twenty-twelve Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 (edited) Just took the GREs. I'm aiming for PS PhD programs in the top 20, ideally Berkeley. Wound up with a 710 V, 720 Q. I've read that generally testtakers score slightly higher overall when they take the GREs a second time. But I don't want to risk scoring lower and have that be to my detriment (although it looks like some programs (Yale) just take the highest section scores so there wouldn't be much of a risk with those schools). Other background: BA from top 40 ranked national LAC. 3.9 major gpa in PS; 3.7 cum. gpa. (possible red flags two C's in art courses) Would it increase my odds of getting in if I were able to raise my score overall by say 50 points? I might be able to raise it by 80-100 points, but realistically if I take it again I only have a month to study since the new revised test is going to replace the current one. Would scoring over 50 points higher help balance out my low(er) cumulative gpa? Edited June 20, 2011 by lbanditti twenty-twelve, eklavya and Saralots 1 2
alphazeta Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Just took the GREs. I'm aiming for PS PhD programs in the top 20, ideally Berkeley. Wound up with a 710 V, 720 Q. I've read that generally testtakers score slightly higher overall when they take the GREs a second time. But I don't want to risk scoring lower and have that be to my detriment (although it looks like some programs (Yale) just take the highest section scores so there wouldn't be much of a risk with those schools). Other background: BA from top 40 ranked national LAC. 3.9 major gpa in PS; 3.7 cum. gpa. (possible red flags two C's in art courses) Would it increase my odds of getting in if I were able to raise my score overall by say 50 points? I might be able to raise it by 80-100 points, but realistically if I take it again I only have a month to study since the new revised test is going to replace the current one. Would scoring over 50 points higher help balance out my low(er) cumulative gpa? A 710 V is really quite good - that's something like the 98th percentile. On the other hand a 720 Q is rather poor - that's something like the 75th percentile, so in your case it's only real the quantitative section that you need to be worried about. I think boosting that 50-60 points could make a difference, especially if you want to do something that's quantitative.
RWBG Posted June 21, 2011 Posted June 21, 2011 Obviously, getting 50 points higher on the GRE will help, the question is how much. Quant scores seem to matter somewhat more than verbal scores. I wouldn't call 720 poor, but it is below the average at the TOP schools, and about the average for the 7-20 ish range. http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/political-science/rank/________________M_______________________________________________U How important it's going to be will probably be partly dependent on the kind of research you want to do.
AuldReekie Posted June 21, 2011 Posted June 21, 2011 Obviously, getting 50 points higher on the GRE will help, the question is how much. Quant scores seem to matter somewhat more than verbal scores. I wouldn't call 720 poor, but it is below the average at the TOP schools, and about the average for the 7-20 ish range. http://graduate-scho...______________U How important it's going to be will probably be partly dependent on the kind of research you want to do. I'm going to go against what would seem to be popular opinion and question whether it will really make a difference? From what I gather many schools use the GRE as an early cut off. Surely your writing sample and statement of purpose etc will carry more weight at the better schools, when it boils down to it will they take the person with the Q-770 over the Q-700 with a better writing sample? Retake it if you have the time but not at the expense of the other - perhaps ultimately more decisive - areas of your application. wannabee, kaykaykay and gellert 3
catchermiscount Posted June 22, 2011 Posted June 22, 2011 (edited) It depends on what you're selling. Were you planning on studying Montesquieu and Bacon? If so, then a 720Q is less of a problem. Were you planning on studying formal theory at Caltech? If so, then 720Q is a dagger in the heart. In general, a 1420 is good enough to gain entry to most programs---which is to say, it will get you over the initial hurdle. Edited June 22, 2011 by coachrjc
alphazeta Posted June 23, 2011 Posted June 23, 2011 I'm going to go against what would seem to be popular opinion and question whether it will really make a difference? From what I gather many schools use the GRE as an early cut off. Surely your writing sample and statement of purpose etc will carry more weight at the better schools, when it boils down to it will they take the person with the Q-770 over the Q-700 with a better writing sample? Retake it if you have the time but not at the expense of the other - perhaps ultimately more decisive - areas of your application. I've certainly heard similarly that GRE is generally a cutoff, but you mentioned Berkeley, and I'd direct you to this quote from their website: "We do not have minimum score requirements for the GRE. However, due to the highly competitive applicant pool we receive each year, the average scores of admitted students are typically in the 80th percentile or higher on each of the three sections of the GRE General Test" (see here). A 720Q doesn't quite get you over that 80th percentile, so a retake may be in order, though not at the expense of other bits of your application. Spending a little time with a GRE book and adding a few points to that score would probably be a good thing.
maicondouglas Posted June 23, 2011 Posted June 23, 2011 Yeah, you're trying to get into a top school, so aim to improve your test score. The costs are pretty low when you consider the fact that you have until like November to retake the GRE. Study gradually and have the 800 in the back of your mind.
RWBG Posted June 24, 2011 Posted June 24, 2011 I'm going to go against what would seem to be popular opinion and question whether it will really make a difference? From what I gather many schools use the GRE as an early cut off. Surely your writing sample and statement of purpose etc will carry more weight at the better schools, when it boils down to it will they take the person with the Q-770 over the Q-700 with a better writing sample? Retake it if you have the time but not at the expense of the other - perhaps ultimately more decisive - areas of your application. This still depends a lot on what research you're interested in. The reality is, the quant section is scaled such that 800 is only 94th percentile; the difference between a 720 and a 770 is the difference between the 75th and 89th percentile. If you plan on doing heavy formal theory or empirical work, a 720 can be a bit of a red flag; in economics departments, some schools actually advise you to retake the GRE if you score less than a 780, and I would imagine formal applicants may face somewhat similar expectations. As coach said though, if you're not planning on doing much math-y stuff beyond a required methods course, you probably won't need to retake it, because quant abilities aren't going to be integral to your ability to succeed in your Ph.D program. But admissions committees use all the information they have to try to predict your performance; they don't arbitrarily stop caring beyond a particular threshold score.
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