writing score in applying for Eng dep

[Theresa8710]

I took the old GRE two years ago: V 780 Q 780 W 4.5.

I also have an Eng subject score (700, in the 94th percentile)

I am planning to apply for a PhD in English, but am afraid that

my writing score may deter my chances for applying to top schools.

I don't want to take the GRE again, no time..but the writing score bothers me.

Any advice? Should I just focus on my writing sample?

[octopussongs]

I would not worry too much about it. The writing part of the GRE is so basic...sometimes really really good writers don't do stellar just because they put too much work into it. Have you read the examples of perfect scores? They are like middle school level writing. If you are a good writer, and you have many other ways to prove that in an application, I don't think it will be a big deal, unless there is a min. score requirement.