Terrible GRE score (157Q), but professor from CMU is expressing interest

[RP15]

Hi all,

 

So I have been in contact with an EE/Material science professor from CMU. I've showed him my resume and he is interested in me, asking me "how did you get so many opportunities"... and using words "impressive", "your coursework is greater than average", and "email me when you submit your application"

 

I know this is a big deal since at first he was not interested in replying to my messages. But once I gave him my resume, he's now forwarding me papers, telling me about his research group, and asking me what I think about several publications.

 

The problem now is, my GRE quant score is 157Q -.- 

Working and studying full time is dreading, and this carried over to my GRE.

 

How will this affect me ? Will my application just be thrown away and not reach the professor?  

 

I'm thinking of retaking the GRE on December 2nd, just so I can email the grad committee and tell them "My new GRE scores are XXX! But they'll arrive after the deadline"

 

What do you all think? 

[GCool]

I'm not following. What's the chain of events, here?

 

Did you:

1. Contact him with GRE score

2. [No response]

3. Contact him again with resume

4. He wants you there

 

OR

 

Did you:

1. Contact him with resume

2. He wants you there

3. Update him with GRE

4. [No response]

 

Depending on the order, it'd sort of affect the advice I'd give you.

[RP15]

Apologies for the ambiguity. The timeline went as follows: 

 

1. I have already contacted him

2. He asked for resume

3. He is obvious in his interest in me, given his comments

4. I took the GRE and got a bad score

[future] 5. Will my application reach him or be thrown away due to bad score and filtering?

 

 

Thanks

[starofdawn]

Do you have any free sick days to take off so that you can study for the GRE? I know what you mean that working full time and studying is draining - I did the same thing and my scores weren't great. But this is CMU... one of the best schools for your field!

 

I can't speak for every school, but in my opinion: the GRE is the least important part of the application. On the other hand, CMU is a fantastic school and they will get applicants with great credentials and better GRE scores.

[RP15]

Right, I'm aware it's a great school. I'm just curious if the professor will get my application.

 

He has told me, and I quote "it is impressive how much above and beyond the usual coursework have you accomplished.  Would you be planning to apply to ECE or MSE grad program at CMU? I have appointments in both."

 

I take this is a very good thing. 

Given he is a long time tenured professor, how much power does he have in influencing the decision of my acceptance?

 

I'm scheduled to retake the GRE December 1st. I know it's very late, but at the least I can email the grad committees/professors to overlook the old GRE scores and consider the new ones (even though it wont be officially on my application package).

Edited November 12, 2014 by RP15

[GCool]

Apologies for the ambiguity. The timeline went as follows: 

 

1. I have already contacted him

2. He asked for resume

3. He is obvious in his interest in me, given his comments

4. I took the GRE and got a bad score

[future] 5. Will my application reach him or be thrown away due to bad score and filtering?

 

 

Thanks

 

I think that since you've already established a rapport with that professor, your best bet would be to both retake the GRE and keep in contact with him. Even if the score doesn't get there, his reservations about your abilities (if he actually has any) could be mitigated. He'll also know you see your score as deficient and want to improve, which is a great quality in an already qualified student.

 

The application will definitely reach him. If you've emailed back and forth a couple times, I'd follow up with him once you send in the full application. Something simple, just telling him once again how excited you are or something like that.

 

Hope I helped!

[doomination]

If he is a long tenured professor and told you to email him when you apply, then he can tell the admissions committee he doesn't  care about your GRE score and will fund you. It's a very big deal having someone on the inside. A 157 on Q isn't terrible, especially if you have someone on your side at the uni.

[RP15]

If he is a long tenured professor and told you to email him when you apply, then he can tell the admissions committee he doesn't  care about your GRE score and will fund you. It's a very big deal having someone on the inside. A 157 on Q isn't terrible, especially if you have someone on your side at the uni.

 

Thank you for the insight. I retook the GRE yesterday and got 165Q, right at that 90th percentile! 

 

Now I'm sweating to get these new scores in by the Dec 15th deadline. I'll be making plenty of phone calls.