chaetzli

I am worried that your Q-GRE score is too low for top 20 schools. I have never seen someone with such a low score being admitted to a top program. Otherwise, you profile looks great!

I changed it each time I registered for the test (from political science to international relations to political science other) . Don't worry! I don't think someone really cares.

I had a similar experience: First, they couldn't assign me a computer station and I had to wait for an hour. Once I was at my computer station they couldn't start the program and I had to wait another 30 minutes. Additionally, during the test (between two sections) my computer crashed and I had to wait another hour until I could continue. Right after the test I filed a complaint with ETS and Prometric (testing center). Prometric apologized immediately but told me that they cannot make any decision with respect to my scores. It took ETS three weeks to investigate my case. In the end, they offered me a voucher for a free retake. However, they also told me that since I reported my scores on test day (which I had to do because of the Fulbright application deadline) they cannot cancel them. If you've already sent your score to the schools you're applying to, let the testing center give you a confirmation letter that you had to test under unfavorable conditions. In the end, this is a standardized test, which aims at comparing students with each other and thus everyone should have (more or less) equal testing conditions. A personal advice: call ETS! Emails get easily lost.

Your V score is great but for top 10 your GRE-Q should also be >160

The information on this page (your link) is BS... Just compare it with Princeton: http://www.princeton.edu/pub/profile/admission/graduate/

http://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/state_purpose.shtml

Hey, I am also a Fulbrighter and they told me that I should retake the GRE because my V score of 161 is too low for my preferences (Pol. Sci: Columbia, NYU, Princeton). However, they are willing to send my application to these schools since both scores are above the 80th percentile. I guess it also depends on the program you're applying to. I wouldn't retake the GRE in your case.

Yes they do (unfortunately). What are your preferred schools?

It should not be a problem. I am also a phd student. You should just explain why you accepted the phd offer even though you wanted to go to the us. Furthermore, it is always good to have a recommendation from a prof at your current institution so this doesn't look like you've screwed up and want to change now.

If your scores are that low, I'd recommend that you submit the first set of scores (multiple scores are only helpful if they increased). However, I am not sure whether they would even consider you for a PhD with such low scores. I'm not saying this to be mean but since I know how important GRE scores are in the US. Did you consider applying to a school that does not require GRE scores? Having publications is a great plus but it doesn't help if they do not even consider you due to your low GRE scores.

I am also convinced that I saw the same questions and essay topics as on previous tests

Actually, it would be helpful to know what your GRE scores are . It they are both relatively high, it does not matter. If one of them is rather low, plus/minus one point could make a difference.

First, don't feel bad because your first attempt didn't go well. We all know that it's such a stressful experience. Second, schools usually don't mind if they receive the score reports a bit late as long as you can self-report the scores once you fill out the application form.

Gosh.... seriously guys????!!!!????? Those are great, yes excellent, scores!!! You have a shot at ANY program.

... I did it 4 times (well one try does not count as my computer crashed during the test). So the answer is: no, I definitely won't retake it.

I did worse (3-6 points lower than predicted by the practice tests)

You have to accept them but you just do not need to send them. It's a simple as that.

@Taylor Dearr: thank you very much for your reply. I'll probably never find out if it is test day jitters or sth else but it doesn't matter anymore (I am definitely not going to do it again) . @alf10087: congrats! this is a great score!!

But do we agree that UCSD is among the top pol.sci. departments? BTW: what I really don't understand is that they want a high V-GRE but accept a TOEFL as low as 100...

??? They are probably looking for a perfect 800V and 700Q?! I am not going to apply there . Why can't schools just publish their cutoffs?! I know from a Harvard Business School prof that they have a 800Q cutoff and V doesn't count much.

@Tdearr: do you have an explanation why people like me cannot get the same scores on the actual test? I had 163 on your prep test and 160 on the actual one. I just cannot find a sound explanation for this discrepancy. Something must be different but I cannot figure out what it is.

@iowaguy and kaykaykay Thank you so much for these insights! Anyone else?

Has someone actually asked an admission committee member what cut-offs they have (if yes: please indicate the university and program)? It is almost impossible to find this information online and I don’t want to waste my money applying to programs where I don’t stand a chance. The “700+ on each section” is also not very helpful as 700Q is pretty low while 700V is absolutely excellent. Thank you for your help!

Thank you pemdas and usmivka. I very much appreciate your advice. I just think I can't do it. I am probably just not smart enough. And I will stop posting irrelevant things in a thread that's about manhattan grade inflation .

I really appreciate your advice but it don't think that there is any room for improvement. This was my second retake (yes... I almost feel embarrassed writing this). My first try (a year ago) was an abysmal 150V and 155Q. My second try (two months later) 151V and 159Q and the last one mentioned above. I spent months practicing (I bought 10 books + Magoosh). I guess these scores reflect who I am (not a genius but a hard working clever student). As said, I always did much better on the prep tests and I have no idea why I cannot get the same scores on the actual test. I guess I have to live with it and hope that other aspects of my application will be more convincing. The only thing that really bothers me is that I do not want to spend a fortune on application fees if there is no chance that the admission committees will even look at my application. I wish that the universities would clearly indicate their cutoffs.