Worried about department choices/preparation

[ap080]

Hello -

I'm a class of 2006 graduate...it's been awhile since I've been at school. In undergrad, I basically coasted through assuming my life would be complete when I recieved my Computer Science degree; I'd find a job at a Bank or Insurance company somewhere and start rolling in the money my degree seems to promise everyone with a slight interest in computers. The reality is, with the economic slump, and the oversaturation of nearly useless university degrees out there, it's tough to get an entry level job without relocation. So, I spent some time messing around with unimportant jobs till I was tired of it. Recently I moved to South Korea to teach english...clear my head a bit and decide what I want to do with my life.

In the end, I've decided it's what I've wanted all along. I originally was a Physics major my freshman year to prepare for a masters in Astronomy. Unfortunately I dug myself a hole in my thermodynamics class and ended up switching majors to Computer Science out of fear of a bad GPA. I graduated with a 3.1 in my major, and a 2.8 overall...hardly impressive by any measure. Recently I've refocused myself, talked to a lot of people in and around graduate programs in many disciplines, and realized that if you want anything in life, you gotta work for it. So that's what I want to do now.

But is it too late? I recently took the GRE out of curiosity. I got a 720 Math, 550 Verbal, 5.5 writing. I'm sure if I studied harder for it I'd manage an 800 on the math and improve the verbal as well. I feel I have a lot of life experience now that has made me a stronger, more dedicated person who can handle the rigors of Grad School. My current plan is to actually attend a graduate school here internationally. I've found a scholarship that will help me with my language study as well as pay for a large chunk of my education in Korea. I'm confident of my ability to be awarded the scholarship. My real question and problems are about my choice of study. Will I have a hard time without much background in my area? How much self study should I do before applying? Will any graduate program regardless of location(including ones in the US) accept a student without much background in the program? What can I do to convince or prepare for interviews or other things that might come up? I'm convinced that this is what I want to do, and that I can handle it. Now how do I convince a panel of anonymous judges?

[anthropologygeek]

One way to seem like a serious candidate is to take a couple classes in the new field. It will show your interest in the subject.

[UnlikelyGrad]

One way to seem like a serious candidate is to take a couple classes in the new field. It will show your interest in the subject.

I would take more than a couple of classes in the new field. I would try to cover most of the prerequisites for the program before applying.

[emmm]

try to cover most of the prerequisites for the program before applying.

Agreed -- I think you'd be taken much more seriously as an applicant if you showed you'd made the effort of meeting most, if not all, of the prerequisites. At least I hope that strategy works, since it's the one I'll be using.