How bad does my math subject test score have to be before I don't bother sending it?

[Statistique]

Hi guys,

So, I got my math GRE subject test scores today (which I guess is earlier than most people?), and I did very poorly. This wasn't unexpected - I wasn't feeling well and had a major off-day.

Anyways, the bad news is I'm stuck with the scores, but the good news is I'm applying to Stats Ph.D.s that by and large don't need subject tests. Two of my schools (BU and UChicago) "strongly recommend" it.

Obviously I won't be sending this junk off to the others, but what do I do about those two? If they strongly recommend and I don't send, will they assume even worse than my abysmal score? Or am I better off not letting them know how poorly I did? What would you say is the "don't tell them" cutoff?

Thanks in advance all!

(Side rant: How dumb is it that the signup deadline for the Nov test was the day before the Oct test? I knew immediately that I'd had a bad day, they just had to extend the deadline one day and I could have retaken it... alas.)

[dendrogirl]

For this one, I would ask one of your professors - one who is familiar with admissions and is writing your recommendation would be best.

Sorry I can't offer any better advice.

[wine in coffee cups]

I'm treating "strongly recommend" as "require": UChicago will get my barely above median, four-year old math subject score but none of the rest will. Not sure if this is the best course of action, but my letter writer most familiar with stats admissions agreed the score probably would not help my application, but better to show I didn't completely bomb than to let them assume the worst. Though personally, I think if I'd scored maybe like 40th percentile or lower, I would not have sent them to any schools unless explicitly requested.

Side rant: ETS lowered my subject test percentile by 5 points from what it was in 2007! (And my score wasn't too hot then.) At least they seemed to have raised my analytical writing percentile by a few points since July as consolation.

[cyberwulf]

If something is "strongly recommended", chances are you won't get in without it unless there are exceptional circumstances.

[Statistique]

Sounds like the consensus (of two, haha) is that I should send - my score is also just above median. I'll speak to my advisor and see what he thinks.

Thanks for all the responses everyone, I really appreciate.

[nbren12]

Sorry this is a bit late...but I applied to primarily applied math programs, and I also did quite poorly on the math subject GRE. Most of my programs either required or strongly recommended the exam. When "strongly recommended" I did not send them the score.

The way I figure, admissions committees use the scores as a preliminary filter, and if a school doesn't "require" the test, they can't filter you for not having included it. My letter writers agreed with this reasoning. In any case, I was accepted to several top programs, so I wouldn't worry too much about the score

[ANDS!]

I wouldn't send it in if it dropped below 30%. This isn't the quantitative section of the GRE. If I got above 50% on the subject and had a solid GPA and LOR's; absolutely I would send it in. I think people would be surprised at the mGRE's that people get into "top" schools with.

[bianchiSS]

I applied to statistics masters programs, none of which required the scores but all of which recommended them. I was right at the average score, submitted them, and was accepted. My hunch is that I did well enough not to be hurt by them, but not well enough to really help me. It's a stupid test anyway.

[wine in coffee cups]

I'm treating "strongly recommend" as "require": UChicago will get my barely above median, four-year old math subject score but none of the rest will.

Since this thread has been revived, may as well follow up for future statistics PhD applicants who wondering what to do about the subject test. (n=1, though, people, n=1.) I had a 58%ile subject score. I submitted it to Chicago and got in. I did not submit it to Berkeley, Columbia, Duke, IA State, Michigan, Northwestern, or Washington but still got in. I did not submit it to CMU or Harvard and did not get in. I'm guessing that the presence/absence of that subject test score had little bearing on any of these results.

[Hanyuye]

So, honestly, with anyone who has experience being accepted into a notable Applied Math program, what is a noticeable score on the GRE Subject Math? I would think it would be 720/990, the least?

Edited March 20, 2012 by Hanyuye

[R Deckard]

So, honestly, with anyone who has experience being accepted into a notable Applied Math program, what is a noticible score on the GRE Subject Math? I would think it would be 720/990, the least?

I had a slightly lower score than this. Out of the applied math programs that I applied to, I got into Maryland (AMSC), UCSD (Math), Stony Brook (AMS), CU Boulder (Applied Math) and waitlisted at Washington (Applied Math). I also got into an excellent CS program and an excellent computational science program.

Edited March 20, 2012 by R Deckard

[Statistique]

Just to update you all (n=2!):

My score was in the 58th percentile like wine's, and I actually opted not to send it in (on my advisor's suggestion). I was rejected by Chicago, although they asked if I wanted to be considered for their MA program. However, I did just get into BU!

It's not proof of much, since I don't know what would have happened if I'd submitted, but I'm really pleased with the result. I guess it proves that not submitting the score isn't an automatic Death Toll, anyways.

[StatisticsIsMyBestFit]

To those who posted above - what was your math coursework background?

I'm planning to take the test in order to counteract the fact that I haven't taken Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, etc, and I'm wondering part of the reason you were accepted with scores ~50th percentile is because you had strong coursework backgrounds.

[wine in coffee cups]

To those who posted above - what was your math coursework background?

I'm planning to take the test in order to counteract the fact that I haven't taken Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, etc, and I'm wondering part of the reason you were accepted with scores ~50th percentile is because you had strong coursework backgrounds.

Maybe? I had taken most of the math courses offered by my college and graduated with a transcript looking just like those of my pure math PhD-bound peers. I did surprisingly well in my applications and sent only one subject score, so perhaps you're right. It makes sense that admissions committees might want other evidence of mathematical competence--like the subject GRE--if your formal training is thin.