Appropriate to mention a (real) "excuse" for GRE score in SOP?

[essequamvideri]

Hey there,

 

So, my GRE score is not terrible, but not especially high (162/160/5.5), and some of the programs I am applying to are very competitive. Although I'm not applying to a strictly quantitative field, it's still a field where quantitative skills matter (cognitive neuroscience). When I wrote the GRE, in addition to being rushed and only studying for 1-2 weeks (my fault; poor planning and I don't intend to mention this), I was also sick with a cold and got about 4 hours of sleep the night before (not my fault). I intended to mention this in a sentence in my SOP to put my lower quant score into context (I was scoring higher on practice tests). Is this inappropriate/could be seen as "making excuses"? Thanks!

[Gvh]

I might be wrong, but I doubt a 160 Q for a Cog Neuro program is going to be below any cutoff. If it was MIT engineering, it may make more sense, but I don't think drawing attention to a perfectly good score would do you any favors in this case. 

Edited November 17, 2014 by Gvh

[biisis]

Don't do it! It sounds like a pretty weak excuse (+why not go take it again if it bothers you?)

[essequamvideri]

Thanks for the reply, Gvh. I haven't completely finalized every program I'm applying to, but some of them are schools like UCLA, Cornell, and Michigan. I also, incidentally, may apply to MIT, and on the Brain and Cognitive Sciences application page they mention the following regarding GRE scores: "We do not have a minimum requirement. Competitive scores fall in the ranges listed below:

• Verbal – above 85th percentile
• Quantitative – above 85th percentile
• Analytical Writing – above 70th percentile"

My scores are 89th, 78th, and 98th percentile respectively, so my Q is indeed a bit low.

[essequamvideri]

Don't do it! It sounds like a pretty weak excuse (+why not go take it again if it bothers you?)

 

Hi Biisis,

 

I definitely considered taking it again, but decided my time would be better spent on my research and coursework.

[Gvh]

Thanks for the reply, Gvh. I haven't completely finalized every program I'm applying to, but some of them are schools like UCLA, Cornell, and Michigan. I also, incidentally, may apply to MIT, and on the Brain and Cognitive Sciences application page they mention the following regarding GRE scores: "We do not have a minimum requirement. Competitive scores fall in the ranges listed below:

• Verbal – above 85th percentile
• Quantitative – above 85th percentile
• Analytical Writing – above 70th percentile"

My scores are 89th, 78th, and 98th percentile respectively, so my Q is indeed a bit low.

 

I think the best thing you could do is email your POIs at your top choices (especially the very competitive ones) - even if the profs don't give you a straight answer, you will most likely be able to gauge from the context if your scores will be a problem. On a secondary note, as you might have read from other posts in this forum, the GRE is mostly used as a screening, rather than an absolute measure - if you pass the cutoff, you're usually ok. For what it's worth, I worked at MIT BCS for a year - while 85th percentile is preferred, I don't think a 160Q alone would keep your application from being reviewed. 

Edited November 17, 2014 by Gvh

[GeoDUDE!]

I think the GREs that stop people from getting in are below 310 at competitive schools, in general. I cant see programs cutting off 320+. Even at a place like MIT, Can't imagine more than 25% of its applicants getting 320+ combined.  Think of all the international students that get close to perfect in the Q but in the high 140s low 150s in the V. 

[Lisa44201]

If a family member died the night before you were supposed to take the test, I'd mention it. You didn't study, and you had a cold. I would not mention this.

[Vene]

Thanks for the reply, Gvh. I haven't completely finalized every program I'm applying to, but some of them are schools like UCLA, Cornell, and Michigan. I also, incidentally, may apply to MIT, and on the Brain and Cognitive Sciences application page they mention the following regarding GRE scores: "We do not have a minimum requirement. Competitive scores fall in the ranges listed below:

• Verbal – above 85th percentile
• Quantitative – above 85th percentile
• Analytical Writing – above 70th percentile"

My scores are 89th, 78th, and 98th percentile respectively, so my Q is indeed a bit low.

It's a little on the low side, but no so much that I think it'll kill your application. As long as your grades show you did decent for your math classes and you took appropriate ones (calculus and statistics) I don't think there's too much to worry about. I also agree with the consensus here that your scores shouldn't be below any cutoffs so they are likely to actually look at all the material you send them.

 

By applying to Michigan, Cornell, and UCLA that tells me the rest of your application should be pretty damn good. A good GPA, research experience, SOP, and LORs are more important than scoring a couple points low on one section of the GRE. I do not recommend talking about your GRE at all in your SOP, it's just going to make you sound insecure.

Edited November 17, 2014 by Vene

[Crucial BBQ]

Thanks for the reply, Gvh. I haven't completely finalized every program I'm applying to, but some of them are schools like UCLA, Cornell, and Michigan. I also, incidentally, may apply to MIT, and on the Brain and Cognitive Sciences application page they mention the following regarding GRE scores: "We do not have a minimum requirement. Competitive scores fall in the ranges listed below:

• Verbal – above 85th percentile
• Quantitative – above 85th percentile
• Analytical Writing – above 70th percentile"

My scores are 89th, 78th, and 98th percentile respectively, so my Q is indeed a bit low.

Competitive scores do not mean absolute scores, even at MIT.  GRE scores are only a portion of your application packet; in and of themselves they do not make your application as a whole competitive or not, although they may be used as a tie-breaker.  I mean, what if someone applied with 170,170, 6; 4.0 GPA from a  top school; great LORs (academic only); a rather lame SOP because the applicant is only applying to MIT for the prestige, and it shows; and "research experience" that is the equivalent of cleaning out rat cages for a summer.   Doesn't sound too competitive now, does it?  

 

The problem with your reasoning is that the adcoms are going think you are desperately grasping at straws because you felt the need to explain a Quant score of 160 with having the common cold.  Or that you are a perfectionist, which I know MIT does not want.  

Edited November 18, 2014 by Crucial BBQ

[essequamvideri]

Competitive scores do not mean absolute scores, even at MIT.  GRE scores are only a portion of your application packet; in and of themselves they do not make your application as a whole competitive or not, although they may be used as a tie-breaker.  I mean, what if someone applied with 170,170, 6; 4.0 GPA from a  top school; great LORs (academic only); a rather lame SOP because the applicant is only applying to MIT for the prestige, and it shows; and "research experience" that is the equivalent of cleaning out rat cages for a summer.   Doesn't sound too competitive now, does it?  

 

The problem with your reasoning is that the adcoms are going think you are desperately grasping at straws because you felt the need to explain a Quant score of 160 with having the common cold.  Or that you are a perfectionist, which I know MIT does not want.  

 

Fair enough, thanks for the reply (and to everyone else who replied). Now that I'm finalizing my SOP I'm finding that I barely have enough space to explain the important stuff, so I don't think I'll have the space to mention the GRE anyways.