Do I have a shot at being admitted?

[Midnight rambler]

I am applying to the fall 2014 term for a graduate degree in gerontology. Now, I am in the grad certificate program for gerontology and I was talking with the admissions coordinator and she reccomended I get reccomendation letters from the two professors I am taking that speak to my ability to handle grad school work. In one class I am sitting at a 95 average and the second class I am sitting at a 93 average. The problem is when I asked one of my professors if she could write me a letter, she said she doesn't write letters for students unless she had two classes with them. When I explained that the letter just needed to address that I can complete graduate level course work she gladly said yes she could do that, but she said that normally letters of reccomendations make the applicant look like they are miracle workers, and that she can give a basic one thst attests to my ability to do grad level work. Do I even have a shot of getting into the full program? I have proven I can do the grad work, I'm just worried the admissions would pass me over for one letter?

[Midnight rambler]

Anyone? All I want to know if you guys Think I have a chance or not

[VioletAyame]

Well I think that's a question you should discuss more with the admission coordinator whom you've been in touch with. When she recommended getting the letters from professors who can attest to your ability to do grad school work (which it sounds like this prof can do for you), would that be enough or do they actually new a more superb letter? How formal and competitive is the application process for this particular program? Are the letters just a formality since you're already in their certificate program or will you be competing with other applicants? If it is competitive, do you have other professorts/professional supervisors who can write you a better letter? If you need more discipline-specific advice, maybe you can post in a more relevant subforum - I'm thinking Social Work or Counseling maybe?

[Midnight rambler]

Here is a copy of the conversation I had with the admissions coordinator: 

 

ME:    My question is regarding what the admissions requirements are to get into the full program. I read the minimum requirements regarding the GPA and GRE scores, but what if the GRE scores are slightly lower than the minimum requirement? Would the admissions committee  take into consideration the grades currently made in the certificate and other parts of the application?

 

 

Admissions:   Absolutely, they would take your current course grades into consideration.  I would recommend that you get recommendation letters from Dr. x and Dr. z as to your ability to handle graduate work.

 

They can address their letters to Dr. y and hand deliver them to her, as we are all in the same department.

 

You will also need to apply online for the MA program and your official GRE scores sent to the University.  I am tracking down your official transcript from College as we speak.

 

If you have any other questions, please let me know.

 

Me: When can i apply to the graduate program? the website said the deadline was in February for fall and spring deadline is in October. is this correct or has it changed?

 

Admissions: Do you want to start in the Fall?  If so, try to for fall and if not select Spring and I can change it to Fall.

 

I edited out some things for privacy. To answer your question about the competitiveness, all i know is that the gpa requirement is 2.75 upper level classes in undergrad and a GRE of 1000. I just started the certificate program here this spring and I do not have any other teachers to get recs from but those two. I apologize for being real vague in my first response. I am wondering if all they want are the letters for formality? from speaking to the admin coordinator it seemed like the school is just looking for letters stating i can handle the work ( which i am because I have a 95 in one class and 93 in the other). my undergrad GPA was 3.0  and 900 gre. I didn't do so hot on the gre because i am just terrible with standardized tests.  from the emails, does it seem like the letters are more just a formality, and that I have greater chance of getting in based on my performance in the certificate?

 

Thanks for any insight.

[kimmibeans]

Okay, a few notes.

 

1) Can you clarify your GRE scores? The past few years has been out of 170 for Quantitative and 170 for Verbal (340 total). Did you mean on the old system of a score out of 800 for each section?

 

2) What school are you applying to? Is the graduate program you are applying to the same one you are getting your certification from? How competitive is this program?

 

3) What other qualifications and background do you have?

 

4) Even with all of this information, the only people who can say whether or not you have a chance of being admitted is the graduate program you are applying to. Be upfront and ask about what your admissions chances for Fall this far after the deadline. It looks like they are willing to take a chance on you, but they are the only ones who can say that for sure.

 

tldr: There really isn't a lot of information given to give you advice on whether or not you will get in. Graduate programs look at a variety of different factors, not just grades and scores. The only people who can definitively tell you if you have a shot is the grad program, and it looks like they are willing to take a look at you at the very least.

[Midnight rambler]

 1. The grad program is the same one as the certificate program. I really do not know how competivite it is, all i know is that they just wanted a 2.75 in upper level undergrad and 1000 for an overall  GRE  score 

 

  2.  I really dont remeber my new GRE scores, I just remeber it slightly lower than the regular requirements

 

  3.  for other qualifications i did a internship a nursing home which relates to gerontology and my bachelors was in long term care administration.

 

 I transferred from another  school and missed the deadline for this program, but was able to get into their certificate program. I personally cannot see why they wouldn't accept me into the full program. . I am doing A level work and obviously proved i can do grad level classes .