Vomit.

[maryelizabeth]

That's what I want to do when I read this page. Are there no average Joe's out there like myself? Ya know, 3.5 gpa'er and below average test scores, but with amazing recommendations and writing samples. I do hope it's not all in the numbers...

I guess the average Joe's aren't reading this page. Which is probably what I should do.

[Dreams]

Nah, I don't think you read all of the posts thoroughly. Amongst the superstars are tons of average Joes like us posting here.

[traveler06]

That's what I want to do when I read this page. Are there no average Joe's out there like myself? Ya know, 3.5 gpa'er and below average test scores, but with amazing recommendations and writing samples. I do hope it's not all in the numbers...

I guess the average Joe's aren't reading this page. Which is probably what I should do.

I can relate - I also was a bit intimidated. I just started reading this page. I hesitated to even put up my stats. My friend is applying to PhD programs and showed me the page. So, I checked it out to see what people were writing about MPP's.

[IvyHope]

It hasn't gone unnoticed that the majority of the people who post their stats are the ones with 1600 GRE and 4.0 GPA. Just take it with a grain of salt. The huge majority of the people on here don't bother boasting that stuff.

[ziraffa]

This is exactly how I feel. Especially when I read that some of the people on this forum have taken the GRE multiple times to get their scores as high as they are! My boss paid for me to take the GRE, and she wouldn't pay twice.

I imagine that a lot of people here are embellishing their real stats. Then again, half of the sociologists have been waitlisted by U Minn (where I applied as a long shot) and even Stanford (where I applied because someone else paid my application fee).

I'm just letting you know that I'm a Joe, too.

[linden]

Actually, I think it would be helpful if more of us posted our stats, including those of you who feel (probably incorrectly) that your numbers are not good enough. It will give us and students who are applying in future years a way to assess how competitive we/they are. True, numbers don't give you a full picture, but they provide a baseline. And it has been helpful to me to read the numbers, get an idea of what kind of people are applying, and determine which programs are reaches and which are more likely to accept me.

Moreover, I don't get the sense that many of us are posting our stats to boast, but rather to give others a measure of what kind of numbers and background the individuals who are applying to these programs have. I have many weaknesses in my application. For example, I went to an undergrad institution that is decidedly not prestigious, and I have a very varied work history that is full of stops-and-starts. But, I hope my postings will provide encouragement to a student in the future.

[techie]

I have to agree, I think that most people don't post their statistics. However, thinking about this rationally , I doubt that only those with 3.7-4.0 GPAs are the only ones who get in. If that was the case then these programs would be competing with the computer science GPA entrances for MIT which are reputed to be in that range. Most of the public policy programs don't even make GPA cutoffs available on their Admissions/FAQ pages, whether it is because it is too high or too low I will let you figure that out. I find it hard to believe that only those with high GPA/GREs get in.

On the other hand, I am sure they are able to garner more offers. Just my two cents.

[younglions]

I agree with Linden here. It seems like it was earlier suggested that only people with average stats are allowed post their numbers (or nobody at all). Perhaps I'm reading into things too much.

Also, I'm one of those who retook the GRE and has relatively high scores. It feels like there is some resentment toward those of us who took the GRE more than once. I can assure you that my financial situation doesn't put me in a privileged position. In fact, I took the GRE a second time (3 years after my first test date) because I knew I could improve, and I knew with higher scores I would have a better chance at receiving funding. A $120 GRE retest is significantly less than $50-$100K in student loan debt. Quite frankly, If I don't receive any funding, I don't think I'll be able to enroll in a program. At least not with the hope of pursuing a public service career afterward.

On a more constructive note, there are many schools that post average GRE/GPA stats which are a much more useful baseline than this message board. For example, here are some average stats for a few "government affairs" schools:

Princeton WWS Graduate School:

1,062 applicants; 137 admits; 13% admit rate; 632 Verbal; 697 Quantitative

For CMU MSPPM:

544 Verbal; 655 Quant

For Georgetown MSFS:

3.63 GPA; 642 Verbal; 700 Quant; 5.2 AWR

For UCLA Public Policy:

3.5 GPA; 630 Verbal; 705 Quant; 5 AWR

[dagger]

Here's a few more "government affairs" averages:

GW:

GPA: 3.48 Quant: 682 Verbal 559 AW: 4.8

Michigan:

GPA: 3.4 Quant: 720 Verbal: 570

Duke:

GPA: 3.6 Quant: 715 Verbal: 635 AW: 5.25

Wisconsin:

Quant 692 Verbal: 586 AW: 4.5

edited to include GPA

[techie]

I agree, it makes more sense to pay an upfront fee of $120 (or $170 if you are in Canada) do better on the GRE and get a better funding offer. That initial investment of retaking the GRE can pay huge dividends. It is almost unfair to debase someone's retaking a GRE effort. In fact, even if you dont look at the funding increments, it can make a difference between an acceptance or a rejection.

I guess I just didnt see those schools, most of those places except CMU I didnt look for or apply to, most places I applied didnt have such clear cutoffs. Although it would have been nicer for more information from MSPPM in terms of GPA.

[ziraffa]

I agree, it makes more sense to pay an upfront fee of $120 (or $170 if you are in Canada) do better on the GRE and get a better funding offer. That initial investment of retaking the GRE can pay huge dividends.

Unless that $120 is an investment in 30 more days of electricity, instead.

People who live paycheck to paycheck don't see the future in terms of investment--rather, "Will I have a place to live?" "Will I have a job?"

[Dreams]

People who live paycheck to paycheck don't see the future in terms of investment--rather, "Will I have a place to live?" "Will I have a job?"

Sounds just like the argument I made in a recent health policy paper that I wrote

[techie]

ziraffa,i know someone who applied for the Fee Reduction Voucher Program offered by ETS, not sure if this might interest you. I have posted the link below. I am not sure if you qualify to the eligibility requirements but worth a shot. I also know that you already have written the GRE once, so not sure if you can request an exception as a special circumstance. Best of luck with it and your applications!

http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menu ... er_Program

Fee Reduction Voucher Program

ETS offers a limited number of GRE Fee Reduction Certificates on a first-come, first-served, basis that are available for college seniors and unenrolled college graduates who meet eligibility requirements. A Fee Reduction Certificate may be used for one General Test and/or one Subject Test. Eligibility for participation in the Fee Reduction Program is limited to one time only. Thereafter, the full test fee will be charged for additional tests for which the candidate registers. Individuals meeting the eligibility requirements will be required to pay 50 percent of the full test fee. The reduced fee is $70 for the General Test and $65 for a Subject Test.

[IvyHope]

younglions, there are debt forgiveness programs for people aiming to have careers in public service. http://www.finaid.org/loans/publicservice.phtml

[younglions]

Ziraffa - I understand your situation--trust me, I'm living it! I sent you a private message to take our conversation off board.

IvyHope - Thanks for the link.

[orozconpollo]

hm is there usually a baseline for scholarships/fellowships in terms of gpa and gre scores??

[massive]

Was just accepted to GWU's MPP with 3.1 gpa. So don't worry.