To go or not to go?

[The Pseudo grad student]

I've had a really difficult situation to deal with for this past application season. I decided that with my low GPA and low GRE scores, that I only deserve or should be accept at very low ranked programs (mostly because I never meet prestigious schools GPA standards). I'm still waiting on 3 other schools but at this point I don't know if I should even go off to graduate school. The two schools I got into are not known for my major, not even slightly. One of the school just started the program up for Fall 2010 so I don't think that's a good sign. I need advice for my next step other than obviously improving my GRE scores. If you could give me advice in this diffcult period, that would be much appreciated. As I see it, my options are:

1) Raise GRE scores, get a research assistant job at my undergraduate college, spiff up my SOP (although I though it was good already), and reapply.

2) Get into some non-matriculated program and prove to the adcomms of the following year that I am grad school material but kicking ass in those classes.

3) Get a job in industry and then after 2-3 years within the work force apply for graduate schools again. (I'm not sure if this is a good option for me because I afraid that if I did go into industry, I would be enticed by the money I am making and never go back to school.)

4) Suck it up, go off to the crappy graduate school programs, work my ass off, get perfect grades, and reapply.

I really don't know what path to take at this point so a little help would be nice.

[oldlady]

If you are truly committed to grad school, do both option 1 and option 2 (doing 2 part-time). If you don't demonstrate that you're capable of getting As in your subject matter, you will be hard-pressed to get into a good program next year, no matter how much you improve your GRE or SOP. (But you also must improve your GRE.) Good luck!

[zerolife]

I think a lot of programs value professional experience more or at least the same as academic credential. I would apply next year. Meanwhile make some money through a job or paid internship, while at the same time study to retake the GRE. From what I heard, a high GRE/GMAT can actually replace a low GPA at many schools...

[mmm35]

Over the years since finishing undergrad, I have heard many people say if you get a job and work you will never end up going back to school. But I don't really see the major concern with this; if you like your job so much that you'd rather do it than go back to school, well then isn't it good that you found something you like better (and is probably an easier life path)?

Personally, as someone who took a few years off to work, I have wanted to go back to school more and more every day I have worked. In the meantime I have saved up money to help if I have any monetary issues when I'm back in school, and more importantly I have figured out what I want to go to school for and that I really do want to go back to school. Honestly, working is so much easier and if anyone thinks they could be happier in industry than in academia, I don't know why they would ever choose academia. I'm going back because it is the only thing I can see myself doing.

I also think that while the specific experience of working in industry may not have helped me get into school, that the seriousness shown by leaving a good job for school may have helped professors to know that I was going to work hard and finish. Additionally, the time for reflection certainly strengthened my SOP.

I guess what I'm saying is, I don't know the best way to improve your chances, but don't just dismiss working for a few years that quickly, I think many many undergrads would benefit from a few years with a job before grad school.