Anyone want to share/vent about their application weaknesses/nerves?

[GradHooting]

My undergrad GPA of a ~3.6 is my biggest weak point. I just had no idea what the expectations of the top schools were when I was an undergrad student 2 years ago. I have a much better idea, now! The worst part is being unsure about your future, however. Having a specific plan for what's going to happen for the next couple of years is a huge relief to have, you know? I keep aiming high, but I'm not too picky about where I land upon failure, so long as I keep going in the same general direction and improving myself along the way!

[reterik]

I think my weakest point was my SOP. I freaked out about writing it for so long, and wrote a couple of drafts that my advisor just ripped to shreds, so my final idea was only in its third draft by the time any grad schools saw it. I feel like I didn't focus on how I would fit with programs well enough, even though I researched POIs pretty intensely, and I'm pretty sure I came off as a stupid college senior who doesn't know what she's getting into.

But hey, my recommenders were all pretty stoked to write for me, even if some of their letters were late, and my GPA is pretty good. Just...anxious about the important stuff.

[coffeeplease]

I think my weakest point was my SOP. I freaked out about writing it for so long, and wrote a couple of drafts that my advisor just ripped to shreds, so my final idea was only in its third draft by the time any grad schools saw it. I feel like I didn't focus on how I would fit with programs well enough, even though I researched POIs pretty intensely, and I'm pretty sure I came off as a stupid college senior who doesn't know what she's getting into.

But hey, my recommenders were all pretty stoked to write for me, even if some of their letters were late, and my GPA is pretty good. Just...anxious about the important stuff.

This was my problem too. I am no longer on campus so I couldn't go talk to my professors about it in person. Emailed it around asking for feedback -- only one responded with any comments, although they had all been enthusiastic about my application. Really wish I'd spent more time on it... only now, a few months later, do I feel like I have an idea of what I should have written and how it should have been organized. -sigh-

[reterik]

This was my problem too. I am no longer on campus so I couldn't go talk to my professors about it in person. Emailed it around asking for feedback -- only one responded with any comments, although they had all been enthusiastic about my application. Really wish I'd spent more time on it... only now, a few months later, do I feel like I have an idea of what I should have written and how it should have been organized. -sigh-

Yikes. Yeah, that's no good--I had one of professors tell me to email it to them before they'd write my LOR, and I waited around expecting comments from him...nothing. Uffda. Hopefully they see through my bullshit and figure I'm sincere as heck and can't imagine any other future than academia.

[MonkeyPants]

Yikes. Yeah, that's no good--I had one of professors tell me to email it to them before they'd write my LOR, and I waited around expecting comments from him...nothing. Uffda. Hopefully they see through my bullshit and figure I'm sincere as heck and can't imagine any other future than academia.

"Uffda"

Wisconsin or Minnesota? I haven't heard anyone say "Uffda" in ages!!!

[reterik]

Wisconsin or Minnesota? I haven't heard anyone say "Uffda" in ages!!!

Neither! Central IL--but I have some pretty close Norwegian relatives that I see fairly often.

[MonkeyPants]

Neither! Central IL--but I have some pretty close Norwegian relatives that I see fairly often.

Nice! I'm in Chicago, but from WI originally. I think "uffda" (also spelled "oof-da!") was the most-uttered phrase in my childhood.

[GreenePony]

"Uffda"

Wisconsin or Minnesota? I haven't heard anyone say "Uffda" in ages!!!

You know, I've never heard my Wisconsin family say Uff Da. Now my Dad's side is another story, I grew up with Ole joke books and visits from the cousins from Oslo and Bergen. Somehow a family that lived in Brooklyn for the first 30+ years after they immigrated ended up in southern PA, I never figured that one out, other than its just a prettier area. Everyone there is German or Irish.

[cokohlik]

I did very poorly on the GRE (twice!) and I was absolutely terrified about how it would affect my applications, especially to the three big shot schools that I applied to. I decided to go for it anyway because they all stated that the GRE score is merely one factor in the decision-making process. Low and behold I got into my top-choice program, even though my scores were much lower than that of their average students. Don't worry so much about your weaknesses-instead focus on strengths and make sure those adcomms know why you're awesome! I gave up on the GRE and instead put my energy into writing good essays. I'm a talented writer, and I knew that writing a kick-ass SOP would help me immensly. Apparently, my hard work has paid off and I have no regrets about the silly GRE. I have not heard back from those other two schools but this has definitely given me a big confidence boost.

Your story is so inspiring! I love it! I too did poorly on the GRE - three times, even after taking a course. I've been rejected from one PhD program this far but still have 10 to hear back from, so I hope I can have a similar success story! Thanks for sharing

[chocoholic]

Your story is so inspiring! I love it! I too did poorly on the GRE - three times, even after taking a course. I've been rejected from one PhD program this far but still have 10 to hear back from, so I hope I can have a similar success story! Thanks for sharing

I'm happy I was able to inspire hope for so many people, because there IS still hope, even if you didn't do so hot on the GRE! I heard from a lot of naysayers(both online and in real life) telling me that I don't have much of a shot because of my scores, but I'm glad I didn't listen to them. One thing I did do as a means to give myself a better shot of getting into grad school, is to apply to a few schools that do not require the GRE. That way, I know my bad score is not a factor at all in at least a few of my applications. At the same time, I did not want to give up on applying to my dream school and other schools I were intersted in, in spite of them requiring the GRE. If you have everything else going for you (good essays, LOR's, grades,work experience,etc.) I wouldn't worry too much about a bad score. It's only one part of your application, and most likely not even teh most important part. One of the professors at one of the programs I am applying to said that good LOR's can easily outweigh a bad GRE score, especially if the letter writers acknowledge that your score is not representative of your abilities as a student. I had one of my letter writers do this and it seemed to work well.

[edenseye]

Yea... My GREs weren't that great either.

84% in both verbal and math and 20% (ouch!!) in the essay.

I just hope that my writing sample and personal statement covered for it... man!

Waiting to hear from one last school!

---

Admitted: MA Brandeis

Rejected: PhD UC Berkeley, PhD NYU

Waiting: MA Columbia

[mirandaw]

Well this thread makes me feel a little bit better about my GRE scores, I suppose. I did very well in verbal and writing (96%) but very average in math (52%). I'm nervous about my quant score because I applied to a policy program and I took one math course in undergrad (and since I was an honors student, I had the option of taking a fancy class called "math as it relates to the arts" - for my final, I wrote a sestina. In a math class. Really.) It's a Canadian program, but since I have an international degree, it was required I take the GRE. Hopefully they recognize this as room for improvement, rather than a lost cause.

My gpa isn't so hot, either. 3.4, which is above the requirement for the program, but still not great. I was a 3.9 student up to my 3rd year, member of a couple of honors fraternities, and then I broke up with my fiancee after coming out as queer, had some mental health stuff, was homeless, and had little structural or institutional support to turn to for help and guidance (no one in my family ever went to uni and I had almost no connections on campus). I basically bombed several of the grad level courses I was taking at the time - not because I couldn't handle them, but because I just didn't bother (which is pretty evident when comparing my GRE, my previous course work, and the classes I didn't do as well in).

All of this, coupled with a fairly unremarkable SOP, doesn't bode well for being accepted. I'm just full of regrets.

[LaBrunaFurba]

Undergrad GPA: 3.3

Poor GRE scores.

Retook GRE. Scored lower. (WUT.)

But! I survived the application season and have accepted an offer of admission, with funding! I had four offers and was considered for three fellowships.

I'm here to tell you that it's more than just a numbers game!

[axc]

Epic story time:

My GPA is not very good my GRE was just acceptable and I only have 9 months or so of research experience. One of my LOR was a mixed review and the other two were from the same lab. One was a big name in the field, one was a moderate name (mixed reviewer) and last was a new name. I’m also a double minority, if that helps or not.

I went to a community college there were no internships and so on. When I transferred to a 4-yr, none of the professors I wanted to work with wished to take me in claiming that I didn't have enough experience. I was caught in this catch-22 until senior year when someone finally gave up and let me in. I knew I wanted a PhD going into college so that sucked and I graduated feeling pretty ticked off at the world.

To make things even better, I had untreated bipolar throughout my college years which really acted up junior year partially led to me retaking some courses (and finally seeking treatment) at the dawn of senior year. I didn’t mention this to anyone anywhere since I doubt it’s something for their consideration.

At my lone interview there were a lot of MS students and super qualified students (one student had a near perfect gpa, 3 household names in the field wrote LORs, nice undergrad institution, etc). No one spoke much and it was weird. I got asked a few times about my limited research experience which made me feel self-conscious but I tried my best to spin my experiences as profound and useful.

One of the grad students went to my alma matter and understood my case, but I’m sure the rest, including faculty, thought I was a stupid slacker that barely realized grad school existed. Even the college seniors applying had years more research experience than I and that was disheartening.

[new_to_kin]

Here I go.

I have no background whatsoever in my desired field. None. I haven't taken a science or math course for 18 years (high school). I have never taken a university level science course. I've never taken anatomy. etc etc etc. My previous field is related to my research but not at all to Kinesiology.

Luckily, my prospective advisor is right behind me and I have a perfect GPA from my (unrelated, non-research) Masters, but still. I've had assurance that it won't be aproblem, but I am still freaked out that a higher-up will determine that I'm not eligible to even apply for this PhD.

[rio-ne-ru]

My undergrad GPA is 3.3. My GRE scores are 94% for the Quant, 39% for the verb, and 11% for the AW.

Also, I have 1.5 years research experience. However, it is a shame that I have published nothing from my research.

Still waiting answer from 4 schools, but I don't expect too much from them.

[deadlyrice]

I have a 3.2 GPA, very little math background for the program I've applied to (Systems Engineering) and a mediocre GRE score (92/47/85 percentiles for quant, verb, and aw respectively). I'm hoping my SOP and 5 years work experience is enough to overcome my GPA and GRE scores, but so far I have yet to be accepted.

[sansao]

Mine is just a risk for them in general. One that I hope someone's willing to take, as I plan on rewarding that program with fantastic work.