fran

Thanks all for the replies. I think I'll contact a few schools about submitting an extra one and just be careful about who the fourth would be. I'm really going back and forth between 2 of them because I'm not sure which one will be better.

Most of the programs I'm applying to require 3 LOR's but I have to contact 4 profs since a few schools want extras. Can I just get all 4 to send a LOR off to all of my apps-including the ones that say 3? I feel like an extra one won't hurt, but I don't want to appear as though I can't follow directions when they say 3. I know I'm probably thinking too much but I don't want to make a stupid mistake!

My practice tests were way higher and they were a lot harder too. I never scored anywhere near 430 so I was quite shocked to see it. I really can't take it again in the immediate future so I'll have to re-evaluate my plans. I am sure I did very well in the essay section-is there any way that would even slightly counter my poor verbal score or is it just impossible to get past?

Thanks for the replies. I actually previously emailed a school specifically about GRE requirements and while they were very nice about discussing other things, they totally ignored that question. I guess I know that the scores are way too low to at the very least compete for funding and without it I wouldn't go so I'll either wait another year or go outside the US. I just wish it didn't cost $200 for the stupid test! If it was cheaper I would have just cancelled it and rescheduled because I was definitely not in the right place to take it today, but c'est la vie.

I took the GRE today and like several other posters on this board, was devastated by my scores. I scored 430V and 590Q. The verbal score is the most embarrassing and I would imagine is going to be a major barrier to getting accepted into a PhD program. Retaking it is not an option so my question is very simply: do I have a shot at a decent school-or any school-with these scores? I am looking at programs in Political Science. I have an MA in POLS with an A- GPA, a decade+ of work experience and I am sure that the rest of my application will be strong. I know some schools say the GRE score won't make or break an application, but really...that's a bad score.