doogiej

I just spoke with someone at NU Sociology regarding PhD admissions stats and found that their average GRE scores were 740 quantitative and 670 verbal. Not as high as I had expected. Interestingly, when I asked about how they would be evaluating the new GRE scoring, she said they simply didn't know yet. Maybe being in that first wave could be an advantage because schools might be unsure of how to evaluate the scores. They may decide to give more weight to other factors initially.

I had planned on applying to Northwestern's Sociology PhD program. I learned on my visit they offer 20 positions out of 250 applications. I just came across a MA/PhD program at NU that seems to be a better fit for my area of concentration; Human Development and Social Policy. Does anyone have a thought on which one is likely to be more competitive? I've never heard of a program like that so don't know how competitive it is likely to be. I will apply regardless.

I'll be taking the GRE in September. I am attending a small, Midwest liberal arts college with a 3.92 GPA. I presented a paper at the MSA last April, have a tight focus on my area of concentration and will have strong letters and writing sample. I am stressed no end abut the GRE, though. With everything else I have going for me, what do I need out of the GRE to get into the Sociology PhD programs I am targeting; Northwestern, University of Illinois at Chicago, UNC, and Loyola?