Should I address my low GRE score in my statement of purpose?

[youngcharlie101]

I'm retaking the Graduate Ruination Experiment next week. I scored a 152 in verbal, but all my schools require a high 80th or low 90th percentile.

To be honest, I'm done killing myself over this exam. I've taken a Manhattan Prep course, over 10 hours of tutoring, Magoosh, etc. I score 157 and 158 on the practice tests, but come exam day, I fail miserably.

I'm so over it, to be honest, and I was almost hospitalized because of the stress the exam places me under. I've applied for accommodations but was denied since I don't have a learning disability.

Are my chances for a PhD in anthropology shot to hell? If so, can I address my low GRE score in my personal statement without mentioning my anxiety disorder?

[MsAmira]

Hi there,

I know how you feel. The GRE can be such a pain, and the stress of having to write it again is no fun at all! I've been there! Hopefully you will do better this time! As for the SOP, I don't think you should mention why you have a low GRE. I think the focus should be spent on your strengths and career goals. You would want to highlight those. The profs will see your GRE scores, and I don't necessarily think that you need to give them an explanation. They know that some students will score higher than others. How is your GPA looking? Do you have good research/work/volunteer experience? 

Good luck!

[CharterVanilla]

I did horrible on my GRE even though I studied A LOT. My practice tests I did well, but exam day - uggh. It's like EVERYTHING I studied wasn't on there. I ended up with a 154 Verbal and 147 Quant. My grades are high though, and I have a lot of field experience/volunteer experience and a conference paper. I'm hoping that, as well as my letters of rec make up for my poor test scores. 

I have anxiety when it comes to tests like the GRE, and I find that the test itself is unfair. :/  Good luck.

[youngcharlie101]

I did horrible on my GRE even though I studied A LOT. My practice tests I did well, but exam day - uggh. It's like EVERYTHING I studied wasn't on there. I ended up with a 154 Verbal and 147 Quant. My grades are high though, and I have a lot of field experience/volunteer experience and a conference paper. I'm hoping that, as well as my letters of rec make up for my poor test scores. 

I have anxiety when it comes to tests like the GRE, and I find that the test itself is unfair. :/  Good luck.

 

CAN I GET AN AMEN TO THIS RESPONSE?????

[Admissions Advice Online]

Never mention anything that might be considered as a negative in your SOP. Your SOP should only highlight you as positively as possible. If your GRE scores are below what the school requires, what you should do is show how you are just a bad standardized test taker. The way you can do this is to show that this is something that has happened before. If you also did poorly on the SAT score but managed to do really well in college, this would be a great way to explain your performance. In any event, the best place to discuss this is via the optional essay or in a direct email to the admissions office. Never should this be included in the statement of purpose.- Admissions Advice Online 

[Hopeful678]

I also had heart palpitations about this test, took it 3 times and my 3rd time still did badly, 302 overall, 153 v 149 q 6 aw. I don't know what to do either, i'm just going to apply to my top choices, I'm not a bad student either 3.73 and 2 ivy league degrees and nothing I post on this site gets addressed ever. I wish you the best of luck though, I'm tired of making myself sick trying to get in a Phd program.

[TheMercySeat]

Amen!

 

The GRE ruins life. 

 

(potential) word of advice: consider applying to a reputable university overseas. 

[youngcharlie101]

Thank you guys so much. Wishing you all the best of luck.

[SchoolPsych_NYC]

I did horrible on my GRE even though I studied A LOT. My practice tests I did well, but exam day - uggh. It's like EVERYTHING I studied wasn't on there. I ended up with a 154 Verbal and 147 Quant. My grades are high though, and I have a lot of field experience/volunteer experience and a conference paper. I'm hoping that, as well as my letters of rec make up for my poor test scores. 

I have anxiety when it comes to tests like the GRE, and I find that the test itself is unfair. :/  Good luck.

 

AMEN!!!! This is like my mantra! I am constantly convincing myself that my GPA, field/intern/volunteer/research/clinical experience, LORs and SOP are all strong enough to overthrow my low GRE score.. Good to know there are more of us out there that shine in other ways than on standardized tests! cheers to us, the little guys

[columbia09]

Amen to this post, amen, amen, amen. I did horrible on my SAT and ACT but I have a 3.83 in college and I have two science majors. To the person who suggested using this as an example, should I really just email the admissions committee ? Where can I put this on my app ? I fear because my GRE might be below "the cutoff", although none of my schools have an official GRE cutoff, that they won't even look at my app. My advisor just emailed me for info to right his letter so I wonder if I should email him saying to put this in there. He wants me to retake it though

[twombly-fied]

I did horrible on my GRE even though I studied A LOT. My practice tests I did well, but exam day - uggh. It's like EVERYTHING I studied wasn't on there. I ended up with a 154 Verbal and 147 Quant. My grades are high though, and I have a lot of field experience/volunteer experience and a conference paper. I'm hoping that, as well as my letters of rec make up for my poor test scores. 

I have anxiety when it comes to tests like the GRE, and I find that the test itself is unfair. :/  Good luck.

It seems I've finally found my cohort!! I took the dumb test last year after admittedly half-assed (because I was still in school) preparation. However, I just retook it a few days ago after studying for weeks and did almost exactly the same; my goal was to break 160. NOPE. Everything on test day was like 3 times harder and more unfamiliar than anything I'd done to prepare, and thus I'm stuck with almost the same scores as before. My SAT experience was so similar and I hate that those of us with high GPAs but terrible standardized testing skills just have to suffer the consequences.

[grad_wannabe]

I just took the GRE for the second time. Weeks of extra studying, with a goal of raising my quant score two points. Two little points!

 

My score actually got LOWER. BOOOOO GRE.