<p>Hi, I am going to be a college student in the Fall. After I graduate with a Bachelors, I am planning to go to apply to few Ivies for my masters or doctorate degree. I was wondering if it’s still easier to get into a prestigious grad program than during the undergrad? If I have low test scores, am I allow to have work experience or take gaps to make them less important?</p>
<p>First, prestigious is not a matter of US NEWS rankings for grad school. For instance, Carnegie Mellon is the #1 comp sci school in the world. Rice has the #1 nanotech research in the world. Berkeley has the #1 signal processing. Ivies aren’t the top in every field, and in some fields, barely break top 20. First look at what you want to study, research which departments around the nation are good and then look at their acceptance criteria. Research and letters of recommendation are the most important factors after the cutoff GPA and cutoff GRE scores are met.</p>
<p>Can I take gaps though?</p>
<p>Bump…</p>
<p>You need to read <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/348756-graduate-school-admissions-101-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/348756-graduate-school-admissions-101-a.html</a>. If you still have questions about what is needed, then ask away.</p>