Advice on GRE scores?

[mystal]

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I just got back from taking the GRE and UGHHH it was so awful! I only had three days to study for it (just returned to the states), so I didn't have much time to familiarize myself with the format and really messed up the timing. Had to guess on like a third of the math and didn't even get to the last problem! :/ I'm okay with my verbal score and I think I wrote some pretty good essays but got a 710 on math (which was a relief given the circumstances but unspectacular in general). That's probably not bad enough to warrant a retake, but then again I worry that I need a better score to offset my low GPA (3.3 something). I know that epidemiology MPH programs are probably looking for a higher math score. Thoughts on a retake?

 

[Veggie Monster]

I just got back from taking the GRE and UGHHH it was so awful! I only had three days to study for it (just returned to the states), so I didn't have much time to familiarize myself with the format and really messed up the timing. Had to guess on like a third of the math and didn't even get to the last problem! :/ I think I did pretty well on the essays, but my math was 710 and verbal 660. I feel like that's probably not bad enough to warrant a retake, but then again I worry that I need a better score to offset my low GPA (3.3 something). I know that epidemiology MPH programs are probably looking for a higher math score. Thoughts on a retake?

no need to retake.

 

[2013MPH2013]

I think it should be fine. It is much higher than my math score and I was accepted where I applied 🙂 Also, if it helps you feel any better, I think that is a awesome math score considering you skipped a problem. Skipping a problem really lowers your score disproportionately compared to getting something wrong so you did very well despite the circumstances.

 

[swaffles]

My honest opinion: 710 is definitely higher than average but not competitive. I feel like maybe you need to provide your goal programs for us to give better opinions. Which epi programs are you aiming for? If they're at more competitive schools, I think you should retake your GREs because most competitive schools in general like Q scores over 750. However, if you have a good solid background in public health related experience and volunteering and such, then that should definitely offset the GRE and GPA. I've seen lots of people on here get low GRE scores, coupled with average GPA scores, and still get into REALLY good programs because of all the experience they've had (and probably because of a well written personal statement as well).

http://testprep.about.com/od/thegretest/f/GRE_FAQ_Score.htm <- this site is super generic but it has a list of average GRE scores that some of the schools accepted (it's not specified by program or anything so it's VERY general).

I think a good thing for you to do is for you to contact people on here who have gotten into the programs you like and see how they did and see how you stack up. It'll help you get the most focused advice too! I got into some Epi programs and my stats are in the link below, so hopefully that'll be some help.

Good luck!

 

[cerealrhapsody]

I disagree. I think 710 is a perfectly competitive score for MPH programs in epidemiology. Is it going to knock anyone's socks off? No. But is it going to be a liability on your applications? I don't think so.

Now, considering the circumstances you described, if 710 is your score after barely studying, I'd imagine you could get in the 750-800 range if you retook the exam and studied your butt off for months and didn't run out of time on the actual exam. It certainly wouldn't hurt to do this, especially given your slightly low GPA, but I definitely don't think 710 is a deal breaker, even at the top schools.

If it makes you feel any better, I got a 700 and was accepted to all 5 epidemiology MPH programs where I applied - Emory, Tulane, UT at Houston, USF, and BU. My GPA was a bit higher than yours, but nothing special, and I didn't consider myself an exceptional applicant.

 

[mystal]

Thank you all for your advice! I guess I should provide more information about myself.

I'm graduating from the college of william and mary (winter 2011) with a double major in global health and environmental science. I've taken a lot of relevant classes: intro public health, epidemiology, geographic information systems, health ethics, global health senior seminar, science of nutrition, physiology of obesity, sociology of food, etc. I'm interested in studying how food systems relate to obesity as en epidemic. I'm also interested in studying social determinants of obesity, so right now I'm torn between SBS and epidemiology. In general, I'm a lot more interested in sociology than science, but I'm not sure I can visualize a career in SBS. My top schools are Yale, Emory, and Hopkins.

My experience includes:

• altitude physiology research assistant, two semesters
• international service trip leader to china, two summers
• lots of other volunteering: organic farm working with children with disabilities, camp for underprivileged children in newark, NJ, many hours at a nursing home
• launched a sustainability campaign on campus and wrote a report analyzing results (I was supposed to get a grant for this but my adviser failed to meet the deadline so I ended up being paid work-study hours)
• intern at World Pediatric Project (an international health organization)
• intern at GIS company
• chinese TA, four semesters
• two independent research grants
  • english language acquisition in china
  • documentary on food systems and obesity

I'm also fluent in mandarin chinese and french and pretty proficient with ArcGIS.

So, I do have a bit of experience, but nothing professional, and most of it isn't directly related to public health, but I think I can give it a public health spin in my personal statement.

I know I can do better on the math section of the GRE: I got a 780 and 800 on the powerprep practice tests. I just really screwed up the timing this time! But, if I do retake it, I'd have to the take new version, and I'm worried about how comparable the new scoring system will be.

If I end up applying to SBS programs, I'm not worried about my score, but if I decide on epidemiology programs, I feel like I need at least a 750Q to make my application more competitive. But I also think maybe I should focus on other aspects of my application. What do you guys think? Do I have enough experience to offset an unspectacular GRE math score? I realize that a lot of people applying for an MPH already have professional experience, which is what I'm concerned about.

But yeah, I should probably figure out which department I want to apply to first... thanks y'all!

 

[swaffles]

I feel better about being optimistic after seeing all that. You have an incredible background and I don't think you'll have to worry at all. Also, Hopkins has an MSPH for non-health professionals (2 years of experience in the field or more) and an MPH for health professionals, so if you're planning to apply to the MSPH (which will most likely be the case), it won't be as if you're competing against the MPH crowd. Same with Emory, I believe. You'll be judged against applicants who are also coming from undergrad or a year break and against them, I'm sure you'll do just fine. You have a lot of experience to fall back on and work into your personal statement. I know you're worried about your GPA but maybe you can find recommenders who will testify for all your hard work and dedication - this would really balance any worries you have. Good recommendations get you very very far.

Also: They say that your GRE scores are sent to schools but don't we get to say which schools they're sent to? For example, if you took the new test because you weren't feeling good about this score, at the end of the test, you can just specify that you wanted that score to be sent to just one school (maybe your safety school), can't you? If the score ends up being awesome, then you could send it to other schools later, yes? Unless they have something to get rid of this loophole that I don't know about.

Good luck!

 

[mezmerized7]

MYSTAL, no need to retake as someone stated before. You got 710 and worried! No hun, no need to. With all your experience and being trilingual and saving the world (just kidding 😀), I think you're a strong applicant. Even if you had half of the experience you posted, you would still be a strong applicant.

All the best!!

 

[mystal]

Thank you guys for your reassurance. It means a lot to me! =)

 

[mwdl4life]

I just got back from taking the GRE and UGHHH it was so awful! I only had three days to study for it (just returned to the states), so I didn't have much time to familiarize myself with the format and really messed up the timing. Had to guess on like a third of the math and didn't even get to the last problem! :/ I'm okay with my verbal score and I think I wrote some pretty good essays but got a 710 on math (which was a relief given the circumstances but unspectacular in general). That's probably not bad enough to warrant a retake, but then again I worry that I need a better score to offset my low GPA (3.3 something). I know that epidemiology MPH programs are probably looking for a higher math score. Thoughts on a retake?

Is anyone planning on taking the new GRE? Would the same supplemental study guides for the old GRE, at least for the Verbal portion (e.g. Vocab books), be serviceable for the new test?

 

[mystal]

Is anyone planning on taking the new GRE? Would the same supplemental study guides for the old GRE, at least for the Verbal portion (e.g. Vocab books), be serviceable for the new test?

I think vocab's gonna be a lot less important on the new GRE. There will still be sentence completions, but it's much easier to figure out vocab in context. So, I'd study with a book that's specific to the new GRE.

 

[headstrong111]

I think vocab's gonna be a lot less important on the new GRE. There will still be sentence completions, but it's much easier to figure out vocab in context. So, I'd study with a book that's specific to the new GRE.

Hey.. Sry to get my own problem in.. But I have a 620 in verbal n a 770 in quant. 3.6 as gpa. Are these scores good enough for..
1. Mhs in epidemology at hopkins
2. Mph at harvard
3. Ms in epidemo at stanford
I am a health professional with an experience of one year.
Plz do reply..

 

[Veggie Monster]

Hey.. Sry to get my own problem in.. But I have a 620 in verbal n a 770 in quant. 3.6 as gpa. Are these scores good enough for..
1. Mhs in epidemology at hopkins
2. Mph at harvard
3. Ms in epidemo at stanford
I am a health professional with an experience of one year.
Plz do reply..

scores are good. just focus on your statement of purpose.