Does the breakdown of your GRE scores impact whether it's a "good" score or not?

[strategicallyessential]

So I took the GRE last week and was wondering if I could get some input on my scores. I did well in verbal, so combined I have a good score (328), but there's a pretty big difference between verbal and quant--V: 170, Q: 158. I'm interested in applying to some top programs (Michigan, Wisconsin) that list averages for both sections around the 80th percentile. Does my quantitative score put me out of the running? Or does my verbal score help balance it out at all? Not sure if either of these things matter, but I also did well on the analytical writing--5.5--and am primarily interested in qualitative methods. I can't really afford to retake, so that's not an option. Thanks in advance for any input!

Edited August 20, 2014 by strategicallyessential

[spunky]

something important to keep in mind regarding the role of your GRE scores in social science programs is that their impact is contingent on the rest of your application. like say you're quant GRE score is... well, not quite as expected but you got A's in your introductory and advanced research methods courses and maybe a conference or a poster presentation. i would say that compensate for a low GRE score since you have other (arguably more relevant) ways to demonstrate competence.

 

the problem is when your profile as a candidate is just... well... "average", for lack of a better term. i mean, if your application looks like 100 other ones, then admission committees do start paying attention to smaller things like (GRE scores) in order to decide who gets in the first round of acceptances, and someone who looks just like you (application-wise) but with a better GRE score could be preferred over you.

Edited August 20, 2014 by spunky

[TakeruK]

In addition to the above, remember that "average scores for accepted applicants" is not the same thing as "you must score this high to get accepted". By definition, a good number of accepted applicants will have scores under the average value! As spunky said, the applicants with below-average stats in one part of their application will probably have other aspects that helped them get in. 

[uselesstheory]

Unless you are applying to quant-focused programs (and I'm assuming you're not), you do not have to worry about your GRE score. I'd definitely place my focus on the other parts of my application instead of retaking or worrying about the GRE. You did very well.

[strategicallyessential]

To clarify a bit--I know a good GRE score won't get me in anywhere and at best could only give a boost to an otherwise solid application, I was just curious about whether my mediocre quant score cancelled out any positive effects of a solid verbal score. Given how opaque this whole process is, I imagine it's not really a question that can be definitively answered. Just thought I'd crowd source a bit--so thanks for your responses, everyone!  

[DDsoc]

From what I've heard/seen, that score wouldn't keep you out of any program. Awesome verbal score!

[FertMigMort]

that list averages for both sections around the 80th percentile.

 

I talked about this a bit in my adcomm AMA, but we did not look at a total score. There aren't any guidelines that I could find for a total score percentile, just one broken out for each category.

The GRE score was kind of a weed out tool. We had a cut-off and didn't look at students below that cut-off. Contact programs you're interested in or check their website, some of them have guidance or mean GRE scores that you can use as a guide.

Best of luck!