GRE

[esimanon]

Sp my GRE scores are below average. How important are GRE scores really? I've got a 3.5 GPA. Looking to apply to UC Berkeley.

[geographyrocks]

Your post is much too vague for anyone to give you advice. How below average are your GRE scores?

[esimanon]

My scores are 144 Q and 150 V :/

[GeoDUDE!]

I would be surprised if you made the minimum GRE for any UC school, or any graduate school that has one (thats not the departmental cutoff, its the entire school cutoff which is generally lower than departmental cutoffs). 

[esimanon]

Uh oh

 

What scores would I want to aim for if I re-take?

[GeoDUDE!]

Uh oh

 

What scores would I want to aim for if I re-take?

 

you should check, but a guideline is that 300 is the minimum for a graduate school approval. Below that, and departments have to make an appeal. This would be like having a 2.8 GPA, since 3.0s are general requirements. I would contact them.

 

For competitive programs, I suggest a 320 or higher to be honest, but I dont know much about your programs. I just know that in general below 300 is like having less than a 3.0 gpa. 

[mswhopeful2015]

Just so you know the msw at Berkeley doesnt have a minimum GRE score. They accept students with a range of scores so I wouldn't stress too much if the rest of your application is strong

[esimanon]

@mswhopeful2015- I would just hate getting denied because of my below average GRE scores. Should I contact the program advisers?

[mswhopeful2015]

I would contact the admission coordinator. They only look at the verbal score

[Lifesaver]

Can you retake the test?

[ontheswpath]

As mswhopeful2015 stated, Berkeley's MSW program doesn't have a minimum score and only looks at Verbal. Don't worry about the quantitative reasoning score. My score was really low for Q. I didn't study for that part at all and didn't try (at all) when I took the test. However, I did study for the Verbal portion. I found that each time I took a practice test, my score increased by a few points. Basically, if you practice taking the test it's very probable that you will do better each time, because you're getting better at taking the test. When I took the actual test, I didn't get a super high score but I achieved the score I was aiming for. You may want to consider re-taking the test if you are feeling like the rest of your application isn't that strong. I think the last day to take the test in time for Berkeley's deadline is November 25th or around that time.

Edited September 21, 2014 by ontheswpath

[TheCrow]

I can't make heads or tails of what GRE scores on this new scale means! I got a 165V and a 156Q. Is that good enough for social work PhD programs?

[esp.msw]

Most programs only look at the verbal and writing. More importantly the writing portion, I believe. Shooting for a 4.5 and above would be best. 

[esp.msw]

Esimanon, did you end up re-taking the GRE? 

[esimanon]

Nope I feel that the rest of my application is strong - if my GRE turns the school off to me then I guess its just not a good fit. 

[Val006]

Double Shot, I am in a very similar situation than you... unfortunately I wrote my GRE on November 24th so no time to re-write as it is all past the deadline.  The rest of my application feels very strong (4.0 GPA, strong LOR, Writing Samples, Experience in the field both in clinical, management, and policy as well as teaching) I am very nervous as my scores were below the 50th percentile.  I applied for some PhD programs in Psychology and some in Social Work, so it should be very interesting to see what happens.  My plan is to keep studying over the next few months and rewrite regardless but hope for the best for March that I have some offers.  What schools have you applied for?