should i re-take...

[joynow26]

...the GRE?

 

I took it today and I didn't do much better than my last practice test. While I'm relieved it's over, I was hoping to do better.

 

so here they are:

 

Q 141 V 165.

 

And I feel really good about my essays but of course I don't have that score yet.

 

Do you think a re-take is in order?

[FaultyPowers]

I think that question needs to be addressed along a couple of different lines.

 

1. What are you applying to study? Obviously anthropology, but a paleoanthropologist is going to have more reason to aspire towards a higher quant score than a cultural anthropologist. Your verbal score is really good! So if you're cultural, STOP. If you're bio...mayyyyyybe consider retaking but I wouldn't say it was a must.

 

2. Where are you applying? 

 

3. What does the rest of your application look like? If you have a killer GPA and have done research, I say you're done. 

 

4. Have you made a connection with your POI? This is probably the absolute most important aspect of your application. If you have, and if they have expressed interest in your research, I'd say don't retake.

[smg]

I wouldn't retake it if your doing cultural unless the rest of your application looks like shit.  

[joynow26]

I think that question needs to be addressed along a couple of different lines.

 

1. What are you applying to study? Obviously anthropology, but a paleoanthropologist is going to have more reason to aspire towards a higher quant score than a cultural anthropologist. Your verbal score is really good! So if you're cultural, STOP. If you're bio...mayyyyyybe consider retaking but I wouldn't say it was a must.

 

2. Where are you applying? 

 

3. What does the rest of your application look like? If you have a killer GPA and have done research, I say you're done. 

 

4. Have you made a connection with your POI? This is probably the absolute most important aspect of your application. If you have, and if they have expressed interest in your research, I'd say don't retake.

 

 

Thanks guys. I like the way you think!   

 

To answer your questions, Faultypowers

 

1. Cultural

 

2. As of yesterday, I was also only applying to 2 schools (Tulane and Stanford) but after the feedback on here I'm going to try to find some other programs that could suit me as well.

 

3. I don't think the rest of my application looks like shit. I have a 3.8 GPA from undergrad, doing a 6 month field study on my own research topic. There are also other potential drawbacks to my application (not coming from an anthro background, blah, blah, blah...) but screw it! This is who I am and I'm not apologizing! 

 

4. While I've made contact with 3 POIs only 1 has expressed interest. 

[FaultyPowers]

Psssh. You're done with sacrificing your money to the GRE gods.

As for the schools, definitely apply to more. If the POIs haven't written you back, write them again. Send one of those second letters that makes it sound like it totally must have been an accident that they didn't get the first one but... seriously. What's up. If they completely refuse to respond think hard about whether you want to apply to work with them!

[Meglet]

Screw the quantitative GRE - we don't need it!