Stunk up the GRE: Any shot?

[Fiz]

Hi guys! I'm new here and new to the graduate environment as well. I'm the first in my family to graduate high school, let alone try and make it into a grad program, so at times the entire process is a little intimidating and confusing. I'm applying for the 2014 Fall semester, but I'm afraid I just shot myself in the foot with my GRE scores. I just took the exam today, and I scored a 159V and 140Q! I'm a tad disappointed with my verbal score. On practice tests, I was scoring in the 164-166 range, but I get horrible test anxiety and all those cameras and the damn clock was freaking me out. I couldn't focus and got a 159. I don't know if this is good enough. A few of the programs I am applying to state that the average score of admitted students is in the 85th percentile; mine is the 81st, according to the most recent percentile breakdown. And I don't even know what to say about the math portion. I haven't taken a math class in four years and have always been horrible at it. I've heard that English programs don't care much about the Math portion, yet I've had professors tell me that, at least here at UC Riverside, the first thing they look at is the GRE and GPA (mine is 3.6 overall and 3.8 in the major), only to make sure a student will be able to get funding. I'm concerned that my math score is so ridiculously abysmal that schools will just toss me out because it will affect my funding. I dont have the money to retake this damn test again, and these ETS vampires want 25 bucks just to send a score. Do I have a shot of getting into places? Most of them are MA to Phd so I think my chances might be a little better than if I applied directly to a Phd program. But I have a budget to work with and don't want to blow money on schools I might not have a shot at. The programs I'd like to apply to are:

 

1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

2. USC

3. Ohio State

4. UC Santa Barbara 

5. UC San Diego

6. University of Iowa

7. University of Colorado at Boulder

8. University of Washington

9. UMass at Amherst

The University of Minnesota is being pushed on me by one of my letter writers, and if I can afford it, I'll probably try to apply there to.

 

I don't know what to make about rankings but UIUC is ranked the highest, 22 by US News and Report, so I would assume it is the hardest to get into. But it is also the school I'd like to attend the most. I've been in touch with one of the professors in the program, and he has even reviewed my SOP for me and said it was fantastic, and he also told me he'd hire me on as an RA if I were to study there. But I'm afraid I just let him down with this pathetic GRE performance. Any feedback helps. I don't know anyone who has ever tried to get into a grad program before so I dont know what is an acceptable GRE score and what is not. As an English major, I know its expected that I perform better than 159 but it is what it is.

[Datatape]

A 159 verbal score or 81st percentile is not the end of the world.  It's certainly not the highest score any of these schools will see, but it's not so low that you should be automatically DQed from somewhere.  Further, your odds are always going to be better applying to an MA than a PhD (I'm assuming that's the program you're applying to for UIUC?) - just breathe and remember that it's only one part of your application, and hardly the most important part at that.  The purpose of the test is to show that you're not a complete ignoramus when it comes to English - that's it.  As for your math score, unless you scored in, say, the 8th percentile, that should not keep you out of anywhere.

 

As for rankings, that's an argument that's been hashed out time and again here on the forums. Suffice to say, all the schools on your list have excellent programs, so your concern should primarily be which program you feel most strongly about and want to attend the most.  The fact that you already have such a positive amount of feedback from a professor at UIUC is a good sign; just keep moving forward and do your best as you pump applications out - that's all that can be asked of you.

[Fiz]

A 159 verbal score or 81st percentile is not the end of the world.  It's certainly not the highest score any of these schools will see, but it's not so low that you should be automatically DQed from somewhere.  Further, your odds are always going to be better applying to an MA than a PhD (I'm assuming that's the program you're applying to for UIUC?) - just breathe and remember that it's only one part of your application, and hardly the most important part at that.  The purpose of the test is to show that you're not a complete ignoramus when it comes to English - that's it.  As for your math score, unless you scored in, say, the 8th percentile, that should not keep you out of anywhere.

 

As for rankings, that's an argument that's been hashed out time and again here on the forums. Suffice to say, all the schools on your list have excellent programs, so your concern should primarily be which program you feel most strongly about and want to attend the most.  The fact that you already have such a positive amount of feedback from a professor at UIUC is a good sign; just keep moving forward and do your best as you pump applications out - that's all that can be asked of you.

Oh gosh...140 IS the 8th percentile. Damn myself man.

[abitstartled]

From talking to an advisor who served on an English adcomm at my undergrad university, a GRE cut-off score is often imposed by the graduate admissions office. (This seems to be fairly common, especially at state schools.) Is applying next year not an option? That would give you time to study for the GRE. Furthermore, it might be worthwhile to work and save up money for relocation costs, etc., especially if you're still in college / a recent graduate. 

Edited November 7, 2013 by abitstartled

[semicolon2013]

Did you study for the math portion?  I am also terrible at math and haven't taken a course in years, so I feel your pain.  However, I did find it helpful to study.  The PR book had some useful tricks and I also found math tutorials and practice online.  I spend several months studying and still scored pretty badly on math (148), but well enough, I believe, to slip by if I'm applying to English programs.  Could you take a year off and study, or even find a tutor (maybe a student who will do it for not much money)?

 

As for verbal, if it's just the anxiety, taking practice tests under test conditions may help (and if you actually have an anxiety disorder, maybe get it treated).  If it's the material though, Manhatten Prep has a 5 ib book of practice problems where you can do targeted practice of your weaknesses (sentence completions, logic based reading, sentence equivalence, etc).  Also, you probably know this, but vocab flashcards--they help.

[Fiz]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I tried to study for the math portion, but i've always been bad at it my entire life. And ive never ever take geometry, so I was basically trying to teach myself straight out the books. I cant do that. I need classes just so i can have a slimming chance of grasping any sort of material. I knew no matter how long I studied i was going to bomb the math section, but I was at the very least trying to shoot for 147-148. Thats how pathetic I am with it! I aim for that.

As far as the verbal portion. Its straight anxiety. I took soo many practice tests, learned over 2000 words, and used a clock every time I took the test. But the setting screws with me so much. I just freak out. For instance, during the many practice tests I was taking, it took me on average, 21 mins to complete them. And I still scored 167-166. But I was moving so slow on the gre cause of my stress, I was going down to the wire and the clock started blinking and gosh! It was over for me.

Idk. I got accepted into an MA program at Long Beach State but I decided to forego it because of the pitiful amount of funding. An MA isnt worth 30k in debt for me. So I looked to MA to PHD programs and figured Id try my hand. I will not wait another year. I didnt even want to wait this year but I had to for certain reasons I wont touch on. I think I am just going to apply and if I dont get in then I dont get in. I tip hat and know that grad school is not for me and see where else life takes me.

[B-612]

Fiz, your story sounds so much like mine it's unbelievable. I got a 159V and 148Q. I got a 5.5 on analytical writing and am not sure what the expectations for that are, since I rarely hear anyone dole out the minimum score on that. Iowa was at the top of my list. I'm considering retaking the test, but the problem is test anxiety. I've had terrible, stress-related insomnia for the last 3 years. I didn't sleep for three nights before the GRE because of it. Like a genius, on the night before the GRE, I took some Nyquil hoping it'd bring sleep about more easily. It made me seriously groggy but didn't put me to sleep, so I went into the test in haze of confusion. My doctor just prescribed me (after three years of begging, it took an anecdote about leaving the food in the oven and swerving on the road due to sleeplessness) sleeping pills so I'm hoping this will get me the rest I need to enhance my study and retake it. 

 

I don't have much advice, other than to say I'm retaking it and I can empathize with you. I completed at Master of Divinity program at Vanderbilt and got honors for four classes and also my thesis, so I don't think I'm a stupid person by any means, just horrible when put on the spot for something like that. I would hope academia would recognize that a GRE is a fairly narrow window into a person's intellect and potential.