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Am I on thin ice?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:26 am
by borealis
I really don't know what my chances are getting into the grad. schools of my choice. I plan on applying to UMASS Amherst, SUNY Stony Brook, BU, Rutgers, and UVA.

What I do know is that I have 2 summers and 3 semesters of undergrad research experience with a publication in prep. I'm dual majoring in Physics and Astrophysics at Florida Institute of Technology with a 3.31 cum. GPA and a 3.1 physics GPA. My general GREs, however, were in the 68% for verbal and quantitative. My consistent physics GRE practice test score is 580.

I'm distraught over my GRE scores and am worried that they will ruin my chances of getting into any of these schools. Do you think I still have a chance? Should I just take a year off and try again?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:21 am
by vicente
your GPA's not bad

you have great research experience

If I were you, I wouldn't worry

It's not like you're only applying for Harvard, MIT, and Princeton

GREs are just one part of the application. I'm sure departments know that sometimes even the best students may write the GRE on a bad day and get a bad mark, so they won't reject you on the spot when all your other stuff is good. Not everyone's a wiz at standardized tests.

The schools you applied to are well within your range, especially if you're an American.

What is the class average GPA at the Florida Institute of Technology?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:51 am
by tnoviell
A fellow Florida Techer!

I wouldn't worry too much - there have been people from our school with lower GPAs and less research experience that went on to graduate school, both Ph.D and Masters (and got funding). Make sure you have some safety schools too, as in, schools you have no doubt you will get into.

Like the previous poster said, it's not like you are applying to the "big" schools anyway. There are some good recommendations to snag at Florida Tech too ... but I have no idea who you are and who you worked for.

By the way, I am TJ from the '07 class, if I do know you. Feel free to PM me. I could offer you some advice before you make the decision to go to graduate school as well - think about it very deeply.