waylonrobert

I'm a bit lost at what to do next. I've taken the GRE twice and my results are: 1st Test: 153 verbal / 137 quantitative 2nd Test (40+ days later): 153 verbal / 139 quantitative I was fairly happy with my verbal (limited studying for verbal), but not happy with my quantitative (in general I've always struggled with math). After the first test, I worked with a math tutor who re-explained concepts to me and allowed me to learn things I either forgot or had never truly understood. When I took the GRE the second time, I felt very confident about the quantitative sections, but that confidence quickly faded away when I received questions that either were not covered in tutoring sessions (we used practice tests as our primary source material and I was scoring well) or were completely foreign to me that I didn't even know where to start. So my question is, what do I do from here? The program I am applying to requires a GMAT equivalent minimum of 500. Currently, my second test GRE scores convert to 390. All things being equal, assuming my verbal stays the same, I need to score at least 7 points higher in quantitative. If my quantitative stays the same, I'd need a 15 point bump. I'm not sure how that works and why the parity between those points values aren't closer, but that's what the ETS calculator tool is telling me. I'm not keen to spend another $185 and spend more time studying only to receive a modest point bump. I've noticed a trend with the GRE quant sections that they seem to follow a particular "theme" with lots of questions in a similar area, which is impossible to predict exactly what you'll get on a given day.

I took the GRE today and my unofficial verbal is 153 and my unofficial quantitative is 137. How is my verbal score? I knew quantitative would be weak because my math skils are weak - 7th-9th grade was especially bad for my math learning as I underwent medical procedures that saw me miss weeks of class at a time. Not to mention the fact that math has always challenged me; I generally do better with percents and business math, but struggle with geometry and algebra. Despite that I did what I could to study, but ultimately I feel that I need more than just a review - some of these concepts I either missed or did not fully understand when they were originally taught to me. I'm applying for an MSIT program, and the program director indicated that I need to keep my verbal at or better than the unofficial number I reported to him, and my quantitative needs to go up to 146 or higher to meet the program's minimum requirements (they use GMAT [500 or higher minimum] primarily but allow GRE). At this point would I be better off just taking the GMAT, or should I try to find ways to improve my math and retake the GRE (risking that it may not improve and my verbal may suffer)? What should I do to bolster my math acumen?

Thanks for the input!

Thanks kingofqueens for your response - that's exactly what I was looking for. I've heard differing theories though on the need to explain why you engaged in a particular field in undergrad and then pursued something outside of that field (either in terms of employment and/or education). What is your opinion on this? Do others have an opinion?

I finished by BA five years ago. Since then I have been working in the IT field, and I am looking to apply for a MSIT (MS Information Technology) program to further my education and career prospects. I see a lot of advise here appears to be geared towards students who are making the jump from undergrad to grad without pause or delay. What advise is there for writing an SOP for someone like me who has not been in a classroom in five years but has been working? Additionally, my undergraduate work was in a completely different field (Political Science). Anyone have any advice for a working professional composing an SOP? I'm struggling with this and I keep reverting back to the love of computers and technology since a child thing, and while true, I am concerned about it being a cliche and perceived to be as such. Thanks in advance!