What would you do - reporting GRE scores...

[markelmarcel]

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Ok, so I took the GRE 3 times. I just took it for a third time this morning, and needless to say I'm pretty disappointed. My scores haven't really changed all that much, so I didn't pick any of my schools to have them sent.

Now that I'm home, I'm wondering if I should've had the scores sent or not...

1st Test: 1060 overall
Verbal - 420
Quant - 640

2nd Test: 1080 overall
Verbal - 490
Quant - 590

3rd Test: 1090 overall
Verbal - 460
Quant - 630

At the time, I didn't want to send them because my verbal dropped again (even AFTER I memorized like 150 new words... not one of them was on my damn test, just a bunch of words I didn't know!), but now I'm wondering if I maybe I should have sent it since I went up in the math again.

Kind of like a, hey! I am smart- the quantitative wasn't a fluke! I can do well in math! Then again, I got As in Chem I & II, Physics I & II and Prob and Stats... so surely they'll see I can do math....

But, my verbal is all over.. 420, 490, 460... Ugh. And still not at that "minimum" 500. 🙁

Did I do the right thing? Or should I elect to pay to have the official scores sent? Or, should I unofficially let my schools know I took it and if they want the official report, I can send it??

Ugh. I am beyond frustrated. No matter how I try to study, I can't bump my score anywhere... Hopefully my high GPA will make up for it...

I wouldn't feel so terrible if I didn't log-in to facebook and see all of these "You are going to rock it! Good luck!" messages. Now, I feel like an ass.

So, thoughts? Did I do the right thing by not bothering to report them? Or should I have done it?



Just to clarify I am asking for opinions on whether I should pay to have this 3rd round of scores sent to my schools. They already have my first two scores. I didn't choose to report #3 anywhere, but now I'm wondering if I should have.

I am NOT taking the test a 4th time. 😉

 

[henohenoman]

Sorry to hear about your frustration w/ GRE scores. These standardized tests are very random and scores are gonna fluctuate w/in a reasonable range so I don't really get the point of having a rigid cutoff for min. I think the officials also know this so maybe not making that 500 won't be too big of a deal. Also IMO to consistently improve your verbal score you prob need to familiarize yourself w/ at least 500 words so it's going to take some time to get there. If you are absolutely sure that sending your GRE score a couple of months later wont count against you and that you are committed to the study then it might be a good idea to give it a try. Otherwise I'd just send your 3rd score and if I can recall you GPA is excellent! Also don't forget to consider the AW section.

 

[jbizzle]

ummm.....[scratches head😕]...you do know that GRE scores are kept for 5 years. So when you send your GRE scores in, it will show all scores for all the attempts within the last 5 years.

But like henohenoman said, you do have a high GPA so the GRE is only one thing they look at, don't worry, you are definitely OK in regards to your stats. Like I said before, someone with a GPA of 3.7 and a GRE of 980 (best try,3 attempts) got accepted.

And if I remember correctly, if you didn't choose the four schools for free at the time of testing, you can log in ETS later and have the scores sent to 4 schools for free still.

 

[markelmarcel]

ummm.....[scratches head😕]...you do know that GRE scores are kept for 5 years. So when you send your GRE scores in, it will show all scores for all the attempts within the last 5 years.

But like henohenoman said, you do have a high GPA so the GRE is only one thing they look at, don't worry, you are definitely OK in regards to your stats. Like I said before, someone with a GPA of 3.7 and a GRE of 980 (best try,3 attempts) got accepted.

And if I remember correctly, if you didn't choose the four schools for free at the time of testing, you can log in ETS later and have the scores sent to 4 schools for free still.

I'm not planning on taking the thing a 4th time, haha. And I didn't elect to send it anywhere at the end of my test today, so unless I took it a 4th time those scores wouldn't be sent until whenever I would decide to apply again, if I don't get in. I'm not worried about them being kept for 5 years or whatever, it's not like I'm embarrassed with my score, I'm just frustrated I can't get any higher.

Also, right off the GRE web site it says:

"Your test fee entitles you to request that scores be sent to as many as four graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors. For the computer-based GRE® General Test, you will be asked to designate your score recipients at the test center. For the paper-based GRE General Test, you will be asked to designate your score recipients during registration or on your admission ticket correction stub. You will be required to pay US$23 per recipient to have scores sent at a later date."

 

[RBNiu]

I wouldnt re-take it again if i was in your situation. I would contact schools that youre interested in to see if they will still consider you despite not fulfilling the min 500 verbal score. I think they would make exceptions. Plus, it wont hurt to just ask. Also just to reiterate what others have said, the GRE is just one component of your application it also seems much less important compared to observation hours, letters of rec, and of course your GPA. good luck to you!

 

[markelmarcel]

I wouldnt re-take it again if i was in your situation.

Oh, I'm absolutely not taking it a 4th time. That's just insane. I've bought like 3 books to help study and only have seen an increase in 30 points. And, I can attribute all of my scores to reasonable explanations, not a book. 😉

Anyway... I have already talked to the three schools I applied to... School 1 is my main concern (Pitt) but I wasn't really told one way or another, school 2 (Chatham University) I think I'll be fine. My third choice was a shot in the dark (Duquesne) anyway (they have an undergrad to grad 6 year program, so they only have about 5-10 open spots to outsiders coming in at the grad level) and I'm hoping one of my first two will accept me.

I have a really strong GPA, great letters of rec and varied shadowing experiences (although not a lot of hours, can't help that when I work full time). I am just so worried about getting accepted because I decided not to pursue my original bachelor's degree, took a year off from working to take the prereqs and I'm just praying that I get in... I just don't see myself going through the process again, I don't have really anything I can improve on. I've gotten As in all my classes but 3 (and they were all Bs) so I'm not going to re-take, and after 3 runs of the GRE, I'm feeling that I probably won't be increasing that anytime soon.

It's just so nerve-wracking. Ugh.

Thanks, though!

Oh, and both of my AW scores have been 4.5. Won't know about this third round for a bit, but I'm confident in getting the same.

 

[psu17]

I would have sent them - it at least shows you are trying to improve, and you didn't do horribly worse on verbal - your overall score was actually better

It's free to send them to 4 schools on test day - and you're only applying to three, you might as well have sent them

oh well- I'm not sure how to answer your question of should you send them now- I believe it will be $23/school now, if the schools don't care to have them I wouldn't worry about it - are you putting the new scores on PTCAS?

 

[markelmarcel]

I emailed my schools and told them that I had elected not to send on test day, if they would like this additional score I could have it sent once I received my official scores in about 15 business days.

So far one school has requested that I go ahead and send in the third scores.

I probably should've just done it on test day, but I was so frustrated that I just thought "Why bother?"

 

[jbizzle]

C'mon, your GPA is awesome

 

[oschrndz]

I wouldn't bother sending in the 3rd set of scores. Schools but more value on the Verbal scores than Quant scores, and you scored higher in Verbal on your second test.

 

[AZ123]

.

 

[hefe]

AZ123
I'd get your app in, if you wait you may miss the deadline anyway.
The scores will still be on your record when you update in the future, so they'll still see the 900.

Perhaps send a brief business letter to the admissions office to add to your file and show your planned GRE re-take date that you're trying to improve. If you get your new scores received by the deadline they will likely take those improve scores into account and add them to your file. Though, I'm not sure the deadline dates you're considering...

Maybe shoot for 450 Verbal, 550 Quant, 4.0 Analytical to get 1000 Combined and be a bit more competitive (yes I know 100pt increase not easier said than done). Try utilizing free GRE resouces to the fullest potential from your library and quiz yourself. Re-take once you feel you can make a good improvement.

 

[AZ123]

AZ123
I'd get your app in, if you wait you may miss the deadline anyway.
The scores will still be on your record when you update in the future, so they'll still see the 900.

Perhaps send a brief business letter to the admissions office to add to your file and show your planned GRE re-take date that you're trying to improve. If you get your new scores received by the deadline they will likely take those improve scores into account and add them to your file. Though, I'm not sure the deadline dates you're considering...

Maybe shoot for 450 Verbal, 550 Quant, 4.0 Analytical to get 1000 Combined and be a bit more competitive (yes I know 100pt increase not easier said than done). Try utilizing free GRE resouces to the fullest potential from your library and quiz yourself. Re-take once you feel you can make a good improvement.

Thanks for the reply Hefe,

That is a great idea. I will definitely do that. What do you and whoever reads this think about my other statistics; GPA and etc? I also did about 200 hours of volunteer work.

 

[lizzo76]

OP - you've got good grades in math and science. What about other courses? Did you take any English, or classes which required a lot of reading and writing? Did you do a lot of writing in any psychology classes? If it's the vocab which is tripping you up, but you have demonstrated evidence of solid reading comprehension, analytical and critical thinking, and writing ability, that might satisfy the schools, despite the fact that you didn't meet the minumum 500 GRE score.

 

[markelmarcel]

OP - you've got good grades in math and science. What about other courses? Did you take any English, or classes which required a lot of reading and writing? Did you do a lot of writing in any psychology classes? If it's the vocab which is tripping you up, but you have demonstrated evidence of solid reading comprehension, analytical and critical thinking, and writing ability, that might satisfy the schools, despite the fact that you didn't meet the minumum 500 GRE score.

I've only ever gotten 4 Bs since I entered college. The rest are As. General Psych (88%), Child Development (92% and an A was 93%), some Reading course for my reading minor (90%, again A was 93%) and Bio I (89.4% - ugh. really?)


I think it was the vocab that has been tricky, I learned a bunch of words before the last round and question #1-- some word I never heard of! Great! Haha.

I already have an interview at one school without the 3rd set (I figure when I go for my interview I can ask if they want the 3rd set) and a second school said to send it... They are currently reviewing my app now (Have been since Oct 13th-ish) and the third school never even bothered to get back to me. The third school is my shot-in-the-dark... They have an undergrad to grad program, so limited seat availability and they want scores of 1150+, so definitely missed the mark there!

My #2 school has sort of turned into my #1 school after visiting the campus (this is the school I have an interview at) and I'm feeling pretty confident about getting accepted since I was invited for an early decision interview... But, competition is always tough! 😛

 

[leah821]

Hey everyone,

I would to know what you guys would do if you were me...

For one of the schools that i am applying to, the early application deadline is 12/1/2010 and their regular admission deadline is 3/1/2010. Their minimum requirement on the GRE is 900 in total.

I recently taken the GRE and scored exactly a 900 on it (not happy about it). here is my situation...should i have my scores sent to the school still? i know i just made their minimum requirement on the GRE but i'm afraid that i'm "losing out" as in "the early bird gets the worm" what i am trying to say is that if the school receives it later, my chances may be more slim. if i take it again this month i would probably give or take +50 points higher or even -50 points lower than my 1st GRE score. So i really don't know what to do....

Here are my other stats. I am from the NY area

Graduated with a Business and Economics degree in 2008
Worked in a Wall Street for a few years and decided to do career change.

Overall GPA (PTCAS): 3.33
Overall Undergrad: 3.29

Post- Bach: 3.58 (All PT science classes)
PT Prereq- 3.6 (which includes Math and Social Science)
PT Core Prerequisites: 3.58

GRE: 900 🙁 .....Do not know Writing part yet...

Currently taking 3 more main core Prerequisite classes.

Please let me know what you guys think.

Az, do you mind telling me which school it is? I am also not happy with my GRE score.