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skhann

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Everything posted by skhann

  1. skhann
    Having gone through the application process at American universities, I have found the State universities to have the friendliest application portals. They usually have the same interface and one can easily go through all the pages/tabs/questions etc. The recommendation list can be updated any time before the deadline. More importantly, they send the recommendation requests immediately after filling in the details. The best part is the payment system where it is a breeze to pay fees for international applicants like me. They accept many, if not all, types of credit/debit cards. Not to mention the application fees are usually less than $50, sometimes even $30ish. On the contrary, many Ivy League and private universities are seriously a pain in the nether regions. Aside from the fees, which are usually above $100 for international applicants , the online portals are user unfriendly and prone to crash/errors. The recommendation system is not smooth and sometimes one has to complete the app and pay the fees before these to be generated. The payment systems are also complicated and only accept a few credit cards. Wondering if/when they will modify their systems. If funds-starved state universities can do it, what's holding them back? Donors?
  2. skhann
    @deutsch1997bw Yes I scanned through the earlier pages and you mentioned that in your posts. Sorry for the hassle you went through.
  3. skhann
    What's the ratio of interview requests translating into actual admissions? I initially thought it was almost a surefire indicator of getting admitted. Now some people have been interviewed and rejected on this forum.
  4. skhann
    Has the FSU sent rejections yet?
  5. skhann
    That "low bar" is often 320-ish at many schools to begin with.
  6. skhann
    I was actually concerned about the correlation between high GRE scores and low GPA. The results, if taken at face value, indicate similar trends. Although it would be wrong to generalize on this very small sample, the adcomms' obsession with the GRE scores is a known fact.
  7. skhann
    Scanning the results page shows that the emphasis appears to be on the GRE scores, if one takes every entry at face value. The score has to be 325+ and you can get in with a 3.2 undergrad GPA. Sad!
  8. skhann
    As for the inequalities, I, for one, won't mind US schools preferring American students. Being American institutions, they are bound to do that. The same goes for EU schools where non-EU applicants have to pay hefty fees. Yes, there is a massive baggage of colonialism and economic exploitation but the world is unfair. Very very unfair, especially to those from the "Developing" countries. Gosh how much I hate this word.
  9. skhann
    There is a massive difference between North American and the rest of the world academic environments. While it is obvious that one has to comply with the rules of the country in which one is seeking admission (US, in this case), there is also a need for the schools to accommodate foreign applicants. More so when international graduate applicants qualify for fewer funding options and are a major source of revenue for the schools. Even for the application fee, they often have to pay higher than the local applicants. LORs are a massive pain in you know where for many international applicants. I've myself experienced the disdain the friendliest faculty members have for writing a few (4-5) letters, let alone 10-15 (which is what your best American referee will write for you). Then there is the whole online uploading process along with the assessment forms etc. Many universities no longer accept hardcopy letters either. I've personally suffered as I had to cut down on my number of applications. I know many others have faced similar challenges. And we all know Interfolio or the likes are an outcast at majority of US schools.
  10. skhann
    @Sheldon2017 That you are going to strike admission gold. I don't think that kind of email is sent to every applicant. Many don't even receive one in the first place, only get their results on the application page.
  11. skhann
    @SerenityNow! Any chance getting to know the name of the school?
  12. skhann
    @spamhaus You're right but then again the issue of transparency comes up. As the OP mentioned, the referees are not even writing the letters themselves. And this doesn't happen in foreign countries alone. In an ideal world, a recommender will be happy to write the perfect letter tailored to the intended program. In reality, some do that and others don't. It's a mixed bag really and hence shouldn't be prioritized in the application process. Just my two cents.
  13. skhann
    @Eigen Thanks for your input, professor. The useless part was about the futility of the process as students naturally choose those writers that can give them the best of recommendations. That's why I can't get why the adcomms are obsessed about the letters. A detailed interview over Skype can provide a better assessment of the applicant or even an additional essay etc. No? Also what about the fatigue aspect of having to write so many letters? I've heard some faculty members grousing about the entire process. Foreign applicants/referees are particularly fussy about the entire process and one can't blame them. Obviously one can't generalize but the process does look tedious from all sides of the equation.
  14. skhann
    @MarineBluePsy Copy that! LOR are totally useless. Besides they can strain the relationship between the referee and the referred in some cases. One has to walk a tight rope, especially for multiple cycles.
  15. skhann
    I'm in the same boat even though I'm not applying to dozens of schools. The problem lies with many programs plainly refusing to accept Interfolio. Foreign applicants face more difficulties in arranging LOR and getting them uploaded through the official institutional email of the recommenders. Some don't even use institutional emails in the first place. Still, I think even professors in the US would be fed up if they have to submit more than 6-7 letters at the maximum. Why don't you manage your LOR writers in such a way that one doesn't have to write more than 8-10? Asking for 15+ letters is too much for anyone, even if he or she is the nicest person in the world. P.S. There is a massive need for centralizing graduate admissions or at least allowing Interfolio etc. Don't know why most schools are hellbent against it. Don't they feel the pain of their fellow faculty members in other schools? It's mutual anyway.
  16. skhann
    @Soon2BePhD Thanks for your reply. Yes, I went ahead and paid the fee anyway. They eventually replied and said they failed to update information on the Polt.Sci program page where it was earlier mentioned there was a total fee waiver for all. Wondering whey they didn't update it earlier. Major offense in my dictionary and a total lack of transparency. I don't know whether they had this waiver earlier and retracted it.
  17. skhann
    Just wanted to make sure the fee payment has to be made before the deadline? The application is in the submitted phase but the fee has yet to be paid as there was confusion over the waiver status. I'm still waiting out for reply. Asking if I should pay the fee before the deadline tonight or wait it out? P.S. It's the Vanderbilt University application and the interface is the standard where boxes are checked for the materials submitted and the option to add additional docs etc.
  18. skhann
    I really liked this training the algorithm part. ETS has literally tested hundreds of thousands of GRE takers. I'm sure it won't be too difficult for the geeks there to tweak the algorithm regarding adaptability without taxing the actual test takers both physically and economically.
  19. skhann
    Thanks for your input @ltr317 Yes the fatigue part is there but I guess the experience is very subjective. For me, bungling on quant sections stressed me out and getting an experimental quant in both attempts was like adding fuel to fire. I would rather have had a verbal exp both times. P.S. If you don't mind my asking, can you share your verbal score? I just want to know what's the final impact of having 17 correct answers in the first section with 9 correct ones in the second.
  20. skhann
    @spamhaus Thanks for the detailed response. GRE scores do play a key role in social sciences where everyone including MIT asks for the sky.
  21. skhann
    @TakeruK Paying people to test questions looks like a good idea, especially for the test takers who have to sit for another 30-35 minutes in what might as well be an additional section not based on their expertise/background. Still, as @spamhaus mentioned, it does come with its own set of limitations and biases. @spamhaus Your point brings forth the actual need why there is adaptive testing and exp sections in the first place. To me this just looks like a ploy to ensure a second attempt by a large number of takers. Obviously this is my observation only. Some people are bad at standardized testing but do well academically. Others are great in testing but are average performers in academic settings. GRE can be used to get a basic benchmark like scoring 150 in each section as a minimum cutoff, for example. We all know in reality many programs aim for the sky in test scores and don't even look at other application materials if the scores are below 320/330 etc.
  22. skhann
    @TakeruK You're entitled to your opinion. There's no need for experimental sections IMO. Will take the test shorter and manageable for a large number of takers, irrespective of the nature of the experimental section. Having two experimental sections will be a big no-no though.
  23. skhann
    Obviously this was only an observation, confirmed by some other respondents. P.S. your quant background and three verbal sections add to the statistic. Just saying
  24. skhann
    I guess you're overthinking it. I never claimed to be conducting a statistical study in an academic setting. I was very clear about sharing my own experiences and those I know and others on this forum shared theirs. Thanks for your input and for the link though. Appreciate it.
  25. skhann
    I guess you're worrying about nothing. Almost everyone would gladly trade those GRE scores. If admission is granted on GRE alone, you will most likely be admitted in almost all T10 and I guess the scores do play a key role with some in T10 saying those below 160 don't need to apply in so many words.
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