Chances of Getting In to Any Sociology Programs PhD

[Coffe-ology]

I am currently planning on applying for admissions for Fall 2011, I am applying to the following schools Vanderbilt, Michigan, Washington, Northeastern, North Carolina State, Arizona, Northwestern, Arizona State, Indiana University, U of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, UT-Austin, Kentucky, Miami, Pittsburgh, Boston University, Howard University, and last but not least Temple University

My interests are Soc of Education, Race and Ethnic Relations, and Stratification

My current stats are as follows:

GPA: 3.33

GRE: 1120 590M 530V 4.5A (I'm retaking it In August after I can devote a month to prep)

LOR: I have 4 all from my Thesis Committee and other professors in the department all really good considering they also wrote my LORs for my current program

Extracurriculars: I am a research assistant at a Federally recognized educational research lab, I tutor children at underperfomring schools, serve on two university commitees, and have taken part in two research projects for faculty members.

If you know what else I can work on before I apply please let me know (GRE scores I should shoot for on the retake, GPA I need to work towards, or extra curriculars that may help)

Thanks in advance

[KAMALAGRAD]

I am currently planning on applying for admissions for Fall 2011, I am applying to the following schools Vanderbilt, Michigan, Washington, Northeastern, North Carolina State, Arizona, Northwestern, Arizona State, Indiana University, U of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, UT-Austin, Kentucky, Miami, Pittsburgh, Boston University, Howard University, and last but not least Temple University

My interests are Soc of Education, Race and Ethnic Relations, and Stratification

My current stats are as follows:

GPA: 3.33

GRE: 1120 590M 530V 4.5A (I'm retaking it In August after I can devote a month to prep)

LOR: I have 4 all from my Thesis Committee and other professors in the department all really good considering they also wrote my LORs for my current program

Extracurriculars: I am a research assistant at a Federally recognized educational research lab, I tutor children at underperfomring schools, serve on two university commitees, and have taken part in two research projects for faculty members.

If you know what else I can work on before I apply please let me know (GRE scores I should shoot for on the retake, GPA I need to work towards, or extra curriculars that may help)

Thanks in advance

I can't really help you with this due to lack of experience with the field, but thought I'd ask about your current program. You said your past LORs got you into your current program so I am assuming you are in a master's program. If so other posters may be able to help you out better if you said which one.

Again with my limited experience cited as a disclaimer I can give some comments. Your GPA and GRE scores may hurt you in other programs, but I have heard a lot of sociology school's are pretty lenient in this regard, even in the ivy leagues. Your range of experience looks really impressive and could help out a lot. Retaking the GREs could really work to your benefit as unfortunately some schools really emphasize them. Good luck!

[Coffe-ology]

I am currently planning on applying for admissions for Fall 2011, I am applying to the following schools Vanderbilt, Michigan, Washington, Northeastern, North Carolina State, Arizona, Northwestern, Arizona State, Indiana University, U of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, UT-Austin, Kentucky, Miami, Pittsburgh, Boston University, Howard University, and last but not least Temple University

My interests are Soc of Education, Race and Ethnic Relations, and Stratification

My current stats are as follows:

GPA: 3.33

GRE: 1120 590M 530V 4.5A (I'm retaking it In August after I can devote a month to prep)

LOR: I have 4 all from my Thesis Committee and other professors in the department all really good considering they also wrote my LORs for my current program

Extracurriculars: I am a research assistant at a Federally recognized educational research lab, I tutor children at underperfomring schools, serve on two university commitees, and have taken part in two research projects for faculty members.

If you know what else I can work on before I apply please let me know (GRE scores I should shoot for on the retake, GPA I need to work towards, or extra curriculars that may help)

Thanks in advance

My current program is at UNC-Greensboro if anyone has heard of it and helps with advice

[socnerd]

I am currently planning on applying for admissions for Fall 2011, I am applying to the following schools Vanderbilt, Michigan, Washington, Northeastern, North Carolina State, Arizona, Northwestern, Arizona State, Indiana University, U of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, UT-Austin, Kentucky, Miami, Pittsburgh, Boston University, Howard University, and last but not least Temple University

My interests are Soc of Education, Race and Ethnic Relations, and Stratification

My current stats are as follows:

GPA: 3.33

GRE: 1120 590M 530V 4.5A (I'm retaking it In August after I can devote a month to prep)

LOR: I have 4 all from my Thesis Committee and other professors in the department all really good considering they also wrote my LORs for my current program

Extracurriculars: I am a research assistant at a Federally recognized educational research lab, I tutor children at underperfomring schools, serve on two university commitees, and have taken part in two research projects for faculty members.

If you know what else I can work on before I apply please let me know (GRE scores I should shoot for on the retake, GPA I need to work towards, or extra curriculars that may help)

Thanks in advance

I'm going to be honest and I hope it doesn't sound too mean. This is just from personal experience but it doesn't look like you have a very good chance. I had the same GPA as you but with a 1200 GRE and I applied to some of the same PhD program and got rejected from all of them. I got into a few good master's programs but I know the requirements for them are not as high. A 3.3 is simply too low for acceptance into a PhD program, even the mediocre schools I applied to said they wanted at least a 3.5. I would recommend re-taking the GRE and getting at least a 1300 and taking some non-degree courses to get your GPA up. I was coming from a top tier liberal arts college with a great reputation as well, I don't think UNC Greensboro will help you.

[myrrh]

For the OP:

I think the most important thing you can do to help your chance is work hard on your future research plan. Of course you will and should retake GRE, but unless you can gt some score like 1400, it will not help out too much. It can prevent you from getting hurt by the numbers thought. If you can take some courses and make your GPA higher, it would be good; however, it's sometimes a long way from 3.3 to 3.5. And those PHD programs have a lot of 3.5 applicants.

So, after all, I will highly recommend your working hard and hard and hard on your future research plan. Not only make it interesting and feasible, but also make it match the schools you're applying to.

[Coffe-ology]

I'm going to be honest and I hope it doesn't sound too mean. This is just from personal experience but it doesn't look like you have a very good chance. I had the same GPA as you but with a 1200 GRE and I applied to some of the same PhD program and got rejected from all of them. I got into a few good master's programs but I know the requirements for them are not as high. A 3.3 is simply too low for acceptance into a PhD program, even the mediocre schools I applied to said they wanted at least a 3.5. I would recommend re-taking the GRE and getting at least a 1300 and taking some non-degree courses to get your GPA up. I was coming from a top tier liberal arts college with a great reputation as well, I don't think UNC Greensboro will help you.

I am somewhat different since I am applying already in the process of receiving a masters and having quite a bit of research experience my undergrad GPA was a 3.87.

[jacib]

I'm going to be honest and I hope it doesn't sound too mean. This is just from personal experience but it doesn't look like you have a very good chance. I had the same GPA as you but with a 1200 GRE and I applied to some of the same PhD program and got rejected from all of them. I got into a few good master's programs but I know the requirements for them are not as high. A 3.3 is simply too low for acceptance into a PhD program, even the mediocre schools I applied to said they wanted at least a 3.5. I would recommend re-taking the GRE and getting at least a 1300 and taking some non-degree courses to get your GPA up. I was coming from a top tier liberal arts college with a great reputation as well, I don't think UNC Greensboro will help you.

My experience was a little different. I got into Columbia with a 3.26 GPA. Granted, I had somethings going for me: I had lived abroad in the country I want to study, have intermediate skills in a few applicable research languages, got 1580 on my GRE, and my undergrad is known for not inflating grades. Still, I had a [relatively] low overall GPA (my in major GPA was somewhere between 3.55 and 3.6; my major was not sociology). I did, however, have a well defined research project that fit VERY well with one specific professor's interests--what she's already published and even more the direction her work is moving (by chance); she got me in, I'm nearly positive. Other parts of my application were weaker--my letters were strong, but none were from social scientists (well one was a historian); my writing sample was well-researched but average; I had very little experience with Social Science.

No one has the perfect application; everyone has weak spots and a few places they say "if only this were different!" No matter what, you need something that makes you stand out and lets a professor with a good fit argue for you to get in. I had the very specific interest and the high GRE. A lot of other people I met at visiting weekend had a master's degree or research experience. Sell yourself well. I think the statements are a lot more important than people give them credit for, but I really do think that everyone needs to find a few good things that really sells them; you don't need to mention them in your statement, but they should be easy to spot in your application. For the record, I only got into the one Sociology PhD program (though I only applied to four others, one of which wasn't really a perfect match). My point is much more that it's a crap shoot. Apply based mostly on fit, yet apply broadly. Contact professors. Sound intelligent and like you will make a good sociologist and like you will be someone good to work with. A lot of people have over 3.5 GPA's. A lot of people have over 1400 GREs. Both those categories matter obviously, but neither of them things will get you into grad school.

[Coffe-ology]

My experience was a little different. I got into Columbia with a 3.26 GPA. Granted, I had somethings going for me: I had lived abroad in the country I want to study, have intermediate skills in a few applicable research languages, got 1580 on my GRE, and my undergrad is known for not inflating grades. Still, I had a [relatively] low overall GPA (my in major GPA was somewhere between 3.55 and 3.6; my major was not sociology). I did, however, have a well defined research project that fit VERY well with one specific professor's interests--what she's already published and even more the direction her work is moving (by chance); she got me in, I'm nearly positive. Other parts of my application were weaker--my letters were strong, but none were from social scientists (well one was a historian); my writing sample was well-researched but average; I had very little experience with Social Science.

No one has the perfect application; everyone has weak spots and a few places they say "if only this were different!" No matter what, you need something that makes you stand out and lets a professor with a good fit argue for you to get in. I had the very specific interest and the high GRE. A lot of other people I met at visiting weekend had a master's degree or research experience. Sell yourself well. I think the statements are a lot more important than people give them credit for, but I really do think that everyone needs to find a few good things that really sells them; you don't need to mention them in your statement, but they should be easy to spot in your application. For the record, I only got into the one Sociology PhD program (though I only applied to four others, one of which wasn't really a perfect match). My point is much more that it's a crap shoot. Apply based mostly on fit, yet apply broadly. Contact professors. Sound intelligent and like you will make a good sociologist and like you will be someone good to work with. A lot of people have over 3.5 GPA's. A lot of people have over 1400 GREs. Both those categories matter obviously, but neither of them things will get you into grad school.

Thanks for the positive thoughts and contributions

[ilikemoney]

My take is this:

You are applying to too many schools. I counted 17.

Here's why I think this: your stats are not going to carry your application. The GPA is on the low side and the GRE is average. The stats are not suicidal, but they're not going to catch the adcom's attention.

Even with perfect stats, you will not get admitted to a lot of those programs without a good research fit. Perhaps with brilliant letters and perfect stats, you might find your way in at some of the bigger, mid-ranked programs. But with average stats, you need to really make up for it with an honest-to-john glove-like fit into their program. This means you really need to spend a lot of time figuring out what those programs are all about. Remember, most programs only admit 5-10% of their applicants, many of whom are rock-star students with great grades, research experiences, and high test scores. You need to make yourself stand out, especially when you don't have the numbers on your side.

I can't imagine ever being able to come to grips with the feel of 17 programs and really being able to tailor an application to the focus of each. I think a better approach would be to start researching those schools, and find out where you really fit. Start making some contacts and feeling out the programs. Start a personal statement and begin tailoring it for the programs. If you can find the time to really tailor your application to 17 schools, then go for it; the more you apply to the better your chances IF the application is serious. If it's just the same app sent to all those schools, you're probably just wasting 75 bucks a shot to get bad news.

Just my take... good luck.

[Coffe-ology]

My take is this:

You are applying to too many schools. I counted 17.

Here's why I think this: your stats are not going to carry your application. The GPA is on the low side and the GRE is average. The stats are not suicidal, but they're not going to catch the adcom's attention.

Even with perfect stats, you will not get admitted to a lot of those programs without a good research fit. Perhaps with brilliant letters and perfect stats, you might find your way in at some of the bigger, mid-ranked programs. But with average stats, you need to really make up for it with an honest-to-john glove-like fit into their program. This means you really need to spend a lot of time figuring out what those programs are all about. Remember, most programs only admit 5-10% of their applicants, many of whom are rock-star students with great grades, research experiences, and high test scores. You need to make yourself stand out, especially when you don't have the numbers on your side.

I can't imagine ever being able to come to grips with the feel of 17 programs and really being able to tailor an application to the focus of each. I think a better approach would be to start researching those schools, and find out where you really fit. Start making some contacts and feeling out the programs. Start a personal statement and begin tailoring it for the programs. If you can find the time to really tailor your application to 17 schools, then go for it; the more you apply to the better your chances IF the application is serious. If it's just the same app sent to all those schools, you're probably just wasting 75 bucks a shot to get bad news.

Just my take... good luck.

Thanks for the input. I am currently in the process of of widdling down the list I'm shooting for 12, I qualify for a app fee waiver everwhere so thats not as big a cost for me. I'm definitely looking at fit and have started making contact with grad students and faculty at most of the schools. As far as the numbers go my GPA will be closer to the 3.5-3.6 range by the time I apply. my GRE (after practice tests and studying so far) should go up a ton around 790v 670m (first time b/c of paperwork I didnt know that I was gonna be able to take it until ttwo days prior so i didn't study)

[ilikemoney]

Thanks for the input. I am currently in the process of of widdling down the list I'm shooting for 12, I qualify for a app fee waiver everwhere so thats not as big a cost for me. I'm definitely looking at fit and have started making contact with grad students and faculty at most of the schools. As far as the numbers go my GPA will be closer to the 3.5-3.6 range by the time I apply. my GRE (after practice tests and studying so far) should go up a ton around 790v 670m (first time b/c of paperwork I didnt know that I was gonna be able to take it until ttwo days prior so i didn't study)

Good. GPA > 3.5 will help. Don't feel bad if you don't get 790V... that 99%. You can score like 650 and still be above 90%ile, which willl do the job. No reason you can't score higher on the quant. It's all basic math. A 750 is only slightly higher than 80%ile. You jsut gotta study and practice.

Good luck!

[socialcomm]

For the record, I only got into the one Sociology PhD program (though I only applied to four others, one of which wasn't really a perfect match). My point is much more that it's a crap shoot. Apply based mostly on fit, yet apply broadly. Contact professors. Sound intelligent and like you will make a good sociologist and like you will be someone good to work with. A lot of people have over 3.5 GPA's. A lot of people have over 1400 GREs. Both those categories matter obviously, but neither of them things will get you into grad school.

I agree with this. Don't let your numbers (GRE/GPA) be an issue and concentrate on your future research plans and establishing relationships with professors (although there's debate as to whether this really helps people. In my case it did.).

[Coffe-ology]

I agree with this. Don't let your numbers (GRE/GPA) be an issue and concentrate on your future research plans and establishing relationships with professors (although there's debate as to whether this really helps people. In my case it did.).

I started contacting professors(and current grad students) sunday and have already found what I think will be my top choice!!!! The Fit is definitely there and I think I found the faculty member who could potentially be my dissertation chair!!! Woot Woot

[cybe2001]

I got into three top programs with a 640V 700Q and 4.0AW, and no GPA (for I am a foreigner).

I did have some publications, was probably a good 'match', and seem to have impressed the committee with my experience, motivation and letters of recommendation (from non-Americans).

Although the whole process is still somewhat of a mystery to me, taking in the experiences of my fellow applicants and myself, I believe that practically no one did well on all dimensions of the ideal grad profile. Also, the importance of a 'match', while often mentioned by students and faculty might be overestimated. That is, I heard faculty members say that they looked down on professors looking to 'clone' themselves through their students. Also most of them stressed that they sought in students the autonomy, self-confidence and creativity to develop their own ideas and manage their own project(s).