Ill during Math Subject GRE

Graduate School
1

<p>So, as the title indicates, I was sick to my stomach during the Mathematics subject test (I had spoiled soup without realizing it), and as a result my concentration was completely shot and I did quite poorly (around 50%). Furthermore, I was too broke to pay for a retake. However, I have two strong research experiences (one of which was awarded best project at an REU, the other had a paper come out of it), a 3.96 GPA, fairly strong letters of recommendation, extensive and well-lauded teaching experience, and quite a few graduate courses. I attend WPI, which is a 50somethingth-ranked doctoral university for undergraduates.</p>

<p>Here are the schools I’m looking at (adjusted for GRE mishap):
Dartmouth
Brandeis
Boston University
University of Montana
University of Wyoming
University of Kentucky
Northeastern University</p>

<p>So, I have three questions:

  1. Should I mention that I was sick in my application? It’s infuriating, because there were so many questions that I knew how to answer but just botched the computation (for instance, div <x, y,=“” z=“”> = 1 according to my food-poisoned brain, which was an intermediate calculation on one of the problems), yet my score makes me look like kind of a dolt. It’s too late for me to retake it, of course, but I don’t want to sound as if I am making excuses.
  2. Do I have a shot at these universities? I think Wyoming and Montana are probably decent shots (and seem to have nice, if not high-name, programs). I’m not sure about the others.
  3. Should I just try for a Master’s degree at a fairly low-name school, retake the GRE, and hope for better when I apply to PhD. programs?</x,></p>

<p>Thanks for your help.</p>

2

<p>Any explanation about “illness” will be viewed with skepticism because it is a common complaint of many applicants with less than ideal scores. If you need to retake the GRE, retake the GRE. Some programs have rolling admissions and will see the later GRE if they are still filling their program. </p>

<p>More importantly, your application essays need to clearly articulate why you wish to enter the specific field and specific graduate program. </p>

<p>A “masters at a no name school” will not help your application unless the master’s helps you make real progress in your chosen field</p>

3

<p>I knew of people with less research and worse grades than you have who got into similar/better math prorgrams than you’re applying to with similar GRE subject tests percentiles, so…</p>

<p>I am told that Brandeis math is accepting fewer people this year than usual, like half as many (either that or the normal amount this year but nobody next year–grad school funding reasons). That one in particular might be more competitive this year than otherwise because of the economic situation.</p>

4

<p>You’ll be fine, don’t sweat it. Let’s hope we both get into Dartmouth / Northeastern. It wouldn’t hurt for you to apply to a couple top 40 schools as well (I forget where Brandies is ranked). I’m applying to a lot of tougher schools with my mediocer 64th % , but yeah I’d be happy at either Dartmouth or Northeastern and theyd be closer to home.</p>