GREMasterEMPOWERRichC

Hi marrr, Before I can offer you the specific advice that you're looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information about your studies so far and your goals: 1) How long have you studied? 2) What materials have you used? 3) Have you taken any practice MSTs? If you have, then how did you score? 4) What is your score goal? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Diana, Before I can offer you the specific advice that you're looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information about your studies so far and your goals: 1) How long have you studied? 2) What materials have you used? 3) Have you taken any practice MSTs? If you have, then how did you score? 4) What is your score goal? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Tom, Something is clearly 'off' with the Program. With these results, you would likely have ended up with around a Q157/V159. 1) What is your overall goal score? 2) When are you planning to take the GRE? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi yourruth, You're likely still fine applying with this score (even to 'Top' Programs). PhD Programs are looking for strong OVERALL applicants, so you'd likely be better served by making sure that the rest of your application is properly presented (than focusing on raising your GRE Verbal Score). GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

HI Quasar., From your post, it sounds like you're planning to do lots and lots of GRE Verbal questions and try to self-teach to a higher score. While that could work out for you, you would likely find it faster and easier to invest in a GRE Course of some type. The GRE Verbal sections are just as consistent and predictable as the Quant sections are - the prompts are written in a standard fashion, the "big" vocabulary comes from a large (but limited) list of words, the question types are consistent and even the wrong answer choices fall into predictable patterns. This is all meant to say that the proper Course materials will teach you all of those patterns, how to take advantage of them and a number of little 'secrets' to the Verbal section that you probably won't learn on your own. 1) Have you taken a practice MST Test yet? If you have, then how did you score? If you have not, then you can download 2 for free from www.gre.org 2) What is your goal score? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi yourruth, The Q170/V151/AWA4.5 is likely a competitive-enough score that you're probably fine applying with it. If you have a specific list of PhD Programs that you're interested in, then you should be able to research those Programs in more detail (and even contact them directly with any questions that you might have). If the general sense from the various Admissions Offices is that there's an issue with your score, then you'll know that you'll have to retest. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi hmss9245, Many Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so it's likely that you just have not put in enough time and effort yet. That having been said, there's still some question as to how high a GRE score you actually need for the PhD Programs that you're considering. Have you done any additional research to try to define what type of GRE score would be considered 'competitive?' GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi slp2be01, If you're as uncomfortable with 'math' as you say, then there will be a limit to how high you can score on the GRE. That having been said, much of the Quant material that you'll face on Test Day isn't too hard, so you should be able to train to face the 'gettable' questions and train a bit more to make smart choices when handling questions that are just 'too hard' for you. To help you built up your basic math skills, I suggest that you set up an account at Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org). The site is completely free and makes the learning more fun and 'game-like', as opposed to most books that focus on the dry, academic aspects of the math. While the site is vast, you should limit your work to basic arithmetic, algebra and geometry. After spending some time there, you should restart your GRE studies. While it's understandable that you wouldn't want to spend too much money on your GRE studies, there are a number of online Courses that are reasonably priced. Most GRE Companies also offer free online practice materials (practice questions, Trial Accounts, etc.) so that you can 'test out' a product before you buy it. We have a number of free resources at our website (www.empowergre.com) that you should take advantage of. If you have any additional questions, then just let me know (and you can also feel free to PM me). GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi hmss9245, Since you've already registered to retake the GRE, you can use the next couple of months to study and improve. Before we talk about how best to do that, I'd like to know a bit more about how you studied the first time: 1) How long did you study? 2) What practice materials did you use? 3) Do you have a specific goal score? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi grephd, PhD Programs tend to be highly competitive - since there are so few available 'spots', every aspect of each application is given serious consideration. Whether your GRE score is competitive for the Programs that you plan to apply to or not depends on the specific Programs themselves. You should be able to contact each Program/Department directly and ask questions though (including what type of GRE score is 'expected' from applicants), so I suggest that you start there. If you find that you need to improve your GRE score, then you should post back here and we talk through your studies going forward. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi nic.vdb, Your specific study needs will depend a great deal on your particular skills, strengths and weaknesses, so it would help if you could answer a few questions about your studies and overall goals: 1) Have you done any studying for the GRE yet or are you literally starting from scratch? 2) Do you have any practice materials yet? 3) What is your goal score? 4) When are you planning to take the GRE? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi pecmsyx, Since the Programs that you're interested in are PhDs in Statistics, you've got the part of the GRE that really matters (the Quant) covered. A Verbal 159 is fairly close to the 90th percentile, so there's some question as to whether a retest is really necessary or not. Since you know the specific Programs that you're interested in, the next logical step would be to contact those Schools directly and ask any questions that you have. My guess is that they will gladly give you the information that you're looking for. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi amandap292, While the AWA isn't a significant factor in most applications, Grad Schools often expect you to be able to score at a minimal level (typically a 4.0 or higher). With a 2.5, you likely went 'off topic' when you wrote your Essays. If your overall application is really strong, then your AWA score might not matter. However, you've named some highly reputable Schools and the level of competition to get into those Schools will also likely be high. As such, you might want to contact each School directly and ask some pointed (but respectful) questions about what types of scores the Admissions Committees expect from applicants. If you end up deciding to retake the GRE, then you should post back here and we can talk through your study options going forward. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi GradNYC, Before I can offer you the specific advice that you're looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information about your studies so far and your timeline/goals: 1) How long have you been studying? 2) What materials have you been using? 3) How have you scored on each of your practice tests (including the Quant and Verbal scores)? 4) What is your overall goal score? 5) When are you planning to take the GRE? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi hmss9245, PhD Programs tend to be highly competitive - since there are so few available 'spots', every aspect of each application is given serious consideration. Whether your GRE score is competitive for the Programs that you plan to apply to or not depends on the specific Programs themselves. You should be able to contact each Program/Department directly and ask questions though (including what type of GRE score is 'expected' from applicants), so I suggest that you start there. If you find that you need to improve your GRE score, then you should post back here and we talk through your studies going forward. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi ISEEYOUTHERE, Once you know the exact Schools/Programs that you plan to apply to, you should be able to research the websites of the specific Programs and get a better sense of how your GRE Score compares. While the V162 is impressive (it's right around the 90th percentile), the M157 will probably not impress anyone. Depending on the level of competition, you might opt to retest. 1) How long did you study for the GRE? 2) What resources did you use? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi rahulkm3, Since you've named some competitive Schools, you would likely find it beneficial to talk with (or work with) an MBA Admissions Expert on your applications. There are lots to choose from, but this is the 'busy time' of year, so you might want to get started on that research soon (since most of those Experts are quite busy). GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi cbowen11, Both your Quant and Verbal scores are at about the 90th percentile, so you've scored well. PhD Programs tend to be highly competitive, so you should do some additional research to determine whether you need to retake the GRE or not. The Admissions Departments at the Schools will likely be able to answer many of the questions that you might have. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Cjachter, Is that the only application deadline or is there a later round that you could apply to? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Alligator, Have you done any research into the Programs at these two Schools? The websites of most Programs offer information about overall class profiles (including GRE score averages, etc.), so that potential applicants can get a sense of how competitive their applications might be. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi speechfan222, Before anyone can offer suggestions, it would probably help if you define how YOU studied the first time: 1) How long did you study? 2) What study resources did you use? 3) What is your goal score? 4) Do you know which Schools you plan to apply to? And when? Thankfully, the GRE is a predictable, standardized Test, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Hitnake, Considering your Major and your focus on Finance, the Q160 might not impress the Admissions Officers at LSE. Thankfully, many Program's websites offer information about class statistics, so that you can get a better sense of how you compare to typical students currently attending that Program. It might be that you would benefit from retaking the GRE, but you have to decide whether that's worth it or not. 1) What is the application deadline for LSE? 2) What resources did you use when you originally studied for the GRE? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi mariupolo, Have you done any research into the specific Schools/Programs that you're interested in? Most Program's websites offer information about class statistics, so that you can better compare your self to an 'average' student in the current class. It's difficult to 'luck' your way into a V168, so if your Verbal skills are naturally that strong, then you really just need to put a bit of extra effort into learning the necessary Quant content and Tactics to raise your Quant Score. 1) What application deadline(s) are you facing? 2) What materials did you use when you studied for the GRE the first time? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi Kamil, Training to score at a higher level on the GRE, and then scoring at a higher level, can make a big difference to your overall application (and the cost is relatively low compared to the value of the Degree). Thus, if you think that you should retake the GRE to strengthen your application, then you probably should. A Q160/V161 is a strong performance, but if you can pick up even a few points in each section, the increase could help to get you into your first-choice School. 1) What application deadline(s) are you facing? 2) What resources did you use when you studied for the GRE the first time? GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich

Hi doctor-to-be, Not to be too dramatic about it, but I am THAT Rich. On the GRE, one of the BIG advantages you have is that you can flag/skip questions and come back to them later. Combined with the proper Tactics, you could quickly skip over the tougher prompts, 'nail' all of the 'gettable' questions in each section, then circle back and work on the tougher questions. To keep those little mistakes from happening, you likely just need a bit more time to do the work (and double-check if necessary) - trading away a tougher prompt to eliminate a few silly mistakes is a GREAT trade-off, so you should look to actively take advantage of it. GRE Masters aren't born, they're made, Rich