I can graduate on time in may, but with all the stress of school and work i haven't had time to apply or research what grad school i want to go to. I was thinking maybe i should just graduate a semester later and take it easy. Do well in my minor. Then have time to actually study for GREs and have time to apply to schools.

thoughts? would it be harder to get accepted and do they accept for the spring semester at grad schools?

11/8/2005 12:50:28 AM

being an escort pays more

11/8/2005 1:01:39 AM

Whether or not spring admissions are allowed varies from program to program. You'd have to do research about programs you are interested in to see if it's a viable option.

11/8/2005 1:28:16 AM

Again it depends on what you want to do but, it is only November. Since you're talking about GRE's I'm assuming you want to do a masters which applications should still be accepted for a while yet (I think I was still applying for stuff as of late Feb maybe even March). It also depends on how competitve you are, applying now they'll take your gpa and such as it stands, when you have a hundred odd credits getting A's instead of B's in 10 odd hours isn't really going to change your gpa that dramatically unless you're really right on the borderline.

I would get my ass in gear take the GRE's and do a round of applications for Fall '06, the worst that can happen is they'll say no then you can "take your time" and reapply for the next term or year depending on when the program starts again with a stronger GRE score, resume, gpa, etc. If you're really worried about having time to finish classes then maybe look at walking for graduation in May but finishing up some credits in the summer (I did it, just ask your department about it, one of my dept's was a pain about it but let me in the end, the other was fine with it). If you're sure grad school is what you want to do there's no point putting off applying.

If you do decide to put it off, make sure you do well in those classes you're taking your time with and have something lined up (internship, work experience) that will directly help you get into whatever program you want to go into. If you end up taking an extra semester then end up not doing anything really related for six months because they only take applications once a year, the .02 better your gpa was and 5 points or whatever more on your gre isn't really going to make you THAT stronger of a candidate. Or if you take an extra semester to do 7 hours of credit or something and don't do much else, they wont be impressed.

As far as picking Grad Schools its not that hard to find out what the good schools are in your area, and what criteria they're looking for so you can find some programs that will take your GRE/GPA. You might also try talking to Professors you trust in your dept to see if they have any schools they would recommend for you.

11/8/2005 6:28:49 AM

well wouldn't it be better to get a minor than not get a minor, and also getting really good at gres than having a shitty grade. b/c my grades are boarderline. I was going to take a prep GRE course, just like i did in H.S. so i can make really good gre scores.

11/8/2005 9:51:40 AM

if your gre scores are really bad, you definitely need to study. but depending on where you want to go and what you want to do, you may not need a super score.

imo, you need to:

1. figure out what type of program you want to get into. i.e. electrical engineering, english, etc.

2. figure out what you want to do with that degree once you have it. i.e. research, teaching at a community college, industry, etc. if you want to teach at a community college, you may only need a masters or you can go into a lesser phd program. however, if you want to be a professor at a big name school in a good department, you need to attend a good school. pedigree is important for some jobs.

3. depending on your answer to 2., look into the appropriate schools. i.e. do you need a top tier school, 2nd, etc. also, determine how far you are willing to move.

4. based on 3., look into what grades you need, what gre scores you need, etc.

5. study based on 4. if you want to get into a top tier, it might be best for you to take your time. if you are looking at 2nd or 3rd, then your scores might be ok as they are or only need slight improvement.

your gre scores won't help you get a job. imo you only need to score what the school you want to get into requires. honestly, i think you probably have plenty of time. you can apply to grad schools in feb. or march. that should be time enough. your minor is rarely important to getting in a grad school. and in industry, they don't ask what grades you got on your minor. they only ask if you have one.

11/8/2005 10:02:19 AM

well i took the GMATs. did a lil test prep for about a week before, i thought they were relatively easy. i wouldnt delay a whole semester just to study for a test... i mean unless you're really shitty at math or english (im assumign the 2 tests are relatively similar). i mean i probably could have done a little better, but not enough to warrant an entire semester off.

note also that i did apply for schools in the spring and it limited my choices a bit (for the area im looking in). i still was able to apply to some great schools (and luckily I got into UF), but it woulda been nice to have some other applications out just in case.

like others have said, you still have a few months to toy with so feel it out. some schools partake in rolling admissions though, so the faster you apply the better (assuming you figure out where you wanna go soon).

11/8/2005 10:30:50 AM

I would recommend taking a practice test on the computer. Since the GRE is computer based now, you need to get accustomed to new test taking strategies more than anything else. Most of the books you can buy in B&N, Borders, etc have a CD as part of the package. It's a relatively inexpensive way to start... you can gauge how much you need to improve, and if a semester is needed to prepare.

Don't forget to consider the financial elements of an extra semester in undergrad. If you have loans or are paying your own way through school (undergrad or grad) it all adds up.

11/8/2005 10:39:22 AM

Rents cover all financial expenses, so i am not too concered about it. The deal is they will pay for my entire grad school if i go into grad school right after under grad.

I am VERY exhausted and don't want to go right away. so this is also a loop hole that my dad and i slightly talked about. so that extra semester i could be relaxed and then go and have grad school paid for.

I seriously have had no time to apply, to study/take gres, ask for recommendations from teachers, think of the type of grad school i want to go into. I also won't be here in December to do all this either.

11/8/2005 10:43:23 AM

do they not have a sample one online? the gmats had the exact program they use for downloading with 2-4 practice tests included (and timed).

11/8/2005 10:43:27 AM

1. not all programs require the GRE

2. some programs use the cohort method where the first year every student takes teh same classes, so they don't allow spring entry

11/8/2005 12:15:07 PM

All this is just my opinion and is worth exactly what you've paid for it.

I'd always say to take a couple of years off before getting the masters. Some experience in the "real world" makes you a better master's student and makes for a stronger program, IMO.

Also, don't go to any master's program that doesn't pay you to go. Having said that, if a lighter load will help you boost your GRE for getting in next year, drop the minor. No one's going to give a shit about your undergrad minor if you get a master's anyway.

Most programs start in the fall. There are a couple of non-traditionals out there that start anytime but they are the exception rather than the rule.

What kind of program are you looking to get into?

11/8/2005 8:06:44 PM

I know none of my programs accepted spring applications, but you might be able to find some. I get the feeling it's kinda rare though.

11/8/2005 8:15:44 PM

^^ Good points. Answer his questions and our advisers can try to help as well. Email them via the virtual adviser button on this website:

http://www.ncsu.edu/advising_central

11/8/2005 8:44:49 PM

I talked to my advisor today and he said ya some schools are picky, but not all are like that and it doesn't matter. He said it wasn't a bad idea just to make sure i don't pick all shitty classes and to also take like an internship. I mean i can get into a grad school but prob. not the best one and i want a decent one

pros: Good GRE scores, Internship, Time for GREs, Time to relax b4 grad school, Rents will approve instead of me graduating and taking a semester off totally( i need this b/c they pay), Time to apply and get letters of recommendations(which you need!), also time to study for foreign exam. none of which i have done yet

cons: graduating a semester later, taking classes.

[Edited on November 8, 2005 at 8:47 PM. Reason : the grad program i want at state(international politics MS.) does spring admission]

11/8/2005 8:46:04 PM

So does American University in Washington DC- International Affairs and other degrees. (take Spring entrants) Great school. And some of the big names in International Affairs programs will be coming to campus next week on Nov. 17. Princeton, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Georgetown and, er, um, Dook.

11/8/2005 8:57:21 PM

^where at and at what time?

11/8/2005 9:53:52 PM

if you are going to grad school in the same area as your undergraduate, do not go to the same school.

11/8/2005 10:21:33 PM

Quote :

"I'd always say to take a couple of years off before getting the masters. Some experience in the "real world" makes you a better master's student and makes for a stronger program, IMO."

IMO this is nonsense. Most people I know who do this regret it.

Quote :

"Also, don't go to any master's program that doesn't pay you to go."

That REALLY depends on the field, I would not offer that as blanket advice.

Quote :

"Most programs start in the fall. There are a couple of non-traditionals out there that start anytime but they are the exception rather than the rule."

Most people I've known who graduate in Dec have had trouble finding a program they like that starts in Dec. (and when I say most i mean I can't think of anyone who didn't). So if that's something that's crucial to your plan because your parents won't pay otherwise you really need to look into this before making a decision.

Quote :

"pros: Good GRE scores, Internship, Time for GREs, Time to relax b4 grad school, Rents will approve instead of me graduating and taking a semester off totally( i need this b/c they pay), Time to apply and get letters of recommendations(which you need!), also time to study for foreign exam. none of which i have done yet"

Basically the issue is you just want an excuse to take some time off, if you're burnt out there's nothing wrong with that so quit pussy footing around with this junk about applications and letters of recommendations being hard, its just paper work and giving people notice.


I'm guessing from the fact that your PS that there's three big career tracks that would interest you and are open to you: International Stuff, Campaign Stuff, Government Stuff. (Since you haven't mentioned the military or law school I'll ignore those.)

If you want to do International Stuff you probably want to look at MA's in International Studies or Relations. If you want an excuse for a semester off and money really isn't an object then maybe look at doing a semester (or year) abroad (which is generally credit only and based solely on papers you do at the end of the term, giving you most of your time to travel around). Also peace corps and like organizations have programs where you get grad level academic credit so that might be an option too. Also most european MA's (dunno bout the rest of the world) are a year, start later (giving you time off) and don't require GRE's so that might be something you want to look at. I'm slightly biased though that's what I did. Most people that graduated with me are either doing PhD's, NGO work, Development work, "consulting", or Government stuff overseas.

If you want to do Campaign stuff you have a great excuse for delaying a semester as it will put you doing a slack semester right in the middle of the 06 campaigns, which you should find one to work on. After which you could look into MPA, MBA, or one of these campaign specific masters they have at most of the DC schools now (and could probably finish up just in time for the begining of the 08 cycle as I think they're 11 mos, not sure if they start in Dec though).

If you want to do Government Stuff you probably want to look at an MPA, definately dont take a couple years off though and then do a masters though because you'll move up the pay scale faster just doing your masters straight after you finish undergrad (whenever you decide to do that).

None of this is meant to tell you you're tracked into one of these things, these are just the typical routes I've seen people go out of undergrad that seem to work.

11/9/2005 7:36:10 AM

Quote :

"if you are going to grad school in the same area as your undergraduate, do not go to the same school."

Believe this.

[Edited on November 9, 2005 at 8:33 AM. Reason : too early, not enough coffee]

11/9/2005 8:33:11 AM

^^ my advisor i talked to is also on the board of the International realtions Masters that we have here so i think i am going to take his advice since he knows who they accept and who they don't.

like i said they do admission in the spring.

and chill out, its only 6 months, and woah if i don't get into grad school its only another 6 months. I don't think i am going to die if this happens to me.

plus foreign exams are year round.

11/9/2005 9:29:02 AM

I'm in grad school here.

Most people do not take a prep course for the GRE and find they do very well on it as long as they practice some with a CD to get familar with the format and remind themselves of the basics of algebra and geometry for the math sections and of big words for the verbal.
However that is entirely up to you.
I spent 1 week prepping and did very well. In fact all of the people I know did not take a course but I am sure out of every student here at state some did. If you sincerly think it will help then take it but generally the courses are more for the specialized tests and not for the basic GRE from what I have heard.

As for going. If your minor will sincerly help you for grad school then continue it, if not, drop it. I had no minors and still got in.

I will agree that you should get paid to do a MS but there are TA positions even if there are not RA (research assistantships) positions availble for what you want to do. Of course if you want to do something like and MBA then it is great to have your parents to pay.

Look for spring enrollments if you really want to stay in undergrad. However if you choose Fall '06 most schools require a Dec 1 deadline for TA/RA positions even if the main deadline is June 1.

Lastly if you are sincerly burned out, then I would get out of undergrad and take a year off. Honestly I wish I had taken time off between undergrad and grad school. I do not care what others say, as long as you can and do plan to go back with a date in mind, and you are sincerly burned out, stretching your schooling out will not help. It will only make it that much worse.
I got done in undergrad in 4 years, and I"m almost done with my MS in 2 (might stretch into next summer) which regardless is practically unheard of these days so maybe I am just pushing myself too hard but still I am ready for a break.

11/9/2005 9:37:44 AM