Extremely low GRE, I am devastated, I am even crying, should I give up my application?

[Maya6625]

Hi everyone!!

I am from Mexico, and since I begin my undergraduate preparation, I decided that I wanted get a PhD in the USA. During this time, I worked extremelly hard to get an excellent GPA, I gave up my social life, my couple and even my family to get a good preparation in order to apply.

After more than 5 years of excellent results in the university (I got a overall grade of 9.5/10, graduated with honors, good research experience, a TOEFL that I took twice, etc, etc. Good extracurricular activities, teacher assistance, scholarships, etc, etc.... Everything looks really great, until today:

I took the GRE after 6 months of hard preparation, I even took a course, where I was always the best students (as in the 5 years of preparation), I work extremelly hard; but I got an extremelly low score: 148 in both sections.

I am devastasted, I am even crying because I feel that 5 years of hardship, hard work, and dreams are down the drain. I left my life behing for this chance and now, a simple test destroys my entire career. I am even angry because everyone gets into grad schools, everyone took this **** exam even without preparation and get good scores, and everyone, except me, have good results in the exams. For that reason, I had to retake the TOEFL, because after more than 2 years of study for this exam, I got, 99 and I needed 100, until the second attempt, I got 103.

You may wonder which universities I wanted to apply; well, I was assuming that my hard work of 5 years and my good CV would allow me to apply to Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, JHU, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, UCLA, etc. But with these GRE scores, I am thinking to give up all hope, cry and blame myself for my stupidity and my lack of intelligence.

What shoul I do???... Do I have to give up and find another way to get into research???

By the way, I studies psychology and Neuroscience, and I was planning to apply to a Neuroscience Program.

Thanks everyone!!!

[Robo_Lizard]

1) You can retake the GRE test. Even ETS states that the second attempt is usually better than the first one.
2) You can apply on  low-ranked schools too, usually they have low score requirenments or even don't have any score cut-offs.
3) This hapens with me too, I took GRE class and was good at math (I'm engineering major) in this class, however it made my math score average, because tutors teach only average math, not advanced one. You have to study a lot by yourself, not rely on classes and teachers.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Robo_Lizard

[Meglet]

You are not stupid!  I know ETS has a whole department to try to prevent cultural bias, but those tests still really aren't fair to people who don't speak English as their native language and/or come from other countries.  I don't know about how helpful prep courses are - I have a friend who teaches one, and when she gave me some tips this fall I found that most of her information was outdated.  If you decide to retake it, try the Manhattan prep study guides?  I found their strategy stuff helpful, because part of it is also knowing what ETS is looking for and how they want you to approach questions - especially the reading comprehension.

[Elliephant]

I would say retake too. Considering your experience and preparation, it could be possible that you just had a bad day (test). Don't give up! 

[reixis]

Hi, I'm in a similar situation to yours. I’m coming from Brazil and have had a good undergraduate experience, though I graduated from an unknown school. I took the GRE in August (I used Magoosh for a month) and got pretty low scores. I also thought of giving up this season, but I was advised by my letter writers to apply anyway. Their take on my case was that my tests scores did not reflect in any way my abilities to succeed in graduate school.

 

Personally, I think that taking standardized tests are more of challenge to us than to American students. I had to travel 500 miles to take the GRE and there are no test preparation companies in my city (and very few in the country as a whole). Moreover, it’s a really expensive experience (1 US dollar is about 2.45 Brazilian reais), not to mention the fact that language is often a concern. Anyway, if you have the money, you might do well to take the test again. Perhaps you were only in a bad day. But if you don’t have the money, I wouldn’t give up at this point either.

 

As for the TOEFL, I think you should not worry. Your scores are good and many schools require a significantly lower score. I would advise you to check about the prospects of receiving a TAship though. Some schools might have restrictions about that.

Edited October 31, 2014 by reixis

[Maya6625]

Thanks everyone!!!

 

Brazilian guy, you are completly right. A fu.cking test doesn't reflect how smart you are or what drives you to succeed in graduate school. My GPA is really good (3.85), I have great research experience, I entered in a field that goes beyond my bachelor degree (psychology). I was always a stellar student, and although many professors told me that I would not be able to make research at a molecular level, I was able to work with one of the most prestigious scientist of Mexico, and we are even about to publish a paper. 

 

I have an excellent CV, and I worked extremelly hard for the GRE, but I don't know what happened to me. I feel that a simpe test has destroyed my entire career. I can't retake the exam because I don't have time and because I don't have more money. I spent all my savings.

 

Do you think that I should apply???....   

[GeoDUDE!]

If you do not do well o nthe GRE, harsh as realities are, there are many people with your stats + higher GRE. 148 on both sections is below the minimum for most schools (300) and top schools tend to want 315-320. 

 

While there are a lot of care bears, if you really are as talented as you say you are, you can retake it again and see if you do better. Sometimes people do have bad tests, and while the GRE isn't a measure of intelligence, there is a lot more correlation between doing well on the GRE and finishing graduate school than you'd think. There are plenty of statistics online, and while there are many exceptions, a strong polarity of people who finish school score in the top 75% of the GRE. 

 

I think because you are an international student, its somewhat expected that you do well on the GRE. 2 of the schools you listed are public schools, and to bring on an international student the costs are much higher than an american who can establish state residency, therefore it makes it much harder for you. 

 

I would certainly apply, but I wouldn't be surprised if I had a long application season with GRE scores like that, which, as you pointed out are atrocious. 

 

I'm sorry i'm not being positive, I hope you get into graduate school, but you should also be realistic. 

[Maya6625]

Thank you Latte. So, do you think that I should give up my dream of becoming a researcher?

 

I know that my scores are extremelly low, but part of me would not be refusing to fail if I did not work really hard. I know that they were 5 years of hardship and stress. I did not hava life for this chance!!! And now a simple test destroys everything!!  

[GeoDUDE!]

Thank you Latte. So, do you think that I should give up my dream of becoming a researcher?

 

I know that my scores are extremelly low, but part of me would not be refusing to fail if I did not work really hard. I know that they were 5 years of hardship and stress. I did not hava life for this chance!!! And now a simple test destroys everything!!

 

 

I do not. I had a 3.05 GPA when I left undergrad.  If you are willing to apply to masters programs in the US, that might be an option. Some of them are funded! (mine was). 

 

Also, its important to note that my name is not latte,  Latte Macchiato refers to my post count title. I am GeoDude! 

[reixis]

Hi Maya, I think that scores are evaluated differently across different areas, so it’s hard to tell from the outside whether it’s worth applying now. It’s really up to you. My suggestion is that you consider whether you are willing to spend another year studying for the GRE. With the value of two or three application fees, you could afford taking another test.

 

One other thing you might consider is looking for a temporary plan B. I don’t know how things work in Mexico, but it is a common route for students in Brazil to get a Master’s degree here and then apply to PhD programs outside the country. The obvious advantage is that you gain valuable research experience, and if you can secure some funding, you can also raise some money to apply all over again. Another possible route is to look for funded MA programs in the US.

 

Anyway, I wouldn’t see that as giving up on your dream, but just as a smart way to postpone it until you’ve got good credentials. Now, if you have the money to apply this season, I think it wouldn’t hurt to send out your applications (if you are in financial hardship, there is always the possibility of contacting Admissions Offices and ask for application fee waivers). Bear in mind that, above all, admissions are really unpredictable, so it might turn out that the adcoms looking at your profile do not give much weight to the GRE. But, again, that is a risky alternative, and only you can weight your whole situation and decide whether it is really worth going through this process at this moment.

 

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[bsharpe269]

Retake the test! Nervousness can kill your scores.

 

My first attempt ever at the GRE: 150V, 151Q

The scores I will be applying with: 162V, 168Q

 

Being nervous during the test or a bad test taker or whatever can result in scores that do not reflect your abilities. You dont need to consider a mastesr or any of that stuff. Retake the test and focus on calming yourself and taking off the pressure. Do you truly think that your scores are an accurate reflection of your intelligence... (the answer is obviously not given your GPA and experience).

[Admissions Advice Online]

As an international student, your GRE scores will be even more important. Unless you come from an undergraduate institution that is well recognized, the GRE is the only way that schools can gauge the quality of your degree. The reality is that most of the schools that you listed receive far more qualified applicants than they have spaces for. As such, virtually none will lower their acceptance criteria. You can either study for a year while you intern to eventually retake the exam while building experience(Recommended) or select other programs that better align with your stats. - Admissions Advice Online 

[Maya6625]

Hi bsharpe269 and Admissions Advice Online!

 

I cannot retake the exam bacause I do not have more time due to the deadline, and I do not have more money. I spent all my savings in the exams and in a course that I took for the GRE,

 

I am convinced that a GRE does not define my abilities or my motivations, I am more than that. I test cannot overshadow 5  years of hard work and hardship for this chance. However, maybe you are right, maybe is an unfair way to discard students.

 

I know me pretty well, I know that even if I study 1 year more, I am not going to be able to pass the exam, sometimes I feel a fool and a stupid student, but I cannot control it!!!!!. I was always the best students un my generation, and even in the course that I took for the GRE, but the test and the circumstances broke me down.  

 

So, do you guys think that I should give up my dream??? Do you think that I should cancel my application?. A big part of me does not want to do it because it knows the sacrifices that I did and the extreme hardship  that I went through. I lost a lot of pounds and even I lost my hair due to the stress that I suffered. 

 

So...??? :'(

[bsharpe269]

Apply... You're already in the process anyway. You don't have much to lose. In your SOP, make sure you explain that you could only afford to take the the test once and that anxiety got the best of you and that the score doesn't reflect your academic abilities. Good luck!

[lirr]

 

 

So, do you guys think that I should give up my dream???

 

No, I don't think you should give up on your dream entirely, but I think you should change your application list a little. Your original list (Harvard, Columbia, JHU, etc) only includes very difficult to get into schools. I believe you that your GRE score does not accurately reflect your abilities and that you would be able to succeed at these schools, but it is unavoidable that your score will hurt your application. I would drop some of these schools (I think you should drop Harvard, as difficult as that may be to give up on), and add some easier to get into schools in their place.

 

In addition to lower tier American schools, I think you should also apply to both Master's and PhD programs in Mexico and Canada. I know American schools dominate the research scene, but there are good programs in other countries too, and doing a master's somewhere else is one of the few things you can do to improve your application. I especially recommend Canadian programs because they will give you the experience of living in another country, the opportunity to improve your English, and most of them don't require GRE scores! McGill and the University of Toronto are probably the top two Canadian neuro programs, but there is a longer list here (http://can-acn.org/canadian-graduate-programs-in-neuroscience). 

 

And when you do apply to American schools, make sure to address your low scores in your personal statements, like bsharpe269 said. Your goal is to be so fantastic and so interesting in all other areas of your application that admissions committees want to to talk to you to see if your GRE scores are just a fluke.

 

Finally, I want to say that it may seem like applying to less prestigious schools is giving up, but really it isn't. There's a lot of good research and great education going on outside of Harvard and MIT, and I think you will be better off if you get in somewhere than nowhere. Last year, many of my friends were applying to graduate schools. One friend, who was applying to math PhD programs, was disappointed in his GRE scores but adjusted his list of schools accordingly. He is now at a lower prestige PhD program, but is having a great time and actually making progress towards his goal of having a career in academia. Another friend applied only to top tier CS grad schools, didn't get into any of them, and a year later is unemployed and miserable. Of course these are just anecdotes, but I really think you will be happier doing the work you want to do at a second choice school than giving up on graduate school entirely.

[EngineerGrad]

Hi, I'm from Brazil too and I got into an excellent program with a dream funding package. People need to understand that applying for grad school is much more than a bunch of numbers and stats. They have to know who you are. When I applied, I religiously emailed all my potential PIs and had a serious conversation with them: I told them I needed funding, and that I was motivated to do good work. That attitude was what got me into grad school.

 

My stats were good, but could've been better. I had a 160Q/158V/5.5AW GRE, a 3.93/4.00 undergrad GPA and one published conference paper. I'm sure other people with much better stats than mine applied to the same schools I did, but few of them had a personal and genuine interaction with their potential PIs. My current advisor tells me all the time if it weren't for the emails we exchanged months before I applied, I might've stayed under his radar.

 

In summary, before stressing out about your GRE and GPAs, try to reach out to faculty of interest and tell him/her what you told us (you have good grades, experience, etc). I personally asked one of my potential PIs if I should re-take the GRE, and he said no. Do the same -- ask for advice, but ask advice from people who can actually give you some insight on the admissions process.

 

These are just my two cents... Good luck =)