Will Schools View 990 as Close Enough to 1000, or Should I Retake?

[vpeters25]

So I took the old GRE earlier in the summer and got a 570V 420Q. So mad that I was only 10 points away from 1000! I was originally going to retake it at the end of this month, but I have been so swamped with school and work that I have barely been studying. I feel like if I retake it soon, I'll only score marginally better than better and be out $150. I am applying to speech language pathology programs, and I know that they place more of an emphasis on the verbal, but I'm rather embarrassed by the quantitative.

If I did retake the exam, I would only have 19 days left to study, maybe a week more if I try to test early November, but some of the application deadlines are in January and November is starting to cut it a bit close. Since alot of schools want you to have a combined minimum of 1000, do you think 990 is close enough that they will basically consider it to be 1000, or should I try to retake it? Thanks!

[Lox26]

Define "want." Is 1000 required or recommended for the programs your considering? Does the university itself have a solid floor of 1000? Does the department have the right to use its discretion with respect to stated admissions criteria? Would you actually do better this time around? Is your time better spent elsewhere?

More emphasis on the verbal does not necessarily mean that SLP programs completely disregard quant. Right now you are in the lowest 15% of scorers. What do people in your field deem an acceptable math score, or is it only the composite that matters? Are you confident you are competitive for your prospective programs? Is the rest of your application strong?

When are your apps due? Can you study during winter break if you decide to retake?

[Lox26]

*you're considering?

Also, you can try to take a free practice test from Kaplan or someplace. See how you fare on the new version. Maybe the calculator will help.

[orst11]

I would say retake just because you may do a lot better on the revised test and be able to get into better programs. I think since you have taken the old test, you may not need to study as much as you think. For instance, I was originally scheduled to take the old test last year but ended up in the hospital while working abroad and having had studied for the test, I decided for the revised test all I was going to do was go over flash cards of the 500 most common words and take a few Powerprep practice tests. This strategy worked fairly well for me and I only did it a few days before my actual test.

As far as minimums/cut offs, it is important at times to ask individual departments what average or acceptable scores are, because while some may say they have a minimum of 1000, the incoming student average may be a little higher. Also, when it comes to funding at some schools, university-wide fellowships use GRE scores to decide who gets what.

Finally, with certain programs they do give a little more leeway when it comes to GRE scores if you have other aspects of your application that outshine it.

[orst11]

I also will add that $150 for the test is probably equal to one or two apps depending on programs you may be applying to so if can maybe forgo one or two apps you can fit this into your budget. I say this because most of us don't really just come from wealth and have to budget for this whole process. You also could attempt the strategy of applying widely and to more programs and forgoing the revised GRE but again this will probably cost more than simply taking the test and scoring a little bit better on it.

Also, I would mimic Lox26's statement in saying that just because it is a SLP program, doesn't mean they don't care about the quant portion., the same things goes for other fields that put a little more emphasis on one portion of the test. Just take a look at top programs in your field or any other field and you will see that most admitted applicants score well on both portions of the test.

Overall, just make yourself as competitive as you possible can. If you decide not to retake the test make sure you have other parts of your application make up for it.

[MayankM]

Retake.

Practice online.

Kaplan and Manhattan host two very good practice tests which you should consider taking. A week is enough time just as long as you don't let your nerves get to you.

Download flashcards onto your smart phone or iPod and go through those whenever you find you have some time.

All the very best.

[MayankM]

Also I'd just want to mention that if the school mentions 1000 that would seem to me like a cut off considering it isn't a very high threshold in the first place, but then again I don't know much about your program and you may be able to get through with the 990, and there I defer to Lox26. I for one would want my app to be a bit more competitive on the GRE front and would retake the test if I were you.

All the very best.

[alicejcw]

I think this will depend a lot on where you're applying, but if your schools have a cutoff at 1000, it's definitely worthwhile to re-take it, or re-assess which programs you want to apply to. As far as I can tell, schools do look at the whole package (GRE, GPA, LoR, SoP, experience, etc), but they use the numbers to cut down the size of the pile of applicants that they'll even bother to consider. If you don't make that cut-off, they'll never even see your other, stronger application points. You're right that a few weeks is not very long to prepare, but I would focus on taking practice tests and reviewing as much math as you can. If retaking before application time isn't an option, have you considered applying to programs that have spring admission?

[onemansthought]

Retake

I agree that the 1000 floor to be reviewed will not allow your strong points to be reviewed at many universities.

There has been many solid suggestions for what to study, the Vocab. seems to be the tricky part for me and many of my friends.

Read the flash cards while on Bus, Bathroom, eating lunch/dinner a few correct answers can push your number to over the 1000 baseline so many programs seem to have.

I have no reference for the NEW GRE. Review the comments on the board for guidance

I always hate the standardized tests breaks our lives down to a single test or so it seems. So the work we put in ahead of test is critical.

1000 is not the be all, end all there are many Good Universities that will review your application as a complete applicant.

Good Luck