[Ph.D] TOEFL minimum

[desperados]

I am applying to U. Rochester, Institute of optics

 

and the admission requirement says...

http://www.optics.ro...e_students.html

 

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.


 

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

 

Today I received result from ETS, and my toefl score is 

Total 104/120, (R:28, L:27, S:22, W:27)

 

I am 1 point short of the minimum.. 

 

If I apply with this score, do I get disadvantage? should I retake TOEFL and get a score as high as possible?

 

[fuzzylogician]

Normally the TOEFL minimum required score is exactly that: it's a cutoff you have to beat. It's sometimes possible for programs to accept students who don't meet the university's minimum requirements, but (a) they have to justify themselves, (b ) they can only do it so often, so you'd have to be extra special for them to fight for you, and (c ) you could end up getting rejected even if the program really wants you. I'd say it's worth retaking the test to improve the score, if you can. All you need to do is reach the 105 minimum, there won't be anything to gain from getting an even higher score, so I wouldn't work too hard to get a very high score, just improve a little bit. Just trying again with minimal preparation might be sufficient--I think ETS says that averages for people who retake the test tend to be higher than their first try, at least in part just in virtue of being familiar with the test situation.

[desperados]

fuzzylogician

Thanks a lot. I think I will retake the exam one more time .