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Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:52 pm
by Yuxun
Hey guys, so my applications for fall 2014 are pretty much rejected.

I am thinking about taking a gap year and trying to apply programs next year. Within this year, I will try to study both Gre general and gre subject to get better scores. Other than this, do you guys have any suggestions on what it is the best way to make full use of the time to increase my chance of getting into a program next year?

My undergrad gpa was really a failure....(overall slightly above 3.0, major 3.4) But this is something I cannot change anymore. So what are the things I can change?

Looking forward to you guys' replies. Thank you in advance!

Re: Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:40 pm
by dasgut
Do you have an MS?

Re: Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:53 pm
by Yuxun
dasgut wrote:Do you have an MS?
No, I will have a BA by the end of this semester.

Re: Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 9:52 pm
by poorasian
One of my friends did nothing except a little private tutoring back home. After studying for the GRE again during the summer and getting a 60th percentile score on the GRE subject, he managed to get into a few programs in the 30-40 range on US News after getting into nowhere the year before.

Is it possible for you to do some research or directed reading with a professor this summer?

Re: Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 10:44 pm
by Yuxun
poorasian wrote:One of my friends did nothing except a little private tutoring back home. After studying for the GRE again during the summer and getting a 60th percentile score on the GRE subject, he managed to get into a few programs in the 30-40 range on US News after getting into nowhere the year before.

Is it possible for you to do some research or directed reading with a professor this summer?

Thank you, this is very encouraging to me! I have done a directed reading and this semester I am doing an independent study, but it's unlikely that I can do it during the summer. Do you think internships may help?

Re: Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 11:36 pm
by poorasian
sure. also his GPA was something like 3.5 but my school is known for very low GPAs (average is a 2.70 or something).

Re: Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 1:49 pm
by dasgut
I'd consider an MS. It'd give you a chance to mitigate damage done by your undergrad GPA.

Re: Any suggestions for gap year?

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:01 pm
by lowdt
dasgut wrote:I'd consider an MS. It'd give you a chance to mitigate damage done by your undergrad GPA.
Agreed - either an MS or taking a fifth year as an undergraduate will help your application, provided either situation goes well.