Financial Problems setting me back

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Skribb
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Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:22 am

Financial Problems setting me back

Post by Skribb » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:41 pm

I had full intentions to take the PGRE in November, apply to schools and get going with school after taking a year off. Unfortunately, for lack of a better phrase, *** hit the fan. I lost my job about 2 months ago and with the current economy I couldn't manage to get a new one. I've run through just about all of my savings and I am still struggling to find a job, mind you I am even applying to silly entry level food service jobs. As it stands I'm not really in a great position to spend a few hundred dollars on the General GRE and PGRE let alone visit any prospective campuses, pay for fees to send my scores etc. My two options then are two postpone grad school for one more year and spend the time preparing for the GRE/PGRE, trying to get some real research experience in and, if possible, finishing up my B.S. in Math (as I am only 1 semester away from the second degree). My second option would be to grab a credit card, pay for the two tests with that and cross my fingers that I can get some sort of steady income soon.

I suppose my real question is whether or not a stronger portfolio is worth earning despite having two years of delay between undergrad and grad school.

As a bit of a side question, a job that I recently interviewed for and have some hope of getting is as a quality control specialist at microbiology lab. It really isn't physics related in any way but I am kind of curious if lab experience, even microbiology experience, would be considered beneficial by admissions committees.

nathan12343
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Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:34 am

Re: Financial Problems setting me back

Post by nathan12343 » Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:01 am

If you can prove need, most schools will waive their application fees and I believe this is true of ETS as well for the GRE. Contact department secretaries and look at the GRE website. Don't give up!

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Skribb
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Re: Financial Problems setting me back

Post by Skribb » Sun Oct 04, 2009 1:06 pm

nathan12343 wrote:If you can prove need, most schools will waive their application fees and I believe this is true of ETS as well for the GRE. Contact department secretaries and look at the GRE website. Don't give up!
I may look into this but my major concern is the GRE and PGRE. As it stands I would already be applying for the PGRE as late registration and I don't think I have enough time to really pull it off.

pqortic
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Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:24 am

Re: Financial Problems setting me back

Post by pqortic » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:25 pm

so go to work, acquire experience, get ready for GREs, save money and then apply next year. :wink:

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Skribb
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Re: Financial Problems setting me back

Post by Skribb » Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:08 am

pqortic wrote:so go to work, acquire experience, get ready for GREs, save money and then apply next year. :wink:
Ahhh, why didn't I think of that :wink:

That is what I most likely will be forced to do but I'm still trying to figure out if there is any sort of significant negative impact on my application if there is a 2 year gap between grad and application.

nathan12343
Posts: 249
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:34 am

Re: Financial Problems setting me back

Post by nathan12343 » Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:57 am

That's understandable, but you might have trouble keeping the physics you'll need fresh in your mind after such a long time. This is not looked at negatively, in general, particularly if you can get a job doing something related to your field or something that brings something interesting to the department. Possible options include teaching, working in a lab, or even something like the peace corp.



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