Admissions

[sidiosquiere]

Do most History programs really have GRE cut offs?

[sidiosquiere]

Do most History programs really have GRE cut offs?

OK - So, I'm asking because I got a 600 V ... but 380 Q ... still waiting for the AW ... yeah, i know ... MA GPA is 3.7 ... is it over?

[Bukharan]

No one really knows. It is a great secret zealously guarded by Admissions Officers across the country.

Do most History programs really have GRE cut offs?

[sidiosquiere]

Yeah. Well, the History programs at Berkeley and Michigan specifically state that they set no minimum GRE scores. I want to take them for their word, but who knows, right? I just ask 'cause I REALLY messed up on the quantitative and earned a 380. The first time I took the GRE I earned a 640 on the Q section. BIG drop. But my verbal went up from 440 to 600. Not a great score, but an improvement. I am not going to use math for my research, but that 380 surprised the hell out of me and scares me. I knew I messed up when the exam asked me 'which is greater? 1/3 or 1/8' I knew it was over ...

[AniMEL]

I don't know for sure, and I am certain any school might make an exception for an otherwise exceptional candidate, but when I was applying for PhD programs I was told that 650 was the verbal score to shoot for, since some selective programs do have that as their bar. If you take your higher scores from both tests, then they are fairly solid, though. Hopefully, you are applying to a wide range of schools and not just Michigan and Berkeley, which would not be sure things even with an 800 on both sections.

[sidiosquiere]

Hi animel. Are applicants allowed to combine scores? Or do you have to use the scores from one test only?

I don't know for sure, and I am certain any school might make an exception for an otherwise exceptional candidate, but when I was applying for PhD programs I was told that 650 was the verbal score to shoot for, since some selective programs do have that as their bar. If you take your higher scores from both tests, then they are fairly solid, though. Hopefully, you are applying to a wide range of schools and not just Michigan and Berkeley, which would not be sure things even with an 800 on both sections.

[AniMEL]

Well, the report from ETS will have the scores from all tests you took. I know on most applications you have to self-report your scores (in addition to sending the official reports, of course) and sometimes there you can mix and match, but usually you have to put all of your scores. Ultimately, the extent to which your scores really matter, and how they are taken into account is anyone's guess. I think the best advice is to just make sure the rest of your application is really great.

[TMP]

ETS sends them all of your scores, whether you like it or not. It also depends on the individual professors looking at your app. I know one Michigan professor who completely disregards them while the other considers it as part of the application and doesn't weight it more or less than other components.

[sidiosquiere]

Thank you for your responses all! It seems like the best I can do at this point is write a really good statement, submit an excellent writing sample, and, of course, pray.

ETS sends them all of your scores, whether you like it or not. It also depends on the individual professors looking at your app. I know one Michigan professor who completely disregards them while the other considers it as part of the application and doesn't weight it more or less than other components.