<p>I'm currently a junior at UMass-Amherst (Commonwealth Honors College) majoring in Middle Eastern studies with a minor in Modern Hebrew. As of today, I have a 3.9 overall GPA at the university and graduated with a 3.85 from a community college (Associate of Arts degree) from which I was admitted into UMass. However, years ago, at a previous college I didn't do so well and came away with a 2.92. Is there any chance that an Ivy-League or top-25 might accept me into their grad program (Middle Eastern studies)?</p>
<p>May turn on how you do on the GRE.</p>
<p>Byerly, despite the fact that we haven't always seen eye to eye on things, I was wondering if you knew anything about the Graduate School of Education admissions process...</p>
<p>It's very much dependent on how well your interests match up with a given department and a given advisor. With your record, a reasonable showing on the GRE, and strong support from a potential advisor, especially if he/she is a full professor, you've got a shot. But if the fit is bad between you and the department, no combination of GRE and GPA is going to get you in.</p>
<p>What you ought to be doing now is identifying faculty with whom you would like to work, getting in contact with them, making them aware of how your research interests/aspirations mirror or complement theirs, and convincing them that you're capable of original, high-quality scholarship. Admission to Ph.D. programs is much, much more based on individual advocacy and relationships that undergrad or M.A. admissions, as is the award of funding.</p>