midnight

Your quant score is 83rd percentile. I've heard that yes, GRE verbal still matters even if you're foreign and have taken the TOEFL as you're expected to be fluent in English--but that may depend on the school or program, of course. Have you already applied for fall 2013, or are you going to be applying for fall 2014? If it's the former and the deadlines have passed, I doubt you can submit new GRE scores to the schools.

Yeah, I agree with jmullenite: The 4 won't likely hurt you, especially considering your other scores. Of course I've read here and there that some schools do factor in GRE scores including AW when it comes to funding, but I'm not wholly certain how that works or if it's even common practice. Your best bet is to check program websites to see if they have any guidelines or expectations. Many schools don't seem to care about AW at all since adcoms can judge your writing abilities by reading your SOP.

It can be, but then again, if you want to be admitted somewhere, it may be worth it. However, if I've gleaned anything from this board, it's been that you should only apply to programs you believe in and that match your goals and interests. Engaging with POIs, visiting programs in person (again, potentially expensive but often necessary or helpful), etc.--these are other important ways to "cast your net wide" if you can't or don't want to apply to 10 or more schools. Finding a good fit seems to be of utmost importance. There are never any guarantees, but there are still ways to improve your chances!

I'm not so sure--I mean, here's data directly from the Chicago site: Fall 2012 Class Profile > 141 students in master's programs, 8 Phd students > 47% international student population, representing 25 countries > 56% female, 46% male > 80% have previous work experience, average 3-4 years > 11% minority students > Average age: 27 > Average undergraduate GPA: 3.6 > GRE Quantitative: (Q3) 166, (Q1) 150 > GRE Verbal: (Q3) 167, (Q1) 150 > Average TOEFL (international students) score: 106 MPA/MPP programs highly value professional and personal experience. While I agree that it won't hurt the OP to study and retake the GRE, if the OP's CV, SOP, and LORs are impressive, I don't think his current GRE will necessarily hinder him.

It's interesting, though, because it seems like some schools have not fully adjusted their admissions procedures to accommodate the influx of SLP applicants. If you read the results board for last year, UCF didn't notify top applicants until two weeks after the national deadline!

Do the schools' sites give any GRE guidelines? It's best to start there to know what numbers you should be aiming for if you choose to retake, but I assume those are all competitive programs that expect reasonably high numbers. You may also find it helpful to peruse past years' acceptances on the Grad Cafe results page just to get a general idea of successful applicant stats. ETA: I found this on the Chicago Harris site: Test Scores What is the average GRE test score needed for admission to Chicago Harris? We do not have a minimum GRE score requirement. Admitted student scores are generally in the 75th percentile or higher. Learn more about our 2012 class. -- I think you should focus on boosting your verbal, but that's only one part of admittance to such a program, of course!

Is it wrong that I'm hoping the boards are kind of dead because that might mean there are fewer applicants this year?

Not lame at all! Or I'm lame with you because my husband's filling out mine. He does the taxes, too; he's type-A and would double-check if I did them anyway! I'll be lucky to get an unsubsidized loan to cover tuition since our EFC will be high due to my husband's job. The financials worry me, but my future salary will more than make up for it if I'm lucky enough to get in.

^Both of my schools have FAFSA deadlines of March 1. I'm going to do mine this weekend, and I feel like I already should have done it, but it somehow slipped my mind (ugh).

And my alma mater awards A+ grades, but they're mostly for show as they're weighted the same as an A (4.0). An A- is worth a 3.67, a B+ 3.3, etc. There are pros and cons to every grading scale depending on the sort of student someone is. Anyway, I don't think these small differences will really affect someone's chances since schools tend to take a holistic approach to admissions, and adcoms are well aware that grading scales differ.

jmarti, I'm being nosy: Is there a reason you didn't apply to Gallaudet?

Yeah, I think many SLP applicants mostly consider three things: location, cost, and academic/research/professional interests. Rankings don't seem to be as much of a concern since most programs have incredibly high job placement numbers. My list is so short because I'm an out-of-field applicant who wanted to stay in my hometown or move to a state that my husband and I have considered moving to for years now; I'm a little older and married, and my life is a bit more settled now. If I were a younger in-field applicant with practical experience under my belt, I think I would have applied to schools all over the country, e.g., Iowa, Wisconsin, Vandy, the schools in Boston, etc.

It looks like there was only one acceptance posted on February 9th; it was probably related to a funding offer or another special circumstance. The end of February and beginning of March are when most of the notifications came in last year.

I'm going to assume that I'll hear something on or after the majority of past years' results dates. I really doubt it will be any sooner.

Me! Possibly even later since it looks like one of my programs keeps everyone who isn't accepted in the first-round hanging until early April.

kcald, the GRE Issue essay used to give test takers 45 minutes to write; it's now 30. I took the old GRE and the revised one, too, and I can tell you that I dearly missed those extra 15 minutes, and my AW went down. Anyway, I think many SLP programs don't really care about AW or at least don't seem to emphasize it, but if you do decide to retake, I'm sure you can get a 6 or at least a 5+ with some timed practice beforehand.

Well, good luck! Your CV is certainly impressive, and I think if you cast your net wide next year, you may be pleasantly surprised.

That does sound incredibly frustrating. Are you still waiting to hear from other schools?

Even though this thread is old and was bumped up by a testing company (though Magoosh is cool--I love their free downloads and Youtube videos!), I'll share my favorites: Princeton Review's Cracking the GRE: This book is all about tips, tricks, and quick-and-dirty review and practice. I highly recommend it, especially if you're crunched for time or don't need in-depth study/review so much as you need an idea of how to approach the test most effectively. Barron's Six Practice Tests: This book contains straightforward, relevant practice tests that match the current GRE material, including the recent increase of stats/probability in the quant section. It is up-to-date and incredibly helpful. And don't forget the GRE website or Powerprep--they're both valuable resources.

HOW DARE THEY! Also...I am in love with the cat in your icon.

Panic Mode, I'm sorry to hear about your rejections. However, I have to wonder if your grad GPA of 3.6 is part of the issue, not your age or experience.

Thanks for sharing your story, margaret! Are you currently in a program or applying for fall 2013?

I'm married and happy, and it's always good to keep growing and learning even if you've "made it." Also, I earned my BA at 27, but for me, I think it was better to be a bit older and wiser. I don't really care if I'm older than my classmates; I'm just worried about getting in!

barnett, the schools I'm applying to provide GPA and GRE guidelines. Does Akron have anything like that on their site? Also, though the info may be a bit outdated, you can check the ASHA EdFind to see schools' GRE ranges and acceptance numbers. I'll say that one of my schools (Boulder) clearly states that they expect applicants to have GPAs of 3.3 or higher, but 3.6+ is preferred. For the GRE, they prefer a combined score of 306+ (I think?). Boulder is a really competitive program, though, and numbers vary depending on the school. I have a 3.9 GPA and 314/5.0AW on the GRE and some experience working with ESL adults and young children with spectrum disorders. And all that said, it's not necessarily scores that are keeping you out. The schools are receiving lots of applications due to rising interest in the SLP field, and they just don't have many slots to fill.

I'm 32, and I have no idea if age matters in admissions. I'll be honest: I'm worried that my somewhat bumpy nontraditional path may be a deterrent; however, I can't go back 10 years and live my life over again, so I have to look forward, not backward.