Navy_GRE

I'm no expert, but certainly can relate to much of what you're saying having applied to several PhD schools and not making it in (as well as having a stellar GPA in grad school) . Rich@EMPOWERGRE is correct. Schools will almost certainly look at your Quant score first and foremost. If you do not pass their "unspoken" threshold for GMAT/GRE scores, you most likely will not make it in. For most schools where Quant is underscored in the application, 80th/90th percentile is most likely the minimum. If you meet that threshold, the ADCOMs will then look more closely at the rest of your application. I think it's hogwash what other people say that the standardized test scores do not matter. Sure if it's a program that is non-quant heavy- your Verbal will mean more, but anything associated with math, statistics, management, or STEM PhD programs, you need to cross that 80th percentile barrier on Quant before applying. I know it's frustrating, but colleges look at the GRE/GMAT as an insurance policy against you failing out because you can't handle the math.

It depends on the cut-off for the program you're applying to. Low quant scores for a non-math oriented typically shouldn't be a problem. But for any funded program, they generally want to see higher quant and verbal scores regardless. Easy for Adcoms to discard your application if you don't have above a certain percentile.

I'm in the same boat w/out the safety net of a school to fall back on. I had great LOR's, great grad GPA, thought was a solid SOP, good work experience, moderate research background, but mediocre GRE. (157V/154Q). Do schools really look at that is a delimiter? Iristar- did you ever hear back from the rest? I'm 0-15.

Thanks for the reply "rising_star". Yea- I have 3 Masters degrees and did a fellowship for a year which involved a lot of research. I think you're spot on with #3. I may have gotten too specific in my SOP and that may have been a dealbreaker for some schools regarding research fit.

MarkMc- when you hear something- post it. I'm much in the same boat as you. Solid PHD app all around, but my GRE scores were not 80th percentile and that is what it seems many schools are looking for. I applied to 15 schools and have already gotten denial letters for 6 of them.

I'm out of options with my PHD applications. I applied to 15 schools and had what I thought was a stellar PhD application package, 20 years military experience, solid SOP, great LOR's, transcripts are excellent to outstanding from three separate and accredited graduate programs and getting rejected left and right. I had Univ of MN tell me flat out that GRE scores were the problem. (157 V/ 154 Q) I've taken it twice this past summer, used Magoosh and the 5lb Manhattan Test prep and cannot get my scores to elevate. At this point, I'm guessing that there are five culprits: 1) GRE scores, 2) inability of the schools to translate military experience to academia 3) lack of research fit with the research department (I'm going for Business Strategy) and 4) lack of a university/professorial advocate at the school. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm out of options at this point.