Should I retake the Chemistry GRE?

[lellies]

Hi all,

 

I was an applicant for the Fall 2014 admission season, but only got into one of my choice programs, and due to anticipated troubles with funding, I decided to decline my lone offer and reapply for the next coming cycle. I have already taken the chemistry GRE, and I scored in the 51st percentile. I was planning to focus most of my time on studying for the quantitative general GRE, since that was my main issue last cycle (I only scored 65th percentile for the quantitative section, 73rd percentile in verbal).

 

I guess the main question is, should I focus all of my attention into drastically increasing my quantitative score of 65th percentile, or buckle down and spend some time trying to beat my previous subject score of 51st percentile? I've read over and over that the subject GRE for domestic applicants, as a general rule, should be at least 50th percentile, and after that it's not much of a factor. I know my quantitative score has to increase, since I want to go into pchem. I don't want to spend the money/time studying for the subject test again if my current score is "good enough." Also, I should have a first author publication submitted by the time the next application season rolls around, I had no publications last time. Thanks for reading through my dilemma, and thanks also in advance for the help!

[Whisky-with-a-Y]

What schools are you planning on applying for?

[alkylholic]

I wouldn't worry about the GREs in general. I'd say that publication is going to hold much more weight than any test score. 

[lellies]

@Waterboy21 I'm looking to apply to Upenn, UNC, Princeton, NYU, and possibly Rutgers (New Brunswick).

@Alkylholic I know what you mean, but I was able to speak to faculty at 2 schools I was rejected from and both said my quant GRE score was lower than the quant score of most of the incoming students in the physical division (made no mention of subject GRE score). I think if I increase my quant score just from 65th to at least 75th percentile, I will be waaay more competitive assuming this publication works out well and is submitted by the time I apply.

Edit: As a follow up statement, the reason I was only accepted to one school and given am offer to do an MS at another is because I didn't have any "safety" schools. I aimed for all highly ranked schools in which I thought may be a good fit, and was told I should get into most but here I am now -.-

Edited June 1, 2014 by lellies

[Whisky-with-a-Y]

I agree with Alkyholic. Lets say you do spend a lot time buckling down and studying for either one of the tests; I cant imagine the score will improve drastically enough to warrant that time spent. Upenn, Princeton and UNC are all very good schools, and maybe the Chem GRE score is actually hurting you there. NYU isnt the best chem program, however the name is pretty well known. If I was in this situation I would not retake either of the tests, your general GRE scores are failrly good and the Chem GRE probably wont improve that much. I would focus on writing some very strong SOP's, getting quality LOR's, submitting that pub and I would look at more schools. Fortunatly P.Chem is offered at every school for PhD programs (unlike somethings like analytical) and there are a wealth of other great programs that will have an easier time looking past a 51 on the Chem GRE. If you want to study P.Chem I wouldnt apply to NYU. The program isnt that great and you have a better chance at getting in at other larger public universities. I always think: "If they wont accept me because I got a lower score on some standardized test that in no way shows my abilities as a chemist, I personally dont want to go there".

[lellies]

All good advice, thank you. I have seen from this website, as well as people I know personally,that others have gotten into the same schools with similar, or even lower, subject GRE scores. But my quantitative GRE score seems objectively subpar. I didn't really take preparing for the general GRE seriously because I may have underestimated its importance since I didn't have any publications last time. This is why I think I may see a significant increase in my general scores if I devote the time to review. Also, I've since graduated at the top of my class at my university and now have an award or two to bolster my applications, although I know it won't make a huge difference lol

[Vene]

Do the programs actually require you to take the subject GRE? If you graduated at the top of your class I see no other good reason to bother with it. Maybe spend a little more time familiarizing yourself with the quantitative section just in case you apply to a program where your current scores don't meet some cutoff or other.

[lellies]

Do the programs actually require you to take the subject GRE? If you graduated at the top of your class I see no other good reason to bother with it. Maybe spend a little more time familiarizing yourself with the quantitative section just in case you apply to a program where your current scores don't meet some cutoff or other.

 

Princeton requires the subject test, but that is all. And I did receive an award for the top graduating chemistry major in my class (with respect both to GPA and research activity), but I go to a small primarily liberal arts university (curriculum is ACS certified, obviously), so I don't know how much that will weigh in, although I have taken and done well in graduate courses in Statistical Thermodynamics and Electrochem. In an ideal situation, I would spend my summer finishing the work that needs to be done to submit this publication (first author) and just hone in on studying for the general GRE again. I don't want to have to study for the chemistry GRE if I really don't have to (the subject test was painful, in my opinion, too much Organic  )

Edited June 3, 2014 by lellies

[Whisky-with-a-Y]

Will you be done with school during the application season? Not sure if that question is clear; have you graduated and you are waiting around to apply again?

[lellies]

Will you be done with school during the application season? Not sure if that question is clear; have you graduated and you are waiting around to apply again?

Yes, I've just graduated in May. This summer I am working on submitting my publication as previously mentioned. My university offered me a research fellowship for next year, so I registered as a MS student but they know I am just reapplying to PhD programs. Beats sitting around, plus I'll have even more experience.

[Whisky-with-a-Y]

Ok, awesome. I just wanted to make sure you didnt have a year off or something where you weren't involved in any chemistry. That would be bad. Good luck!

[lellies]

Does anyone else have any input? All great advice so far, thank you.

[Alchemist921]

My general GRE scores were 58% in verbal, 91% in quantitative and my chemistry GRE score was a 94%. Everyone told me not to focus so much on the GRE scores, but you know what? I did. I made sure to do well in math and chemistry, and I'm sure those scores helped! Besides I was also coming from a small college, so I needed competitive standardized scores in order to put myself in the pool with other students coming from top programs.  So my advice is that right now we are in June. You have plenty of time. I would consider retaking both exams. Try to get above a 75% in quant and above a 70% in chemistry! You are almost there, so I think it is a reasonable goal. I hope this advice helps you!

[clickclick]

RETAKE and improve. I applied this last year with what many people on here, and the POIs I contacted, considered great research experience including a 1st author pub but was not accepted to the programs I applied to which I can only attribute to my poor GRE scores. I listened to everyone saying not to retake them, that they were not a big factor but it looks like they were. I've heard this enough times: good scores wont get you in, but poor scores will keep you out.