Stuck in limbo
- Thread starter Psychnbc
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I'd say pick out a handful of top programs you'd be a good match for, and then a handful of good programs that are a match, but may not be in that first tier.
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Don't bring up your GRE/GPA in the emails. Just be graceful and thank them, and say that you think your research interests are very similar. They'll figure the rest out when they see your application.
BTW, I'm sure you're sick to death of hearing this, but are you sure you don't want to give the GRE another shot? I really didn't think I could get my quant up either, and (after 2 years) I ended up hiring a tutor as a last ditch effort. I hired the tutor in October and had my score up about 100 points by mid-November. It's not like my score ended up being amazing, but I think schools were able to ignore it and look at the rest of my application. It was absolutely worth the time and money in the long run. I think you can get around the low undergrad GPA, especially if you had good grades in your masters program, but you need to have at least a decent score on the GRE.
BTW, I'm sure you're sick to death of hearing this, but are you sure you don't want to give the GRE another shot? I really didn't think I could get my quant up either, and (after 2 years) I ended up hiring a tutor as a last ditch effort. I hired the tutor in October and had my score up about 100 points by mid-November. It's not like my score ended up being amazing, but I think schools were able to ignore it and look at the rest of my application. It was absolutely worth the time and money in the long run. I think you can get around the low undergrad GPA, especially if you had good grades in your masters program, but you need to have at least a decent score on the GRE.
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I disagree... I don't know what the OP means by "awful"--for some people that's a B plus--but if his or her GPA/GRE are really prohibitively low, I'd mention it before applying. Some programs have firm cutoffs. Some profs might feel as though they were being mislead by not being told. In any case, as Amy mentioned they'll see it on your application anyhow, so I'd say you're better off knowing if the prof considers that score too low (thus avoiding wasting an application) or doesn't care (which is probably more likely anyway, and one less thing to have on your mind during waiting time).
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Eh, maybe. The profs aren't asking about Psychnbc's GRE/GPA; they just want to know why s/he is interested in their program. It sounds like they want to make sure they're not wasting their time on an applicant who's just going to end up going to a better school. Saying "I'm applying to work with you because my GRE/GPA aren't good enough to get in anywhere else" (even if Psychnbc phrases it tactfully) could do a lot of damage. If they want to know his/her GRE/GPA, they'll ask.
I suppose you could bring it up your stats up in later conversation with the profs, but I definitely wouldn't bring them up in response to the question of why you are applying to their program.
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Nor was I suggesting that he or she does that... but if the OP's GPA or GRE is really prohibitively low, it's in his/her best interest to know if that's going to affect an application and find out from the POI well before he/she has a set list of schools to apply to. If the GPA is below 3.0 there's a real risk of simply being tossed out during an initial cull, and that's a wasted application that could have been avoided with one question.
Something as simple as:
Dear Prof. Y,
Thanks for your reply! I'm glad to hear that you see our programs of research fitting together as well as I do. I'd be really excited to continue my work on whatever is is I do at your institution. I do have a somewhat pragmatic question--does the University of Podunk employ cutoffs for GPA or GRE scores? I ask because my cumulative GPA is certainly not going to turn anyone's head at 1.5 [I'd mention your awesome psych GPA here, because hopefully you have one]. Would this be prohibitive to my application at U of P?
resolves the issue.
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I'm with JN on mentioning it to your POI in an email. It seems likely that cutting applicants below a certain GPA/GRE criteria is the first step in the admissions process at a lot of places because it means the admissions committee then has fewer applications to read in detail. This is likely why the OP didn't make it into a program last year.
However, if the professors know about the other great factors in your application and know to look for it before it gets cut, then they can rescue it. I don't think schools have anything against weighing the CV and experience over the GPA/GRE scores, I just think that they won't bother to look through those apps carefully if they don't have to (they aren't hurting for applicants after all) and if they don't know they are interested in someone in that situation up front.
However, if the professors know about the other great factors in your application and know to look for it before it gets cut, then they can rescue it. I don't think schools have anything against weighing the CV and experience over the GPA/GRE scores, I just think that they won't bother to look through those apps carefully if they don't have to (they aren't hurting for applicants after all) and if they don't know they are interested in someone in that situation up front.
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Yeah, this would probably work, although I still might send it a little later. Just be absolutely sure that they aren't getting the impression that you are only interested in working with them because you don't think you can get in anywhere else (which I'm assuming isn't the case - there are lots of good profs at not so good schools). I think professors are pretty good at sensing when applicants are applying for a reason other than research match, especially when they have other applicants who are truly enthusiastic about the program.
''I am hoping to obtain some advice. I am applying this year (2nd time) and have been emailing profs. I have very good research + clinical experience+ pubs+posters+masters degree. Undergrad grades + GRE = awful."
If it makes you feel any better, I had a 460 on GRE verbal and 640 on quant and ended up getting into 5 clinical PH.D. programs. It is all about the research!
Also, my undergrad GPA was only a 3.44
If it makes you feel any better, I had a 460 on GRE verbal and 640 on quant and ended up getting into 5 clinical PH.D. programs. It is all about the research!
Also, my undergrad GPA was only a 3.44
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I think this gives hope to a lot of people!
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I'd just ask, but maybe I'm abnormal. It sounds like you really don't want to ask directly 🙂
Maybe send him a nicely-done CV with your GRE and GPA listed near the beginning (don't make it look like you're trying to hide it at the end or anything). If it matters, he'll mention it. 😉 How's that?
Good luck!
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I agree with JN.
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I agree with just asking.
It's not like he's not going to find out anyway. Why not bite the bullet and find out sooner rather than later. At least you'll know.
I figure if you've built good rapport with him as it sounds like you have, 'scores' aren't going to mean as much to him as your actual work. If you've been at conferences together, and hopefully presented infront of him, I don't think you need to worry.
It's not like he's not going to find out anyway. Why not bite the bullet and find out sooner rather than later. At least you'll know.
I figure if you've built good rapport with him as it sounds like you have, 'scores' aren't going to mean as much to him as your actual work. If you've been at conferences together, and hopefully presented infront of him, I don't think you need to worry.
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