Timshel

Thanks! But that's the other thing I'm confused about. For example, the Emory application, under the education section, says to list all post secondary schools I attended, so I assumed that included the first school that I left. Then, though, where you put in the schools, it says "list all the schools where you received a degree." Blech. Which do they want? I have a feeling I am probably just going to end up having to contact Emory because there are a few weird things on their apps that I'm not sure about... This process is so frustrating!

Okay, I'm going to try to simplify my question. I am probably over-thinking this, but I am finding myself doing that with pretty much every aspect of this process. So, on the applications, it asks you to list the schools you attended, and it asks you to list your GPA. As an undergrad, I went to a school for two years, did terrible, wanted to change majors but wasn't sure to what, so I took a year and a half off. When I finally figured everything out, I decided to go to a community college to get my GPA up so I could transfer easier, and I got my Associates and then transferred to a university where I went for two years and got my Associates (I want to note that after my year and a half break, I did not receive less than an A in any class ever again--I picked the right major this time!). Now, my graduating GPA, the cumulative GPA on my transcript from that university, only includes the GPA of the classes I took there, which is a 3.9. As most of you know, when you transfer, they take the credits of those classes from other institutions, but they don't count towards your GPA. So, I'm a little nervous because I am assuming I am supposed to put 3.9 for my GPA because that's what it says on my transcript, and that's what I got, but I'm a little nervous that they will see the transcript and see a few of the transfer grades that were less than A's and wonder why I put 3.9 as my GPA (although I don't know what other number I could put because I have no idea what my GPA would be taking into consideration my other classes from the other institutions, especially since I don't know if they would have me figure it out of just the classes that transferred or out of all the hours attempted.....see, here I go....) So basically, what I'm asking is, when it asks for my GPA from that undergrad university, I should put the 3.9, correct?

Yeah, I keep thinking that once this test is over, I can start cranking stuff out. My university is on fall break this next week, so I am going to use that time to study for the test. I know how you feel, though, because I was taking classes, working on my thesis, and I taught two classes each semester my last year working on my MA. Last year I taught 4 classes at my university, 2 classes at the local community college, AND I worked at the university's Writing Center, and I thought I was going to die. I thought this year would be less stressful since I quit working at the community college, but all this PhD stuff is like having another job!

I know how you feel. I've been thinking about my applications a lot, but I teach 4 classes and work part time at the university's writing center, so I am WAY behind on my apps. I have talk to my LORs, but that's it. God......This is depressing.

Only 3 of the 11 schools I am applying to require it, so I'm not stressing too much, but at the same time, I am totally freaking out!

So I am taking the subject test on the 15th, and I am not at all prepared. I'm freaking out because I really don't know when I'll have the time to do the extra studying I need to do. Anyone else in the same boat? Misery loves company!

I dropped a little from last month, but the English forum has been dead lately!

Just calm down. All the practice tests I did the night before were projected a hundred point range that was a hundred points lower than what I actually got the next afternoon on only 3 hours of sleep. I also improved my math scores by at least 100 points (the lowest number in my range was 80 points higher than what I got the last time I took the exam. Also, I haven't started any apps, either, so you're okay. Just take deep breaths.

I think it suits my interests well. Why, did you have a specific question about it? For everyone else, how are things going? I am so glad to have the GRE out of the way so I can......oh yeah.....study for the GRE subject. Boo. lol

I think you have some merit here. My real question is, do you think it's a high possibility that someone could actually end up with the equivalent of the lowest score projected? So, if someone got a 600-700, they could actually end up with a 600? It seems to me that it is more likely that the person will end up with the middle number, give or take one or two on each side, so for my example, they are most likely going to get a 630-670, and that the rest of the range was just easier and gave them more cushion in case of extreme cases/discrepancies?

Well, I know that when they send out the new scores, the report will tell them what that number would have been on the old scale so they understand. They said, for example, that it will list the number you had, say a 135, and then it will have somewhere, like in parentheses or at the bottom, telling them what that number would have been on the old scare, like 550 or whatever it would have been. So, they will actually assign your score to a score on the old scale so that adcoms will know what that means.

So, this may go without saying, but if we get a 100 point range, should we assume our actual score will be somewhere in the middle? What is the liklihood, do you think, that we could end up with the very bottom projected score? Just wondering....

Is this question aimed at me? It's not clear.

I am in a similar situation, as I did not do very well my first two years as an undergrad as a science major, but once I transitioned to an English major, I did not receive less than an A in ANY class, both undergrad and in my master's program. The way I was thinking was just to briefly mention in my SOP something like "while grades during my first two years of college as a Zoology major were not as good as I would have liked them to be, once I realized that English a better fit for me, my transcript clearly shows a shift in my GPA, and I have not received a grade lower than an A since then, following all the way into graduate school where I graduated with a 4.0" or something like that, which will then lead into the section where I talk about my previous work. Now granted, that was off the top of my head, but that is what I have been thinking, at least.

Once again, WellSpring, we will just have to agree to disagree as I have heard nothing but the contrary to what you have said.

I've been advised that generally, regardless of where you go as undergrad, that you should have a good spread of schools. I tried to even mine out so that I tried for a few top tier, but focused more on fit rather than rank.

Hmmmm...I'm not sure. Usually, in your statement of purpose, you should talk briefly about your academic record, which is where I would think this would fit.....but if you don't have that, I'm not sure. You certainly don't want to randomly throw it in.

I'm not even wasting my time with the math. I really need to get my verbal up. And I've already told myself that if my ear is still hurting tomorrow morning, I'm canceling my classes (I teach) and going to the doctor!

I've been told to briefly mention blemished, but not to dwell on them. I would just remark, when discussing your past grades/accomplishments, something like "even though I lost due semesters due to an illness, I still managed to blah blah blah," and then I would move on to the rest of the topic of that paragraph. Does that make sense?

Yikes. I feel hopeless for a different reason. I've talked to all three of my LORs, but I am taking the GRE (for a third time) on Friday, and I'm afraid it will be my Achilles heel. For whatever reason, I just cannot seem to do well on this damn test! I have never been a good test taker, and I'm afraid that a low score will knock me out of the first round before anyone even looks at my complete application. On top of that, I woke up today with what I think may be an ear infection, and I take the test on Friday. FML

I was given the advice that you want to be somewhat focused, but not so focused that you sound like you already have everything figured out and there is nothing that school can teach/offer you.

LOL. I guess that never occurred to me.......but like I said, I had not planned on sending it to some random journal that meant nothing.....