I'm Puzzled! How can I find the suitable program based on my GRE score?

[TareqS]

Hello everybody,

 

I am an international student. I got full sponsorship from my college to get into a graduate pharmacology program in the states. I sat for GRE last month and scored the following:

 

 Verbal: 150

 Quantatative: 155

 A/Writing: 3.5

 

 

I know this is not the best score in the world, but I think it is fair, and I decided to settle for what I have and not take the test again, as long as I am not  faced with a strong recommendation for that. Now I am searching for a program that suites my GRE score and enroll students with an average score like I got. I know that I already should rule out the first top 50 program in my major and this is not a problem for me. I know It sounds desperate, but I am OK with a lower rank program that will accept my GRE score. The problem is that I can not find a tool that helps me in my search, I've been looking over the internet for a while now and all I can get is minimum required scores, which are in a number of universities lower than mine. Is that enough to apply safely? or should I know the average score of the enrolled students? where can I find this?

 

Help me please, I started to feel its the most laborious task ever.

 

Thanks

Edited June 5, 2013 by TareqS

[Nuya]

Hi

I am an international student confused by the application process myself, so I have no idea how reliable the following webpage is:

graduate-school.phds.org

On this page you can look up schools, their programms and the average GRE score.

However, I am sure a lot of people here are going to tell you that the GRE is just one part of your application and depending on who you ask not even such an important part.

I find the application process and requirements for US schools quite confusing myself, especially since most schools dont list international degree equivalents and i haven't found a single US school that translated the GPA score for other countries to compare. So i guess I will have to contact the schools before applying to find out the international requirements.

Good luck to you!

 

Edit: The scores listed on that page are in the old scoring system, so I guess you need to check roughly how the new scores correspond to the old scores. And they only list the quantitative GRE score I think. At least for the programms I checked.

Edited June 5, 2013 by Nuya

[Eigen]

Nuya is exactly right. The GRE score is probably the least important part of your application, and definitely not how you should go about choosing a school. 

 

Ideally, you choose a school based on research fit. You find researchers whose work you are familiar with and like, and look at working with them at their institutions. 

[dat_nerd]

I agree with Eigen, you really shouldn't choose a school based on your GRE scores. Your scores aren't even a reflection of your abilities as a researcher, so why let that limit the strength of programs you apply for? What's keeping you from trying the GRE again?

[TareqS]

I agree with Eigen, you really shouldn't choose a school based on your GRE scores. Your scores aren't even a reflection of your abilities as a researcher, so why let that limit the strength of programs you apply for? What's keeping you from trying the GRE again?

 

But it is unlogical to apply for a top program, right? I need something exceptional to be admitted? However, I hear what you're saying and I think I'll work now on my personal statement and obtaining good recommendation letters, and try with moderate schools.

 

I'm not taking the GRE tests because I already tried to improve my score before taking the real test. I spent the last month focusing on what I persumed are my weak points but I kept scoring the same on practice tests. So, now, I can say that my weak point is the test as a whole. There is no way I can improve my score, and I f I did it will be for an additional 3 or for points, which makes retaking the test not reasonable. Most of the exams in my undergraduate experience were lengthy, difficult and scientific, and I never had a problem with them, but the GRE was something different! I don't know! Maybe I developed some sort of a bad relationship with it the moment I opened that prep book. Sorry for sounding so negative.

 

Thanks a lot for your positive comments everybody.

TareqS

[dat_nerd]

Most of the exams in my undergraduate experience were lengthy, difficult and scientific, and I never had a problem with them, but the GRE was something different! I don't know! Maybe I developed some sort of a bad relationship with it the moment I opened that prep book. Sorry for sounding so negative.

 

I'm with you there! I started off with similar scores and took about 3 months off-and-on to study. After a bit, I realized that the GRE only measures how well you take the GRE. Once you look at it that way, you can learn how the exam works and avoid the little tricks they throw in there. It's a different ballgame than regular academic exams, but it's predictable after a while. You can beat the GRE! Don't let a score hold you back.

 

 

 However, I hear what you're saying and I think I'll work now on my personal statement and obtaining good recommendation letters

Right on. That's the important part of the application, more so than the GRE. Just get your scores to a point at which they won't limit you, and then spend your time on the LORs and SOP, which is what admission decisions are mainly based on.

 

If you're trying to figure out the "tier" at which you should be aiming, ask an advisor or professor who knows you and your work well. They can give you good feedback, and help you understand how to get into your target programs.

Edited June 6, 2013 by dat_nerd