Bukharan

I am normally not too nervous when taking generalised tests. However, when I was taking GRE my heart was racing insanely fast. I breathed. I almost forced myself to breathe deeply and slowly. It worked. Also, if you have a tendency to be nervous - SWITCH OFF that goddamn timer! Immediately after you start the test! Pros for doing that outweigh all cons.

You never know what that professor is like. Maybe he is also awkward? (what is awkward anyway? it is so subjective) Maybe he likes awkward? I suggest be yourself! Do not pretend you are super-confident or anything of the kind. Your professor is interested in your academically: he wants to hear you speak about your academic interests, what you have to say, how much you know, how passionate you are about the issue rather than how you speak. So show him you know what you are talking about. I am sure he will not care about the rest. In case (which is highly improbable) he does care about something like 'awkwardness', you do not really want to spend 5 years of your life working with him, right? All the best at the interview! You can do it!

My dreams feature me receiving/not receiving admissions letters; opening/ not opening them; reading and screaming/ reading and collapsing; screaming in delight/ screaming in horror.

I suggest contacting those schools and honestly asking them about this. The overall score of 950 does seem quite low - you have probably heard that some schools have cut-off at 1000. The verbal score is also normally important for social science admissions. Call and ask. Good luck!

I second that. I never heard they sent out our actual GRE essays to universities.

I contacted all my schools with exactly the same question. I am sending all transcripts myself (from two institutions, in sealed envelopes; sent in one package). All graduate schools I contacted said it wasn't a problem. What I am (slightly) nervous about is that the sealed envelopes provided by my universities are plain and not stamped/signed across the seal. Then again, I have never heard it was a requirement. These envelopes do not contain LORs - there that would be a requirement.

I submitted everything early. Most of my friends who are applying this year are done as well. As said before, early applications give you peace of mind (and, in my case, time to prepare for December exams) but I doubt it makes a difference in the admissions process.

Haha. I am not the only one biased here. But, yes, Cambridge Master's degree would also be one-year. I guess you've seen the Guardian rating for Philosophy already: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2010/jun/04/university-guide-philosophy

It strikes me that the universities you mentioned are not in the same league. I'd focus on the St Andrews application. I am biased though.

I second that. If you have sufficient time before deadlines, wait for at least 7 days. Then either send another e-mail or (preferably) give your professor a call.

hockey stick

I found Barron's 3500 words a great value for money! Definitely worth buying! Barron's shorter vocabulary list is also good IF you have less time to study for GRE.

I may be completely wrong (what do I know, I am not even American) but I honestly believe GRE is not that big of a deal for admissions officers. OK, clarification: it is not that big of a deal once the score is higher than 1200 (perhaps 1300?) Recommendations, connections and a 'fit' becomes everything then.

Perhaps I am naive but I believe that it cannot really hurt us if we apply early. It's a great opportunity to have a fee waived/reduced somewhere when you are paying hundreds of dollars on other applications. I wish Chicago specified whether references should be submitted online by 15 November as well?

Sure. Send it to me. (Your GRE Verbal rocks! Well done there!)

stone age

A friend of mine who got her grades translated actually did this for Columbia. I think if it's not too late for you to apply, you can still give it a go. By no means is the WES conversion a requirement. Another friend of mine got into a Ph.D. at Columbia last year without having British grades converted.

I have another problem with Indiana. For my subject, they recently introduced a direct entry into a Ph.D. programme. In the past, one had to apply for an M.A., study for one-two years and then be automatically upgraded for a Ph.D. So they do allow direct entries now BUT the application system was not updated. I cannot choose the option 'Ph.D.' on the website, only 'M.A.' Therefore, I am still recommended to apply for an M.A., then take an M.A. exam immediately after I arrive at Indiana and get an upgrade to a Ph.D. Basically, I had to exclude Indiana from my list as I realise that the chances for an international student to get funding for an M.A. (even though it wouldn't be an M.A.) are not very solid.

I'd go for the second option. It makes more sense and I don't think it sounds arrogant!

I'd say you have excellent chances! And your GRE score IS amazing!

Practice tests are not really of much help for *significantly* improving verbal, I think. Study vocabulary. Have lists with hundreds of words and drill them. By heart. Every day until January. You will definitely improve your score then!

vitamin deficiency

Just got my letter in mail! Such good timing! Exactly 28 days since the test.

I agree with Timuralp. Keep fighting for your grades. You are going to graduate soon, and these grades are there to stay on your transcript when you are applying for other schools. I don't think you will then care about having been embarrassed in front of your peers once - you won't even remember that but you will be grateful that you fought for that extra percent that may make a difference when your application is assessed.

I blame your message for making me spend the last hour on the Toronto University website thinking 'God, this ** department looks so good. So so good. But it's Canada... Should I spend 110 Canadian dollars on yet another application?' Sorry, I am not even attempting to reply to your question.