Problem: Article: Many graduate programs are willing to overlook a poor GPA if you have high GRE scores. Even ivy league universities may accept an applicant with a low GPA if the GRE scores are above average. Make sure you take the GRE, even if you're not required for a given program, and study hard so that you score well. Review high school math subjects like algebra and geometry, which most GRE math questions expect a basic knowledge of. Study advanced vocabulary, as the verbal section of the GRE tends to expect advanced vocabulary knowledge. Consider taking a GRE preparation course. If you can't afford a course, you should at least buy a GRE prep book. Take a GRE practice exam, which is available for free online through ETS, Princeton Review, and Kaplan. Retake the GRE if you don't get good scores. Many universities look at your best GRE scores and disregard your poorer scores. If you have a low GPA, there's a good chance you won't get admitted to a top-notch or ivy-league university. But that doesn't mean you should give up all hope of graduate school. You may just have to apply to programs that have lower admission requirements or are more flexible on factors like your GPA. There's no shame in applying to programs with lower admission requirements. Remember that even students with a perfect 4.0 GPA often can't get into their first-choice schools. Look around at different programs and try to find a program that fits your needs while still maintaining a high academic reputation. Remember, too, that getting a degree from any graduate program is prestigious and will help advance your career. Focus on applying to programs that evaluate your application as a whole package and not just based on grades. Check each program's admission policy or contact someone from the program to learn whether they immediately eliminate applications based on grades and test scores. Even if you have a high GPA, you should always apply to more than one program. Even students with a 4.0 GPA have a hard time getting into a graduate program simply because of how selective they can be. It's generally recommended that you apply to six or so programs to improve the odds of being accepted to one of them. It's very common for prospective students interested in working with a professor to reach out to him or her through email. This can give you an advantage when the admissions committee reviews your portfolio. Let the professor(s) you're interested in working with know about your academic and professional background, as well as your current research/scholarly interests. Be professional in your correspondence, and don't be pushy. Some professors may not want to work with you, so don't take rejection badly. If a professor is willing to work with you, send that professor a response thanking him/her. You should also mention that professor by name in your application materials (specifically the personal statement). Graduate programs can be very competitive, even for applicants with perfect scores. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts at applying before you get accepted, which is perfectly normal. Don't get discouraged if you don't get accepted. Keep a copy of all your application materials, work on improving your work/education experience for another year, and try applying again with an even stronger application portfolio.
Summary: Study hard to get a strong GRE score. Be realistic about which programs you apply to. Apply to multiple programs. Try to make connections with at least one professor. Keep applying if you don't get in the first time.

Problem: Article: This can be difficult because you don't want to seem desperate or overly hurt, but if your crush didn't give you a good answer as to why they didn't want to go out with you, it could be good to meet up with them and ask a few questions to gain some insight as to what they are thinking. If they very bluntly stated why they didn't want to go out with you, like "I'm not interested in you for this reason" or "I'm going through something difficult and don't need the stress of dating," then you don't want to irritate them by asking for more explanation. People are often caught off-guard when asked out, so a lot of times they come up with an answer on the spot that may not be the complete truth. Calmly approach your crush and ask them if they wouldn't mind grabbing coffee (not as a date) because you wanted to talk through some things with them. Then, when you are together, ask if there was a specific reason they didn't want to go out with you or if your approach was what turned them off. Do not then proceed to ask them out again, but thank them for giving you some insight and be understanding and be patient. Sometimes it's the essence of the relationship that is what caused the rejection. Are you asking out your best friend and they are worried that it will ruin the relationship? Have there been conflicts recently that have left your crush confused or irritated with you? Thinking through your relationship can be helpful to know if it was part of the reason you were rejected. If you asked out someone you met once at a party or on a night out, this doesn't necessarily apply to you, but if you asked out a good friend it's possible that they don't want to ruin your relationship or there's something else going on in their life that's keeping them from jumping into something new. It's also possible that at this point they just aren't attracted to you, which in that case it just takes time and patience before you can ask them out again. Did you just ask someone out that you didn't know in a very demeaning manner, were you confident or really nervous in your approach, or did you catch your friend off guard and they didn't know how to respond? If you have asked other people out, think about the approaches that were successful and those that weren't and think about how you came across to your crush. If you asked someone out and were rejected, don't insist on taking them on a date. It can seem desperate and be incredibly annoying to your crush if you persist when they've already told you no. Once you have figured out why they rejected you, respect their answer and don't ask them out again right away. As previously stated, you want to respect the person you asked out by giving them time. Sometimes people need to process and think over things, and over time they may realize that they are interested in you. Giving your crush space to think over their feelings towards you could lead to a much more positive answer later on.
Summary:
Figure out why they rejected you. Think over your current relationship. Examine your approach. Respect their answer. Be patient.