General Admissions & OTCAS GRE scores good enough for Occupational Therapy Masters application?

[WannaBeEasternOTstudent]

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I recently took the GRE and I am worried my scores are not elite enough to be considered for a competitive application for the Eastern Occupational Therapy Master’s program (which I plan to apply to this coming January 1, 2016). I got 140 on Verbal Reasoning, 141 on Quantitative Reasoning (combined Verbal and Quantitative is 281), and a 4.0 on Analytical Writing. Do you suggest retaking it? If so, what scores should I obtain (your website says minimum 3.5 on writing)? Is the GRE a huge factor in having a competitive application?

I also have 200 observation/volunteer OT hours in over 10 different populations and settings, a 3.7 GPA in prerequisite courses, GPA 3.6, have great recommendation letters, and a good personal essay. Would these things outweigh my bad GRE scores? Is there anything else I could do to increase the chances of getting in?

 

[Bokonomy]

Apply to places that don't require the GRE as safeties?

 

[cal1992]

It depends on the school and how much they take into consideration your scores. From my experience, I got about the same as you and had to retake them. Verbal 147 and quant 141 the first time. And one school even suggest I retake them, I did and got my math up to 147 and I recently found out that I was not accepted. So I think gre had a lot to do with that. But ask your schools how much weight they put on it. I'm pretty sure in the 150s is the norm though, unfortunately.


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[calling4color]

some schools specifically say it should be 50th percentile or higher to be considered competitive, this usually means at least a 150 in both. Some schools will automatically skip you if you don't have above a certain score- they have to weed people out some way or another.

 

[WannaBeEasternOTstudent]

It depends on the school and how much they take into consideration your scores. From my experience, I got about the same as you and had to retake them. Verbal 147 and quant 141 the first time. And one school even suggest I retake them, I did and got my math up to 147 and I recently found out that I was not accepted. So I think gre had a lot to do with that. But ask your schools how much weight they put on it. I'm pretty sure in the 150s is the norm though, unfortunately.


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Thanks for your input. I hope retaking them will get me a better score. Good luck getting in next time around! I hope you keep trying

 

[cal1992]

Thanks for your input. I hope retaking them will get me a better score. Good luck getting in next time around! I hope you keep trying

Good luck to you as well! The GRE is a pain in the butt


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[Highlife.himalayas]

Definitely retake it! I received similar GRE score the first time I ever took it and I was so horrified lol but I spent two months studying and studying, made flashcards and memorized everything I could, I ended with 310 combined. I increased nearly 20 points. I'm sure you can too!