Really Nervous. Insight is needed...

[noke11]

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So I just got back from taking the GRE, and I am pretty disappointed in myself. I got a 147 on the verbal and a 152 on the quantitative. I normally do extremely well on standardized tests but for some reason the way the questions were worded just weren't clicking with me. I did a lot of practice questions and stuff beforehand but the real test just seemed so much harder.

My current overall GPA is a 3.5. Maybe a little lower because I transferred schools after my freshman year and left that school with a 3.36 (currently a rising senior). So it's probably closer to about a 3.45.

My pre-req GPA is about a 3.6. I am currently taking physics and developmental psych this summer and expect to do really well in those classes.

I have 120 hours of outpatient experience and will be adding some inpatient experience this summer. But not a ton, only around 50 hours or so due to time contraints.

With all of this, I expect to be pretty much at the average for most schools in terms of GPA. But the GRE totally deflated me...

With the cycle about to start, I'm not sure what to do. I made the mistake of already sending my scores to 4 schools I'm applying to because it was free. Should I be as disappointed as I am or is there still some hope that I'm not completely screwed? If I take it again I have to wait 60 days.

The schools I plan on applying to are : Chatham, Pitt, Nova Southeastern, USF, UCF, UNF, South Carolina (both USC and MUSC), Belmont, East Carolina, Marymount, and George Washington.

My number one choice is Chatham and their average combined GRE score is 306. The last day that they accept GRE scores is 10/1 because they have an interview day in October that they interview all of their applicants.

Should I take the test again as soon as I can? Or am I stressing out for no reason? I REALLY don't want to have to wait until next cycle to get into schools because that means I have to live at home... Which I would be miserable doing.

Please help!

 

[PT2Bee]

It's simple...do those schools have GRE minimums? If they do and you do not meet, do not apply.

 

[Archline]

Yes, take it again!

 

[ktachiba]

I had similar GRE scores, especially verbal, but my overall GRE was a 304 (157 Q, 147V). I believe most schools want a minimum of 300 GRE which sucks cuz you missed it by 1 point. However, some schools only say they "prefer" a 300 minimum, while others have minimums for each section. You should check each program's requirements on CAPTE and their school web-site. I would also e-mail each program and ask directly.

You have pretty decent stats, so you may be able to get into a program without re-taking the GRE. Did you get a 4.0 or higher on the writing section?

 

[SnowyDPT]

I would personally say you need to retake it. Most schools prefer a higher verbal and writing score opposed to math. The GRE is a way for schools to compare applicants on a "level playing field" because it's standardized. So, the better you can do on that, it gets your application to the next "stage". Now that you've taken it, you might be able to relax a little going into it a second time and score better. My advice would be take multiple practice tests. I took 7 practice tests before my test date and felt really prepared. Schools will usually take your highest scores, so it doesn't hurt you that you have already sent your scores to 4 of your schools.

 

[tweaze]

Definitely retake it! It's still early in the summer, you have time to study and prepare better this time around. The GRE is also an endurance test - your mind definitely gets fatigued over those hours staring at the screen, so it might be beneficial to do some full length practice tests under simulated testing conditions.

 

[deleted699287]

Yeah take it again if you can. Spent at least 1 week doing FULL practice exams on a computer in a library or something similar to the conditions of the exam. That is what helped me the most. Eat well, sleep well, take a deep breath, and have confidence! Don't let the jitters get to you. Pray, meditate, listen to your favorite song, do whatever you gotta do to get your calm. You got it!

 

[AspiraDPT]

Definitely take it again. Many of the schools I have looked at have 150 as the minimum for V and Q. One school I spoke with actually said, they immediately will pull out the applications that don't have the minimum requirements, meaning no one will even ever look at the application. Just take it one question at a time. As you're done with a question, forget it even existed.