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edgirl

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  1. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from UrbanMidwest in Is Ivy League Grad as Prestigious as Ivy League Undergrad?   
    If you're talking about master's programs in education, it is significantly easier to gain admittance to Ivy ed schools than it is to earn acceptance to the same schools' undergraduate colleges. (We're talking acceptance rates of less than 10% compared to rates of 50%. Not close.) I went to one Ivy for undergrad and a different one for a master's in ed. The two pools of classmates were quite different.

    In any event -- and more importantly -- pay attention to the folks here who have questioned your motives for asking. Why bother comparing yourself to the hypothetical "average" applicant (hint: there is no such person)? Focus on the program that's the best fit for you. I'm assuming you were accepted to Columbia, Penn, and Harvard, since those are the three Ivy ed schools. They're very different schools, and they have very different strengths. If you're making the decision on name recognition alone, you may well end up unhappy. Are you interested in classroom teaching? Something else? What you want to get out of your program? Where do you want to work afterwards? These should be the questions driving your decision-making -- not ones about selectivity and impressiveness to random folks outside of academia.
  2. Downvote
    edgirl got a reaction from Quant_Liz_Lemon in Just took GRE -- how are my scores?   
    Hi folks,

    I'm new here and would really appreciate any feedback! I'm planning to apply to doctoral programs in ed policy (or, just possibly, ed research) for fall 2013. In preparation for that, I took the GRE yesterday. While I don't have the writing score back yet (duh), I know that my verbal was 170 and my quant was 161. Obviously, I am happy with that verbal score, but I'm curious about the quant score -- is it in the ballpark for doctoral admission to policy and/or research programs?

    Also, I felt like I tanked the first essay but recovered in the second. I'm not holding out great hopes for my writing score, so I'm also curious if y'all have any feedback on how heavily GSE admissions peeps seem to weigh it, relative both to the other section scores and to the app as a whole.

    Thanks!
    EdGirl
  3. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from Plissken in Starting preparation for the GRE !!!!   
    In the revised version, which I took recently, the verbal sections definitely emphasize vocabulary in context rather than rote memorization of definitions. I would recommend starting with the ETS official GRE prep book (and ETS' PowerPrep software) to get a sense of how the verbal questions work and where your score really might be at the moment -- both to give you a baseline and a sense of the specific kinds of questions that are challenging for you. I'm not sure about other worthwhile prep materials, as I focused more of my time on math prep, but perhaps other GradCafers can offer some suggestions.

    Beyond prep books, you could also be reading complicated and sophisticated materials -- nonfiction books, New Yorker and Atlantic articles, etc. -- to keep your brain stretching and familiar with the various ways in which English sentences can create meaning. Good luck!
  4. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from mohclev in is my verbal too low?   
    I believe that in most engineering programs verbal isn't weighed as heavily. If you're nervous about asking professors/grad coordinators, at least try checking folks who shared their stats on the results forum here -- I imagine you'll find plenty of people with average verbal scores who were admitted to quant-heavy progams.

    As many people would no doubt add, the one caveat to this is that graduate schools as a whole tend to have GRE requirements you need to meet for admission and/or funding purposes, so that if your scores are too low -- even if a department doesn't care and wants to take you -- the school won't allow you in. You might want to check this more general question ("Are there GRE cutoffs for admission to the graduate school or for funding?") since it doesn't give away your scores and allows you to retake with your first scores hidden if you choose to.
  5. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to midnight in GRE: Any way to dodge this elaborate, money-making scam?   
    I often see the arguments you've made, but I think that I mostly disagree.
     
    STEM applicants should be required to have strong verbal, writing, and reading comprehension skills. Reports and research conclusions require clarity and in-depth, precise descriptions, not solely with figure- or chart-based data, but with words as well.
     
    I also think it's fair to expect humanities majors to possess logic and reasoning skills, which the GRE tests in some capacity.
     
    Further, the GRE quant currently includes a sizeable portion of chart/graph- and stats-based questions, which are germane for those in the social sciences, essential for those in STEM, yet still decipherable by those in the humanities.
     
    The more I mull this over, the more I think it makes sense that many top programs often consider both quant and verbal for all applicants.
     
    And I definitely don't mean to sound like a champion for the ETS/GRE. I don't think the GRE is a perfect or even very good test, and it caused me undue stress and cost me a lot of cash. I resented taking it. I just think there may be some method to the madness, and that the current GRE may be the best they can do given the vast diversity of applicant fields as long as the schools maintain that standardized testing is necessary.
  6. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from TakeruK in simple question: is each question worth 1 point?   
    This isn't accurate anymore. The old GRE worked like this, but the new one is adaptive by section, not by question -- you can absolutely skip questions, either altogether or coming back to them later. So it's no longer essential to get the first few questions right, but it is key to do as well as you can on the first section of each type. (Not that anyone tries to do poorly, of course.)
  7. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to iowaguy in Horrible Testing Conditions - Mention in SOP?   
    I wouldn't mention in SOP, I think it might backfire & come across as whining. For others reading this forum, this is yet another reason to take the test early (well before your deadlines) so that you can retake if necessary...
  8. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from longwaytogo in Been studying for 6 months and seeing NO improvement on verbal score   
    Have you taken practice tests, or are you just doing problems/questions? If you haven't taken a practice test yet, try starting with the ETS Power Prep software to get a sense of what the actual test looks and feels like, and to get an estimated score that you can use to guide future studying.

    Beyond that, it sounds like you may have reached the point where you need outside help -- a formal classroom course, or an online program -- because you've hit the wall of what you can accomplish independently. You've invested a lot of time into memorizing vocab, but it's not paying off, and it doesn't sound like you have a backup study strategy. While others of us can tell you what worked for us, we can't predict what will work for you -- only someone who knows you and your testing style can help with that.

    It also sounds like your confidence is totally shot and you could use some cheerleading from someone besides your own inner voice. If I were you, I would look into nearby prep options, or online programs like Magoosh (haven't used it, but have seen good things said about it on these forums).

    Finally, make sure you're looking at the averages for accepted students at the schools you're interested in; maybe your scores are going to be fine, or maybe they need work, but I think it's always helpful to have a goal to shoot for.
  9. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from emmm in How to improve my AW score from 4.5 to 5.5 in one month?   
    Really? I mean, you heard about this 5.5. requirement from departments directly? Because most schools care much less about AW and use other parts of your application (e.g., your writing sample) to judge writing ability.
  10. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from psychgurl in How to improve my AW score from 4.5 to 5.5 in one month?   
    Really? I mean, you heard about this 5.5. requirement from departments directly? Because most schools care much less about AW and use other parts of your application (e.g., your writing sample) to judge writing ability.
  11. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from 3point14 in How to improve my AW score from 4.5 to 5.5 in one month?   
    Really? I mean, you heard about this 5.5. requirement from departments directly? Because most schools care much less about AW and use other parts of your application (e.g., your writing sample) to judge writing ability.
  12. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to CageFree in MAT vs M.Ed   
    So you have no plan to teach?

    Please teach for a few years. You'll be amazed at how much better informed you'll be when dealing with educational policy if you've walked a mile or two in our shoes.
  13. Downvote
    edgirl got a reaction from 1Q84 in is my verbal too low?   
    I believe that in most engineering programs verbal isn't weighed as heavily. If you're nervous about asking professors/grad coordinators, at least try checking folks who shared their stats on the results forum here -- I imagine you'll find plenty of people with average verbal scores who were admitted to quant-heavy progams.

    As many people would no doubt add, the one caveat to this is that graduate schools as a whole tend to have GRE requirements you need to meet for admission and/or funding purposes, so that if your scores are too low -- even if a department doesn't care and wants to take you -- the school won't allow you in. You might want to check this more general question ("Are there GRE cutoffs for admission to the graduate school or for funding?") since it doesn't give away your scores and allows you to retake with your first scores hidden if you choose to.
  14. Downvote
    edgirl reacted to 1Q84 in is my verbal too low?   
    That's pretty low. I don't know if verbal factors hugely into initial selection in your program but a score that low can certainly take you out of the running when it comes down to the wire or for certain types of funding.

    If you have the time and money, do it.
  15. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to edgirl in is my verbal too low?   
    I believe that in most engineering programs verbal isn't weighed as heavily. If you're nervous about asking professors/grad coordinators, at least try checking folks who shared their stats on the results forum here -- I imagine you'll find plenty of people with average verbal scores who were admitted to quant-heavy progams.

    As many people would no doubt add, the one caveat to this is that graduate schools as a whole tend to have GRE requirements you need to meet for admission and/or funding purposes, so that if your scores are too low -- even if a department doesn't care and wants to take you -- the school won't allow you in. You might want to check this more general question ("Are there GRE cutoffs for admission to the graduate school or for funding?") since it doesn't give away your scores and allows you to retake with your first scores hidden if you choose to.
  16. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from Two Espressos in english PhD programs & new GRE scores   
    You won't say which school for anonymity, but you list your current city as Ithaca, NY? That's a good one.

    More to the point: your quant score is certainly high enough for English programs. The verbal seems a little low to me (though, as is obvious from my signature, I'm an ed person, not an English one anymore), but the best people to answer this question for you are really your current professors. If the other parts of your application are indeed quite strong, I would think those scores would be just fine.
  17. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to edgirl in Colleges focusing on Writing Scores   
    What the schools mean by saying they consider writing scores is that they look at all three section scores (V, Q, AW). They're telling you this because many grad programs discount the writing score fairly heavily or entirely -- so the schools want to make sure that you put your best foot forward on the writing section, rather than assuming the AW score won't make a difference to your application. Thus, they are definitely not saying you can skip the V and Q sections, only that they also want you to do your best on the AW prompts.
  18. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from psychdork in Verbal Question Type that Always Stumps Me!   
    Totally -- great minds must think alike!
  19. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to edgirl in Been studying for 6 months and seeing NO improvement on verbal score   
    Have you taken practice tests, or are you just doing problems/questions? If you haven't taken a practice test yet, try starting with the ETS Power Prep software to get a sense of what the actual test looks and feels like, and to get an estimated score that you can use to guide future studying.

    Beyond that, it sounds like you may have reached the point where you need outside help -- a formal classroom course, or an online program -- because you've hit the wall of what you can accomplish independently. You've invested a lot of time into memorizing vocab, but it's not paying off, and it doesn't sound like you have a backup study strategy. While others of us can tell you what worked for us, we can't predict what will work for you -- only someone who knows you and your testing style can help with that.

    It also sounds like your confidence is totally shot and you could use some cheerleading from someone besides your own inner voice. If I were you, I would look into nearby prep options, or online programs like Magoosh (haven't used it, but have seen good things said about it on these forums).

    Finally, make sure you're looking at the averages for accepted students at the schools you're interested in; maybe your scores are going to be fine, or maybe they need work, but I think it's always helpful to have a goal to shoot for.
  20. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to Eigen in Anyone else notified about ETS' new policy (send individual scores)?   
    It's a ploy from ETS to get more money, which will work because lots of people who overestimate the importance of GRE scores will take it lots of times and send the best scores.

    And Adcom's will start to get more and more suspicious of high scores without correlation from GPA, letters, etc.

    But since GRE scores are already probably the least important part of your application, this shouldn't have a very significant effect.

    Definitely a move that de-legitimizes the test from an Adcoms perspective, though. ETS is really pushing it.
  21. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from wildviolet in How to strengthen my application for competitive Ed.D programs? Do I stand a chance!?   
    Hey teachgirl22,

    Your profile looks strong, but I have a couple thoughts/questions:

    1. You'll need academic letters of recommendation for doctoral admissions. Now would be a good time to get back in touch with those grad school professors; remind them who you are; arrange an in-person meeting if possible; send a resume or CV that updates them on what you've been doing. Generally, doctoral programs require three letters of rec, and usually at least two of those need to come from academic sources, especially if it's been fewer than 5 years since you completed your last degree.

    2. Your admin LORs from your current place of employment should mention these above-and-beyond type things you've done (mentoring, research, etc.) so that you can focus your SOP on your research interests.

    3. What is your academic interest? You talk about doing an Ed.D.; Harvard only offers them (though HGSE is moving to a Ph.D. format with the cohort admitted Fall 2014), but Stanford does not offer Ed.D.s. Both the Harvard Ed.D. and the Stanford Ph.D. are research degrees, not practice-oriented degrees. Is that what you want? With Harvard, I would be a little careful given that the school is transitioning from Ed.D.s to Ph.D.s; while the Harvard Ed.D. has long been regarded as equivalent to other schools' Ph.D.s, there may be some change in that as the Ph.D. is introduced there, and it's not yet clear what the Ph.D. strands at HGSE will be. This isn't meant to dissuade you from Harvard, but I think it may be worth waiting one more year to see what they do with their doctoral programs.

    4. In terms of "strengthening," in all honesty, your profile looks good and there's not much in it you can change at this point (GPA, e.g.) other than GRE scores. Generally, folks at Stanford and Harvard seem to have verbal scores above 700 and quant above 720 or so in the doctoral programs (old scale, obviously). So if I were you, I would just focus on your SOP and being able to articulate, clearly and concisely, exactly what you want to do and why Stanford and Harvard are the places you want to do it.

    Hope that's helpful! I would love to hear more about your research interests, since I'm a fellow education nerd myself!
  22. Upvote
    edgirl got a reaction from wreckofthehope in Is Ivy League Grad as Prestigious as Ivy League Undergrad?   
    If you're talking about master's programs in education, it is significantly easier to gain admittance to Ivy ed schools than it is to earn acceptance to the same schools' undergraduate colleges. (We're talking acceptance rates of less than 10% compared to rates of 50%. Not close.) I went to one Ivy for undergrad and a different one for a master's in ed. The two pools of classmates were quite different.

    In any event -- and more importantly -- pay attention to the folks here who have questioned your motives for asking. Why bother comparing yourself to the hypothetical "average" applicant (hint: there is no such person)? Focus on the program that's the best fit for you. I'm assuming you were accepted to Columbia, Penn, and Harvard, since those are the three Ivy ed schools. They're very different schools, and they have very different strengths. If you're making the decision on name recognition alone, you may well end up unhappy. Are you interested in classroom teaching? Something else? What you want to get out of your program? Where do you want to work afterwards? These should be the questions driving your decision-making -- not ones about selectivity and impressiveness to random folks outside of academia.
  23. Upvote
    edgirl reacted to edgirl in Anyone else notified about ETS' new policy (send individual scores)?   
    Just as an FYI, there was some conversation about this on these boards when the announcement about the new Score Choice policy was made a couple months ago.

    And remember, although ETS is doing its best to encourage you to take the GRE over and over again, the cost of the GRE is rising to $175, and to use Score Choice you may have to wait until after your test date to send score reports -- at $25 per school -- if you don't want to send all or only the most recent results (i.e., if you actually want to take advantage of the service ...).
  24. Downvote
    edgirl got a reaction from Usmivka in Just took GRE -- how are my scores?   
    Hi folks,

    I'm new here and would really appreciate any feedback! I'm planning to apply to doctoral programs in ed policy (or, just possibly, ed research) for fall 2013. In preparation for that, I took the GRE yesterday. While I don't have the writing score back yet (duh), I know that my verbal was 170 and my quant was 161. Obviously, I am happy with that verbal score, but I'm curious about the quant score -- is it in the ballpark for doctoral admission to policy and/or research programs?

    Also, I felt like I tanked the first essay but recovered in the second. I'm not holding out great hopes for my writing score, so I'm also curious if y'all have any feedback on how heavily GSE admissions peeps seem to weigh it, relative both to the other section scores and to the app as a whole.

    Thanks!
    EdGirl
  25. Downvote
    edgirl got a reaction from Usmivka in Verbal Question Type that Always Stumps Me!   
    Totally -- great minds must think alike!
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