The GRE and Spectialty Areas

[readeatsleep]

As I stared at the screen of the computer I took my GRE test on today, I wondered just what exactly this test measures. Clearly, it is not a test of one's aptitude and potential as a graduate student - its more of a basic skills test to see if a candidate meets minimum requirements of any competent scholar (basic analytical reasoning skills, vocabulary, reading comprehension, math math math).

So, I am wondering, do you think the GRE counts for some political science graduate applicants more than it does for others? I am referring to, I don't know, the methodology kids and the theory kids in particular. Methods needs math (right? is that what methodology is?) and the theory kids need to be able to think analytically (right? is that what theory is?) Being a theorist, it behooves me to think that I will not be held accountable for my average-ish scores (680 math, 710 verbal), or that they will only be used to judge my basic competence (which I think they demonstrate). Then again, I wonder if I am fooling myself into delusion.

Thoughts?

[SuddenlyParanoid]

For methods a high quant is super-important, below 750 would be terrible and even an 800 isn't impressive. I'm not into theory, not my thing, but from what I've picked up the quant is much less important. A 680 isn't stellar but it shows that you're definitely not stupid so I think it shouldn't be a problem. And a 710 is definitely strong. What is that 98th percentile? If you're interested in subfields other than political theory, the 680 might be a problem. In American definitely, maybe in some IR programs. But if theory is what you're all about, you should be fine. Are you applying to Chicago?

[readeatsleep]

For methods a high quant is super-important, below 750 would be terrible and even an 800 isn't impressive. I'm not into theory, not my thing, but from what I've picked up the quant is much less important. A 680 isn't stellar but it shows that you're definitely not stupid so I think it shouldn't be a problem. And a 710 is definitely strong. What is that 98th percentile? If you're interested in subfields other than political theory, the 680 might be a problem. In American definitely, maybe in some IR programs. But if theory is what you're all about, you should be fine. Are you applying to Chicago?

yes, chicago is my top choice!

[Penelope Higgins]

Agreed that scores should be fine for a place like Chicago. You won't stand out from other applicants in terms of your scores one way or the other.

[readeatsleep]

what do you mean by 'fine for a place like chicago'? i thought chicago is about as selective as it gets. is this not the case?

princeton says its scores are generally "above 700," but a 1390 averages pretty closely to 700 apiece. are these scores not adequate for harvard, princeton, or yale?

[SuddenlyParanoid]

what do you mean by 'fine for a place like chicago'? i thought chicago is about as selective as it gets. is this not the case?

princeton says its scores are generally "above 700," but a 1390 averages pretty closely to 700 apiece. are these scores not adequate for harvard, princeton, or yale?

Chicago is great and theory but only good at American and quant, while Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford are strong across the board. So at the top schools, a lot more people apply because they know it will put them in a good position whatever they decide to do, so they have higher GREs than Chicago. Chicago lists its median as 638 verbal, 698 quant so that is significantly below.

[natofone]

http://political-science.uchicago.edu/grad-adm-faqs.shtml

"The average GRE scores for those admitted last year were 638 Verbal, 698 Quantitative, and 4.85 Analytic. "

You should be fine, which surprises me because I did my MA at Chicago and a senior faculty member said that my 730Q was "a little low."

[readeatsleep]

I beg to differ from some of the pessimistic posts above. I got nearly the same GRE score as you did (680Q, 700V) and was concerned about my quantitative score. I emailed my advisor, who is a senior faculty member in my undergrad's Government Dept. and served on our Government PhD admissions committee for 6 years (I went to undergrad at a place with a dept in the top 30). He said that committees would see this score as "more than acceptable--extremely good, even." Moreover, a professor I spoke with at Harvard told me that, unless your GPA is low or you went to a university that isn't well known or isn't well respected by the committee, the GRE "is not decisive," at least for Harvard.

Don't stress out about a 680Q, unless you want to do quantitative research. As long as the rest of your application is strong, I seriously doubt it would be the factor that would keep you out of a school.

im very happy to read that, thank you.

[Penelope Higgins]

Should have been clearer: I meant that the OP would be fine at Chicago and many other places unless he/she wanted to do quant work. I didn't intend this as a slight against Chicago. Those scores are 'above the bar' for a non-quant applicant anywhere, and will get the file looked at.

what do you mean by 'fine for a place like chicago'? i thought chicago is about as selective as it gets. is this not the case?

princeton says its scores are generally "above 700," but a 1390 averages pretty closely to 700 apiece. are these scores not adequate for harvard, princeton, or yale?

[catchermiscount]

Tend to agree with above. The non-company company line is that GRE scores are used only to pare the pile of applications to an acceptable size. Your scores should make the cut at most departments.

On the specialty area question, bear in mind that many departments will utilize admissions committees with members from all subdisciplines. While they may take your area into account in evaluating your file, it remains that their overall tastes will be affected by their area and, in particular, methodological preferences.

Still, you should be fine. Good luck getting your application materials together.

Should have been clearer: I meant that the OP would be fine at Chicago and many other places unless he/she wanted to do quant work. I didn't intend this as a slight against Chicago. Those scores are 'above the bar' for a non-quant applicant anywhere, and will get the file looked at.