Please Evaluate! (IR/Regional Studies)

[HandsomeNerd]

620v/760q/4.5aw

GPA: 3.94 (so far), enrolled in a 2nd year graduate level course on track for an A, writing an honor's thesis on Sino-Iranian relations

Work Exp: USMC, 5 years; interned at a foreign policy think tank this summer

applying to security policy/regional studies programs at GU, GWU, AU, Tufts, BU

i didn't study particularly hard or consistently for the GRE, and was pleasantly surprised with both the v & q (expected about 100 points lower on each). of course the section where i felt most comfortable turned out to be the giant booger on my otherwise decent scores. my v&q are consistent with my top choice (average of high 600s for GU, about on par with Fletcher); and above for GWU, AU and BU.

my level of anxiety over my writing score is maybe 7, on a scale of 10. how many people think i should consider retaking this ridiculous test because of programs i'm applying to and my sub-par (67th percentile) writing score? can solid LORs and SOPs negate this mediocre score?

[balderdash]

620v/760q/4.5aw

GPA: 3.94 (so far), enrolled in a 2nd year graduate level course on track for an A, writing an honor's thesis on Sino-Iranian relations

Work Exp: USMC, 5 years; interned at a foreign policy think tank this summer

applying to security policy/regional studies programs at GU, GWU, AU, Tufts, BU

i didn't study particularly hard or consistently for the GRE, and was pleasantly surprised with both the v & q (expected about 100 points lower on each). of course the section where i felt most comfortable turned out to be the giant booger on my otherwise decent scores. my v&q are consistent with my top choice (average of high 600s for GU, about on par with Fletcher); and above for GWU, AU and BU.

my level of anxiety over my writing score is maybe 7, on a scale of 10. how many people think i should consider retaking this ridiculous test because of programs i'm applying to and my sub-par (67th percentile) writing score? can solid LORs and SOPs negate this mediocre score?

I think it's fairly strong given the USMC background, GPA, and think-tank experience. But where is the grad-level work, and what is your undergrad background look like (ie, were they at unknown public schools, top-20 LACs, etc)?

[HandsomeNerd]

i'm in a grad course called Globalization and Development

my undergrad studies have been all over the place, unfortunately no top 20s. failed out of college my first go around, took some classes at a community college, then joined the marines. plugged away at courses during my enlistment and came out with an associate's degree, and my current GPA is for my last two years of undergrad (University of Massachusetts Boston, mid/low tier state school).