DespSeekPhd Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I'm stressing a bit. I originally got a funded MA spot a a particular uni, but because of my husband's change in job location, I had to give up the spot. So this is round 2. I'm applying for MA to: UPittsburgh UMass-Amherst Boston University Boston College Trinity College (CT) Tufts UConn We will most likely be relocating in either Springfield or Pittsburgh, hence the geographical locations. I have absolutely no control over which place we go, so that bugs me a bit - if I get a spot in one region, but not in the other, and I have to move to the other, well... My area of study is medieval European history. Here's my stuff: *Undergrad BA in social science-history at small LAC *GPA 3.83 *Taught secondary school social studies for 5 years *GRE: 680V, 620Q, 5.5AW *Good writing sample and personal statement *3 letters: one from undergrad advisor, who supervised my thesis and allowed me to teach a couple of his classes as an undergrad; two from coworkers (no choice there - I've been out of school 6 years and went to a small school - other 2 profs I worked closely with are unavailable for letters) that did speak to my academic abilities in researching for lessons, etc. (I tended to treat my class prep like prepping for a term paper - what can I say, I like to research) *Finished first semester of Latin as self-study, will be continuing it and taking classes in French (2 semesters) before beginning MA in fall Not stellar, but I'm applying for MA, so, hopefully I'll get in somewhere. My first choice would absolutely be UMass - because of the 5 college, there are a lot of profs that match my research interests. Anyone have any comments? Do you think I have a shot at UMass or any of the others? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms_phd Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 http://applycorner.com/graduateschool might be helpful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DespSeekPhd Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 Nah - many people post chances on there, but few are well thought out. I was hoping someone had insight into any of these unis particularly or history generally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schambers Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I'd repost this over at http://community.livejournal.com/applyingtograd/ I bet there are people there who could give you some input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesotan Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I would think seriously about doing a couple of things to improve your chances: -Retake the GRE. Your verbal score is barely at the minimum for a decent humanities program. Nobody cares about the quantitative, unless you really screwed it up, which you did not. You're probably on the higher end of the spectrum for history applicants. -Track down some other professors, advisors, even janitors if you must. It's unbelievable how many times I've heard of people who, when they get any personal comments at all with their rejection letters, have found their boss did not have the same clout as someone who actually works at a university. -Make a note of any external funding you've received, or for which you are applying. The space limitations in grad programs in the public research universities is based primarily on economic considerations. If you can somehow fund yourself, you should let them know (and repeat it somewhere else) - your chances will be much better. Regardless, you've selected a good mix of schools. I would bet you could expect a 1/3 acceptance rate, provided your statement and supporting materials are top notch. Then again, what I tell everyone is that the whole process is a crap shoot - I got acceptance letters to some top schools I didn't think I had a prayer of attending, yet I got rejected from most of my backup schools! It's all about "fit," finding a mentor within the program to grease the wheels, and catching the comittee on a Friday instead of a Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I think you'll be fine. I'd guess somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of the schools you've applied to will accept you. You have a high GPA and your GRE scores are pretty good. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesotan Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 A lot rests on her statement, but my position is that every little thing helps. If you have the time to spare, might as well do what you can (then completely wash your hands of the process, if possible). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp00 Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 i disagree...a 680 verbal is very high...that's like the 95 or 96th percentile. it might be at the bare minimum for top english programs, but i'd imagine that is an excellent score for history programs, esp. masters degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesotan Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 You realize the score is out of 800, right? Either way, it's very easy to ace the GRE verbal with a small amount of study. But, I suppose, if 680 is considered a good score, then there's probably no need to retake it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 680 is definitely good on the verbal. I got a 610 on verbal and that was like 87th percentile. Very few people ace the verbal as quant scores are normally higher than verbal scores on the GRE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp4three2 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 680 is very very good. If 680 isn't good then I guess I'm really screwed (though alot of profs have told me they think the GRE is stupid) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnesotan Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Wow! Look at the big brain on me! =) Seriously though, disregard my advice about retaking the GRE, then. I thought it was easier than it really is to get a high verbal. Either way, it seems to me that the process is about presenting a complete package that has some outstanding positive aspects, without too many negative bits standing out. If you see something you think is negative, then do what you can to fix it. Once you've fixed all you can, it's time to go have a margarita and try very hard to not obsess for the next few months. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DespSeekPhd Posted February 10, 2007 Author Share Posted February 10, 2007 I'm not worried about my GRE - 680V is actually slightly above what Berkeley lists as the average for their grad history students (PhD). And I'm only applying for MA. I very truly cannot pull together any prof letters besides the one. I went to community college for 2 years (a long time ago), and as you know, the turnover at a CC is very high. Most of the profs I had are gone, and the couple that are still there could not say more than, "She got an A" even if they did remember me. I had a small undergrad uni, and of the 3 profs in my major I had classes with, 1 has written a letter, one has left the country and cannot be located, and one has died. Of my other profs, one has left academia and cannot be located and the other has died. That's it. So I really had no choice in the letters I got. By the time I apply for PhD, I will have letters from my MA program, so that should be vastly improved. Thanks all for the comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nerdygirl1982 Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 yeah, but i have horrid GRE scores and still have been accepted to PhD programs. It's not ALL they look at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DespSeekPhd Posted March 9, 2007 Author Share Posted March 9, 2007 Well, now I know (at least some). Guess my app wasn't as mediocre as I thought Accepted at UMass (funding decisions to come) and Tufts (funded) Rejected at Pitt Waiting on BU, BC, Temple, and Georgetown Yay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydragonflies Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 That's awesome! Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NO8DO Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 my guess is that your teaching experience meant a lot, not to mention the rest of your app (gpa, gre), is great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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