semperfi101

I think the question is: what do you mean by a "decent program"? For some students, that really want to teach at a research institution, that means entering a fully funded doctoral program that is at least ranked in the top 30ish programs. I think with your current GRE scores you would not be able to get admitted to these doctoral programs. 
 
For others, a "decent program" is a doctoral program at a respected state university. Their graduates might teach at a community college or another state college. I think there is nothing wrong with this path but you do have to be realistic about the job prospects. The first job of a graduate is rarely at a program ranked higher than their doctoral program. So if you start at a low-ranked (or unranked) program, you are limiting your job prospects. And i'd point out that what was once considered less prestigious jobs like professorships at community colleges and state colleges are now highly competitive.
 
You should discuss these issues with your advisor and identify what type of job you want when you graduate from a doctoral program, what type of school you need to graduate from to be competitive for that type of job, and then you can figure out what the average GRE scores are for those types of doctoral programs.
 
I would be not compare yourself to students that were admitted into masters programs with low GRE scores. Masters programs are completely different from doctoral programs (masters programs prepare people to work in industry or government jobs and schools make money from them in terms of tuition; doctoral programs are more like investments, with the school investing x amount of money and time to prepare students to enter the job market and increase the prestige of the school). 
 
Doctoral programs are much more challenging to get into. If they weren't, masters students could just get admitted into the doctoral program and get free tuition and a living stipend.

I think you need to be realistic. Extremely low GRE scores will keep you out of programs, even less competitive ones. They will also be a hindrance to funding and other opportunities at certain schools.
 
It's not a matter of raining on someone's parade by stating that GRE scores do matter to some degree. A quant score in the fourth percentile or lower is a red flag.

LOL! What a nice way to say "you suck."  
 
I will, I know that these are poor. Just to test my theory out, I may apply to some Ph.D. programs this fall just to see the odds. I am in the M.A. program already, so, the worst that could happen is that they say no (and I would spend another $300+ on fees and transcripts).
 
I wonder if these scores are decent enough to get into MPH or MPA programs?
 
midnight: I really do appreciate your honesty and your input from the other end of the spectrum, without it, scientists wouldn't be scientists. I always tell this to my fiancee, that, sometimes we need to really see the alternative reality of what we are passionate on...and after the argument, one can finally see the picture after the dust settles. 

Possibly, I know that on case studies, methods exams, statistics exams and typical course exams I do extremely wonderful. I would say that a good chunk of it is the fact that I didn't take algebra or geometry in high school, yet, I was able to comprehend statistics (applied math). I took a GRE prep course at UT and...I would say that in order for me to be proficient enough for the algebra and geometry components, I would need formal classes in those two subjects. I know some folks say, "just read the book," unfortunately, I am not that type in relation to this form of information my brain is trying to encode. The worst feeling is, I know that but, yet I don't want to learn algebra and geometry for the sake of doing well on a standardized test which will ultimately afford me the opportunity to go into a program that I know I will do well in (from other indicators stated before), only to be left doing statistics as the mathematical expression of my field. I won't be in there trying to figure out the surface area of a damn square with a triangle inside of it just to conduct research on LGBT psychopathology. 

My fiancee (a pharmacist from Brazil) took the GRE when he came here to apply to some of the Ph.D. programs in pharmacology. He did amazingly on the math, yet, poorly on the verbal (250?). However, he scored a 95 on the TOFEL and has published in eight different journals in pharmacy and microbiology, two of which are in English. I often attended the graduate orientations (UT, UT-Southwester, UH, UNT) and got to meet many of the prospective students whom scored high on the GRE as well, yet, their abilities to control and articulate in the English language were horrible. My fiancee might as well have sounded as a professor of English compared to these fellow applicants we met over a period of three years.
 
Many people often say "then what should we do," and both my fiancee and I both agreed upon for example, if one is applying to a psychology program, require the applicants to take the subject exam. If you really want to see if a person can expel knowledge on information relative to the program they seek a career in, test them on the concepts of pathology, history and systems, personality, neuroscience, statistics, research design. I scored in the 90th percentile on the subject exam for psychology...yet, the general exam is stating I am a dumbass, and that I wont be successful in a graduate program in psychology. I get the point of including verbal reasoning, I would add a caveat in saying that the verbal section could also be contextual to the field one is aspiring to go into. I, along with many of the GRE prep faculty at UT agreed that geometry is extremely irrelevant unless you are going into engineering (two of those professors worked for TI and Raytheon). 
 
I think what's even funnier is, psychologists play a huge part in the construction of standardized tests, including the GRE.

muffins and 1Q84, please watch your language and your tone. You can get a point across without being rude and without cursing [the cursing has been edited out of the posts, by the way].

Moreover, I'm sure the OP is not interested in your hijacking his thread. This is a serious question and either you have specific suggestions that could be of help - in which case you should speak up and contribute to the discussion - or else the best way you could help the OP is to keep quiet and let others help. Open a new thread if you want to discuss general culture.

Because the first response to the thread was an immediate assumption that this woman is a liar intent on destroying his life and reputation because of her worship of this false goddess called "feminism".

It is a patriarchal society. And there is no "bandwagon". Evidence overwhelmingly proves male dominance in all aspects of society (except homemaking lololololo!!!!)

These "feminists" that make you ashamed to be a feminist (I should probably reverse those quotation marks) are the ones that are fighting for a woman's right not to be harassed without being labeled a "slut" or "asking for it".

Again, you're hearing this gentleman's side of the story yet you're immediately willing to jump in the fray and blame the woman. I'm not making any judgement calls either way: he could be right or she could be right but, clearly, your bias is showing.

ETA: I apologise to the OP. I didn't mean to hijack your thread. My $0.02: people will talk and that's the way of the world, but if you behave as if you believe what happened happened (ie. your version of the story), then it'll become a nonissue. Not much else you can do about it... if you go around protesting and trying to get people not to talk about well... that won't look very good.

and in regards to "feminists," I'm talking about women who will do and say anything to justify their position of victimization in a -- so they want to emphasize -- "patriarchal society". so they jump on the bandwagon when cases like this leak, as they get to suspect a man for being oh-so-evil! they tend to disregard the fact that men 1) have their unique feelings and insecurities and 2) women can make up stories precisely to take advantage of a "victim" position. these "feminists" make me ashamed to be one myself.

Wow... take a chill pill, dude and read his text. He said: "And knowing the nature of rumors, it will probably turn into 'he was accused of rape' rather than 'he was a victim of a false accusation.' Doesn't this support what I'm saying about society's tendency to villainize men? See, the truth is clearly that "he was a victim of false accusation," but because (along the lines of my conjecture) some people automatically assume men are in the wrong in these matters, the case will be spun to "he was accused of rape omg let's stay away from him." People will more than possibly not be able to view the case objectively, jump to judgments and shun him -- unfortunately. Thus, this shows how we're dehumanizing men by not being able to view cases such as this one objectively but are rather inclined towards our pre-conceived notions of what men are like -- which equals rapists in this case.

What is this supposed to mean?

You don't even know the full story yet you're willing to blame this on "feminists"? Disgusting. You're what's wrong with rape culture.

I'm so sorry to hear about this! I think this story shows how our society (especially self-righteous "feminists") is so willing to villainize men to the point that men are dehumanized. i really think men have feelings equally as women do.

i don't know what to tell you except to keep insisting on your innocence and tell them that you'd be in jail, instead of in academia, had you really been guilty?

Hi, I browsed some of the websites for the top C/CJ programs like Univ. of Maryland and Penn State. I saw that a lot of the phd students do not even have relevant degrees in the field. They had majors like education, religion, or psychology, so I think havving a masters especially with a crim/crim justice major will be a great advantage. 

A deus ex machina Latin: "god from the machine" is a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved, with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object. Depending on how it's done, it can be intended to move the story forward when the writer has "painted himself into a corner" and sees no other way out, to surprise the audience, or to bring a happy ending into the tale. (Source: Wikipedia) Yes I did: UCI Criminology, Law and Society. Also Drew University for Intellectual History and Stevens Institute of Technology for Enterprise Systems. My research is focused on incarceration, but I am a jail and prison designer, so Architecture is my field. Confusing to me, too!

I will follow you through all of these threads until I finally catch up to you. You are my James T. Kirk. Signed Kahn. ;{

While funding at the Masters level is rare, it does exist. I was lucky enough to score a lucrative offer from GW

I called UCI. She said the people who received offers have already been notified and that everyone else was not accepted. She said letters went out yesterday so we should be getting them soon... Sad day. :/

I am another, but who knows how many there are. It is easy to think of GradCafe as the whole universe, but there are plenty of applicants who don't even know it exists and an awful lot of lurkers who never post and then sweep in with post number one when they can't stand it anymore, even if they are concerned that the boards are monitored by the grad school police. No disrespect to anyone is intended, by the way! Everyone has their reasons. Few people post their scores when they post their results is one salient example.
 
I am not holding out too much hope for UCI at this point, but won't email or call the graduate coordinator because I don't want to jinx it or hear bad news until I am psychologically insulated by some more acceptances. Ha Ha.
 
If they do approach me with an offer, I have decided I will not let "not being in the first tier" prejudice me against the program when making my decision. My POI wasn't on the AdCom; nor are departmental agendas in her control, nor are they anything personal. So we wait...

I have to try and remember this when I'm reviewing the results board! SMH. It's not ill intent on their ends, yes. However, more information would be great especially when you're on a board full of individuals reaching for something more - just as you are.
 
I have posted my info on the results board, but I haven't had any good news to report as yet. However, I am ELATED for those who've already received acceptances. Let's keep the good times rolling!

Quite correct. Just got back from a road trip and the rejection letter was in the mailbox. No hard feelings. Anyone who gets into this program and attends will be well served. I really liked everyone I spoke with including the graduate students who took the time to talk with me.

That's a tough question, but definitely a good one. My girlfriend is getting ready to start her PhD in crim and has no want to be faculty anywhere (she is set on policy research and evaluation stuff). So I have some information, though much is not first hand. In my opinion the name or rank would matter less at that point, and experience would trump everything. If you want to go into research on a specific topic, you will want to try for a university that has a research institute which allows for you to conduct quantitative research in your area. This isn't to say, again, that it has to match exactly your area (though that would be nice), but more that it is the type of research requiring the statistical models you would most commonly be using (i.e. survival analysis, high level multivariate tools, simulation analysis). Aside from that, looking at the curriculum would then be a major factor. Are they a theory or policy based institution (or both)? Do they offer multiple stats courses over the "core" to allow you to increase your specialization? Again, talking to students and looking up alumni would be a major help. Find somewhere you would like to work and email the director. Ask what they are looking for and how to be most competitive upon application.

I'm glad that I was able to offer some advice (and it is just that - one person's advice. It doesn't make it correct for you). I was always wanting some help and guidance outside of faculty when I was applying - and I told myself that if I got in anywhere I would remember to come back here and offer what I could. Best of luck.

My friend is in the MA program at UIC and he loves it. He has a good cohort. He says profs are accessible. It's in Chicago which is amazing. And he has a lot of opportunities as a student to get engaged in work in the city.
 
Seems like a great program! Good luck!

Yep, that is true. Just the aim is different. I have a Master's degree. So no need for me to go to phd if I really want to go to industry. Master degree is kinda enough

Hey guys,

I applied to the phd program in criminology at UIC. Anyone else? Anyone know much about the program or stats of the typical accepted student? In really hoping to get in but a little unsure.

According to the results board:

University Illinois Chicago UIC
Criminology, Law, And Justice, PhD (F13)
Accepted via E-mail on 29 Jan 2013
♦ UG GPA: 3.70 GRE: V 156 Q 150 W 4.00
A (U.S. Student)
Was accepted with BA in sociology. Nominated for a fellowship.

That's all I can offer other than I love downtown Chicago.