contramundum

Dear USTgrad, I'm a first-time user here too, but unlike you, I've already been admitted and have, of course, also gone through this ordeal of anxiety, frustration, depression checking out gradcafe everyday (yet not registering!). I feel sorry for you not scoring high on the GREs, but I feel more sorry for the fact that no one has yet told you and *convinced* you that the GRE scores would REALLY not be a matter of concern if your other application components REALLY stand out. I had a similar experience about my scores, but, not trying to flatter myself here, I was eventually admitted to three top ten English Lit programs. I thought that I was the only one in my entire program who came in with such unseemly scores, but I heard that there are others who came in without even submitting their scores in their applications. Truly top programs do know how to sort out the best applicants. I'm not saying that the scores won't matter at all: in fact, some other top programs might automatically screen you off in the first round; and there are many who scored 800 in my current program. I'm probably regurgitating what many users have said over and over again here: your writing sample, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation are the three determining factors in your application. As for the strategies of drafting the first two, I'm sure there are already many discussions on the forum, and that would probably be too late for revision. But I'm just (re)stating the fact here: not all top programs will reject you based solely on the GRE or the GPA. Good luck with your applications.