[Schools Really Only Take Your Highest Score?]

Thanks everyone. I actually called one of them and they told me the AW score was fine. Verdict: Eff this test I'm never taking it again!

[Schools Really Only Take Your Highest Score?]

I took the GRE for the first time a few months ago. I got a 4.5 on the AW section and I know I could probably score a 5.5 if I took the test again. My worry is that if I take the test again, I won't score as highly on the other sections--particularly the quant section. Sometimes I hear that schools only look at your highest scores on each section from the tests you've taken, but is this really the case? They get all of the scores together; I don't see how they could ignore a later score that turned out to be lower. For the programs I am applying to (Health Policy/Economics PhD programs), the score they are most interested in is definitely the quant score.

I appreciate everyone's comments. Thanks in advance

[Health Policy and Management questions + which schools to apply to?]

Fangshopper are you in the HSPA phd program at Berkeley?

[Stat MA/MS vs. MPH in Biostat/Epi]

I'd go with a PhD in Biostatistics. It's much easier to get a job in any branch of Biostats with a PhD, and the pay is much higher. Also, if you want to advance up the ranks, a PhD is absolutely necessary.

Statsguy,

Thanks for your input. So you're a phd in straight statistics. Do you suggest a phd in biostatistics over a phd in straight statistics because I said I was interested in public health? Would a phd in straight statistics allow for more flexibility in your opinion? And also, what value do you see in a terminal masters in statistics as a professional degree--if any?

Thanks for your thoughts,

dag

[Stat MA/MS vs. MPH in Biostat/Epi]

Hello,

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts about this. If I am interested in the quantitative fields of public health (biostat/epi) but don't want to be pigeonholed within public health, does it make more sense to get a masters in statistics?