Rush and apply, or wait and prepare?

[imported_Tomato]

After a visit home to Texas this weekend, I decided to embark upon the following course of action:

Attempt to secure a more challenging/better-paying job within the next year, and if nothing pans out within that time, go back to grad school to pursue either an MSW or a PhD.

Unfortunately, my dilemma is as follows:

In order to apply for graduate school admission next year (Fall 2004), I will need to take my GRE's by the end of this month (next month at the very latest) and finish all applications by December. This puts me in a bit of a bind, because I would be INCREDIBLY rushed... in terms of studying for/signing up for/taking the GRE's, filling out applications and writing essays, etc.

At this point, should I:

a) Rush and apply in order to make the deadlines on time, or

b) Wait it out, study for the GRE's, and apply next year... effectively delaying my entry by an entire year, until Fall 2005.

The clock's ticking...

 

[hawkeye81x]

I suppose you could try to start studying for the GREs first.
If you notice that you need to study more than you can handle before the end of the month
maybe you should delay filling out the apps since you might not get a decent enough score on the GRE

Of course this is while you still keep your job.

 

[Ameesh]

If i were you i would wait and prepare. GREs will be important in order to get into a school of your choice. Don't rush something as important as this.

 

[spartan]

If you have the money, rush and apply if you're fairly certain you're going back to school next year. If your scores aren't great then you can always take GRE again and re-apply next year.

 

[spanky]

rush. if u dont make it.... try next year.

 

[Tom]

it isn't the rushing, it's whether you really want to do it..

if you do, go for it now.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Do you really need a lot of time to prepare for the GREs and filling out applications?

 

[alkemyst]

Are you going to have to wait a whole year or just six months? If it were me I'd cram it, but I usually do well on tests even half-cocked which is sadly how I have always taken them...

You could perhaps take a sample test, see where you stand.

I know my friends would need to wait and prepare.

 

[Ameesh]

one thing i was considering that i didnt mention was the fact that you will most likely have to get reccomendations from people done in addition to writing your essay and studying and taking all your tests.

if you have to get all of this done in a span of two months, i would wait and see if i can apply for a spring admission otherwise go for summer/fall

 

[Reel]

I am applying for grad schools for Fall 2004 and have hardly started anything. I hardly think this is much of a rush. Do a few practice GRE tests, maybe pick up a book. You can take the GRE pretty much any day you want with an appointment. You can do everything for Fall 2004 and not rush.

 

[neovan]

if you have enough saved up to support yourself then I would definitely encourage you to go for it sooner than later. But if you're strapped for cash, then work a little bit longer, save a little bit more and STOP GOING TO VEGAS!!!

 

[imported_Tomato]

Thank you for the tips, I'm going to pick up a GRE book after work (definitely couldn't afford to quit now, I'm barely making it by here paycheck-to-paycheck) and see how the sample tests go. Advice much appreciated... if worse comes to worst, I'll try applying for the Spring semester.

 

[rgwalt]

I think you can meet the deadlines, take the GRE, and not have to rush. What do you want to study, and where do you plan to apply?

The GRE is tough, but it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. If you spend the rest of this month studying, you'll be in good shape to take the GRE. You can knock out the applications in a week, spending time on the evenings and dedicating a weekend or two to them, easily.

Ultimately if YOU feel rushed, then take another year to get ready. However, it is another whole year... If you are ready to try for grad school now, then why wait?

Ryan

 

[Looney]

Personally, i would rush, but i work much better underpressure. If i was to wait, i would end up cramming it in the end anyways. The problem is the gradschool application, don't you need lots of references (academic) for those?

 

[HokieESM]

Dezign: First thing's first.... go ahead and take the GRE in the next month or so. You shouldn't need to "study" for it too terribly much--a brief brush up on geometry and trig for the math and look over the question types for analytical. Sadly, your vocabulary is your vocabulary and your reading comprehension is where it is--so there's not much to "study" there. Also, while grad schools frequently require the GRE, they're usually looking to see if your score corresponds to your grades in undergrad--they're not doing the "the highest X people on the GRE are getting in".

I would then talk to a few people in the specific departments you're interested in. They might can tell you if applying now is a good idea or not. The applications aren't that hard (be prepared to write a few personal statements and recycle them over and over again). Also, if you're looking for funding--be prepared to suck up to a few professors. They can SIGNIFICANTLY increase your chances of admission if they look at the admission committee and say "I want HER to work for me".

Anyways... good luck. Academia is a weird game (I'm learning that more and more as I reach the end of my "formal" education.... )

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: HokieESM
Dezign: First thing's first.... go ahead and take the GRE in the next month or so. You shouldn't need to "study" for it too terribly much--a brief brush up on geometry and trig for the math and look over the question types for analytical. Sadly, your vocabulary is your vocabulary and your reading comprehension is where it is--so there's not much to "study" there. Also, while grad schools frequently require the GRE, they're usually looking to see if your score corresponds to your grades in undergrad--they're not doing the "the highest X people on the GRE are getting in".

That's not what i was told. I attended university in Canada, where grades were usually a bit more important than the GRE, but all my undergrad professors use to stress how important the GRE was for American schools, much more important than the undergrad grades.

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: HokieESM
Dezign: First thing's first.... go ahead and take the GRE in the next month or so. You shouldn't need to "study" for it too terribly much--a brief brush up on geometry and trig for the math and look over the question types for analytical. Sadly, your vocabulary is your vocabulary and your reading comprehension is where it is--so there's not much to "study" there. Also, while grad schools frequently require the GRE, they're usually looking to see if your score corresponds to your grades in undergrad--they're not doing the "the highest X people on the GRE are getting in".

That's not what i was told. I attended university in Canada, where grades were usually a bit more important than the GRE, but all my undergrad professors use to stress how important the GRE was for American schools, much more important than the undergrad grades.

well, lets just say I've been involved in admissions in two different departments at two different schools. Transcripts are far more important. Its not just WHAT grades you get (one number doesn't sum it up), its what grades you get in what classes. Also, any interviews any faculty has had. But I will say, due to some past, ahem, problems, people with 4.0s at no-name universities... lets say that their GRE scores are scrutinized. That said, someone applying to an engineering department with less than a 700 on the math and a 600 on the analytical is NOT going to get in.

(which may have a LOT ot do with your comment--coming from a Canadian school to an American one. Your grades are done differently--and we frequently don't have any "references" as to the quality of the school. That's the big thing--they frequently look at other students who came from those schools... and with no prior experience, they don't know).

 

[shopbruin]

i'm in the exact same friggin situation.

i just graduated in june though so my rush is not as grave, its just that my job is too damn stressing and too low paid for dealing with the idiots i deal with.

I REALLY need to start working on the GRE. But i've also had some law school inclinations, which is holding me back. The other thing that is holding me back is the letters of recommendation from professors, and for best results i should really hassle them for it this year.

i haven't researched schools as much as i should have also. so it's really hard to decide what path i'm going to take.

my dad keeps harping law school or better paying job.

he also doesn't want me to "waste" my time getting a masters that won't make any money (i.e. anything short of an MBA. everything else is useless.) oi.

right now my inclination is to take my time and go in fall 2005, so that i have more time to prep for the GRE and research the schools i REALLY want and maybe take a practice LSAT just to see how i score (if i get in the mid 150's i'll seriously consider applying, as i can probably study up to the 160's.) grad school isn't always something you can do "again" so i don't want to screw myself over by rushing it.

 

[dullard]

1) When I took the GRE is wasn't a big deal. The math is elementary school to early high school math. You either know the definition of asdfjkhasdkfhas or you don't - there isn't much you can do to help your vocab section. Yes it has changed slightly a couple years ago but really you don't gain much from studying.
2) What about applying for a January admission (Spring 2005)? Why do you need to take a full year if you miss these deadlines?

 

[CrazyDe1]

If it were me i'd look for a higher paying job with the experience and skills you've gained at that one or find alternative sources of income or investments. Unless it's in engineering, accounting or an MBA, you're not going to make significantly more and all the debt and loss of income in the couple years isn't worth it. I think experience is more valuable than a masters right now. I mean, you've got to be able to find a job that's better than your current one because you have to have gained skills at your current job. If not, you're in a dead end job anyways and you should be finding a job that will advance your skills rather than try to get an advanced degree that in many cases will make you overqualified for jobs you could get now and underqualified for jobs you should be getting becasue of lack of experience.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: CrazyDe1
If it were me i'd look for a higher paying job with the experience and skills you've gained at that one or find alternative sources of income or investments. Unless it's in engineering, accounting or an MBA, you're not going to make significantly more and all the debt and loss of income in the couple years isn't worth it. I think experience is more valuable than a masters right now. I mean, you've got to be able to find a job that's better than your current one because you have to have gained skills at your current job. If not, you're in a dead end job anyways and you should be finding a job that will advance your skills rather than try to get an advanced degree that in many cases will make you overqualified for jobs you could get now and underqualified for jobs you should be getting becasue of lack of experience.

She meantioned a MSW or PhD (I imagine in the same field)....these are not fields you enter to make a buttload of cash but to rather help people. That is unless MSW != Master's of Social Work.

 

[DurocShark]

I'd jump in. I test better that way.

 

[gopunk]

i'm sort of in the same boat as you... i could finish my graduation reqs this year and scamble to apply for grad school... personally, i'm choosing to wait a year, because:

a.) i can take some classes just for fun in the meanwhile
b.) more time = better application (letters, scores) = better school
c.) i'm not sure whether i want to go to law school or go for a phd in cs
d.) i'm still young, there's no rush

fwiw, i have heard that the order of importance for cse grad school is letters > grades > scores

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: gopunk
i'm sort of in the same boat as you... i could finish my graduation reqs this year and scamble to apply for grad school... personally, i'm choosing to wait a year, because:

a.) i can take some classes just for fun in the meanwhile
b.) more time = better application (letters, scores) = better school
c.) i'm not sure whether i want to go to law school or go for a phd in cs
d.) i'm still young, there's no rush

fwiw, i have heard that the order of importance for cse grad school is letters > grades > scores

gopunk -- I think your "priority list" is about right... as long as all three are "in line". People that have something "out of whack"--bad scores, a bad recommendation letter, or bad grades can raise red flags, regardless of the rest of the application. But if you've got decent scores and a decent GPA (IN and OUT of major--extremely low out of major GPA is a good indicator of someone being lazy/unmotivated), but a KILLER recommendation letter from a well-known faculty member... you're set.

Oh, and as far as your personal situation--those two choices (in c) are REALLY different. Law school is a professional school--read: no research--where the PhD is purely academic. Make sure you talk to some people in both schools/areas before you decide. Three/four years of doing something you really despise for very little pay is really a PITA.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: HokieESM

Originally posted by: gopunk
i'm sort of in the same boat as you... i could finish my graduation reqs this year and scamble to apply for grad school... personally, i'm choosing to wait a year, because:

a.) i can take some classes just for fun in the meanwhile
b.) more time = better application (letters, scores) = better school
c.) i'm not sure whether i want to go to law school or go for a phd in cs
d.) i'm still young, there's no rush

fwiw, i have heard that the order of importance for cse grad school is letters > grades > scores

gopunk -- I think your "priority list" is about right... as long as all three are "in line". People that have something "out of whack"--bad scores, a bad recommendation letter, or bad grades can raise red flags, regardless of the rest of the application. But if you've got decent scores and a decent GPA (IN and OUT of major--extremely low out of major GPA is a good indicator of someone being lazy/unmotivated), but a KILLER recommendation letter from a well-known faculty member... you're set.

Oh, and as far as your personal situation--those two choices (in c) are REALLY different. Law school is a professional school--read: no research--where the PhD is purely academic. Make sure you talk to some people in both schools/areas before you decide. Three/four years of doing something you really despise for very little pay is really a PITA.

Recommendations can definitely make or break an entrance. I interviewed for MIT because an Instructor sent a letter to them to interview me.

I interviewed at some old guys oceanfront apartment....we discussed things like diesel warships and how things work and why....just abstract type conversation...not much about my academics or anything school related. Asked about hobbies and things I like to do, etc.

My grades were B's, my SAT around 1170 I think (1988), and ACT about 32 (1988). Hardly upper end, but those recommendations work.