Halp

Thank you all for the input. It's funny, my family has been saying they think the first option is best. They say it'd be good to at least have a certificate in the event I never get in anywhere. Also it'd give me a chance to try to publish or at least I'd have publishable paper for my portfolio. I have good writing samples now, but as I said none demonstrate original research. Before this thread, I was leaning towards the second option. (I feel bad about my choice of words in my first post. I shouldn't have said "lower tier" or "crummy.") I found two more schools where I think I'd fit and are more my league. This first time around I didn't apply to a wide enough range of schools. My safety schools weren't safe enough. Now everyone has me thinking about becoming a research assistant. I've never been a research assistant. Maybe I'm underestimating the value of the experience, but the description of the work doesn't sound like it would make me that much more desirable.

My field is communication. And really, number three? You think getting a job as a research assistant would be better than going back to school and doing my own research project? I just looked up jobs at the college nearby and I found a research assistant position. I think I could qualify but based on the description it seems like mostly data entry and recording. That doesn't seem like it would add a lot of value or research experience to my application.

I applied to five PhD programs this year and didn't receive any offers. I'm looking to get some opinions on my next move. I'm pretty sure I know why the main reason I didn't get in anywhere. I don't have any research experience. I knew it would be a problem before applying, but I thought my GPA, GRE scores, and working in the field for a few years would make up for it somewhat. After browsing these forums I see my GPA and GRE scores are not that great at all. I've come up with a couple of options: Go back to school for a certificate program. I found a few that require or have the option to do a research project. This seems like a decent solution except for the time and money.Lower my standards and apply to some lower tier programs. I didn't apply to top programs before, but I didn't apply to really crummy programs either. I was trying to avoid taking a step back from my prior universities.Try to get a job as a research assistant at my local university. This seems like it might be impossible. Plus if I did land a job I'd be there for less than a year. I doubt anyone would knowingly hire me for such a short period of time.I'm leaning toward option two at the moment. I found a few universities and programs that I'd be moderately happy with and I think I could get in. Then again maybe I'm under estimating the competitiveness. How bad off am I without research experience? Do I have a chance anywhere at all? Also maybe I shouldn't be going to a school unless I'm extremely enthusiastic about it.