Any advice on how to get into UPenn Annenberg (PhD)?

[tryme316]

Like do they look for published studies from the applicants' resumes?

And how about the GRE? What should be the minimum?

[commcycle]

More publications will never hurt you. Unless you have been publishing for ten years and admissions would be confused as to why you're applying to a Ph.D.

I don't know if Annenberg "East" publishes average GRE/GPA, but Annenberg "West" does.

[naptown]

I don't know if Annenberg "East" publishes average GRE/GPA, but Annenberg "West" does.

They do, at: http://www.asc.upenn.edu/prospective/Gr ... Stats.aspx

The stats for 2007 aren't up anymore, but are available at: http://web.archive.org/web/200708252056 ... /stats.asp

Obviously, I've given this some thought. :-D

[naptown]

I would like to hear from successful applicants (at any school, really) on what they felt made their application stand out (beyond the basics we all know).

[commcycle]

Naptown, I got in last year for a comm doctoral program at a strong school. I'd suggest getting strong, specific recommendations from professors that the admissions committee members know. Accent your potential for success in their program. Mention a few areas of research that would fit with current professors. Don't raise weak areas in your SOP! I think there's a temptation to "explain" your application in a way that makes sense to you. For instance, say you bombed stats 101 in undergrad. Don't mention it. They might never look through your undergrad transcript to find out. Have a history of completing projects, particularly those that lead to publications.