[Evaluate Me? (I know these are common, but I appreciate it!)]

Wow, this has been incredibly encouraging- thank you all so much for your input! I have just seen so many posts on here about how anything less than a 700-720 quantitative score on the GRE wouldn't be competitive, so I've been a little nervous, to say the least. This does make me feel a lot better, and while I'm definitely still going to have some safety schools, I'm much less nervous about sending off $75 or $80 to a top-25 school

Also, GardeningGrad- I have sent out some emails to my top-25 picks, and hopefully they'll give me some more insight on their preferences concerning post-baccalaureate work experience. Thanks for the idea!

I'm heading to UCLA in the fall. My GRE Quant. was the same as yours (680) and my Verbal was much lower (570). I had research assistant experience, but no publications. I think that is what will make you stand out [coming from undergrad, which I am doing as well].

[Anyone in at UPenn for a Criminology Masters?]

I'm currently finishing up a slightly different (MA vs MS, basically the same courses) Criminology Masters at Penn. I'm happy to answer any questions about the program/Philly/the department. I've been lurking the Sociology forum so at least (maybe) I can be useful here.