Worried about low GRE verbal score

[sifar]

Hi all,

I'm interested in applying this fall to the top MPA/MPP programs - HKS, SIPA, LSE, SAIS, WWS. I am a civil servant with 6 years' work ex, and hold a masters degree in economics from an Indian University, with respectable grades. I took my GRE last week, and am very disappointed with my performance. I managed a 540 in verbal and 770 in quant. I am aware that the application in its entirety is what matters.. but still, given my choice of institutes, do I need to worry about the verbal score?

Thanks.

[adaptations]

My gut reaction is that if you are confident you can do better on the verbal (break 600), I would retake the test. You may still have a shot at those programs with your current score, but the verbal score will not be a strength on your application and should be improved if you can. My thought process is, you want to do everything you can to minimize any weaknesses in your application, and this is an area where there is certainly room for improvement. Because I don't know the admissions profiles of each of those schools, I can't speak to how a 540 will be viewed, but my guess is that it is bellow average.

[sifar]

My gut reaction is that if you are confident you can do better on the verbal (break 600), I would retake the test. You may still have a shot at those programs with your current score, but the verbal score will not be a strength on your application and should be improved if you can. My thought process is, you want to do everything you can to minimize any weaknesses in your application, and this is an area where there is certainly room for improvement. Because I don't know the admissions profiles of each of those schools, I can't speak to how a 540 will be viewed, but my guess is that it is bellow average.

Thanks. I'd probably retake the test. I had taken the GRE 6 years back... and scored 680 V, 800 Q and 5.5 AW. So I guess I can do better.. I just took it lightly this time.

[MPP Maestro]

As you work more, your gre scores matters little for admission and more for scholarships. Focus on the essays.