GRE with no studying or should I just not bother?

[obrera]

Hi everyone.

I come from a very non-academic background and completed my undergraduate degree at a school that does not talk about graduate studies very frequently, so I know very little about academia. I am enrolled in a Master's in English Literature this Fall, and when I was applying, I decided to wait until Fall 2014 to pursue a PhD. I made this decision based mostly on the fact that I do not have many things going for me, only a few conferences and one minor publication. In addition, my undergraduate grades were not stellar. However, between then and now I have been accepted into a top Canadian university for an MA, commissioned to write a textbook chapter in my field, and I have won a major scholarship (SSHRC). I figured that these two things along with good grades in my MA would qualify me to pursue a PhD (along with excellent letters, of course).

Because I have decided this so late, I am just now figuring out which schools I am interested in. I am interested in a programme at an American university (I am Canadian), but it requires me to take the GRE (but not the subject test). I only have a limited time to study for it (one month, tops, while balancing new graduate life and coursework). This school is a highly ranked school, and I am wondering if I should take the GREs and hope that I do well and apply anyway, or if I should take a year off to study, write them, and improve my CV. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of being out of school for another year. I would be perfectly happy at a Canadian institution, but this US school has someone with whom I have a lot in common in terms of research interests, which is rare. Also, I figure I probably have a better chance at a career with a degree from an American school, unfortunately.

TL;DR: would good grades in a MA, a major scholarship, and an interesting publication offset crappy GRE scores from a Canadian PhD applicant?

[iowaguy]

Depending on the PhD program, they might have a hard number for a GRE cutoff for admissions. I have a good friend who is a prof & on the adcom at a large university. He says they get lots of applicants for their PhD program, so they have a firm GRE cutoff (I think it's around the 75% range for V & Q). They want to be sure they're getting top applicants, and a top applicant to his program (business) should be scoring in the top 25% of folks who take the GRE.

Anyway, IMHO, if your GRE scores are "crappy" (your colloquialism) they could seriously hurt your application... If I were you & were worried about my GRE scores, I would plan on taking the test 2 or 3 times before admission & submitting your best score...

[Eigen]

Just as a point of note, most of the people in y program didn't study before the GRE, myself included.

I'd make time to at least take a practice test to familiarize yourself with the format, but you really have nothing to lose.

[emmm]

I had a tough time trying to force myself to study for the GRE, so I finally signed up for it during the spring of the year I wanted to apply. I figured if I got scores I was not satisfied with, I would then have the motivation I needed to make myself prepare. As it was, I was pleased with my scores and did not retake. So, it is possible to do well without much prep. As background, I generally do OK on standardized tests, and I was finding the review books not very helpful (i.e. I knew most of the vocabulary...). If you are seriously concerned about bombing the exam, taking at least one full practice test is a good idea to see where you stand.

[psychdork]

I think the best way to find out whether your GRE scores are "crappy" or not would be to take a practice test and go from there. If you score relatively well on the practice test, then schedule the actual test. If you unfortunately don't do well on the practice test then either take the actual test and hope for the best, or take a year to study for it.

[kateausten]

I don't think 1 month of studying dooms you to bad scores. I studied for half that long (not taking courses but I am working full time and didn't get much studying in during the work week), took the test this morning, and my unofficial scores were in the 90th and 98th percentile. If you have some natural skill for standardized tests (or no weakness for them) you could do very well with 1 month to prepare. I definitely wouldn't skip an entire application cycle because you're worried about your potential GRE score. Give yourself as long as possible to study and hope for the best.

[obrera]

I've never been very good at standardized tests, which is fine since we don't have many in Canada. That being said, I haven't had a lot of practice with them either. I'm doing poorly on the verbal practice exams, which is the one that matters. Multiple choice was never my thing, and it shows.

[emmm]

Isn't there a subject test that most literature applicants take? Are you likely to take that, and, if so, do you think you will do well on that? Would that be more important than the GRE V score? Sorry -- not my field, so I don't know the answers to these questions... Also, I have heard the writing sample is extremely important, perhaps that could help make up for a lower GRE V score. Perhaps if your GRE V is "good enough," it won't hurt your chances if the other parts of your application are strong.

Edited September 3, 2012 by emmm

[obrera]

Isn't there a subject test that most literature applicants take? Are you likely to take that, and, if so, do you think you will do well on that? Would that be more important than the GRE V score? Sorry -- not my field, so I don't know the answers to these questions... Also, I have heard the writing sample is extremely important, perhaps that could help make up for a lower GRE V score. Perhaps if your GRE V is "good enough," it won't hurt your chances if the other parts of your application are strong.

There is a subject test, but the programs to which I am applying do not want me to take it. It's not required.

[MJordano]

I think it depends on how you normally do on standardized tests. I know lucky people that don't study or only study for a couple of weeks and get amazing scores. I know I tend to score very highly on verbal and analytical without studying, but I have to study a decent amount to get comparable quantitative scores. Putting in some decent study time for a month or so should help, and if you take it again they will count your highest scores.

The subject tests are usually good if you have an iffy major GPA.

Good luck!