[Ncabs] question about NC grad schools

Tue Oct 29 13:16:19 UTC 2013

I want to do Public Administration, with a possible concentration
either in Policy or in Budget/Finance. My undergrad work was in
Accounting.

As for the GRE, I have already been in contact with ETS Disability
Services, and they have been super helpful. I had a hard time deciding
whether to get large print or tactile supplements with the
computer-voiced GRE. I ended up choosing tactile because they said
that some test centers do not have CCTV's available, and I know the
large print would be no use to me without the color contrast from the
CCTV. My Braille skills are limited (uncontracted Braille read very
slowly), but ETS assured me that everything is described in the
self-voiced test, so Braille skills are not necessary. But I do think
the tactile graphics will be helpful so that I can get an idea of some
of the diagrams, shapes, etc. ETS sent me a practice computer-voiced
test with tactile graphics, so I am going to be working with that to
get familiar with the format. But it is a bit out of my comfort zone,
as I am accustomed to having print with CCTV to supplement audio. I
really like to be able to see some things, such as math problems,
visually. But I am hoping that being allowed double time to complete
the test will compensate for that awkwardness. And perhaps it will
work out such that my testing center will have a CCTV available.

As for preparing for the GRE, I was able to find some materials on the
ETS site, and I am also using a Kaplan book. I am focusing on the math
a lot. Fortunately, I had quite a bit of math in undergrad (College
Algebra, Calculus, and Statistics) so a lot of that is coming back to
me as I work through the prep materials. I have to admit I am a bit
nervous about the Analytical Writing. I am a good writer, but as I
have gone through the practice problems, I have run across one or two
that were about subjects that I didn't feel like I was knowledgeable
enough to write a thorough issue or argument essay. I know the
questions are supposedly designed so that they cover a wide variety of
subject areas but not a very deep understanding of any particular
subject area. Even so, I think having knowledge in what you are
writing about is very helpful.

And then there's the Verbal Reasoning. Gee, thanks for telling me
there will only be three or so big words on the test after I have made
a list of over 200 to study. (smile) But I am someone who enjoys words
and language so I am seeing this as a semi-fun way to expand my
vocabulary. Some of my favorites so far have been ebullience,
apoplectic, and punctilious.

By the way, your name sounds really familiar to me for some reason.
But if you grew up in Asheville, there is a good chance we met at some
point possibly through some training program, camp, etc. But all of
that has been so long ago that I don't remember well enough to say for
sure if I met you.

Shickeytha

On 10/28/13, Cindy Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Oh, and good luck on the GRE. They have great accommmodations, and
> information can be found at the ETS website. They can send you
> practice materials so you learn how to use the self-voicing system
> beforehand. By communicating with the disabilities department with the
> testing center you intend to use, they can initiate contact with the
> center and make sure all of the accommodations are in place for the
> day of. You can also ask for braille or large print supplements for
> your test. I am a braille reader and found that and the tactile
> diagrams especially helpful.
>
> I recommend studying for the math more than the verbal unless you're
> pursuing English or something similar. The rigor of the math is
> college algebra, and it is a lot easier to practice those type of
> problems even ifyou are terrible at math and apply them to math
> problems you see on the test than memorize millions of words to find
> about 3 on your test. I did not study the math much and now I know
> that if I had concentrated my efforts there, I could have done almost
> perfect on the math and probably the same as what I got on the verbal.
>
> Oh and have a good idea of which grad schools you are applying to
> beforehand so you can get the results sent for free. I think you get 4
> free, results sent to aditional institutions cost like $20.
>
> Cindy
>
> On 10/28/13, Cindy Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Great, what do you want to study? In grad school, the program is so
>> much more indicative then the school itself.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> On 10/28/13, Shickeytha Chandler <shickeytha at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Wow, thanks Cindy. This is helpful and definitely the type of
>>> information I am seeking about these schools. And you are lucky living
>>> in Seattle! I would love to live in a place with great transportation
>>> like Portland or Seattle. I was in a Baltimore suburb for a couple of
>>> years, but was not close enough to DC to benefit from the Metro, so
>>> transportation options were relatively limited. And we will not even
>>> speak about what transportation is like in rural western NC. (smile)
>>>
>>> Alan, I will also be interested to hear of your experiences at these
>>> universities.
>>>
>>> I am definitely feeling just a tad nervous about grad school, but I
>>> know it can be done. My current challenge is preparing for and taking
>>> the GRE, which will be the first seven-hour exam I have ever done.
>>> (That is with the extended time accommodation, of course.)
>>>
>>> Thanks again, and I look forward to further discussions with members
>>> of this list.
>>>
>>> Shickeytha
>>>
>>> On 10/28/13, Cindy Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Hi Shickeytha,
>>>>
>>>> I grew up in Asheville, graduated from UNC Wilmington and now live on
>>>> the west coast in Seattle.
>>>>
>>>> I personally had a great experience at UNCW! The disabilities office
>>>> was great although I feel that I did not need a lot of accommodations,
>>>> so my experiences with them were pretty minimal. They scanned my books
>>>> and provided a reader for math-related classes which was super nice.
>>>> They even allowed me to choose my reader and bring them in to fill out
>>>> paperwork so they could get paid. I had a few old-timey professors who
>>>> insisted that I take tests in the disabilities office. I prefer to
>>>> take my tests with the students so I can ask questions of the
>>>> professor if I need to, but I picked my battles and did not argue too
>>>> much, because in these particular classes, the tests were rather
>>>> straight-forward. I did take tests separately for math-related classes
>>>> when I needed to use my reader. However, if that is an accommodation,
>>>> the office will work with you. Overwhelmingly however, my professors
>>>> were willing to work with me directly and we did not typically need to
>>>> involve the disabilities office.
>>>>
>>>> When you sign up, you will see a list of accommodations. I would just
>>>> check all of them even if you do not plan to use one. For example, I
>>>> didn't think I would need a reader, but the process of getting one was
>>>> so much more seamless because I had checked it off from the beginning.
>>>>
>>>> I will say all of this with the disclaimer that I have not been to
>>>> UNCW since 2011 so staff may have changed, but I hope that they still
>>>> exhibit the positive and not overbearing qualities that I enjoyed as a
>>>> student.
>>>>
>>>> The campus itself is beautiful and walkable. However, the bus system
>>>> really sucks. I did not have a lot of independent travel experiences
>>>> when I went to UNCW and was ok with getting rides and such. But now
>>>> that I have had blindness training, I wouldn't give up the big city if
>>>> someone paid me. So if public transit is super important to you,
>>>> especially if you will have a lot of practica, you might want to think
>>>> twice about UNCW.
>>>>
>>>> There is a DSB office in the area, and you can get some O&M on campus
>>>> before if you would like. However, you probably know from your
>>>> undergrad experience that you will ultimately just have to get out
>>>> there and explore, because O&M can't teach you everything. I do not
>>>> think the campus is overly confusing by any means. From my experience,
>>>> everything was accessible. When I moved into my freshman dorm and
>>>> asked for braille signs, they installed them immediately. So if there
>>>> is a need like that that arises, the university seems to consider
>>>> improvements.
>>>>
>>>> Grad students can live on campus, but as of last time I checked, there
>>>> is no dedicated grad housing. there are apartment complexes in walking
>>>> distance from the university. Unfortunately, many of the streets with
>>>> shopping centers near UNCW are not very walkable.
>>>>
>>>> I am not familiar with being a grad student as I am applying to grad
>>>> school myself, but I know that the grad programs tend to be well
>>>> acclaimed, not quite as hard to get into as some other universities,
>>>> and that the community of professors and students is still small and
>>>> intimate.
>>>>
>>>> I am most familiar with the psychology department and have maintained
>>>> contacts. If you are pursuing one of the masters programs in
>>>> psychology, then feel free to email me offlist with your interests,
>>>> and I will be happy to introduce you to faculty that I know if they
>>>> fit with your interests. They just got a great new building, and when
>>>> I was an undergrad research assistant, I worked on a cohesive team
>>>> that respected my strengths; blindness was never a big deal.
>>>>
>>>> And best of all, it is near the beach!
>>>>
>>>> HTH!
>>>>
>>>> Cindy
>>>>
>>>> On 10/28/13, D Minter <cmin79 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> I would love to hear these responses also.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Oct 28, 2013, at 11:31 AM, Shickeytha Chandler
>>>>>> <shickeytha at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I live in the western part of the state and received my undergraduate
>>>>>> degree several years ago. I am now looking at a few graduate programs
>>>>>> and would like to see if any of you can give feedback about any of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> following schools: UNC Wilmington, NC State University, and UNC
>>>>>> Greensboro. I know that having a strong Disability Services office
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> a campus culture that is open to people who are blind can make life
>>>>>> so
>>>>>> much more pleasant when one is trying to focus on studies and does
>>>>>> not
>>>>>> need distractions such as worrying about getting appropriate
>>>>>> accommodations, etc. And I am sure that will be even more important
>>>>>> at
>>>>>> the graduate level. So do any of you have any experience at any of
>>>>>> these schools? Also, I would be open to any insight any of you have
>>>>>> about being a blind grad student in general. Thanks in advance!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Shickeytha
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Cindy Bennett
>>>> Secretary: National Association of Blind Students
>>>>
>>>> B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
>>>> clb5590 at gmail.com
>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Cindy Bennett
>> Secretary: National Association of Blind Students
>>
>> B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
>> clb5590 at gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Cindy Bennett
> Secretary: National Association of Blind Students
>
> B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
> clb5590 at gmail.com
>
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