Go to a lower ranked school or apply again

[Science_Girl_]

Hi all,

Second post asking for advice here.

So against my better instincts, pushed by a mentor and an odd living situation, I applied for PhD programs this round. The results are somewhat worse than if I'd done nothing, in my opinion.

Details:

My GRE is piss poor. No other way to put it, I froze on the quant portion of that test. Q155. I knew I shouldn't have applied. V160 though, odd. I think it's cuz I know no one cares so I'm less intimidated.

My CV is solid. I've worked in 3 labs post undergrad, have one first name authorship, and was told by faculty at the one school I received an interview with that my letters were really strong. Second pub (second name authorship) is in review.

Undergrad GPA is 3.79, deans and department honors, all the bells and whistles.

As I mentioned, I've only been invited for an interview at one school. It's the lowest ranked UC, and also my alma matter. Seems like career suicide. Also, my experience and stats are far above most on the interviewing cohort. I'm not trying to be an ass, it's just obvious that I'm not well matched to other incoming students. But that GRE, I think it removed me from competition everywhere else.

An additional complication is that I moved to no-where Idaho before the application process for financial reasons. My family is here. However, there is NO work in my field, so that might reflect really poorly in next years apps that I've been out of the game for so long.

So. Do I cough up the cash and properly prep for the GRE and apply again? I'll also have one more paper by next round. Or do I take the offer I'm expecting (based on PI interviews and encouragement to choose their school)? A bird in the hand is worth what at this stage?

[rhombusbombus]

Regardless of how the school is ranked if you KNOW you won't be happy, then apply next year.
But make damn sure you actually improve your GRE score.

I'm not sure how well transferring during grad school goes, but you could always try that.

 

Also, how are you basing your ranking? off undergraduate stats? because once grad school hits, it's more about the program and less about the whole school

Edited February 4, 2016 by rhombusbombus

[sackofcrap]

If you know you won't be happy there and you think so lowly of the school, don't go there and take that spot from someone who actually wants to be there. 

[Science_Girl_]

3 hours ago, sackofcrap said:

If you know you won't be happy there and you think so lowly of the school, don't go there and take that spot from someone who actually wants to be there. 

That's a really good point I hadn't thought of. I picked a safety school, but honestly didn't think I'd need it. And I have a friend there who's really really pressing me to attend, so I felt bad not applying. 

20 hours ago, rhombusbombus said:

Regardless of how the school is ranked if you KNOW you won't be happy, then apply next year.
But make damn sure you actually improve your GRE score.

I'm not sure how well transferring during grad school goes, but you could always try that.

 

Also, how are you basing your ranking? off undergraduate stats? because once grad school hits, it's more about the program and less about the whole school

The combination of high cost of living, along with a town I don't really want to be in, furthered by an average reputation really makes me think I'll be unhappy. The program is OK, the schools OK, it's all top 50 but not my best showing. To compound it, it's my undergrad alma matter. This is generally seen as a black mark on your pedigree. Since I graduated I've had a successful career in academic science at other institutions, which I judge by publication record, and it just seems like a backslide...

As to the GRE score, I think I can pull it pretty far up. I increased 10% between walking in cold (arrogant mistake) and having only 3 weeks to study (pressured to apply by a mentor). I don't do well with the type of questioning, I'm unsure what they're asking for some of the times, other times I freeze. I've also been out of school and working in the field for quite a few years. I need to cough up the cash for a proper prep course, it's just hard to come up with. That being said, another 10% and I'm above the threshold that generally excludes people from my desired program. 

I looked into transferring during grad school, and it's just generally a cluster....

I'm worried that I'll screw myself and won't get in anywhere the next round, or won't get my GRE up. I suppose if I start prepping now I'll have a better idea if I can outperform my previous score. And if so I can take a few classes at the local little college to buffer my lack of formal computational training.

I wish I'd applied for a masters in the mix...

[polarimetric]

17 hours ago, Science_Girl_ said:

I'm worried that I'll screw myself and won't get in anywhere the next round, or won't get my GRE up. I suppose if I start prepping now I'll have a better idea if I can outperform my previous score. And if so I can take a few classes at the local little college to buffer my lack of formal computational training.

Yeah, this is probably the best idea. Start prepping now so that you can get as much prep in as possible before the decision deadline. If it looks like things are trending upward, it's probably worth waiting a year (since you really don't seem enthused about your alma mater and an extra year of waiting is fairly small in a lifetime career context), but if April comes around and you're stuck at the same level, it's probably best to go.

I have a similar problem on math tests--I freeze up whenever I see an unusual question, especially if it's worded in a confusing way. My solution was to do enough quant practice questions that I went into the test having seen (literally) every possible type of question beforehand, so nothing caught me off guard. More computational training and reviewing the concepts will help some, but you'll get more out of doing as many practice questions as possible so you get used to the way they're worded and general strategies. Once you crack that code, the quant section becomes way less difficult. I used all of ETS's official materials (the official GRE practice book, the official quantitative reasoning practice questions book, and Powerprep II). I've heard good things about Magoosh (would be especially good for your situation because it will give you projected score ranges to track your progress) but haven't used it personally, I believe it's much less expensive than some alternatives also.

[Analyticchic]

People go to Ivy league schools for the prestige and still can't find a job after graduating while others go to lower ranking schools and go on to have great careers. Don't go to a school that won't make you happy, high ranking or not. Study your ass off for the GREs, have faith in yourself and nothing can stop you!

[svent]

Unless you have plans to substantially change your profile, your results are unlikely to change much. In fact, this stuff gets more competitive every year and your results may get worse. I think you should try to accept how competitive you are and either go where you got in or choose a different career path.

After reading the details, I agree, study for the GRE and take it in a month. If you can't improve much, take the acceptance. If you can, and if you believe the only bad part of your application was your GRE score, and you believe you can do something productive for the next year, decline (and don't include this school on your list next year). Will your recommenders (presumably from that school) hold it against you for declining their offer?

[MonstersU-Terp]

I'm not sure why you even applied, it's clear you don't want to go there. If you think you would be a better match and have a better experience at a different school, then reapply when you think you have a better chance. Don't choose a program you won't enjoy

[Science_Girl_]

15 hours ago, svent said:

Unless you have plans to substantially change your profile, your results are unlikely to change much. In fact, this stuff gets more competitive every year and your results may get worse. I think you should try to accept how competitive you are and either go where you got in or choose a different career path.

Suggestions to substantially change my profile other than my GRE? My current stats in brief:

years research: 5

publications: 1 first author as of this app round 

undergrad GPA: 3.79

letters: I was told they were outstanding

By next round I'll have an additional paper, second author in submission, plus maybe 1-2 others getting wrapped up at my last lab (things take time...). I feel like, as a published author with strong letters and a high undergrad GPA, the GRE was my hold back....

I should also add that my alma matter is well ranked in the grand scheme of things, and not a bad school, it's just not where I want to go. I rather dislike my home town, and the whole inbreeding thing....

 

13 hours ago, MonstersU-Terp said:

I'm not sure why you even applied, it's clear you don't want to go there. If you think you would be a better match and have a better experience at a different school, then reapply when you think you have a better chance. Don't choose a program you won't enjoy

I applied because a friend/mentor pressured me, and I figured I wouldn't need the whole 'safety school' thing. I had NO IDEA how the whole admission process worked and really wasn't ready for it. I just didn't feel I had a choice. If I had been successful at getting an RA position in a lab where I moved I would have waited after I saw how bad my GRE sucked. Basically I compounded one bad decision with another until I'm here asking for direction.

 

On February 5, 2016 at 11:10 AM, polarimetric said:

Yeah, this is probably the best idea. Start prepping now so that you can get as much prep in as possible before the decision deadline. If it looks like things are trending upward, it's probably worth waiting a year (since you really don't seem enthused about your alma mater and an extra year of waiting is fairly small in a lifetime career context), but if April comes around and you're stuck at the same level, it's probably best to go.

I have a similar problem on math tests--

Thanks. This seems to be the most commonly occurring community response. I really appreciate everyones reaching out. I have ten million PI's telling me what to do, and random friends and family offering unsolicited advice. It's really nice to get a response from people I'm asking who can empathize. But how do you have a similar problem on math tests? Your scores a...170???? Can I borrow like 5 points?  

[Science_Girl_]

17 hours ago, svent said:

Will your recommenders (presumably from that school) hold it against you for declining their offer?

...yeah. That is gonna be a toss up. I've had a working relationship with my in-house recommender for years, either in her lab or through collaboration from other labs. I may be able to explain to her that I just wasn't prepared to relocate, and am too concerned about inbreeding and how it'll affect my future. Or she may tell me to piss off, and I can get other recommendations. They're not in short supply, I've worked a few places and haven't even dipped into all my bosses let alone professors or people I've student instructed for.

 

I just want to reiterate, it's a good school with a good program. I just didn't expect it to be my only option, or realize how badly 'going home' was going to affect me emotionally.  

 

*off topic*

What the hell is with the rating system? Like, if you say something helpful, I imagine a <3 is the equivalent of a Facebook like. Who are the creeper trolls who dislike posts in threads they're not participating in? Can you block weirdos like that????

 

 

[rising_star]

10 hours ago, Science_Girl_ said:

*off topic*

What the hell is with the rating system? Like, if you say something helpful, I imagine a <3 is the equivalent of a Facebook like. Who are the creeper trolls who dislike posts in threads they're not participating in? Can you block weirdos like that????

Registered users can vote a post up or down at their choosing. There's no requirement that they participate in the thread. And no, you cannot block them. They typically aren't "creeper trolls" so much as people who agree or disagree with something that has been said.