Apply to more places?

[SocStudent24]

Hi,
I am a senior at a small, prestigious private liberal arts college
Sociology major, applying to Sociology MA programs for Fall 2010
Overall GPA: 3.10
Last 2 years: 3.01
Major GPA: 3.37
GRE: 1200 3.5AW (I don't know what happened with the writing, I know I'm a very good writer, am submitting writing samples)
I am conducting my own independent study research project and fielding a survey at school
I know I will have great recommendations from my professors

I have applied to UVA, UMD, American, Brandeis, UDEL, GW, Penn State, UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington and BU

I'm worried because of my low GPA and AW score I won't have a chance at any of these places. I'm starting to panic and think I should apply to more places with lower admission standards, but I don't want to end up applying to 20 places if I don't have to. I was also considering West Virginia University, Old Dominion, George Mason, East Carolina, UNC Greensboro, UNH, Clemson and Marshall University. If you have any other suggestions I'd like to hear them.

My schools is known for grade deflation and they do send a letter with all transcripts stating that grades from here are typically lower than normal universities, but I'm not sure how much that will matter.

I just don't want to be left in a few months with only rejections, I need to get in somewhere

Thanks!

[JessicaC316]

If I were you, I would apply to more. Your GPA, especially in the past two years, is a less than perfect, so maybe apply to two or three with lower standards. If even a school's minimum is a 3.0, you want to impress them! I also am a good writer and got a 3.5 and a 4 on my GRE attempts. I don't know what gives, but I think schools pay more attention to verbal and quantitative scores.

Good luck!