GRE Scores... retake?

[kjohnson201]

I applied for 6 clinical psychology PhD programs this year, and unfortunately did not get an offer. Some of it was bad luck - 4 of the professors who previously were seeking a grad student lost funding and didn't bring one on, then I got one interview, followed by a rejection. I'm doing my best to bolster my application this summer before starting again in the fall, and want to do everything in my power to be a competitive candidate. 

 

Would anyone who was accepted into a PhD program be willing to share GRE scores, or comment on mine? I'm trying to decide if I should retake, versus focus on other aspects of my application.

 

Verbal = 165

Quant = 158

Written = 5

 

I'm somewhat worried that if I studied hard and took them again I could increase my quant but drop my verbal, as I know that one was competitive. I just would have to not retake and then wish I had, if that ended up being a deciding factor. Of all the the things I'm doing to try to get in to a program, retaking GRE seems to be a relatively simple step if it would be helpful. But if the time studying could be better spent, that's worth considering too.

 

Thanks for any thoughts and advice you might be able to provide. 

 

 

 

[_kita]

The question really is, were your GRE scores the reason for not getting accepted?

 

According to one top #10 program, University of Pennsylvania, students  quant range is 152-166. Really, your scores should be acceptable for funding and any other concerns. You could ask the programs why you were not accepted. The very worst you'll get is "too many applicants, too few slots."  Which, in my mind means, the rest of your credentials didn't fit their program as closely as someone else's. 

 

Remember, GRE is important as a base qualifier. But the rest of your application makes them want to hire you.

[CogPsych2015]

I had almost your exact scores (V165, Q157, W5) and was accepted to three programs with full funding and declined an interview to an additional one. I think your scores are high enough to get you through the initial cut, which it seems is all they're really used for.

[isilya]

Don't waste your valuable time and money -- those scores are high enough to get you past cutoffs and they'll never be looked at again. Unless you plan on applying to very quant-heavy programs, in which case you might want your Q score to be a few points higher.

[avidman]

Your scores are pretty good (personally, I think they are very good).

 

I know people who had lower scores get offers from multiple programs. If possible, what are your other "specs?"

 

 

 

As you mentioned, sometimes (often really) luck plays a big role. Even if you are great, you may not be who they are looking for, etc.

[kjohnson201]

Thanks everyone. I applied to some pretty high-tier schools this first time around, as I decided to aim high and then work to make myself a better candidate if I didn't get in. As an undergrad, I majored in psych and got some experience in a few labs and did an internship at the inpatient psych unit at a children's hospital, but as a whole wasn't singularly focused on clinical psych grad school. I was contemplating med school, public health, and psychology, and wanted to make absolute sure I knew what I wanted before jumping into a grad program. So I took some time between my undergrad and deciding to apply to grad school -- worked almost 3 years as a wellness specialist in a grant-funded program serving low income school areas, then volunteered for a year in a university lab (while working with the school district, so only could be in the lab 1-2 days a week... the nature of there being so few paid RA positions, and I didn't have the financial luxury of volunteering full-time). During my time in the lab I developed my own research project based on data from one of the studies they were doing, and from that presented a poster at a conference and am finishing up a publication.

 

After not getting in this first time around, I ended up securing a full-time paid RA position, which I'm hoping will be helpful for the next  round. I think at this point, the things that held me back were potentially relative lack of concrete research experience, less than ideal GPA (3.62, due to medical issues and out of state treatment during college, which I'm hesitant to bring into my personal statement, as I don't want anyone to think I'm not healthy or able to do a rigorous phd program), and no personal connections to the professors I was applying to. The fact that I've been out of school for a bit (graduated in 2011) means that my undergrad connections aren't quite as strong (especially because I moved out of state after college). Additionally, the lab I was working in wasn't in the same line of research I want to do in grad school, but it was the only place that needed and RA and I figured some experience was better than no experience. 

 

I'm planning on putting together another publication based on the work I'm doing in my current job. I'm working on two different grants -- one is an SAMHSA grant for primary and behavioral healthcare integration, and one is with the Colorado Refugee Wellness Center focusing on reducing disparities and improving outcomes in refugee populations. 

 

I think the last challenge I had is in narrowing down my research focus. I've always been envious of people who knew exactly what they wanted to do...it's not that I'm apathetic, but rather that so many things interest me! I'm not sure how much people truly have identified a singular research focus (which they expound in their personal statement), and how much they just pretend and know how to sell it. Even after narrowing down my interests, I still have four primary areas I find absolutely fascinating. I know they seem diverse, but I'm hoping to find a way to integrate at least a few of them. 

 

1. Resilience and protective factors (biological, cognitive, social, environmental, etc) & Post-Traumatic Growth 

 

2. Stress response and regulation (both acute/traumatic and more chronic/daily stress) looking at multiple biological, behavioral, cognitive, interpersonal facets; impact on physical and mental health; maximizing resilience and interrupting cycles of dysregulation 

 

3. ACT/Mindfullness & Mind-Body Connections 

 

4. Health Behaviors and their Impact on Mental Health & Wellbeing/Health Psychology related research (examples of specific research questions I'm interested in: Impact of Exercise on Stress Reactivity and Distress Tolerance, Mindfullness/Acceptance Based approaches to Chronic Pain, Biopsychosocial Tools for Breaking the Link Between Pain and Depression, Integrated Care for Child and Adolescent Populations) 

 

I'd love any thoughts/insight anyone might have on other ways I might use this summer to become a better candidate. 

[SeanDDavies]

Your experience sounds very solid and I don't think the GPA is too low. I would mention the health issues in the personal statement but say that they have since been resolved. Try to do it in a way that doesn't sound like an excuse but a legitimate reason. Work hard on your personal statement and get good letters of recommendation. When it comes time to apply, cast a wider net. 6 schools is not enough. You need at least 10. Also try counseling programs and clinical programs since counseling seems less competitive (although still very competitive) and second choice schools. 

[_kita]

From what I'm hearing, you have a lot of experience, but what direction do you want to go in? I feel like there is a long list of skills and passions, without really a connection to understand who you are and what your drive is. What do you bring to graduate school?  If your answer is " all of this experience" over "I want to achieve this the field" then your approach is a less self-reflective, and not as deep or impressive.

 

Focus on your story. What has all of this experience done for you? Obviously, you love this field a lot, and you certainly belong in it. I'd just like to know more about you. 

[dirkwww]

I have scores of

V=158

Q=154

W=5

 

I am fifth/fourth author on 4 publication 

worked in 4 different research labs over the past 5 years

Did an honors thesis.

 

Do you guys think I need to spend the money and time on re-taking the GRE or do you think I have scores to get me past the cut off

[_kita]

I have scores of

V=158

Q=154

W=5

 

I am fifth/fourth author on 4 publication 

worked in 4 different research labs over the past 5 years

Did an honors thesis.

 

Do you guys think I need to spend the money and time on re-taking the GRE or do you think I have scores to get me past the cut off

 

Dirkwww, your scores may become more of a concern for you. They are in the mid-low range for acceptable scores. It really will depend on the competitiveness of the programs you're applying to, and how you are tying together your full application package. Does your personal statement show clear direction and passion? Are all three of your LOR going to be impressive? What is your GPA like? If your GPA is also mid-range, you may consider taking a few grad classes, or retaking the GRE to show you have more academic prowess than your scores reflect.

[dirkwww]

Dirkwww, your scores may become more of a concern for you. They are in the mid-low range for acceptable scores. It really will depend on the competitiveness of the programs you're applying to, and how you are tying together your full application package. Does your personal statement show clear direction and passion? Are all three of your LOR going to be impressive? What is your GPA like? If your GPA is also mid-range, you may consider taking a few grad classes, or retaking the GRE to show you have more academic prowess than your scores reflect.

eeeeeeee

Not what I wanted to hear!!!!!

My three LOR will be stellar and from top researchers in their field (so I'm not worried about those). Each individual I have worked with for 2 or more years and they were essentially mentors to me.

My GPA was a 3.9/4 and my degree was an honors degree.

 

I have not written my personal statement but I am not too worried about it either. I would consider myself a good writer.

 

Like I said I have 6 years of research experience, an honors thesis, and the co author on same major paper in High Impact journals. I am still worried about my GRE but would much rather work more than spend time studying for it

[_kita]

eeeeeeee

Not what I wanted to hear!!!!!

My three LOR will be stellar and from top researchers in their field (so I'm not worried about those). Each individual I have worked with for 2 or more years and they were essentially mentors to me.

My GPA was a 3.9/4 and my degree was an honors degree.

 

I have not written my personal statement but I am not too worried about it either. I would consider myself a good writer.

 

Like I said I have 6 years of research experience, an honors thesis, and the co author on same major paper in High Impact journals. I am still worried about my GRE but would much rather work more than spend time studying for it

The high GPA will help cushion 'decent' scores. Check into each of your programs for any 'hard deadlines.' But if they're more flexible, you may be fine. I'd be more worried if you had a 3.4 GPA. Since that would be in a 'lower' range as well. 

[Jay's Brain]

Just my own take on situations involving GRE...sometimes we spend too much time flustered with trying to get the highest scores possible. Take me, for example. Did decent on the first one and chose to do it TWICE more. Not the best decision on my part as my scores plummeted the second time around (I take the urgency and negativity going into the test as a large factor). The third time around, I improved my Verbal, but my Quantitative scores ended up being a point lower than my first test. Guess which one I ended up sending to all the schools to look at?

As isilya said above, the GRE is usually looked at as a cutoff or a way to look at an applicant more closely. It is what it is. Make sure the rest of your profile is within the range of the expectations of each school you apply to and cast your nets! Don't take the GRE again if you can help it! Took me a lot longer and disregarding advice from people who had gone through the process to realize that.

[kjohnson201]

Just my own take on situations involving GRE...sometimes we spend too much time flustered with trying to get the highest scores possible. Take me, for example. Did decent on the first one and chose to do it TWICE more. Not the best decision on my part as my scores plummeted the second time around (I take the urgency and negativity going into the test as a large factor). The third time around, I improved my Verbal, but my Quantitative scores ended up being a point lower than my first test. Guess which one I ended up sending to all the schools to look at?

As isilya said above, the GRE is usually looked at as a cutoff or a way to look at an applicant more closely. It is what it is. Make sure the rest of your profile is within the range of the expectations of each school you apply to and cast your nets! Don't take the GRE again if you can help it! Took me a lot longer and disregarding advice from people who had gone through the process to realize that.

 

Thanks for that. I could see myself doing something similar, so it's good to have people like you talking some sense into me ;-) I tend to obsess about doing the best that I can (generally not a bad thing), but when we're talking about minimal return for maximal investment (studying enough to feel like I could guarantee higher scores), maybe not worth it.  I know my verbal and written scores are good, and think there's a good chance i could improve my quant slightly only to drop my verbal. It seems like at the end of the day it's just meant to weed out the bottom candidates ,and after that aren't really looked at again. Maybe my time would be better spent getting another publication on my cv. 

[psycgrad37]

I am also considering re-taking my GRE. I have a Verbal of 158 and a quant of 150. The verbal is not a huge concern but the quant is. Anyone think it's a bad idea to re-take based on one score? 

 

My GPA is 3.5, nothing to knock your socks off but not bad either. 

[mb712]

I am also considering re-taking my GRE. I have a Verbal of 158 and a quant of 150. The verbal is not a huge concern but the quant is. Anyone think it's a bad idea to re-take based on one score?

My GPA is 3.5, nothing to knock your socks off but not bad either.

I took the GRE twice because I wanted to raise my quant score, which I was able to do, but in the process my verbal score dropped a little. Keep in mind that risk is always there, at best you have to pay to send two sets of scores and at worst you don't do as well the second time.

[poojasat]

Hi all.

 

I got a Verbal score of 167, Quant 154 and a 4 in the AWA.

I know my Verbal won't be a problem, but I'm a little worried about my Quant score. Will it not make the cutoff? I'm planning to apply to mid-range and 1-2 top 10 social psych PhD programs.

Edited June 18, 2015 by poojasat

[Jay's Brain]

Hi all.

 

I got a Verbal score of 167, Quant 154 and a 4 in the AWA.

I know my Verbal won't be a problem, but I'm a little worried about my Quant score. Will it not make the cutoff? I'm planning to apply to mid-range and 1-2 top 10 social psych PhD programs.

 

 

You'll probably get similar answers across the board, but it's hard to use your GRE scores as the basis for whether you make the cutoff or not. If you have substantial research experience, strong GPA, great recommendation letters, etc, all of those things or 1-2 of those things can raise your application higher regardless of your lower Quant scores. 

Now, on the other hand, if the schools you have applied to give mention of previous statistics on average scores, then you may want to try aiming for that. 

Needless to say, each program has their own nuances that you must be aware of or at least try to gauge. Try speaking to the department to see if they can shed some light on what kind of expectations they have for students coming in to the program.

 

Good luck!

[lwalker2009]

Your scores are nice! I'm sure your rejections were more so on the grounds of compatibility versus your actual score. Hopefully your interests will keep funding for the next year.