Grad School Acceptance with Low GRE and high GPA

[norwegiangum93]

Hello everyone,

 

So I am getting ready to submit about eight applications, but am hesitating on a few of them because I feel I may not be competitive enough. I have an overall GPA of 3.75 (hopefully increasing after this semester by .03), but my GRE scores are horrendous.   I got 148 on the Verbal, 145 on Quant and 3.0 on the writing section. It is extremely frustrating because I studied for over a month and did not even improve my scores the second time around (writing section may have improved, but it has only been 5 days since I took the exam). I'm just a terrible standardized test taker!

Aside from the GRE and GPA, I am in the Speech and Hearing Honors Program and am currently completing my Honors Thesis over the reliability of the Discourse Comprehension Test (DCT) and its usage with persons with aphasia (PWA). I am also the advocacy coordinator of Operation Smile - IU's student chapter, and a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and NSSLHA. 

The schools I am applying to/highly considering are Purdue University, Indiana University (currently attending), University of Illinois - Champaign, University of Cincinnati, University of Memphis, St. Louis University, Portland State University, and University of Louisville. Because of my low GRE scores, I am thinking that Purdue, IU, and University of Illinois are going to reject me immediately so I am contemplating whether I should even apply. 

I would really like to go to Portland State University because I am very interested in their Neurolinguistics lab. I think my overall credentials are competitive in comparison to their average applicants and admitted students. However, my GRE score is 2 points below their average range (295-335), so that is giving me anxiety.

 

I would greatly appreciate advice from people who have similar credentials and have been admitted into grad programs already (especially the ones I listed)! Other helpful advice is welcome as well! 

 

Thanks!!

[missemilycelli]

I am sort of in a similar boat, friend. I have a 149, 149 EVEN... I cried when the screen flashed the score... And I scored a 4.5 AW. I am working to get into FSU, but I am just as terrified. You sound SO COMPETITIVE THOUGH... 

 

BRIGHT SIDE I heard from very reliable sources that universities are beginning to look past the GRE due to its irrelevance and how it shouldn't be a determining factor like it is. I am sending positive thoughts YOUR WAY. Pray, pray, pray! God has a plan, friend. I wish you the best.

[norwegiangum93]

Nolewife,

Thanks for your input! I really hope that schools look past the GRE... It is pathetic how much stress it receives from some

schools when this exam doesn't even test knowledge relating to our field!

Your scores are 2 points from 300 so I feel like most schools will look at that and say your in the ballpark and that's

good enough! I guess how I think of it is do I really even want to spend the next two years in a school that concentrates on

such petty scores such as those? If they don't see our potential in everything else that is submitted in our application then

they don't deserve our presence! Haha. I want to go to a school where I feel comfortable and not stressed to the point where I feel like I can't even perform to my utmost potential.

[missemilycelli]

Nolewife,

Thanks for your input! I really hope that schools look past the GRE... It is pathetic how much stress it receives from some

schools when this exam doesn't even test knowledge relating to our field!

Your scores are 2 points from 300 so I feel like most schools will look at that and say your in the ballpark and that's

good enough! I guess how I think of it is do I really even want to spend the next two years in a school that concentrates on

such petty scores such as those? If they don't see our potential in everything else that is submitted in our application then

they don't deserve our presence! Haha. I want to go to a school where I feel comfortable and not stressed to the point where I feel like I can't even perform to my utmost potential.

 

You are SO on it. I'm glad you have the same mindset. We will get through this!

[jpiccolo]

You have some good experience so I feel like that should help. My GPA is about yours but I managed to get waitlisted at Purdue last year before I increased my GRE. So you never know. I was happy for at least a waitlist! I hope for an actual acceptance though this year haha. 

[slpslidingaway]

I'm part of the Neurolinguistics lab at PSU! It's awesome. My understanding is that PSU doesn't focus as much on the GRE as they do on the GPA and personal statement.