<p>Loved reading the posts on the recommended International Affairs / IR (maybe MPP/MPA) schools. I am applying this year and I would love the opinion of people with IR Grad School admissions experience!</p>
<p>I have a decent undergrad GPA from a top public, 3.4 (double major in engineering and International Development), have a graduate certificate in Public Health, and have 3 years work environmental consulting experience with some time abroad, and want to get into one of the better IR schools, with top choice being Macmillan at Yale, and would also love SAIS, SIPA, Fletcher, GWU, Georgetown, etc. Not as big on KSG, WWS....(not enough international focus)</p>
<p>I was hoping to use a very high GRE to offset my lower GPA, and got 720-V, 770-M, 5.5-A. I'm fairly certain I can do better, but it would take effort, and in the chance of a bad day, it would take a little bit of risk.</p>
<p>In order to get into a top-tier IR / International Affairs school, do you think I still need to get that super high GRE, or is it not even worth the effort? I know that IR Grad schools don't focus on GRE numbers, but my lower GPA might suggest otherwise.</p>
<p>Your GRE score is already very strong. I would focus my energy on the applications themselves - the effect of adding 10 points to your score on your admissions chances are practically nil.</p>
<p>Retaking the GRE would be a monumental waste of time. Your scores are already very strong and the GRE is not the LSAT, in the sense that a tiny bump in your scores will never make a big difference in what schools accept you. Focus your energy on the other aspects of your application, as the previous poster said.</p>
<p>Thanks porkypig and jmleadpipe. I will definitely take your advice into consideration. I appreciate the quick reply.</p>
<p>My thoughts: I had that same feeling of what you said, but there is not many other variables that I can change in my application other than the GRE score (i.e. my work experience, GPA, etc.). The only thing that I can spend more effort on is my personal statement, letters of rec but that's just going to take time.</p>
<p>I thought of retaking it also because merit-based financial aid is based off of the GRE as well. Isn't this true where pure numbers make a differenc?</p>
<p>If 10 points make no difference, would 30-40 points possibly make a difference? </p>
<p>My sense from both sides of the admissions process is that the GRE is a threshold - below a certain score it is an easy way to eliminate some files, but above that bar it does not distinguish between them. You're well above any threshold at any of the IR programs you are looking at.</p>
<p>I know less about the merit aid situation, but I would imagine that those scores would put you at the very top of the applicant pool in terms of test scores - and I would guess that getting 790/750 if you took the test again would not make a difference...</p>
<p>Sweetie, you were an engineering major. I would rather eat pine cones than take the sort of classes you did, and I'm sure the admissions committees will not see a 3.4 as an extremely low score in light of this. Your professional experience and GRE score more than make up for it. Taking it again and getting two 800s will only change the original "Wow! This person has amazing experience and great test scores; he'd do well in our program," to "Wow! This person has amazing experience and fantastic test scores; he'd do well in our program." Only that last bit counts ;)</p>
<p>Go do something despicably lazy. You're making us all look bad.</p>
<p>Allow me to join the chorus. Don't retake the GRE. If anything, you have more to lose than to gain, since a higher score will not help you, and if you get one or two questions wrong early your score will be lower.</p>
<p>Spend the time working over your SOP and writing sample. It will take more time than you think, so start now.</p>
<p>Excellent advice regarding working on SOP first. I won't touch the GRE again for now.</p>
<p>The weaknesses I see in my app: My work experience also isn't "abroad" but only in domestic environmental consulting with bits of NGO experience abroad. If my GPA is below the median for most of these schools, what are my chances? </p>
<p>I don't like math (but can do it if really required) so don't want to go to SAIS much anyway. SIPA seems to be a good, but not as highly regarded.</p>
<p>If I can take the chance to ask a related question, I'm applying to many of these schools as well, but my writing score sucks. 4.5. But my math is 790. Will this offset in any way? I wanted to retake the test, but I'm in China right now, and I just looked at the gre website and found I would have had to register all the way back in August, because of special security measures here. So, I'm not really sure what to do. I'm considering putting a note in the file to that effect - but I don't want to come off too whiney.</p>
<p>Can anybody suggest any good "safety" schools after reading my profile? I know there are the American, GWU, Syracuse, etc but I don't want to apply to tons. I'm applying to 5 so far, but seeing as I don't have years of experience abroad or a super GPA, I'm wondering if I should have "backup" schools such as American or GWU. I just want an accurate look at my qualifications, and avoid thinking that I'm more qualified for an IR program than I think I am.</p>
<p>Thanks to porkypig, despseekphd, tkm, jmleadpipe already!</p>
<p>Japan would be the closest country...it would involve going there for a long weekend, just for the test, and probably blowing like $1000...with no guarantee of improvement. I'm thinking it's just not practical.</p>
<p>BTW, the University of Denver proudly boasts on its website that it is ranked higher than Syracuse, and it seems like a pretty interesting place - not the least because the dean sounds like a pretty interesting guy. (Trained like Ugandan soldiers in Karate, among other things.) I still might apply there. Also, in case you're interested in Asia like I am, UCSD - IRPS would probably be good to add to your list.</p>
<p>the dean of syracuse used to be an Ambassador, and is also an interesting guy. </p>
<p>Any decision on the GRE taking yet? I think the 4.5 won't matter as much for some schools, especially if you state that you're going for economics/statistics oriented programs like UCSD IRPS. You can retake it again if you want, and it's probably best, but it won't deny you admission into all schools.</p>