Ilikekitties Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I took a practice GRE test last week and I scored poorly (150V and 141Q). I had leftover time for most sections. Are these scores good enough to get into any "good" graduate schools? Of course it will depend on my application as a whole.....but would they exclude me from schools? I would like to take the GRE in January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarab Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Some universities have GRE requirements... Sometimes this isn't even up to the departments. If you have time and money then you might want to retake it. I didn't have great GRE scores and got into a couple of good programs, so don't let that bring you down, but consider retaking it if you can. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKCarlton Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I will elaborate further. Call the programs you intend to apply to and ask what their general GRE scores are for those who have been accepted in the past few years, and also ask them how they feel about GRE scores in particular. Mine have all said it wasn't the final deciding vote of who did and did not get into their program. I had really general GRE scores and was accepted to 3 out of 4 programs I applied to and the 4th one wasn't really a good fit to begin with but I wanted to see for myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaultyPowers Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 ...and I have damn near perfect GRE scores and didn't get in anywhere last time! Make your statement and CV as strong as you can possibly make them and go out of your way to make contact with your POIs; give whatever time and energy you have leftover to worrying about your GREs. Only that and nothing more Gvh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilikekitties Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 Really? Dang. I'm probably stressing too much/putting too much emphasis on them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilikekitties Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 I also took this practice test without studying ANY math, but I studied a bit of verbal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smg Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Make time to study. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suraj_S Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Without studying, I scored 154V/152Q on my first (Kaplan) practice test. After putting it aside for a while and studying for ~2 months, I ended up with 168V/158Q(/5.5W). Studying definitely helps, and there's a good chance you'll do better on the actual thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaultyPowers Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Also, I HIGHLY suggest that you schedule a later test. Anytime after noon, but the last time I took mine it was at 5pm and I loved it. I did better than previously. I wasn't hungry or sleepy or grumpy or any of the other dwarves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smg Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 My test is scheduled for 8 am which is smack dab in the middle of my smart time. My synapses will be firing at full capacity. But I'm a morning person with a work day that starts at 5:30am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaultyPowers Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Nice. Optimize your smart time. Always. 8 am is my relatively smart time....but it is my relatively smart in pajamas time. Shower and pant acquisition is beyond me before 10. I would say just one more thing about the GRE. I'm super happy with my scores and won't be retaking, but my essay score was pretty meh. So maybe read a few practice ones on a test prep website, if you can find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujubea Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 ...and I have damn near perfect GRE scores and didn't get in anywhere last time! Make your statement and CV as strong as you can possibly make them and go out of your way to make contact with your POIs; give whatever time and energy you have leftover to worrying about your GREs. Only that and nothing more Wow! That's really helpful to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smg Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 12 days till my test. I took the free Manhattan test and scored 161V/148Q. Should I be worried? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOWAYNOHOW Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Honestly I drew the line with the GRE. I bombed the math, but with a full-time job, teaching and other responsibilities, I had to weigh the importance of literally relearning all of high school math (either myself or by taking a GRE course AGAIN) and just focusing on my other application factors. I decided my life was more important than math, and if that keeps me out of academia forever, then I don't even want to join their stupid math club. Edited October 20, 2014 by NOWAYNOHOW smg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meglet Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I found the Manhattan tests to be more difficult than the ETS tests, including the actual GRE, and sometimes their verbal questions and answer choices seemed...not quite right. My actual scores (170V, 156Q) were 2-4 points higher than the Manhattan practice tests I took, so I wouldn't worry too much. But I found a few of the Manhattan strategy tips helpful for raising my scores from my early practice tests, so if you have time to read through some of that material, that would be helpful. Good luck! NOWAYNOHOW - I'm also working full time at a school (organizing ALL the tests instead of teaching this year). And a few days before the GRE, I decided the math could go to hell, because I don't really see what most of the GRE math has to do with cultural anthropology. Pleh. NOWAYNOHOW and smg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smg Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 165v/148q I can live with it plus I don't have a choice at this point in the game. Time to focus on grants and apps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujubea Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Stellar verbal, smg! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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