(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

[_laflemme]

don't worry, I had also the same stats as you (though I got a 5 on writing) and I got into my first choice school. hopefully you'll find a way to retake if you can (though I retook and nothing changed), and if not make sure the rest of your app is solid, i.e. good teacher recs and personal statement.

[endxgame]

I don't know much about the GRE stuff (I am a canuck) but if you can't afford to re-take the test then can you really afford to pay application fees for the programs you're applying to if you don't have a chance to get in? When I was looking at schools it seemed like 1100 was the cutoff for most PhD history programs - maybe it's worth the investment to borrow/steal money to retake? If it is pacing issues it might be worth it to retake since it is something which seems pretty correctable now that you know.

Or y'know - apply up here and try to move North if you can find some programs with late application dates.

[endxgame]

That's what I was thinking. Especially since i'd put money on OP would not get funded, how would they be able to pay for the degree if they can't afford to retake a test?

[catherinian2]

Are you applying for MA or Ph.D programs? I'm assuming that you're looking at history programs? I'm not asking to probe, but because it does make a difference in terms of the advice that we might give. I'm applying for English Ph.D programs and was told again and again to aim for a 700 verbal for the top schools. While schools vary in terms of how they view the GRE score, the tip-top programs might use the verbal score (again, I'm in English) as a cut-off. 700 is generally the highest bar for those who have their heart set on a top-ten Ph.D program...600 or 650 should get your applications read in most strong programs. The quant score, I was told, matters far less, though the graduate school (not the graduate program) might want to see a certain aggregate score (generally 1200

[anonymous]

When I got 1390 on the GRE I was shitting my pants about getting in... I'd retake.

[anonymous]

1390 ---> shitting your pants!!?? I hope you're joking, unless you had an extremely lopsided score in a particular section.

To address the OP, a score of at least 600 in both sections will definitely get your app considered by any relatively strong grad program. Please do consider retaking the GRE.

[sporkgoddess]

[anonymous]

I had a composite score of 1160 (Abysmal Quant, High Verbal) and got into Masters program with full funding.

[anonymous]

If you are applying for a professional masters, like I am in Speech Pathology, then there are many schools that will accept around a 1000 or even below. This would not be the most competitive schools but that hardly matters in my field. There are also schools that don't require the GRE in the US for many different fields, including SLP. Lastly, I qualified for the fee reduction certificate, so the GRE cost me $70. I know you said that this was still expensive, and I seriously agree, but it really is worth the investment if you consider the expense of a single application, postage, and transcript fees. If I were you I would consider calling schools and asking if they waiver application fees for low income students. U-Mass amherst waived the app fee b/c I photocopied my GRE "fee reduction certificate" and mailed it along with my app