Should I do another BA?

[yes_just_lovely]

I'm the person who posted a question on here yesterday about my low GRE scores (in the 300 range for both V&Q). I've been spending a lot of time thinking about why I did so poorly after spending so many months preparing. I took into consideration everything you all mentioned (test anxiety, English not a first language, poor preparation, learning

Comments

[kleis]

I'm not sure what you should do, but I understand your line of reasoning. If ETS says that what their tests gauge is the sufficient and successful amount of knowledge garnered in an undergraduate education, and if graduate programs accept this rationale by requiring the GREs for all applicants, then it seems that by ETS' reasoning, your undergraduate education did not provide you with sufficient training or critical thinking skills. But I think ETS is wrong about this.

You should really find out *why* you did so poorly on the GREs. It seems like you can't really move forward until you figure that out. The GREs test very specific thinking skills -- you need only learn how to acquire them. Admittedly, undergraduate course work usually helps people learn these normative reasoning skills, but you might be different for whatever reason. If I were you, I would sit down with a practice test, and take it with a friend (or whomever), who did well on the test. Talk to them about how you came to each answer, and if it's wrong, find out how your thinking diverged from the thinking of the person who answered it correctly.

If you try this, you might find (1) *why* you are not performing in the way ETS and graduate programs want you to perform, and (2) strategies for learning how to perform in those ways.

So generally, I think getting another BA might be a little too extreme, though I understand why you're considering it (after all, that is seemingly what ETS is telling you). Try to figure out if you are lacking knowledge, or if you have not learned how to reason in the normative ways which ETS and graduate programs want. Accomplishing either of these things should be possible without another four years of training.

[yes_just_lovely]

Your suggestion about taking a practice test with a friend is a wonderful suggestion. Thank you! I appreciate it.

[kleis]

Good luck with everything!

[yes_just_lovely]

Thank you, and best wishes to you.

[esmeraldus_neo]

My apologies if I have missed this, but did you take any practice tests before? I thought I remembered from your first post that you had.

I found the Princeton Review book helpful. Mine came with a software disc of practice tests that were much like the real exam, lacking only the analytical writing component.

It sounds to me like your test-taking strategy is what needs work, and kleis's suggestion of looking over the test with someone who scored well--someone the exam considers a normative thinker, if you will--sounds extremely sensible.

Beyond that, if you can get into an MA, your performance there may help you. You may not have to take the GRE to get into your MA program, and can defer the test, and continue to prepare. You will have to take it to get into your chosen Ph.D., but if your scores are still lower than you would like, your graduate record may then speak for you.

[yes_just_lovely]

Thank you. Yes, I did take many practice tests, but thank you for the suggestion. I am considering applying for other MA programs that do not require the GRE and during my time there, work towards figuring out how I can improve my GRE scores to get into a PhD. I don't know. I hope it all works out in the end.

Thanks.

[ieatpotatos]

I think this plan is very well founded. Good luck!

[sahiya]

I think this is a great suggestion.