GRE for top MPH programs

[BackToTheWall]

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For those of you applying to Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Hopkins.. etc. Have you started studying for the GREs? If so, what are you scoring on the practice tests?

For those that have already taken it... is the book that the ETS prints with the real exams a good indicator of your score?

Well here are mine...
Test #1 - Math - 730
Verbal - 530

Test #2 - Math - 710
Verbal - 650

My first choise is Columbia... do you think that mid 13's to low 14's will be enough to get in?

Also for those who are planning on taking it.. have you scheduled your date for the GRE? I'm thinking Oct.4th. ALso do you think its better to take it earlier and get out the apps early?

 

[tara14]

I already have my MPH and I applied, and was accepted, to Columbia (this was about 2 years ago). I had a 1950 on my GRE's (this was before they switched the test and there were three sections scored out of 800 points each). I had a 750 Logical, 600 each on math and verbal. I didn't go to Columbia though but I was accepted with those GRE scores. I think there are a lot of other factors they look into - grades, major, recommendations, and your personal essay. I think you should be fine with your GRE scores below. Good luck!

 

[FollowingADream]

For those of you applying to Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Hopkins.. etc. Have you started studying for the GREs? If so, what are you scoring on the practice tests?

For those that have already taken it... is the book that the ETS prints with the real exams a good indicator of your score?

Well here are mine...
Test #1 - Math - 730
Verbal - 530

Test #2 - Math - 710
Verbal - 650

My first choise is Columbia... do you think that mid 13's to low 14's will be enough to get in?

Also for those who are planning on taking it.. have you scheduled your date for the GRE? I'm thinking Oct.4th. ALso do you think its better to take it earlier and get out the apps early?

Several years ago, while working on my MPH at a top school, I was asked to sit on the admissions panel as a student member/representative. This gave me great insight into what the admissions committee wanted (insight that I would have loved to have had when I was applying to MPH programs!)

Scores like what you are quoting above might be enough if you have some experience and solid rationale for the choice of studying MPH. My program wanted well rounded individuals and high GRE scores were only one part of the equation. So, if you have solid work/volunteer experience, high undergrad/graduate GPA from a respected university, a great essay/writing sample, and good presentation skills for an interview (if applicable) then they might shift down on the GRE requirement a tad. Alternatively, if you have less of the these assets then maybe you should keep working on GRE practice tests before taking the exam.

I sat in on numerous interviews. Some students had GRE scores in the 1300-1400+ range but did not interview well or did not seem clear on why they wanted to attain an MPH - these students were not further considered. Other applicants with professional degrees like MD/JD were admitted with lesser scores (1100-1200 range). Bottom line - they wanted a well rounded applicant, and the less well rounded the applicant, the higher the score they were looking for. Probably common sense but I thought it might be helpful information to share.

Best of luck!

 

[eccles1214]

Hi,

In my experience people tend to score a bit lower on the actual test than they do on the practice tests, perhaps due to the change in setting and test anxiety and pretest jitters.

For those of you applying to Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Hopkins.. etc. Have you started studying for the GREs? If so, what are you scoring on the practice tests?

For those that have already taken it... is the book that the ETS prints with the real exams a good indicator of your score?

Well here are mine...
Test #1 - Math - 730
Verbal - 530

Test #2 - Math - 710
Verbal - 650

My first choise is Columbia... do you think that mid 13's to low 14's will be enough to get in?

Also for those who are planning on taking it.. have you scheduled your date for the GRE? I'm thinking Oct.4th. ALso do you think its better to take it earlier and get out the apps early?