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I've been told by about three people to NOT MESS with the font size (always very dramatically - in caps!) I think changing line spacing (from 2.0 to 1.5/1) is a much safer bet. Or filling up any white space you might have. Basically, I was told to not do anything outside standard formatting because it's going to look like you're hiding something. edit: changing line spacing only, of course, if they haven't specified that it needs to be single/double spaced.

Seconding @E-P about having a rest before test day! You might also want to look into applying to programmes without the GRE requirement (a list).

Hey, I'd be happy to if you're ok with me being an applicant too!

I wanted to do mine on Trouillot's Silencing the Past. Advisor said not to. And he did his PhD at Yale lol.

Check the websites for whether they have GRE cut-offs or not for your school/programme. If it doesn't say anything, email admissions. From all I've heard, the GRE will either be the first (weeding out low GREs from the start) or last (comparing two equally good applications and ditching the one with the lower GRE) thing adcomms look at, and you can't really predict which one they'll be. I've met no one who said the GRE was particularly important. Everyone kind of realises it shows very little about your actual ability. In any case, try the websites, don't stress out over this too much, and good luck!!

TOEFL is literally there only to prove you can speak and write English. A higher score won't give you an advantage, but check their minimum requirements and if you fear you won't reach that threshold, email admissions -- they'll be able to advise you if they'll look at your TOEFL and scrap your application. I would advise against asking them to consider your 'outdated' scores and not retaking the test if you can avoid it--you might want to add to your email that re-taking the TOEFL would place you in financial hardship and you hope adcomm will also consider your written applications (writing sample? statement of purpose definitely) to see proof of your ability to speak English. Just make sure your emails are 100% grammatically correct. Hope it helps!

Hiya! I was hoping to get some quick feedback on an Argument essay I did -- I went the completely opposite way with my reasoning to the example response, so I'm not too sure about it. I'm taking the GRE tomorrow, but if you see this later, a response might still help someone else who is looking for advice? Thanks a million! --- “When someone achieves greatness in any field such as the arts, science, politics, or business that person’s achievements are more important than any of his or her personal faults.” Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position. It is tempting to overlook faults in people who have achieved greatness, but I will argue that this is a dangerous tactic. Merit should be considered, but personal shortcomings need to be addressed alongside, not outside it. Inventions can be useful regardless of the inventor, but this usefulness does not negate their personal faults. The saying goes that ‘history is written by the victors’, but it should not be accepted as the norm. This type of thinking leads to historical fallacies—for example, Thomas Jefferson is a monumental figure in American memory, but the paradox between his devotion to freedom and his affinity towards white supremacy is a less common idea. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and contributed to the Revolutionary War, but this does not mean his shortcomings should be neglected, as they set a precedent for racist state-builders. Americans still adore Jefferson, but fail to see how his racism breeds today’s racism. All of this is because people are afraid to let go of the image of a Founder in all his glory. The logic that brilliance in one field is a valid excuse for personal faults is outright dangerous. For example, Donald Trump is a hero to many people in the world because of his business acumen, many of whom ignore his personal shortcomings. In the sphere of business, this was easier to obscure than it is now, as he is serving as a President of the United States. Because politics is public service, it is now harder for him to hide from scrutiny. In the past two years, we have seen numerous personal scandals that undermine his political capacities. We do not get this opportunity with every crooked businessman. Furthermore, greatness in a particular field may come at the expense of something else. A good example is the recent #MeToo movement in Hollywood. As a result of this movement in which survivors of sexual assault name their perpetuators, many powerful men’s careers have been destroyed. The success of this movement is a clear example of a desire to hold accountable even those who have achieved remarkable greatness in the film industry—in the arts. Harvey Weinstein and other men have not become worse at directing, acting, and film-making—instead, they fall out of fame due to their personal faults. Another saying goes that ‘behind every great man there is a woman’. The adulation of great men in history has led to a crooked worldview, and to the situation where Donald Trump can sit as President of the United States. Thus, we should aim to be much more critical in the images we project around powerful people, especially white and male, and not forget that their greatness might be a result of someone else’s oppression.

Hey! I'm taking the GRE tomorrow (for the first time) so take this with a grain of salt. However, something that caught my eye here: you are very much data and research based, but that seems like a far stretch. However, the problem for shop-owners etc is not skateboarders themselves, it is the increase in the amount of litter and vandalism. A far easier solution could be making sure there is signage about littering as well as bins. CCTV. Etc. Essentially, I think you can benefit from thinking a little bit longer about the implications of what the argument is saying. It looks like it's about skateboarders, but really it's about problems with littering and vandalism, but you haven't really touched that in your response. Finally - edit! You've got a fair few commas missing and clumsy sentences (e.g. 'Another question that is left unanswered by the author would be, is there data to support the author claims that skateboarding is indeed the cause of the decrease in business?' - what are you trying to say here?) Use all the time you have, and make sure you dedicate a couple minutes for proofreading at the end. Good luck!!