<p>Oh boy. My head hurts just thinking about this.</p>
<p>So I graduated May 2010 from Stony Brook University with a BA in sociology and I think I am ready to go back, yet I have no idea what I am doing.</p>
<p>I graduated with a 3.28 (started out as a philosophy major which didn't suit me at all) and a higher gpa in my major. I'm trying to consider what colleges to go to, especially ones that don't require the GRE.</p>
<p>So any advice would be...absolutely...amazing. </p>
<p>I have a few colleges I am looking at, but my reach colleges are Brown and Rutgers. Can anyone give me the chances of getting into either? I am thinking slim, but I would like to give it a chance anyways and try to up them anyway I can.</p>
<p>First, suck it up and take the GRE, you will need to get into any half decent program. </p>
<p>I am applying to PhD. programs in sociology next fall, but have done quite a bit of research on the subject thus far, I will tell you what I know. </p>
<p>GPA - most schools only care about your last 2 years, meaning all upper division course work in your major or relative to your major. Berkeley for example, calculates your application GPA separately only looking at the last 2 years. </p>
<p>Research? What kind of research experience did you get as undergrad? For graduate programs research matters. </p>
<p>For example: I am taking a graduate research methods class, working as a research assistant with one of my professors, and doing an independent research project as part of an honors thesis. I will have 1 1/2 years of research experience by the time I apply to grad school, and 2 years of research experience by the time I graduate. </p>
<p>Research experience is probably the single most important factor in grad school admissions. </p>
<p>Also what are your research interests if any? You need to have solidified research interests and apply to programs that best fit your research interests. It certainly doesn’t have to be exact, but you shouldn’t apply to a demography program if your research interest is in social movements. </p>
<p>There is no way to do “chances” for graduate admissions. First, the only thing we know about you is your GPA - that’s not nearly enough information for graduate admissions. Secondly, though, the graduate admissions process is qualitative and subjective. It’s going to be based on what professors need graduate students, who else is applying that year, funding situations, your personal statement and possible interview, and a host of other factors.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you are going for a PhD in sociology? As xdarthveganx stated, research is key. That’s going to be the single most important factor on your application. Do you have any sociology research experience, or experience in a related field (psych, anthro)? If you have none, your chances anywhere will be slim, and you will need to get some.</p>
<p>On what are you basing your choices of Brown and Rutgers? Choice of school should be based upon “fit,” which means that there are professors there doing the research you want to do (or something related) and that there are resources at that particular school to allow you to study what you want to study.</p>
<p>I’d also like to echo what he/she said and tell you to suck it up and take the GRE. You don’t want your career to be based on the fact that you were trying to avoid taking a 4 hour exam.</p>