To canadiana and missycari and rising star thank you for responses. it helps to know that not all is lost, especially when i feel like i took full advantage of my smaller, less known institution =]
to duguy333 i appreciate you sharing what your advisor said.
standardized tests are bunk. look at my post about my gmat scores vs. my gre scores...all reveresed. doesn't make any sense, and i think most schools know that.
i've heard they use the scores to verify grades...just to make sure you didn't get a stellar gpa and like 400Q 400V...then it might be a red flag.