Penn/Annenberg and GRE ranges?

[hppolicomm]

Hi all,

In an effort to take the GRE before it switches to the revised format, I registered two weeks ago and took it today. Needless to say, I didn't feel as prepared as I would have liked to have been and my scores reflected it - 680 Verbal/630 Quantitative. I'm especially worried about my quant. score. I don't know my Analytical Writing score, but I do think this is one section that I did quite well on (I am pretty confident I'm over the 4.5 threshold).

I'm looking at political science/political communication programs, especially UPenn's Annenberg School for poli comm. I have heard that comm programs' admissions don't rely heavily on GRE scores, but since Penn's is the top program and I'd like to specialize in political communication, I'm a little worried....

My other stats:

- BA, with "Great Distinction" from McGill University (English - Cultural Studies, US History) (3.65 GPA)

- MS, #1 in my class, from lesser-known private university in US - not a top school, more of an practical (vs. research-intensive) program, but locally very well-known for the specific program (Professional Politics) (4.0 GPA)

- worked in publishing

- worked on big project (some research involved) with Chair of dept. in grad school

- interned at a research organization that the Dean of Annenberg is involved with (he's on the board, I think)

- hope to get a year of work experience in DC before starting PhD

- Feel pretty confident in my personal statement - undergrad background plus grad work fits well with the program, my research interests closely align with faculty members', etc.

- Should have solid letters of recommendation, one from Chair of grad school dept.

Would anyone be willing to weigh in - honestly - on my chances at Penn? Should I retake the GRE (new format)? Penn suggested I take the current/old one, especially since the new format's scores may not reach schools in time.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated! Thanks!!

[Strangefox]

I think that it would me more important to find out if there are any professors willing to work with you in UPenn Annenberg. It's really hard to get there so, though your stats seem all right, unless you get in touch with a professor there and he/she will be willing to support your application - your chances are not that high, I am afraid. I applied there last year. My stats were good and I contacted a prof there but I knew that the school and the professor are not exactly the great fit. I decided to apply anyway, just in case. Well, I was not admitted

So start reading faculty profiles and looking for somebody whose research you can relate too. Read their articles and then contact them, telling about your research. I would do it that way (I did it that way, actually ).

Good luck!

[hppolicomm]

Thanks for the advice! I am definitely interested in the work of a number of faculty members there (written papers on their areas of interest, citing their research), so I'll be sure to see if I can connect with them. My interests are closely aligned to their work, so hopefully that will help. Thanks again!