Need your advice! Apply to doctorate programs and retake GRE or practice?

[Psych 111]

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[psychmama]

Given that your GRE is so out of line with the rest of your stats, this is a tough one -- I'd say you might still be a competitive applicant. Can you say anything more about why you think you did this poorly? Has this always been true for you (i.e., the SATs)? Are there learning differences (e.g., processing speed) that affect your ability to so well on timed tests? Test anxiety? Is the problem the same for the Quant and the Verbal sections?

Of course, if practice is what you want, getting a phd may not be for you, although a Psyd might be. What about an MSW?

 

[JockNerd]

You GRE may fall below the minimum requirements for many programs, and you might be cut before anyone sees your file. Where I'm in grad school, for example, sub-1000 applicants are simply removed by admin assistants before the files are sent for review.

If you know where you want to apply, maybe email the profs and ask. Otherwise, I say re-take.

 

[AryaStark]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO-mYH42QE4&feature=related

 

[Psych 111]

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[Psych 111]

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[psychmama]

hmm...I wonder...it does sound like there's something behind the poor testing. One thought is that a learning eval might reveal something that would entitle you to more time on the GRE. But those tests are usually not cheap, although there are clinics that will do them discounted. Maybe there's one at the school you're presently at?

I'm sorry that I was confused about the fact that you're presently in a master's program. I get it now. Are you in a clinical program or something similar where you can get licensed at the master's level? Do you think the Phd or Psyd would be necessary to advance your career goals?

At any rate, If you decide to apply to doctoral programs, I'd try to find out which ones have GRE cut-offs and which ones are more flexible and might give you a fairer shake. It sounds like you have some excellent stats in your favor.

 

[cardamom]

Whoa, before you start worrying about testing problems and whatnot, given that you said you didn't study for the GRE at all, definitely buy some prep materials, including something that comes with a cd so you can practice the CAT format, and see if, with some prep, you can do better. I normally test well, and yet when I first took a practice CAT format GRE cold, with no prep at all, I did pretty terribly, largely because the new format completely threw me. A bit of practice with the format, some work to re-learn the math formulas I'd long since forgotten, and some vocab flash card work, and I ultimately scored probably somewhere between 300-400 pts higher than that first attempt. If after prep you're still scoring in the 900 or similar range, then that would be a concern and psychmama's advice relevant, but cross that bridge if you come to it.

 

[aly cat]

Whoa, before you start worrying about testing problems and whatnot, given that you said you didn't study for the GRE at all, definitely buy some prep materials, including something that comes with a cd so you can practice the CAT format, and see if, with some prep, you can do better. I normally test well, and yet when I first took a practice CAT format GRE cold, with no prep at all, I did pretty terribly, largely because the new format completely threw me. A bit of practice with the format, some work to re-learn the math formulas I'd long since forgotten, and some vocab flash card work, and I ultimately scored probably somewhere between 300-400 pts higher than that first attempt. If after prep you're still scoring in the 900 or similar range, then that would be a concern and psychmama's advice relevant, but cross that bridge if you come to it.

I agree with this 100%. I don't mean to sound rude but if you say you always do well and are a top student (including on class exams), I think if you dedicate a good month or so to studying like almost everyone else going through this process and get a solid score to match your other stats-- you'll be in a great position.

 

[FadedC]

You should be able to absolutely do better with some study time. Also don't underestimate how much your might have improved after your time in grad school. When I took the GRE to get into grad school my verbal score was 650 and when I took it to get into my doctoral program it went up 100 points because all the reading comprehension exercises seemed so much easier once I was used to reading psych journal articles.

But the important thing is that trying to take the test without studying at all is crazy. You could probably significantly raise your score in a week just by studying test prep books and familiarizing yourself with all the math formulas and verbal tricks. Even if your bad at tests, you absolutely can do better.

 

[Psych 111]

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[psyed4clinPhD]

Good luck on the GRE!! I also agree that with some studying it is likely that you will do better 😀

 

[JP West]

Psyc 111,

Good luck with studying for the GRE.... I would recommend getting a GRE vocabulary flashcard book. I used one intensively for a month before I took the exam. Take it with you everywhere you go, and learn new vocab words whenever you have downtime. Make it your best friend for a month and it will help you rack up extra points on the verbal section 🙂