Graduate Studies

[Sip]

SAT is the main test used in the undergrad college admission process in the US. GRE is the SAT equivalent for admission to graduate engineering programs in the US.

To go into medical school, people take the MCAT
For law school, it's the LSAT
For management, it's the GMAT

The general GRE has 3 parts:

Verbal - Same as SAT english
Quantitative - Very similar to SAT math ... I think no calc needed
Analytical - Which is basically logic.

I loved taking that last part by the way and KICKED ass in it! Had like 99% ... ran out of time on 2 questions at the end but answered everything else right. But otherwise, let's not discuss my verbal and quantitative scores.

In addition to the general, there are 8 subject tests you can take:

Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
Literature in English
Biology
Mathematics
Chemistry
Physics
Computer Science
Psychology

I guess you could use scores from these tests to demonstrate your qualifications ... if you score well and place highly (percentile rankings) then it definitely can't hurt. But I have NO idea what admission policy each and every university has ... I am sure it varies greatly.

But as they say, if there is a will, there is a way. It's just that sometimes you have to be realistic in realizing that if you can't get decent scores on some standardized tests, then trying to make the case that you qualify for a grad program becomes very hard and you might as well pursue other avenues to entertain yourself for the remainder of your life.

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by Seapahn At UCLA, I had it really easy. When you have a GPA above 3.5, you are automatically accepted to the grad school ... no GRE no rec letters nothing else needed. Although I did take the GRE, both the general and the computer science subject test.

Ok, I was going to make a joke about how much UCLA must suck if all you need is a 3.5 to automatically get in, but I'd rather be relieved that there is one school out there I won't have to worry about getting into. Too bad it couldn't be Stanford or something. Man. Does someone want to fill out my applications for me? I'm sick of writing my own name. I no longer remember WHY I want to go to school. I just want a blanket and some hot chocolate. Applications suck.

[Darorinag]

Thanks for the info, Seapahn.

lol, ckbejug, applications are not that long... it would probably take you less than 10 minutes to fill out one (unless there's a personal statement thingie that you're supposed to attach).

[Sip]

Originally posted by ckBejug Ok, I was going to make a joke about how much UCLA must suck if all you need is a 3.5 to automatically get in, but I'd rather be relieved that there is one school out there I won't have to worry about getting into. ...

The 3.5+ GPA rule only applies to UCLA undergrads. Their superiority is simply an inherent assumption in the system

Yah I know .... it's really messed up but I didn't complain ONE bit!

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by Darorinag Thanks for the info, Seapahn.

lol, ckbejug, applications are not that long... it would probably take you less than 10 minutes to fill out one (unless there's a personal statement thingie that you're supposed to attach).

It's still very annoying and time consuming. There's is a personal statement, brag sheet, 3 (or 4!) recommendation letters each, transcripts to order and fill out, GRE, GRE subject tests, a thousand questions about my motivations...... All they are doing is admitting me into a PhD program, sheesh, I also have to send in TB test results for those schools I get into. What the?!?! Anything else you'd like? Sample of blood? Hair? Shoe size? Sample of my dogs hair? You'd think they were giving me the keys to the universe!

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by Seapahn The 3.5+ GPA rule only applies to UCLA undergrads. Their superiority is simply an inherent assumption in the system

Yah I know .... it's really messed up but I didn't complain ONE bit!

Or they realize offspring of fUCLA would falter and fail elsewhere so they usher you in for another 4-5 more years, with high (false) hopes that they might at least teach you a thing or two before you have to face the world.





Just kidding, of course! Sorry!



p.s. Thanks for giving me false hope about ucla. *sniff*

[Darorinag]

hahahha, damn right... lol.. and think about how much it would suck if you have to do all that, AND pay an overseas tuition fee (which is about twice the domestic student tuition)... And each transcript is like 10 bucks or something, make that 50 bucks for 5 universities (if you're applying to 5 anyway lol - i think i will)...

And then there's always the issue of going and talking to the deparment to get a teaching assistantship where applies.... and all those meetings with your supervisor-to-be... argh.. lol..oh well, far more exciting than undergrad lectures....