GRE on CV?

[amy203]

So I hate to post another "are my GRE scores good enough question," but I think this one has a slightly different angle.

I'm working on updating my CV, both to send to a couple of potential profs who have asked for it and to include with my application. I've noticed that some people include their GRE scores in their CV, but they're usually really good scores! I got a 1400 on my GRE, but it's really lopsided (620 math, 780 verbal). I know a 620 isn't a terrible score, but it's not great either and I'm not sure I want it at the very top of my CV.

So do undergraduate CVs usually include GRE scores (and GPAs for that matter)? Are mine good enough to display so prominently or should I keep them buried within the depths of my application?

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[PsychIntegrator]

Typically your CV is a list of your academic and clinical accomplishments. Posting your GRE scores, in my opinion, is not necessary. Some would argue that by posting the scores, you are trying to bring attention to your scores and away from the rest of your CV. Conceptualize your CV as a document that only really makes sense when you look at the entire document. As you are more than your college GPA, the CV allows you to show all your accomplishments not just one (GRE, etc.). The admissions application will want you to send a certified copy of your GRE anyway, don't put it on your CV.

Good luck.

 

[sbpsych]

Hello,

Could you please let me know what tactics you used to do so well on the verbal section of the GRE? Did you use any books and/or memorize definitions? I can't seem to get a high score, and my goal is 700. I am now making word lists with synonyms/antonyms for each word out of the Barron's book. Is this the right way to go?

Thanks for your help!

 

[JockNerd]

Hello,

Could you please let me know what tactics you used to do so well on the verbal section of the GRE? Did you use any books and/or memorize definitions? I can't seem to get a high score, and my goal is 700. I am now making word lists with synonyms/antonyms for each word out of the Barron's book. Is this the right way to go?

Thanks for your help!

I used each word I needed to study to ask a question about myself, then to answer a question about myself, and then to make a statement about my cat. Worked REALLY well.

 

[blindblonde]

I didn't put my GRE on the CV. The way I viewed the GRE scores as one hurdle. Personally, I would rather have a potential advisor read your CV and view you as a student based on your experience and hard credentials, not just some test score. You should have a general idea of necessary GRE scores based on your research of the school. It is ususally interesting to hear feedback of your CV despite any GRE score you may have.

However, I did put my overall GPA and psychology major GPA on my CV. In my mind, that has more importance and weight than a GRE score.

Good luck!

 

[NYCPsych]

Hello,

Could you please let me know what tactics you used to do so well on the verbal section of the GRE? Did you use any books and/or memorize definitions? I can't seem to get a high score, and my goal is 700. I am now making word lists with synonyms/antonyms for each word out of the Barron's book. Is this the right way to go?

Thanks for your help!

you should know that the verbal section on the GRE is very hard to score high on. math is much easier to score 700 & up. this is why a verbal 650 is something like 90th percentile. so, unless your target school's verbal average is 700+, don't stress yourself out too much!

 

[amy203]

I copied this from one of my previous posts:

I think the thing that helped me more than anything else was taking practice tests - I think I took close to 15 (computer adaptive versions). I bought a lot of books that included practice CDs - the trick is to buy one version back from the most recent version. There's almost no difference, and you can get them for around $10 on Amazon, especially if you buy them used.

One reason for taking so many tests was that it helped me perfect my timing. Remember that the questions early in the test are worth more, so you want to spend more time on them. I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the math section, so my strategy was to really focus on the first 10 questions and go faster after that. After completing so many practice tests, I had developed a rhythm that I easily slipped into on test day.

I also highly recommend doing a "trial run" - get up exactly when you will get up for the real test, eat what you'll eat that day, maybe even drive to where you'll take the test, then sit in a quit place and take a practice test (use one of the ETS versions) at the exact time you will on test day, with the same breaks.

The other nice thing about practice tests is they make you more aware of your weaknesses. Here's how I addressed mine:

Verbal: The verbal was my strong section, but I knew I had to get it really high to make up for my math score. I did a lot of practice problems, which helped me get into the "mindset" of the test, if that makes sense. I think that’s the best way to study for the RC and analogy questions in particular - you have to understand the mindset of the people who created the test, since those questions are rather subjective. Kaplan and Princeton also offer some good tips on narrowing down answers if you aren't sure which is correct. I also bought an older version of Barons (10 bucks!), which has hundreds of practice problems. I would carry it around with me and do a few whenever I had time. Finally, I did some last minute studying the day before the test. I know most books say not to do this, and I mainly took it easy that day, but I did review vocab words - about 200 of them. I didn’t learn them in a way where they'd stay in my memory forever, but I was able to recall several of them the next day.

Unfortunately, I think the verbal section has an awful lot to do with luck. I have a friend whose verbal score varied by 100 points across two tests, with very little studying in between. It just has a lot to do with whether you happen to know the words presented in the first 10 questions or so. Luckily, this worked in my favor, and my score was higher than on any of my practice tests, but it could have easily gone the other way. For this reason, I wouldn't kill yourself studying for it.

Oh - I ended up leaving the score off my CV, which I think was the right decision!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

100 pt swing...wow!

-t