Choosing Universities (PhD)

[nirosilva]

CalmLogic,

Thanks so much for your views.

I think I'm in big trouble. Sri Lanka is not listed in the 08/09 test center list. It was listed in the 07/08 list. I know the CBT test is not offered in Sri Lanka but the PBT test was here. Last year, the GRECS was on 06th Oct and the general test on 27th Oct. But this year, Sri Lanka is not listed.

Do you know if this is the finalized list? Or are they still amending it?

I was hoping that this year's exams would fall on the same days so I was studying with that in mind. But this seems to be a problem, doesn't it? Please clarify.

Thanks in advance.

[CalmLogic]

Do you know if this is the finalized list? Or are they still amending it?

I would call or e-mail ETS. All I know is the list was just published online very recently, like a few days ago at the earliest. If calling is too expensive, they do respond to e-mails in less than a week, at least in my experience.

[nirosilva]

Thanks Calm,

I'll email ETS and let you know.

[nirosilva]

Hey all,

I've contacted ETS about the test center issue and they have replied me. But their reply is confusing at best. It says...

-----------------------------------------------------

Dear _______ ,

Regarding your inquiry:

The 2008-09 GRE Information & Registration Bulletins are not available at this time. Beginning in May 2007, visit our website at www.ets.org/gre to download the 2008-09 Bulletin or to complete the online Bulletin request form.

The Test Dates:

Paper-Based Gerenal Test
October 25, 2008
Feburary 21, 2009

Subject Test
October 18, 2008
November 8, 2008
April 4, 2009

We hope this information is helpful.

-----------------------------------------------------

I mean, they say beginning in May 2007 (obviously it should be a typo) but the ETS still has 07/08 bulletin in all their links. (I'm not quite sure how calmlogic got the link to the 08/09 test center list, bcoz I can't find that in the ETS site).

Anyway, since I still couldn't resolve this problem, guess I have to call them and see, right?

[CalmLogic]

Unfortunately, that's the kindof customer service we can expect from a non-profit monopoly. ETS customer service was good to me when my question was a typical question. But when my question was atypical, I got mostly frustration and misinformation.

So yeah, I would call them, and you may need to ask for a supervisor if the person who answers the phone can't help.

[nirosilva]

Guys,

Got our toefl score of the May PBT test today. I've 653 & my GF 613. She's a little worried that this is not a good score. Is this the case? I found out that Stanford needs above 650 in the PBT for CS PhDs. Does this mean that there's not point in applying to it? Too bad that we named Stanford as one of the score recipients. Would a decent score in the GRE verbal compensate for her score in the toefl? Please clarify.

Thanks in advance

[MDK]

Would a decent score in the GRE verbal compensate for her score in the toefl? Please clarify.

I know of the opposite, but I've never heard that a high verbal score would compensate for TOEFL. Simply the two tests are measuring different abilities. Besides, the TOEFL is a piece of cake compared to the verbal section in the GRE, I don't ,myself, expect anybody to score in the verbal higher than his/her TOEFL score.

[nirosilva]

MDK,

Thanks for your reply.

What's bugging me is that, as I see it, my GF's credentials are highly favorable and I believe she would have a better chance at a top university than I do. She has a near perfect GPA, has submitted a paper to an international conference (awaiting acceptance), got teaching and work experience etc. But it would be disheartening if this score on the TOEFL is the factor that keeps her from getting admitted to a good university.

So, given that other credentials are above average, what are the chances that an admission committee will hang on to the TOEFL score as a deciding factor? Stanford mentions 650 as their minimum. Does this mean that a person with 600-650 range does not have a chance? I've also seen some other universities that require something in the range of 620 for admission.

Would it be wise to ask her to re-take the TOEFL? Or else should she go with what she has?

I'd say what happen to her was that, she was so concerned about the GRE general and the subject, that she took TOEFL for granted and didn't give it enough attention.

Anyway, your comments on this is much appreciated.

Thank you once again.

[MDK]

I'll suggest contacting Stanford and other schools that requires >620 at TOEFL to check whether they apply strict cutoffs on their applicants. If that's the case then you should look for other options. Sometimes the graduate school forces the departments to apply certain cutoffs that they can't cross. My understanding about admission process is that the first round is just matching the minimum requirements and eliminating applicants that they don't qualify. Sometimes, if the TOEFL score isn't satisfactory they'll ask you to take some english classes.