Profile Evaluation please!

[Jenben543]

I'm a senior, applying to Geography Masters programs. I just took the GRE today, and am a little concerned about my graduate school opportunities.

Here is what my stats are:

GPA: 3.6 overall (same in Geography)

GRE: 460 V (ouch), 620 Q, 4.5 AW

Research Experience: I'm currently working on a paper with a prof, and I'm doing a presentation on it in the spring.

I am completing 3 majors (Geography, a foreign language, and Interdisciplinary studies in the social sciences.)

I have 2 really strong letters of rec, and one good, but not as strong letter.

What I'm most concerned about is my GRE Verbal, is that going to kill me?

Thanks for any advice!

[studentfromLA]

The GRE website has a chart giving average scores by graduate field of study. Geography appears on page 7:

http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/ ... le%204.pdf

Your verbal score is only slightly lower than the average for your field. However, if you think you can improve that score with practice, you should do so and take the test again -- you'd rather be above average than below. Given the state of the economy and the job market, I would expect this year to be very competitive, so you want to do everything you can to improve your chances.

[rising_star]

Your GRE verbal will probably hurt you since most schools like to see over a 500 on each section. I'd talk to the director of graduate studies at your current school and see what s/he thinks (that way you can use that as a guide).

I'm unclear what you mean about the published paper. Usually it takes a while for papers to be accepted and subsequently printed.

[Jenben543]

What I mean by published is I guess submitted, but I've already been accepted to give the presentation on it, if that makes any sense.

Should I retake it? I'm afraid of scoring lower on the quant, and I really don't think I can raise my verbal in the short amount of time I have until I'd have to retake it to get the scores in on time. Not to mention the $140.