Archive for the 'Admissions' Category

Ask Test Masters – United Nations Application Pt. 1

Published by Bill on May 3, 2013 in Admissions, Ask Test Masters, Miscellaneous and Uncategorized.
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Reader Devan Taylor asks,

“I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Houston, and I am interested in working for the United Nations one day. What graduate school programs would give me an edge when I do apply to work for the United Nations? One program I am interested in is the M.A. in Humanities program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Are there other programs similar to this in Houston, TX, Austin, TX, or other cities in general?”

Dear Devan,

Great questions all around; let’s start at the beginning – “What graduate school programs would give me an edge when I do apply to work for the United Nations?”

If you are asking “Is there any single graduate program that will give me an edge regardless of what position I apply for?” the answer is foreign languages or linguistics, and to a lesser degree cultural studies. Fluency in two or three (or more) foreign languages will absolutely make a huge difference in the strength of your application, as will a demonstrable ability to pick up languages quickly. Among the many tests United Nations applicants must take is a “Language Examination.” Learn about the different exams you will have to take here.

The general occupational career groups employed by the UN include administration, conference services, human rights, jurists, legal affairs, logistics, political affairs, transport work, program management, and security, among other more specific career niches. Ideally, you want to present yourself as a candidate who could potentially contribute in several of these capacities. Combined with a fluency in one or more foreign languages, degree programs focused on international law, international business (the GRE can be used for graduate admission to business school as well – check out this article, “The New GRE – GMAT Killer?”), and political science would best serve to make you a viable candidate for a position with the UN; other, perhaps less obviously significant, fields of study might involve history, statistics, geography, or even sociology.

It’s a challenging task, but our advice is to identify the position you most desire and then do everything you can to mold yourself into the perfect candidate for that position, all while crafting a resume that presents you as someone who can function capably at multiple levels within the UN bureaucracy.

Something else to keep in mind is that obtaining a position with the United Nations is extremely competitive; you could apply and be turned down multiple times before being hired. One way to gain an advantage in the application process is to have related work experience. Did you know that you can volunteer or intern with the United Nations? If you excel at this sort of entry level work, it could potentially lead to a more permanent position. Another more tertiary option to being hired at the UN is to pursue a similar career path within the US government (the CIA is always hiring); this gives you the option of gaining valuable experience without spending months or summers suffering as an unpaid helper. If you have more questions about the actual process of applying to the United Nations, consult this Frequently Asked Questions guide provided by the UN’s Human Resources department.

This concludes part one of a two-part answer to our most recent “Ask Test Masters” submission. Join us next time as we discuss the specifics regarding admission to the university mentioned above and review other potential colleges and universities that might help you craft an excellent resume to work at the United Nations.

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee.

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GRE Scores May be Down, but Competition is UP!

Published by Bill on April 7, 2013 in Admissions, Graduate School, Miscellaneous and Uncategorized.

Our mantra at “It’s Not GREek” is “The score you want is the score that will get you into your graduate school of choice.” Though every student has different goals and ambitions, this means that you do not need to get a perfect score on the GRE to get into a good graduate program; you do, however, generally need to score above average to have a chance at being admitted to your program of choice. This self-evident, sagacious wisdom has come under scrutiny recently as the average GRE score for American test-takers has dropped to, well, below average. The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, recently released data outlining the average scores of domestic and international test takers.

*Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/21/ets-releases-data-gre-averages-country

 

It is apparent that a truly significant number of undergraduate students and undergraduate degree holders in the United States are considering applying to graduate school; as Bachelor’s degrees are now the workplace standard rather than the exception, people are seeking to stand out from the crowd by pursuing advanced degrees.  The most important consequence of this is, though the average GRE score is down, competition for admission into graduate school is up.

The sheer volume of potential applicants is staggering; simply put, there are not enough spots available for the number of interested or potential graduate school applicants. This is true without even mentioning the challenge competing for spots at prestigious universities with well qualified international students poses to prospective American graduate students. Given the new GRE average score for US test takers, suffice it to say, it is no longer enough to score ‘above average’ on the GRE.

It might be tempting to look at these scores and breathe a sigh of relief, thinking, “Well, look … my score is above average.” Well, suck in that sigh and let out a groan, because the admission standards for prestigious universities have not been lowered to accommodate the drop in GRE scores for the average American test taker. Quite the opposite, in fact; competition for a spot in an excellent graduate program has never been fiercer (as evidenced by the exponential growth of potential applicants).

The simple fact of the matter is ‘above average’ no longer means what it used to; at least when it comes to the GRE. With nearly 320,000 annual GRE test takers in the United States, averages may be down but competition is UP! 

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Test Masters is an industry leader in test preparation innovation; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee. You can learn more about Test Masters here.

 

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Ask Test Masters – GRE Subject Tests

Published by Bill on April 4, 2013 in Admissions, Ask Test Masters and Uncategorized.

Ask-Test-MastersSachin is a student interested in studying Computer Science at the graduate level. He recently wrote to us for advice on whether or not he should take a GRE Subject Test. Sachin asks:

Hello,
I’m preparing for the GRE, but my academic marks are not so good. This might be a problem that can arise at the time of admission. Also, tell me about the GRE subject test. Is it beneficial or not?

Dear Sachin,

It sounds like you are asking if a GRE or GRE Subject Test score can make up for bad grades. The short answer is it depends. Keep in mind that most (but not all) graduate programs have a minimum Grade Point Average requirement; without meeting your University of Choice’s minimum GPA requirement, it is unlikely that high test scores will help. If, on the other hand, a student does meet the minimum grade requirements of their preferred graduate school or program, then your GRE scores can possibly make a very significant difference. Coursework is the most important factor admission officers will consider when deciding whether to admit a candidate or not, since that is the context in which graduate professors will interact with students. Note that different schools calculate minimum GPA in different ways; some schools may only consider the last 60 hours of coursework on your transcript, other schools may only consider your Major GPA. If in doubt, call the school; whatever your GPA is, a high GRE score can’t hurt.

If you do have a low GPA or academic marks, you can learn more about how to get into graduate school here and here.

As for subject tests, having a good score on a GRE Subject Test can have a significant impact on any graduate school application. Many universities or programs will require you to submit a specific GRE Subject Test score to be even considered for admission; this is especially true at the Ph. D. level. Other universities may not require you to submit a specific GRE Subject Test, but will instead ask you to submit a Subject Test of your choice. In both of these circumstances the benefits of taking a GRE Subject Test are obvious- you won’t be admitted, or even considered for admission, without one.

Even if your university of choice does not require you to submit a GRE Subject Test score to be considered for admission, taking a GRE Subject Test can be very beneficial for any graduate school application. A good subject test score demonstrates that you are qualified and competent in the field you are applying for; it also shows that you are willing to put in extra work to succeed (something that any admission officer would like to see). A good score on a GRE Subject Test will help you stand out among other competitive candidates.

All in all, a GRE Subject Test might not be necessary, but it is certainly a good idea!

Hope this helps!

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Miss the last Ask Test Masters? Check it out here!

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The New GRE – GMAT Killer?

Published by Bill on March 27, 2013 in Admissions, Graduate School, Miscellaneous, Revised GRE and Uncategorized.
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You can stop worrying about which exam you should take for graduate school. The GRE is accepted practically everywhere.

At one point in time, the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) was the de facto exam that students took to get into business school. But in 2006, the creators of the GMAT, the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), decided to sever ties with the Educational Testing Service (ETS), who up until that point had administered the exam. This move, which ended the non-compete clause that the GMAC held over the ETS, allowed the ETS to challenge the stranglehold that the GMAC had on business school testing.

Since 2006, the ETS has been campaigning schools to accept the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT. According to a press release by the ETS, “About 450 MBA programs worldwide now accept the GRE test, including 45 percent of the U.S. News & World Report’s top 100 U.S. programs and seven of the top 10 global MBA programs according to The Financial Times.” These schools include some of the top-ranked business schools in the world, such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton at UPenn, Stern at NYU, and Sloan at MIT.

Additionally, the revised GRE is in part meant to make the exam more attractive to business schools. The ETS website states, “ETS has revised the test to better reflect the kind of thinking you’ll do in graduate or business school and improve your test-taking experience. New types of questions now more closely align with the skills you need to succeed in today’s demanding graduate and business school programs.” Removing analogies and antonyms, for instance, shifts the focus away from memorization and towards analysis and understanding.

It’s no surprise that more and more schools are starting to accept the GRE. The ETS estimates that there are approximately 700 GRE testing centers in 160 countries around the world; contrast this with a 2010 GMAC press release, which estimates that there are 500 testing centers in 110 countries. Schools that decide to accept the GRE can expand their applicant pools by making it more convenient for international applicants applying to US business schools in this era of globalization. Additionally, the move to accept the GRE is beneficial to students as well. Those who are trying to decide between going to graduate school and going to business school don’t have to choose one over the other or worry about taking two tests (and paying two registration fees) — they can simply take the GRE and apply to both. Test Masters recommends that prospective students take both tests and submit the higher score.

With the release of the new GRE and the momentum that the ETS has built up over the past several years, we can expect to see more and more business schools accepting the GRE for admissions. Of course, the GMAC is not simply twiddling its thumbs as the ETS courts its primary market — the GMAT is scheduled for a major facelift soon to give the exam more business-specific content.

But who knows? By then, it may be too late.

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available. Test Masters’ GRE course comes with a 10 Score Increase Guarantee.

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Ask Test Masters: Cost of Attendance and GRE Scores for an International Graduate Student

Published by Bill on March 7, 2013 in Admissions, Ask Test Masters, Graduate School and Preparation.

ASK TMAsk Test Masters is a free informational service offered by the experts at Test Masters; you ask, we answer. Shravan, an international student interested in attending graduate school in the United States and abroad, has a few questions about admission requirements and the cost of attendance. Shravan writes,

“I’m pursuing a Bachelor’s in Information Technology (3rd year, 2nd semester) and would like to earn my MS in the U.S. or another country. My question is: my average is 60% aggregate and my financials are also not good; if I get a good score on the GRE can I get into at least an average university? Also, which university has the lowest fees for a semester? How much should I pay in total for an MS in the U.S., and how much money will it cost in total? Please give me some suggestions!!!”

Dear Shravan,

Let’s talk financials first. The total cost of your graduate education will depend on a number of factors – Better known schools are more expensive than less well known schools, private schools are more expensive than state schools, and certain degree programs are more expensive than other degree programs. Other factors, like the cost of living and financial aid, can impact your total cost of attendance, but are indeterminate. Universities regularly release helpful information regarding tuition and living expenses online, so getting a general idea of how much graduate school will cost is really only a Google search away. Let’s take a quick look at two examples of what different types of universities may cost.

Rice

Rice University is often called “The Harvard of the South.”

The University of Texas at Austin is a well-regarded state school, and generally considered a great value because of its high ranking and low cost. The cost per semester, when taking 12 hours of course work, for an Information graduate student who is a non-Texas resident at UT Austin is $10,830. Now consider Rice University, one of the United States’ premiere private research universities; the tuition for a full-time graduate student, regardless of residency status (though international students will have to pay certain fees that may affect the total cost of attendance), in the 2012-2013 academic year is $34,900. Notice that the cost of tuition is significantly higher at the private university than the state university. If you would like to do a detailed search of graduate universities by cost, this website is very useful. To get an idea of what your total tuition costs may be, simply research the cost per semester and multiply by the number of semesters it will take to obtain your degree.

In order to qualify for federal financial aid, international students are required to be US citizens or have permanent resident status, which, of course, makes financial aid for international graduate students extremely rare and very competitive to obtain. That said, it is not impossible to obtain financial aid as an international grad student; edupass.org is an excellent resource to understanding your options when it comes to financial aid. There is also the possibility of obtaining “work-study” employment, where you work for the university (as a Teacher’s Assistant or in some other capacity) for a small stipend to help pay for living expenses and tuition costs.

If you are worried that your grades might not be good enough to get you into your university of choice, there are a number of options available to you on how to mold yourself into a competitive graduate school candidate. You can learn more about getting into graduate school with a low GPA here. Remember, a higher GPA improves your chances of being admitted to the graduate school of your choice and drastically increases the likelihood of you obtaining a scholarship or financial aid.

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The GRE is administered by the ETS.

In terms of standardized test scores, you should be focused on two things: the TOEFL and the GRE. The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, is mandatory for international students; its primary purpose is to determine whether you are fluent enough in English to communicate effectively in a classroom environment. You can register for the TOEFL here.

Before pinning your hopes of attending graduate school to achieving a near perfect GRE score, you have to realize the GRE is hard. This exam is designed to challenge people who are not just academically talented, but motivated to succeed. If you need an excellent GRE score to have a chance of getting into your college of choice, the best piece of advice we can offer you is prepare. Practice, study, review and then practice, study, and review some more. You can learn more about how to make your study habits more effective here.

International students are at a disadvantage when it comes to GRE preparation as professional exam preparation is not as widely available internationally as it is domestically in the United States. One excellent resource to consider is a GRE online preparatory course like the one offered by Test Masters.

We hope this helps, and let us know if you have any more questions!

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Test Masters offers the most comprehensive GRE preparatory course available. Learn more about professional exam preparation here.

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Graduate Program Spotlight: Computer Science

Published by Bill on December 13, 2012 in Admissions and Graduate School.

IBM’s Blue Gene Supercomputer.

It is safe to say that in the modern world, a Masters or Ph. D. in Computer Science is a safe investment; multiple professional fields have sprung up around or become increasingly associated with computer technologies. Given the increasing demand for computer experts, and the wonderful insights and benefits computer technologies afford other professional and academic fields, it is no surprise Computer Science has become a subject of significant academic importance.

Well-known institutions like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, etc. consistently rank at the top of almost every graduate program they offer; however, the fact of the matter is you do not have to attend one of these schools in order to get a great education out of a Masters or PH.D. program. At “It’s Not GREek!” we want our readers to be aware of the multitude of options they have when it comes to picking a graduate school. These are some schools, along with the usual suspects, you may not be aware of, but that experts in your field of study certainly are.

Before continuing with our Graduate Program Spotlight: Computer Science, let’s discuss some important and relevant information about the opportunities a Masters or Ph. D. in Computer Science might provide you with; specifically, opportunities in the context of potential employment and annual salary.

In computer terms, this is definitely the “Before” picture.

Computer Science is a prodigious and perpetually burgeoning field; as the influence of electronics and computers continues to expand and permeate everyday life, so too has the demand for computer tech experts increased. The field is so diverse that the US Bureau of Labor, a very reliable and trustworthy source for statistical information for any profession, has over eight general-employment categories relating to the field of Computer Science. There is no doubting that a graduate degree in Computer Science is viable; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor most professions requiring a graduate degree in C.S. are significantly out performing the national average in terms of both job growth and median annual salary. According to the Bureau of Labor’s Occupational Handbook, the median salary for a Doctoral or professional degree in computer science, with no experience outside of the classroom (though admittedly, many graduate programs will require work experience as criteria for admission) is $100,660, and the job market demand for an advanced degree in computer science is projected to increase between 19% – 22% through 2020.

Again, it is manifest that an advanced degree in Computer Science is a safe investment; it’s not quite gold, but it’s not far off either. Now that this has been made abundantly clear to any interested potential graduate school candidates, let’s take a look at some of the best Computer Science schools in the country (according to US News).

TOP 5:

#1) Carnegie Mellon University

This university played a significant role in the initial development of “thinking computers,” and Carnegie Mellon continues to be among the foremost researchers of computer technologies in the world. The School of Computer Science includes the Computer Science Department (CSD), The Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), The Institute for Software Research (ISR), Lane Center for Computational Biology, Language technologies Institute (LTI), Machine Learning Department (ML), and the Robotics Institute (RI). Interestingly, Carnegie Mellon’s Masters program in Computer Science does not require an undergraduate degree in computer science, only “a strong aptitude for mathematics, programming, and logical reasoning.” Annual tuition costs are approximately $39,000. Though exact admittance data is hard to find, it seems that each program only accepts around 25 students annually; if this is true, it makes Carnegie Mellon’s Computer Science Department one of the most exclusive in the country.

#1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department is the largest in the School of Engineering, another testament to the growing importance of Computer Science in a contemporary setting. Currently, the EECS Department has about 700 students in their doctoral program. Admission to MIT is extremely competitive, and applicants are expected to possess a very strong background in math, physics, computer science, or engineering. For their M.S. and Ph. D. programs, the average GRE scores are Verbal: 158, Quantitative: 159, and Writing: 5.3. Though expensive, this program is quite obviously worth the yearly tuition cost of $41, 770.

#1) Stanford University

Not much needs to be said about any of Stanford University’s programs.  The average GRE score is Verbal: 159, Quantitative: 158, Writing: 4.8. Full-time Master’s students (taking between 11-18 credits) can expect an annual tuition of $29,300.

#1) University of California – Berkeley

Though the minimum prerequisites to apply to any of Berkeley’s graduate programs are not especially imposing, a Bachelor’s degree and a 3.0/4.0 undergraduate GPA, in addition to a GRE score, it’s important to note these are the minimum requirements to apply! The average GRE score is Verbal: 153-156, Quantitative: 167, Writing: 4.5; a competitive GPA for admissions purposes is a 3.5 or higher.

#5) Cornell University

Cornell’s suggested minimum GPA for admission is 3.5/4.0. The tuition cost for the 2012-2013 calender year will be approximately $30,000, about $14,750 (Note: this does not include the cost of attendance, i.e. room, board, etc.). Cornell has done a very effective job of not releasing a specific GRE score needed for admittance; however, it would be very safe to assume admission as a MS or Ph. D. student would require a GRE score of 310 or higher.

 

It is unsurprising that these schools are listed as the best in the country; they typically dominate across the board in terms of ranking and national prestige. Though these schools might afford you the best opportunities in terms of post-graduation employment, they are by no means the only options. There are a number of reasons a potential graduate student would look outside the top tier schools in the country: geography/logistics, finances, admission requirements, program requirements, etc., so it is good to know that even if you can’t get in or go to Harvard (or in this case, Carnegie Mellon) there are still plenty of options available that can give you the education and expertise you are looking.

HONORABLE MENTION:

#39) University of Utah

The University of Utah offers two degree programs for Masters and Ph. D. students through their School of Computing, one in Computer Science and the other in Computing. Emphasis areas include Computer Engineering, Data Management and Analysis, Digital Media, Game Engineering, Graphics and Visualization, Image Analysis, Robotics, and Scientific Computing. Approximately 100 individuals enter the University of Utah’s graduate School of Computing each year, with an almost even split between M.S. and Ph.D. students. The average new GRE score for the University of Utah is above 314.

#61) University at Buffalo – SUNY

The University of Buffalo – The State University of New York – offers two degree plans through its Department of Computer Science and Engineering: the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) and the Master of Science (M.S.). SUNY’s DCSE consistently ranks in the 60 in programs in the world. Full-time non-resident total cost of attending the University of Buffalo is approximately $9,200/semester. Though the University of Buffalo has a large graduate/professional student population, almost 10,000 students, there are only 80 Ph. D. students in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering; this means there is both a vibrant graduate community and a more intimate support network related to your specific field on interest.

#63) Iowa State University

Iowa State University’s M.S. program has approximately 50 students. ISU’s grade requirements are a grade of B- or better in each course and an overall average GPA of 3.0, in addition to other grade requirements. In order to be considered for the Master’s program students must have at least 3 Computer Science courses from 2 different “breadth areas,” for a total of 9 credits. Out of state Graduate student tuition costs per semester are approximately $9,900. Many applicants might appreciate the ISU Department of Computer Science motto, “All science is Computer Science.”

#63) University of Tennessee – Knoxville

The University of Tennessee’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is the largest in the College of Engineering. They offer three programs: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science; all three programs offer degrees at the M.S. and Ph. D. levels. UT – Knoxville offers concentrations in a variety of specialized fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Circuit Theory, Computational Biology, Robotics, and many more. Graduate admissions require a 3.0/4.0 minimum undergraduate GPA, at least two semesters of calculus and two additional semesters of college mathematics, and a course in formal languages as well as in systems programming. Students may use a valid GRE score received within the last three years for admissions purposes.

 

Still interested in graduate school, but not sure what field is right for you? Click here for more information! Want to know more about the GRE? Click here! Interested in GRE courses in your area? Click here to find out more!

 

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GRE Subject Tests Part 2

Published by Jocelyn on August 27, 2012 in Admissions.

In addition to the GRE, ETS also offers eight GRE subject tests covering the following topics: Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology; Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Literature in English; Mathematics; Physics; and Psychology.  In our last post, we provided an overview of four GRE subject tests.  Below are the remaining four subject tests, along with the material covered and some basic information on the structure of the tests.  Happy studying! Continue reading “GRE Subject Tests Part 2” »

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Can I get into graduate school with a low GPA? Part 2

Published by Jocelyn on August 13, 2012 in Admissions and Graduate School.

In our last post, we gave some suggestions for graduate school applicants with low undergraduate GPAs.  Remember, a low undergraduate GPA does not mean you have to kiss your graduate school dreams goodbye.  Here are some more tips on how to make an application with a low undergraduate GPA more attractive to graduate schools.

Retake the GRE until you have a stellar score.  Thanks to ETS’s new ScoreSelect policy, you now have nothing to lose by taking the GRE multiple times. (Graduate schools won’t even see your lowest scores!) If you took the GRE already and are not satisfied with your score, study harder and retake the test to see if you can get a higher score.  A high GRE score can do wonders for offsetting a low undergraduate GPA, particularly if several years have passed between your college graduation and your application to graduate school. Continue reading “Can I get into graduate school with a low GPA? Part 2” »

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