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just a small handful of cents as a fellow youngun (tho' not that young)-- from what I've heard, age is not a strength. it's a moot point. what matters is what you've done and how focused your interests are. I know it's doubtful that you actually want to do this, but I'd suggest taking a few years to do things right: take the subject test, enhance your GPA with graduate classes at local universities, and retake the GREs if you think you should. in doing this, you'll show: continued dedication to your field, academic excellence, research experience, and so on, so forth. read some solid statements of purpose from successful applicants and start to get a feel for why they're successful, and what about the candidates' experience and approach makes them appealing. the things you call your weaknesses are the exact things that admissions committees want to see your strengths in: it has nothing to do with age, but rather qualification. good luck, S

Hi all-- A question (which I'm sure, as I said, is a frustrating, nitpicky, unnecessary one, but I could use your collective wisdom): I recently graduated from a top lib. arts. college, departmental honors, magna cum laude; I wrote a thesis, I have research and conference experience, and I'm currently in the process of taking a few years off to get more. I also did not get Phi Beta Kappa; I'm fine with this, but what I've been wondering recently is: will admissions committees be fine with it? Could something like this become a deciding factor? Obviously, there's absolutely nothing I can do about it now, but I'm curious to know if it might be something worth compensating for somehow. Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks a million. C.

Thanks, all!

Hi all, Most of the schools I'm applying to (and I'm working a bit ahead of schedule--applying for Fall '10, but my life can get hectic, and I figured I'd take advantage of what I'm sure is a momentary lull involving spare time) require 3 LORs. I've read the other posts on this forum on the subject, and I got the sense that sending 4 when only 3 are required is acceptable. But, I'm wondering . . . would it be pushing it to send more than 4? I'm in a fortunate but dicey situation--several of my old professors have offered to write for me, and I'm confident that every single one of them will send good letters. But, I don't want to look like an utter douche by sending too many, and I'm not entirely sure how to pick. (For reference--there are six professors in question, and two of them I definitely have to ask: the first was my adviser for my thesis, and the second is currently working at one of my top-choice schools. But, then there are the other four: all four are prominent and well-respected in the field, and I've worked extensively with each of them. Any tips on how to pick, since there's a good chance I can't pick them all? Also, if this makes a difference: I'm in English Lit.) Thanks in advance for your collective expertise! C.