Submit average (157V, 155Q) or good/bad combination (160V, 151Q)?

[Psych Student]

I'm applying to Social Psychology PhD programs.

I'm going to be taking the revised GRE very soon, for the second time (well, the third, but the first time I was extremely sick, and I did legitimately awfully). The last time I took the GREs, I got a 157V and a 155Q.

I just did a practice test using the PowerPrep software and it said my verbal score was about 160, while quantitative was 151. I suspect, based on this and the amount of practice I've done, that I am going to do a bit worse on the quantitative than I did before and a bit better on verbal.

If this does happen, which scores should I submit - my old ones or the new ones?

[bamafan]

I wouldn't assume anything about your second performance. Take it first, then worry about which ones to submit. For all you know, you might improve scores.

[Psych Student]

I wouldn't assume anything about your second performance. Take it first, then worry about which ones to submit. For all you know, you might improve scores.

Unfortunately, my predictions came true. I took the GREs today.

I did well on the verbal. Very well. 165V - I think that's about 95% percentile.

But I did bad on the quantitative. Very bad. 152Q. It's just over 50%, I think.

[Tolman's Rat]

Unfortunately, my predictions came true. I took the GREs today.

I did well on the verbal. Very well. 165V - I think that's about 95% percentile.

But I did bad on the quantitative. Very bad. 152Q. It's just over 50%, I think.

I am in the same boat as you, actually. 162V and 152Q, 5AW, and also applying to Psych programs (though I am applying to cognitive and developmental programs)

This is the advice that I have received: try and sell your best skills. The quantitative score isn't good, and you need to have analytical skills to be a grad student in psych, so try and sell the adcomms on your performance in stats/research classes, your experience with conducting data analysis, etc.

For example: I have worked as a TA in stats for 2 years, so I worked that into my SOP along with my excellent grades in stats courses taken at my undergrad institution. I also talked about my thesis work, which included a fairly complex analysis.

Personally, I would submit the excellent verbal score and the not-so-great quant score. I think the verbal will speak for itself, and if you have any sort of quant background, you can sell the skills and try to demonstrate the quant score as an aberration. I think the difference from a 165 to a 157 (V) is more significant than the drop from a 155 to a 152 (Q). This is your best chance, at least in my opinion, of separating yourself from the pack.

[pghbioteacher]

I agree- Having a score in the 90+% range is a serious benefit to you. Just try to shed light on other parts of your apps that could indicate your analytical abilities... Do you have a thesis in which you performed any data analysis?