[Can an AW score kill a strong application?]

So I already posted this in a different thread, but it's an older thread, and I don't know if anyone's checking it. In any case, it's an interesting point that people don't seem to know about and is relevant to natstel's question: I had a somewhat similar GRE situation. I got a 710v, a 680q, and - a 4.5 AW. I was kinda freaking out about the AW but didn't do anything till it was too late to have it regraded. Now, four years later, I'm applying to grad programs, so I called the GRE, and they told me something very interesting: you can retake only the writing section of the GRE, skipping (or quitting) the other two sections, which will give you a "No Score" in them. They claim this is not the same thing as failing or whatever the equivalent is. So the question is: should I do this? I"m applying to very competitive phd programs in sociology, and I'm satisfied with the verbal/quant scores for them because I think the rest of my application will boost my viability as a candidate. But the AW is kind of a bummer because I really thought I would ace it. Writing is one of my strongest areas.

After I had a phone conversation with two different GRE reps, I confirmed this again with them via email. Here's what they wrote:

Regarding your inquiry:

Candidates who take the computer-based GRE® General Test may exit out of individual sections of the test or quit the test during the testing session. However, please understand the implications of exiting a section or quitting the test. Once you exit a section, you cannot return to that section. If you quit the test, you will not receive a score for any section, even for those sections you have already completed.

If you click on "Section Exit" or "Test Quit" by mistake, you will be given the opportunity to reverse or confirm your decision.

If you answer no questions at all in a section (Verbal, Quantitative, or Analytical Writing), that section will be reported as a No Score (NS).

[end quote]

Thoughts, everyone? Should I do this?

p.s. If I broke an unwritten forum rule re posting the same thing in two different threads, sorry!

[Terrible AW score]

Hey, this will be particularly relevant to Lizzla, who started the thread, but it's a question for everyone. I had a somewhat similar situation. I got a 710v, a 680q, and - a 4.5 AW. I was kinda freaking out but didn't do anything till it was too late to have it regraded. Now, four years later, I'm applying to grad programs, so I called the GRE, and they told me something very interesting: you can retake only the writing section of the GRE, skipping (or quitting) the other two sections, which will give you a "No Score" in them. So the question is: should I do this? I"m applying to very competitive phd programs in sociology, and I'm satisfied with the verbal/quant scores for them because I think the rest of my application will boost my viability as a candidate. But the AW is kind of a bummer because I really thought I would ace it. Writing is one of my strongest areas.

After I had a phone conversation with two different GRE reps, I confirmed this again with them via email. Here's what they wrote:

Regarding your inquiry:

Candidates who take the computer-based GRE® General Test may exit out of individual sections of the test or quit the test during the testing session. However, please understand the implications of exiting a section or quitting the test. Once you exit a section, you cannot return to that section. If you quit the test, you will not receive a score for any section, even for those sections you have already completed.

If you click on "Section Exit" or "Test Quit" by mistake, you will be given the opportunity to reverse or confirm your decision.

If you answer no questions at all in a section (Verbal, Quantitative, or Analytical Writing), that section will be reported as a No Score (NS).

[end quote]

Thoughts, everyone? Should I do this?

[PHD in Sociology?]

I won't make this too long. I finished a BA in Sociology and Philosphy with a GPA of 3.2. I am working on an MA program in Urban Affairs which will be completed by june of 2011. I have a GPA of 4.0. I only took 2 classes so far in the graduate program. The program is only 30 credits and they have 4 required classes. Three of them were wavied because of my Sociology degree. There is also no thesis requirement in this program. you just have to submit two papers you have done in any of the classes you choose. The program I am attending is at one of the schools in CUNY. I wanted to take the MA Program in Sociology but, it was a statistics based program and I am not very strong in statistics. I spoke with a few professors and they said that I can concentrate in "theory" for my phd and only have to take 2 statistics classes.

So, here is my question. I never went to high school or junior high school. I still haven't taken the GRE. Is it possible that I would be able to get into a phd program and is it possible that I would be able to complete a PHD program?

I would like to concentrate on "Sociology of Sport". Since 1995 I have been a professional Athlete in the sport of Table Tennis. I was an Olympic Qualifier, USOC Athlete of the year and US team member 10 times,4 time collegiate champion and a bunch of other championships. I recently applied for a Masters program in Social Work at Columbia University and was turned down. I was told that a phd program is much tougher to get in to than an MA program in social work.

One last question. If a program is not funded. Is that program easier to get into?

I was looking at the New School program for social research in sociology and they had a lot of requirements to stay in the program. It was suck to get in the program and then get kicked out. Do a lot of people get kicked out of PHD programs for not reaching the requirements? I read that the toughest part about the PHD is the first exam and the disertation.

Thanks.

A PHD program is a pretty massive undertaking, and you should probably be really certain this is what you want to do before undertaking it. If you're interested in social work, you might want to try applying for various programs, as the fact that Columbia turned you down doesn't mean others will. You also might want to work on your GRE, and see how that goes. If you do well, that might help you get into various programs. Hope this helps.

[Introductions for 2011, Sociology PhD]

Let's get this party started! Long time (maybe a few months) viewer, first time posting.

So I went and re-took the GRE today and actually got a decent score this time around. I was a 500 V, 620 Q, and 5.0 Writing to get into the master's in sociology I am currently finishing up. Today I got a 590 V (yes, my summer thusfar consisted of assaulting my mind with vocabulary, I felt like Chuck and "the Intersect") and a 640 Q. So, perhaps a 1230 is not a home run, but I think this is in the ball park of where I need to be, so I think I'll stick with it...feeling confident about other aspects of application.

As mentioned, I will be finishing a Master's in soc. this spring, and then moving on toward the PhD (hopefully), and plan to emphasize in sociology of religion. Anyone else out there? Application season is only a few months away. Let's do this.

Hi! I am also researching sociology programs, hoping to apply for 2011, with a special emphasis on sociology of religion. What programs would you recommend as best for that subfield?