Are you talking about the GRE verbal or the GRE lit? Irvine *recommends* a 680 for verbal, and I believe Berkeley prefers a 700. 650 is the general number to shoot for for the lit test, though I don't think any school takes it *very* seriously. Those numbers are, however, only recommendations. Students have definitely gotten into both programs (and funded!) with lower scores. 3.7 is a good GPA. It shouldn't hurt you, but it's also not going to be a huge assert either: accepted candidates at both programs routinely have GPA's in the 3.8's and 3.9's (Candidates with 3.99's and 4.0's are also routinely turned down from both programs). It's the writing that will really count.
What might be of more pressing concern is the hint that I'm reading in your statement "hopefully can put together a good personal statement and writing sample"...which suggest that these pieces are not together yet. While some students do a great pulling it all together at the very last minute, many of us required much longer than a month (Berkeley has an early deadline). It took about 4 months for me to _revise_ my writing sample...and even then, it wasn't done when I had to turn it in. The SoP also took months...several dozen re-writes, actually. If the written parts of your application haven't begun to come together already, I'd consider waiting until next year--unless, of course, you're one of those speed demons that can miraculously pull it all together at the last minute. :)
What might be of more pressing concern is the hint that I'm reading in your statement "hopefully can put together a good personal statement and writing sample"...which suggest that these pieces are not together yet. While some students do a great pulling it all together at the very last minute, many of us required much longer than a month (Berkeley has an early deadline). It took about 4 months for me to _revise_ my writing sample...and even then, it wasn't done when I had to turn it in. The SoP also took months...several dozen re-writes, actually. If the written parts of your application haven't begun to come together already, I'd consider waiting until next year--unless, of course, you're one of those speed demons that can miraculously pull it all together at the last minute. :)
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