advice straight from the horse's mouth

[KieBelle]

I thought I'd share this info, even if many websites offer the same or similar advice...

I just got back from dinner with a family friend who is a faculty member at IU in the Communications and Culture department. She is on the admissions committe for her department. So of course I pumped her for as much info as I could (IU is one of the schools I'll be applying to, but unfortunately not that department. darn.) Here's what she said:

1) Don't spend much time on background bio information in the SOP. They don't care that you've been interested in [fill in the blank] since you were 5 and the lengthy evolution of your academic interests. Just because it's a good life story doesn't mean it belongs in your SOP. Focus instead on your current research interests.

2) Do lots of homework on whether each program is actually a good fit for you and what you want to study. You can have a well-written SOP, but if they feel like you wouldn't fit in with their program and "wouldn't be happy at this school", you won't be admitted.

3) As part of your research into each school, contact the "Graduate Secretary" (her words) and ask to be put in touch with current grad students. Pump them for the real behind-the-scenes info to determine if you'll be a good fit there and which advisers are good/bad.

4) Contact potential advisers via email (but make it short and sweet), discuss your research interests, ask them about theirs. She said that she gets emails like that all the time and when applications start coming in she makes a note to look out for the people who she's spoken to via email. Basically it'll put you a step ahead of everyone else who didn't contact the professors.

5) There is an unofficial cutoff for GRE scores below which you'll automatically be put into the reject pile. Above that cutoff, scores are "sort of given a grade based on how high above the cutoff they are". They don't play a major role unless the adcom is trying to decide between several similarly qualified candidates that each have "heartfelt well-written" SOPs, and in that case the candidate with the highest GRE scores wins. Also, GRE scores are used by the department in their attempt to get you funding. For example, after they've decided to admit you, they pass along your application to their bosses (again, her words) and will use high GRE scores as evidence as to why you should be granted funding.

That's all I can remember right now. I hope this helps- although advice directly from someone who reviews applications for a living certainly can't hurt, right?

[KieBelle]

I thought of one more thing: She said that people whose area of study is politically sensitive (like mine) need to be very careful about not revealing any bias one way or the other in the SOP. For example, someone who is intersted in the Arab-Israeli conflict (like me) needs to be careful and sit directly on the fence, so to speak- don't criticize or praise Israel in any way, shape, or form. Showing bias can only hurt and will almost never help. So I guess I'll just add that to the list of SOP things to stress out about.

[rogue]

This is great; thanks for sharing!

[socialcomm]

Nice perspective... thanks for sharing!

[a fragrant plant]

did she say what's the unofficial cutoff score for GRE? :oops:

[rainy_day]

did she say what's the unofficial cutoff score for GRE? :oops:

Yes, this is making me nervous too!

[socialcomm]

Yes, this is making me nervous too!

If schools have them, it'll be different for each school.

[KieBelle]

If schools have them, it'll be different for each school.

no, she didn't say but it would definitely be different for each school

[greenpointgrad]

thanks for posting this. i'm applying to that very department.

[Postbib Yeshuist]

did she say what's the unofficial cutoff score for GRE? :oops:

My understanding is that ~85th percentile is the unofficial cutoff (I think the "official" cutoff is usually around 75-80%). I believe that equates to something like a 650 on each test. Also, I believe writing is 5.5-6.0. 5.0 is on the line and 4.5 or lower is usually not looked at favorably. Still, GRE is often the third or fourth criterion, so strong SoP's, references, etc make up for weak GRE scores (to a point).

[cheesethunder]

this is so depressing......

i hate you highs chool math.

and words that make me wonder how english is my 1st language.

[alexis]

My understanding is that ~85th percentile is the unofficial cutoff (I think the "official" cutoff is usually around 75-80%). I believe that equates to something like a 650 on each test. Also, I believe writing is 5.5-6.0. 5.0 is on the line and 4.5 or lower is usually not looked at favorably. Still, GRE is often the third or fourth criterion, so strong SoP's, references, etc make up for weak GRE scores (to a point).

Wow that is depressing if that's the case...but looking at the ivy league school I'm applying to, though, their average for admitted students' verbal is 616 and writing score is 4.75 (in a business program), so it's hard to believe the cutoff could be above that if it's one of the top b-school programs in the country? Also, I scored a 600 on the verbal, which is 85%, and 730 on the quant, which was 79%...so the verbal and math are very different, and you can actually do "better" on the verbal even if you score higher on the quant...I don't think there is a universal 650 cutoff that would apply to both sections. But, I could be wrong. More often, I've seen schools that say they have a combined cutoff, e.g. a GRE score of at least 1200, unless other parts of the application are particularly strong.

[psycholinguist]

Very good to have this viewpoint on things. Thanks so much for posting it!

Also, I scored a 600 on the verbal, which is 85%, and 730 on the quant, which was 79%...so the verbal and math are very different, and you can actually do "better" on the verbal even if you score higher on the quant...I don't think there is a universal 650 cutoff that would apply to both sections. But, I could be wrong.

I agree.