(Untitled)

[anitakay]

I honestly can say that I have hit the panic mode.  I took the GRE and scored pretty low (didn't even hit 500 on either the verbal or quant) two weeks ago; I received my official scores today and had a lower score on the analytical writing (something that I am usually strong in).  Given my current economic situation, I cannot afford to retake the

Comments

[pinkspudbrit]

if you're trying to get into a phd program, you really need to do some research studies or sell your blood or something in order to retake the test. yes i would mention the reasons for your low scores. if you want to get into a phd program, shouldn't you have at the very least a 1200?

[fizzykitty]

But if the OP didn't hit 500 on either section, they didn't break 1000.

[homericlaughter]

Try to find ANY conceivable way to finance a retake, if there's a good chance you'll do better on the next go round. If you're just crap at standardised tests, you may be better off just leaving it, and let the rest of your application speak for itself.

Why did you score so low? Are there concrete reasons behind it?

Also, how bad is your GPA? I want to ask since some people who post here will call a 3.8 GPA a low GPA, and some people will consider their 3.1 very solid.

[anitakay]

I'm not very good at standardized tests in general. So, I did a lot of prepping for this one. I used the Princeton Review's Cracking the GRE book. While taking the practice tests on the website I kept the clock up. On the actual exam, however, I did not have it up at all. Needless to say, I didn't pace myself very well. I ended up with five minutes to go and ten questions left. I couldn't finish the writing section, either.

My GPA was a 3.06--and there are extenuating circumstances behind my low GPA as well.

[homericlaughter]

I would say that "not being a good test taker" is not an accentuating circumstance.

[catherinian2]

honestly, I'd find some way to re-take the exam. (credit card? call in old loans? hit up the parents? bake sale? car wash? rummage through the couch? sell the dog?). I understand that there are reasons behind lower scores, but you want to make sure that your application is looked at. While it's possible that a school might overlook a low GRE OR a low GPA, I think that it's less likely that they'd overlook both.

[kiran]

apply to canadian schools! we don't do GREs here for most programs.
-k.

[kiran]

same with the UK.

[thoughtspenned]

Awesome! This definitely made me happy. I'm looking into the possibility of studying there. Soon, I hope. I've yet to start the application.
One year out of school. Became a research assistant. And yes, research is where my heart is too.

[kahlan_amnell]

How did you prep for the GRE? If you didn't study much, I'd strongly recommend doing so and taking it again. For the verbal section, it really is a matter of taking the time to study the obscure words that they use on the test.

Some graduate schools do have minimum GRE score requirements, and scores under 500 on both sections could mean your application wouldn't get considered.

So even though money is tight, it is fairly important that you find a way to retake it if at all possible.

Good luck!

[invsagoth]

I would probably say try and retake the test if you can, if you think that with more prep you would do better. I would hope that any GPA issues could maybe be addressed by you and by at least one of your LOR writers, if they know why? I'd say to just not make it sound like a sob story. Be professional about it and don't linger on it, but explain it.

If you don't get in this year, I would say try and get some job/research experience in your field and try and prep for a retake of the GRE.

Good luck!

[anitakay]

I'm already one year out of college. I'm working for one of my professors as her research assistant--something that I am doing really well, I might add.