Grad school Stress

[revolutionary4ever]

Hello everyone

I am new to the forum and need some advice in regards to the Grad school process. I am a senior graduating in May and am looking at 8 different schools to apply to. However, I am pretty worried that I will not get into any of the schools. I am applying for an MA in political science or IR. The reason I am so worried is because of my GRE scores. They were terrible and I dont have time to take them again because my applications are due soon. My score was 420 V 480Q and 4 in writing (yeah I know that is terrible compared to everyone on here). In addition, I cant take a year off because my job depends on my student status.I am graduating with a 3.5 and a 3.8 in my political science major. I also have had several leadership positions and am member of two honors societies (history, government). I dont have much research experiance except through classes that I took in shool and I am a candidate to present a paper in a regional conference (but it is a history paper). I am an intern at the department of homeland security and have been there for over a year. The programs I am applying to are:

SAIS

American University

Howard University

University of Maryland college park

George Washington

Georgetown

Catholic University

George Mason

Should I be worried about not getting into any of these? I have obtained a 4.0 atleast twice and have been on the dean's list about 5 times. should I be stressed and worried. Any advice would be helpful.

[IvyHope]

You can apply, but you should be prepared that you might not get accepted. Low GRE scores are not all bad on their own, but you're also pretty inexperienced, coming straight from undergrad. It would really help your chances if you retook the GRE and scored considerably higher.

As far as your job, you can opt to take a class here or there after you graduate to keep your intern status while you gain some more experience and prepare for the GRE. Low GRE scores like those might not keep you out of all programs, but you listed some pretty prestigious schools that you're applying to.

You could also add some safety schools to that list and get your MA that way.

What does your advisor say about your chances for admission to these schools?

[revolutionary4ever]

well my advisor told be that I have a good chance at Howard maybe Mason and maybe American. Although My GRE's may make me look as a weak student I dont consider myself that. My professors recognize me as one of the top students in the department because I am always involved in activities and have done well in their classes so I am not worried about recomendations. I have been president of the History and government organization on campus for two years and have been the head delegate for model United Nations and African Union. I took the econ prerequisites in macro and micro and obtained an A in both. I aso took additional research methods classes that were not required by major. However, I know the importance of GRE scores and I am worried that it will overshadow all my accomplishments. I guess one good things in terms of experiance for IR is that I lived in Guatemal for 4 years and went to school there but this was when I was young.

[IvyHope]

Well, then it sounds like you've already answered your own questions. You can apply and see what happens! Best of luck!

[revolutionary4ever]

thank you =)

[limeinthecoconut]

Are there places that don't require the GRE? You could also apply to one of these places. Good luck!

[Dreams]

It looks like you have limited yourself to the DC area. I think it would be a waste to apply to SAIS and Georgetown, since they look critically at Q scores and you would be competing with others with very solid backgrounds. But that is just my thought. As others have said, with your limited experience and your weak scores, chances for admission are not good. I do think though that you should try for it anyway, I agree with your professor about those three schools, especially Howard as the people there are willing to look past weak scores in their applicants. Plus the people there are really friendly and have strong government connections for student internships and such. Maryland is worth a shot as well. Either way good luck.

[slothy]

If I understand your situation correctly, you're a federal STEP or SCEP (are those the right acronymns?) intern and are just trying to drag out your student status in order to continue eligibility for your position - which, having done STEP in DC before I can completely understand! If you're attending a public university with a low cost of attendance, I'd suggest that if you want to stay where you are you should just delay your graduation and take the minimum number of credits you can get away with. But if you're at American or GW or one of those outrageously-priced schools, I'd say that by all means you could take a shot at applying to some of these programs you've listed, but it wouldn't be the end of the world to take a year off. Have you discussed your situation with your supervisor? They might (should) have a feel for whether you'd be able to get your current job converted into a career position or whether you'd be likely to find work within the department as an internal candidate. It happens more than you might think - I know of an intern where I used to work who was rehired as an emergency hire based on personal connections and as far as I know is still there. Just get on it right away - your last semester will slip away before you know it. And you'd probably be a strong candidate for working at another agency or on the Hill if you were so inclined - your DHS experience should set you apart from all the Obama-obsessed grads who will be moving in this summer, especially if you start looking in the next couple months.

So, anyway, if you're just seeking to keep your federal student job, I'd get on top of networking as much as possible. Those sorts of jobs are specifically designed to bring people into the federal system, and if you've been doing well they will likely want to find a way for you to stay after graduation. Also, is there any chance your agency would help pay for your degree? You should look into it and if so, definitely metnion it in your applications.

[revolutionary4ever]

sea history: I think George Mason has a progam in conflict resolution that does not require GRE's but im not sure about applying to a program so specific since I am thinking about academia in the long run.

FSIA: Thanks =)

Slothy: You are correct I am part of a STEP program. I have been with the department for over a year and was offered to come back into the SCEP program since I will be going to grad school. All I need to do is get accepted into A grad school. However, I want to go to a good program for an MA becuse I would like to stay in academia.I would think that as an intern with the government this would strengten my application despite my GRE's but i guess not. Does anyone know if I can re-take the GRE's after finishing a Master's before applying for a Phd?

[IvyHope]

You can retake the GRE whenever you like. You are limited to taking it 5 times per year, I believe.

If you're considering academia, I'd be careful to not enter a terminal MA program, and make sure to do a MA thesis as part of your program. It will help you when you eventually decide to apply to PhD programs.

[limeinthecoconut]

I don't think there are many limits for re-taking GREs, except the ETS limits, i.e. no more than 5 times a year, and no more than once a calendar month. But I think the schools do get to see all your tests taken in the last five years.

[IvyHope]

They do, but it's up to each department as to whether they will take your highest score or average them, etc. It can't hurt you to retake and get a better score.

However, beware the test is notoriously stable. I did actually take it twice, and got the EXACT same score both times (with 2.5 years in between). I mean, down to the tens. I will say that I didn't study as much the second time I took it...but my point is, if you're going to retake it, be sure you study your ass off.

I'm not interested in being one of those folks who spews their GRE/GPA around the forums. I'm slightly modest. :oops:

[rising_star]

Research/internship experience may be as helpful or more helpful to you than going to a "good" MA program. The reason I say that is because value depends a lot on your interests and who you work with. I'm not in your field but, I didn't go to a top MA program and was able to get into great PhD programs because of the research and networking I did as a MA student.

[revolutionary4ever]

Thank you everyone I believe this makes me feel better.I really hope I can get into A program even if its Howard. I will most likely go for a masters and build up my profile for the Phd.

[miratrix]

You have so much time to study hard and retake the GRE! Don't worry, just work hard And good luck!