[Ph.D.] GRE retake or no?

[desperados]

I sent contact mail to one of professor in U. Rochester, institute of optics.

 

And the professor sent me e-mail today, to let him know if I am interested in his research even though I have done experiment in other field.

 

This looks no problem for me, though, because all I have to do is express more interest in his research.

 

Real problem was...

 

 

 

I carefully read admission requirement of U. Rochester, Institute of optics

 

http://www.optics.rochester.edu/graduate/prospective_students.html

 

Graduate Record Examination (GRE): The GRE is required. A good optics candidate has GRE scores in the 80th percentile in all categories. A Physics Subject Test is not required but a score can be submitted for consideration.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL; http://www.toefl.org): A minimum TOEFL score of 620 (paper-based test), 260 (computer-based test), or 105 (Internet test) is required for admittance.


International English Language Testing System (IELTS; http://www.ielts.org): A minimum IELTS score of 7.2 is required for admittance.

 

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETED APPLICATIONS  *******
****  January 15 for Fall semester entry ****

 

I have GRE Verbal 157 Quantative 166 and Writing 3.0....

and TOEFL 99/120, IELTS 7.0 overall. 

Additionally, I have one publication in Optics Express (impact factor : 3.525)

 

There is no such thing as 7.2 in IELTS so I think I should get 7.5.... or

For the TOEFL, I think I can make it until deadline,

 

but GRE.... should I retake?

Because 80% means above Verbal 159 and Quantative 161 Writing 4.5.... OMG

 

www.ets.org/gre/percentile

 

 

Should I retake exam? or should I focus on SOP and other stuffs?

Do I get disadvantage from low GRE score?

[Vene]

From what I can see your GRE is fine. Your analytical writing score means nothing as you're an engineer. Your quantitative is good and your verbal is fine. The 80th percentile reads not as a hard requirement, but more that if you want to be competitive that's where you should aim.

 

What I find more concerning is your scores for English fluency. Odds are better than not that what they have listed really is a strict requirement mandated by the graduate college. This is where you need to focus your energy and improve.

[Usmivka]

From what I can see your GRE is fine. Your analytical writing score means nothing as you're an engineer. Your quantitative is good and your verbal is fine. The 80th percentile reads not as a hard requirement, but more that if you want to be competitive that's where you should aim.

 

What I find more concerning is your scores for English fluency. Odds are better than not that what they have listed really is a strict requirement mandated by the graduate college. This is where you need to focus your energy and improve.

Seconded. Don't spend more time on GRE, TOEFL is likely to be a hard and fast requirement.

[desperados]

thank you really, Vene, Usmivka

I was almost close to click on to register GRE, and I saw your posts.

 

I think I have to spend more time on TOEFL then...

 

today I got new score for TOEFL, and it was 104, which is 1 point short.

 

Do I have to take TOEFL? or just apply with this score?

Edited November 5, 2014 by desperados