not-so-satisfactory GRE scores, now what?

[maria08]

Hi all

I wrote in a different thread about my somewhat impulsive decision to take the GRE and apply for an economics master programme.

I took the test today and unofficial scores are 158Q and 156V. I've done a little more than 2 weeks of intense prep and in the process i still struggled to get free time from work. Would this be a good enough reason to list in the mitigating cicumstances section, I am not sure. Ironically most of my prep was for Quantitative but i found the real test really difficult on the day. I did nearly no prep whatsoever for verbal and the difference is just a ridiculous 2 points.

Apart from GRE, i have a first class honours in economics from a good UK university coupled with a few years of full time work experience in the UK as well as volunteering activities in India and UK. I can get 3 enthusiastic recomendations from 2 professors and 1 employer and can speak 3 languages fluently if at helps. I would like to apply with an eye to continue to a PhD if all goes well.

Should i still apply despite my lower than expected GRE Quant score?

How important are these scores anyway?

I am confident that with a couple of months more i could raise my score to at least 165 but that would mean postponing my application for another year...

Please help...

Cheers

Maria

[uromastyx]

Hi Maria,

Which progams are you applying to? Those scores are on the weak side. Your honours will help and those languages will be a very nice bonus! At least some part of the GRE is always crucial. But these numbers must be put in relative terms. Knowing which programs you are applying to would help.