it. It just said it was 18 questions in 30 minutes.

My friend just got into GWU's MPP program, and I believe she had around a 1300 on the GREs. I think she had like a 610V & 680Q (numbers around these). I know she also had like a 3.75GPA from undergrad at American University. Hope this helps some!

For which department/area of study?

Ben Carrington at UT-Austin does Sociology of Sports - he even teaches a course on it.

My list started off with 39 schools. I now have it down to 18. I am hoping to get it down to around 10 when I start applying. I, personally, don't think you have too many, as I would like to apply to as many schools as I think I will fit well, and then see what happens throughout the process. I rather not put all my eggs in one basket - as that seems to be a disastrous thing to do when applying to grad schools.

Celine-Marie Pascale does poststructural theory at American University, but they also only have an MA not a PhD program.

Well again, I got my undergrad sociology degree at AU (and worked in the dept), so if any of you have any specific questions about the program or faculty or whatever, feel free to message me. I loved all of the faculty and truly think the sociology dept at AU made my undergrad experience superb!

Hi socnerd! Sorry I can't answer your main question, but I would like to say that I did my undergrad at AU and loved it. Not only was I a socy major, but I also worked in the department as a federal work study. I became super close with all of the faculty and really enjoyed my undergrad time there. I was wondering what made you apply to the socy MA program at AU? And are there any particular faculty you are wanting to work with aka what are your research interest? I'm expecting you should hear soon, but with AU being closed for a whole week due to the snow a couple weeks ago, who knows? Best of luck!