"it's pretty much not going to happen without a solid reference from a professor willing to work with you." Working on it (and on getting research exp) :-) "s

"it's pretty much not going to happen without a solid reference from a professor willing to work with you." Working on it (and on getting research exp) :-) "slaughtered the GRE general & subject" I have an almost perfect score on the GRE general (800/800 Verbal 790/800 Quant, 6/6 writing) . Taking the subject exams later this year. Not too worried about that either , but I heard these aren't of much value and research /recommendations are all that count. So I am working on those now. Ah well you work with what you have :). Along with many brilliant dedicated people, I also see people with rather mediocre research and recommendations (but perfect academic scores etc) get in (and then not do anything particularly brilliant/drop out etc), so I suspect there might be a (small) chance. If every one who got in thoroughly outclassed me I would have no hope. We'll see. :-)