<p>First time poster long story short I am a senior and a triple major: urban studies, social studies and geography. I am extremely interested in civil engineering and in specific the sub-fields of transportation and geospatial engineering. </p>
<p>My academic background started out in civil engineering but branched out when I did poorly. I now have a 3.0 GPA, a rather crappy GRE score of 410v 530q, and a minor background in civil engineering (yes calc I-III, linear algebra, chem, physics etc - I passed but did poorly). I have held several internships and currently working with department of transportation. I realize that I make an excellent candidate for urban planning or geography. I am much more interested in the technical aspects of civil design and integrating remote sensing rather than policy making. It is my insatiable desire to become some sort of engineer. I will graduate my undergraduate studies with two degrees. I have also had a minor research article published.</p>
<p>I have made a graduate plan and even submitted a preliminary thesis proposal for the master’s urban planning program at the school I currently attend. I have also spoken with the main professor handling transportation at the only (big 10) school in the state that offers graduate studies in civil engineering. I have also been granted the ability to apply for Norwich online. I am also mildly interested in the Meng program @ UC Denver. </p>
<p>I feel strongly that I can do the actual civil design/planning/computation work. I know I have real issues with choking on tests. I realize that I probably won’t get any aid (again). I'm not interested in getting into a top school I merely want to learn. </p>
<p>So my question is how do I strategize toward getting accepted into a civil program? How do I sell myself? Any help would be appreciated</p>
<p>How did you manage to get through Calc I to III and Linear Algebra but only get a 530 on the Q section of the GRE?</p>
<p>It seems the school you went to must not have taught mathematics very effectively. That 530 Q GRE looks like a score from somebody that didn’t take any college level math classes, let alone Calc III and Linear.</p>
<p>@OmninousRun, the GRE is not higher math. It tests on stuff that people usually haven’t taken since high school, so taking calculus and linear algebra have nothing to do with it. Most importantly, it doesn’t allow test takers to use a calculator, something that even the SAT does; students are often rusty about doing math in their heads, making time a real issue when taking the GRE. Many people make the mistake of not practicing for the math section because they figure if they got As in Calculus, then they should be fine. And some people freeze/slow down with test anxiety.</p>
<p>I know what is on the GRE Quant. I just have a hard time believing that somebody who had the mathematical logic and skill set to get through Calc III and Linear Algebra on the college level would score that low on the GRE.</p>
<p>Something isn’t adding up. Either their school really didn’t teach math that well, or they really didn’t take those classes, or some other reason.</p>
<p>It’s one thing to not practice the GRE Q when you have a good math background, it’s another thing to score a 530 when you have had higher math classes.</p>
<p>As I said in my OP, I think the poster might struggle with quantitative/mathematical reasoning on the word problems of the test.</p>
<p>My point is that I’ve seen excellent students screw up the GRE Q because 1. they were too slow or inaccurate with mental math and 2. they forgot plane geometry formulas.</p>
<p>I understand, but screwing up the GRE for engineering is getting a 720.
I can understand a 530Q if the OP failed to complete a large part of the test…</p>
<p>Yes, but the OP isn’t an engineering major.</p>
<p>I completely agree that he/she has to dramatically improve the Q score, but I also don’t think one should question the quality of the undergraduate education based on a single GRE score.</p>
<p>To be rather blunt I have come to recognize that I choke on important tests. My education has included a larger depth and variety than the average, much less the average triple major. Thanks everyone.</p>