Do I even stand a chance anymore?

[Piblokto]

So! I just got an astonishingly bad score on the GREs.

I studied hard, performed well on the practice tests, felt confident, aaaaand got a 500V 550Q.

Adding insult to injury, one of my undergrad majors was English, and I'm applying to more humanities-oriented programs.

How did I manage to memorize several hundred new vocab words (from Kaplan/Barrons) and still not recognize a single one on the test? And how did I manage to do better on quantitative than verbal when I can't math my way out of a paper bag? Mysteries.

I'm actually not applying to 100% consistent programs - Most of what I'm looking at is M.A.T. Secondary Education in English, though some programs (like UConn's Cognition and Instruction) have more of a Psychology twist.

Undergrad: Double major in English and French, minor in Art

Undergrad GPA: 3.9

Graduated: 2008

Experience: 2 years working full-time as a Research Assistant in a psychiatric hospital, 3 summers working as a camp counselor, semester abroad in undergrad, founding member of philanthropic group, yadda yadda.

Letters of rec: From PhDs employed at said psychiatric hospital/Brown University

Was hoping to apply to (bunch of these are obviously reach): Brown, UConn, BU, UMass Amherst, UNH, all for Fall 2011.

Should I give up? Re-take the test? (With a deadline as soon as December 15?) Address the issue in my SOP? Cry myself to sleep?

[sacklunch]

I did poorly on the GRE too, near what you got, and it didn't seem to matter much. Also, your GPA is slightly higher than mine! How many of those programs require the GRE? Most of the schools I applied to didn't require it, although the one I eventually went with did require it.

Edited November 19, 2010 by wagnern

[Piblokto]

I did poorly on the GRE too, near what you got, and it didn't seem to matter much. Also, your GPA is slightly higher than mine! How many of those programs require the GRE? Most of the schools I applied to didn't require it, although the one I eventually went with did require it.

You got into a Master's program with scores similar to mine? That's great, congratulations, the rest of your app must have been really strong.

I think all of them but UConn require it. And it's possible that UConn does and I'm just not seeing it on the site... I actually didn't realize until today that they don't mention the GRE, so unfortunately, it was one of the four schools I sent my score to. Ugh.

[Mocha001]

I think the other parts of your application are pretty good. I think you can get in if you make your statement of purpose strong.

I included my background as an international student and also being a trainer at major hospitality industry and my interested in

teaching and training. By the way I am a communication studies major and my focus is instructional communication. So

as long as you can make your statement of purpose supports your interest in the field. And stating your research background is always good.

Unfortunately I have no research experience. I straight went into working in hospitality and retail industry. So my working experience is heavily on training and

customer service.