Terrible GRE Scores - Chances??

[kea76]

Hey,

I know questions like these are posted a lot, but I'm super nervous. I did really, really badly on my GRE math portion. My score is actually below the minimum requirement for the program I want to get into. I did fine on the others, though. I was in the 93rd percentile on my verbal, the 84th on my writing, and the freaking 20th for my math. I'm really concerned this will ruin my chances of getting in.

As a little more background, I am actually enrolled in courses at UAB's school of public health as a non-degree student right now - wanted to do it as kind of a trial run to see if this was the right move for me. I currently have all A's, including in my health economics course. i am applying to some backup schools, but I would like to go to UAB. I want to concentrate in health policy.

I had a 3.85 GPA for my final 3 years of college and a 3.65 overall (had some health problems and had to medically withdraw from college twice during my first year...which actually took me two to complete, and I had a pretty dismal GPA at the time). I also have made all A's on previous science and math courses - although, these courses were not advanced courses. I have some basic work/intern experience in the field of health policy. I worked on the implementation of the Child Nutrition Act last summer. I also worked for a trade association that represents chemical companies, where I helped edit public comments and coordinate meetings with business leaders and agency representatives and dealt on many issues pertaining to environmental and consumer health and risk assessments. I am interviewing on Friday to work at HHS for the summer on health reform implementation.

So, any thoughts on my chances? I would really appreciate any comments.

Thanks.

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[Globalhealth85]

I would recommend re-taking the GRE. Did you run out of time to finish the math section? That's what happened to me the first time I took it- I didn't time myself well and didn't have time to even read half the questions (got in 20th percentile as well!). I took it again as soon as I could (you have to wait one month) and I increased my score by 200 points simply by answering all the questions.

 

[kea76]

I did, indeed, run out of time. But I'm also just generally bad at standardized tests when it comes to math. I actually had a 200 point difference between my math and verbal SATs. I think part of it is, that I'm nervous. The other part is that the question possibilities are so broad that I find it difficult to figure out what to study for, and honestly I didn't study enough. I also took the test kind of late and applications are pretty much due, so I'm wondering if I can even retake the GRE at this point.

As an aside, I spoke to the department secretary when after taking it asking whether I should take it again. She said that I shouldn't unless they asked me to because I have made good grades on past courses (including stats) and because I was already doing well in my econ course. I did mention the low score in my SOP, just to say that I don't think it reflects my true academic ability. I'm just really nervous, though.

 

[jaya88]

Hi,
I was in a similar situation but if it makes you feel better, my percentage was actually worse! Basically, my cat could have scored better on the quanitative section through random selection. I ran out of time and I am not that good at math anyway so I don't even think it was a test anxiety issue as much as lack of knowledge issue 🙂 I called the admissions director at the school I wanted to attend and she gave me invaluable advice: only retake the math section. You still have to pay the same fee, but you already did really well on the verbal section so why chance it and you can just focus on the math. I spent about 8 hours with a tutor in 2.5 weeks (just some med school kid I found on craig's list but he was great) and retook it and scored 200 points better. Also, I didn't have to wait a month to retake it--it was just about 3 weeks but I called ETS. The ETS people are amazingly nice, especially considering no one probably calls to say "hey, I got 1600 you guys are awesome" and they are dealing with either unhappy or anxious people all the time. Just taking that one section and breezing in and out of there actually was great. Also, good idea addressing it in your SOP!

Jaya

 

[waystinthyme]

OP...if you are applying for this cycle, you should go ahead and get your application in. i think your solid grades (at the school you want to attend in the future, no less) and good work experience will somewhat negate your GRE scores. it is also pretty late in the application cycle, so i don't think waiting another month to take the GRE is really an option for you at this point.

if you don't get in this year, then i would suggest a retake (before the new exam is implemented in August, as the math section is supposed to be a little harder). i would focus on the math section and timing before you take the exam.

like the two posters above stated, simply finishing the math section should improve your score dramatically. i would also look into jaya's suggestion of only retaking the math section (if this is an option...i have never heard of it previously).

either way, best of luck!

-waystinthyme

 

[Awapi]

like the two posters above stated, simply finishing the math section should improve your score dramatically. i would also look into jaya's suggestion of only retaking the math section (if this is an option...i have never heard of it previously).

either way, best of luck!

-waystinthyme

Jaya's right, you can choose to pay for the whole test but take only one section if you want. If you don't complete any portion of the other sections then it will go down as a no score (so you don't get like a 200 or whatever the lowest score is, you only get scored if you answer a question). I only took it once, but I took it in my Peace Corps country and a few host country nationals were taking it as well, they were taking only the verbal part again (English as a second language made their scores not that great), since they were doing that it made me aware of the instructions on the test which include the instructions for skipping sections (so I guess it's fairly common).

If you plan to do this though, I would call the school you plan to go to and ask their feelings on it. After my experience I brought up the option to other Peace Corps Volunteers taking the GRE and applying to grad school, they had mixed comments saying that some schools are fine with it and others aren't (they may want to know what you can do on the whole test at once instead of what you can do studying for one section at a time).

It's a viable option that you would be remiss to not consider, I would just check first with your school just in case! Good luck!!

 

[annalise]

Everyone here as great advice, but just for emotional support I just want to encourage you to never give up. I also do horribly at standardize tests. After intense studying I managed to get my GRE score up to the lower 600s for math and that was GOOD for me. I got into Harvard's MPH program (people told me people that Harvard generally does not admit people with math scores lower than 700) and I'll be attending in the fall. Granted, I applied with an advanced degree and a great deal of volunteer and research experience, but it sounds like you are doing everything possible to have a well-rounded application. For me, repetitive studying made the questions seem less scary and helped me to know what to expect. Just study, study, study, approach the studying process with a POSITIVE attitude, take tons of mock tests, and tell yourself the GRE math score is only one component of the application. This will help prepare you mentally and emotionally for test day. Good luck! 🙂

 

[Lodato]

Hi!
I did awful on my GRE too and I got in to some top notch programs!

I got into:
Tulane Health Systems Management
NYU Health Policy Management
Boston Health Policy and Management
Interviewed from U of Michigan and haven't heard back from them (Health Policy and Management)
Rejected from Columbia accelerated MPH Executive program (realistically, I am NOT a working professional)

My stats:
3.8 undergrad GPA from a small liberal arts college in psychobiology and statistics
A bit of volunteer and experience ranging from Planned Parenthood and the CDC
Verbal: 570 (70th percentile)
Quant: 470 (22th percentile)
Writing: 99th percentile

Most schools were worried, especially Columbia and Michigan, about my quant skills. When I spoke to Tulane and BU they said that they recognized my stat classes and upper level science classes (very math intense) and not to be worried- they look at the whole package.

I KNOW you have a chance...When I spoke to admission counselor at Harvard, he seemed very interested and encouraged me to apply but the program didn't fit my needs (the people there seemed to stringent and inflexible for me personally, also, I could not find ANY faculty that interested my research tastes).

I hope this helps- you can do it!