155 Verbal, 150 Quantitative - European History

[IAmJoeLee]

Hi folks,

 

I took the GRE this morning, wound up with a 155 on verbal and 150 on quantitative. As for the writing I'm predicting somewhere in the 4.0 to 5.0 range; I feel like I did pretty well on that portion.

 

I was looking at past percentiles and was just curious because these scores seemed pretty average to above-average to me. HOw would these scores affect my chances of getting into a top-of-the-line school? I'm looking into European history, and my top schools are probably Brown, Penn, and UC Berkeley. Are the scores a bit too modest by their standards?

[shaboomshaboom]

Your quant score is definitely fine- above average for intended history majors (the average is 148). However, I think you're below average for verbal- it's about 156. 

See if any of the schools post the average GRE scores of accepted students so you can see if you're in range. Since these are top schools, I'm guessing the GRE scores will be pretty competitive.

That being said, the GRE isn't everything. If you have average scores, but a great GPA, fantastic LORs, and great research experience to distinguish you from other applicants then that could make up for the GRE scores.

 

[frundelson2]

The GRE is just one component, and ultimately, I think what it comes down to for admissions is how well you fit to each of those schools in terms of faculty there and their research interests and how you convey in your application why each school is the ideal fit. You could have a perfect GRE and a very good GPA but not be a good fit and you likely would receive a rejection. 

 

With that said, though, the GRE score plays a role. I have heard that each school has a certain number they want you to clear to get into consideration. You might want to contact each department individually and ask them about how they approach GRE scores.

 

All things considered, I think you might want to get your verbal score up above 160 to have a really good shot at an elite university. My thinking there is why let an average GRE score harm you if you have a strong application otherwise. A very strong application could make up for a below-average GRE score, but with these elite schools, folks will be applying with high GPAs, strong letters of recommendation, and compelling research ideas. It's a sad reality but the schools will use the GRE scores to make cuts somewhere along the line, particularly when they are sorting through hundreds of applications. To give yourself the best shot, you'd want it a bit higher I think. 

[IAmJoeLee]

Hi guys, thanks for your replies.

 

I haven't looked at minimum scores for many schools, though Brown does not have a minimum requirement, which is good.

 

I know I'll have at least two great LORs to send in: one from a professor who I took a seminar on fascism and totalitarianism with this past spring (with my thesis paper being an examination of the cult of personality of Benito Mussolini), and the other professor being someone who I've aced two classes with and with whom I'm doing an independent study on Chechen history. I just need to figure out a third professor for an LOR. Would the academic adviser for my school's history club suffice? I've been the treasurer of the club since last fall, so while I don't have class experience with the guy, I do have other experience with him which may reflect in a positive LOR. Would that be a good idea to go for, or no?

 

Other than that, I fear that my resume isn't as impressive. I'm likely starting a position as a conversation partner for non-native speakers at the Academic Resource Center at school, and I'm also going to start an internship at the campus archives either in the fall or in the spring, but other than that, I don't think anything would jump out. I don't have much work experience in any history field, so I'm a bit panicky about that.

[xXIDaShizIXx]

I would personally go ahead and apply, I believe it would still definitely be worth it with those scores.