Scored a 162 on the verbal gre, is that below the cutoff for most top English phd programs/should i try again?

[parksandrec]

Title says it all. I did just get done with it so I'm a little shaken up

[KappaRoss]

That's the 90th percentile, which is usually around the "cutoff." It depends on the program and your application. If you have a high GPA, great LORs, SOP, and experience, then it won't hurt you. A 162 will not help you get into a top English PhD program, but it won't hurt you very much either if your entire app is otherwise stellar.

I would advise that you look at the results board and see what the scores were for people that were accepted into the programs that you want to apply to.

How did you score on the writing and the quantitative? The quantitative is not looked at really at all, but if it's really low like it is for some English majors, your overall GRE score could be too low for university-wide scholarships. This is usually a low cutoff though, like 300.

If you think you can score higher on the verbal, then you should probably take it again. If you think 162 is your peak, then I'd focus on more important components of your application. If you don't know, then also consider how you did on your practice tests.

Edited March 15, 2016 by KappaRoss

[parksandrec]

2 hours ago, KappaRoss said:

That's the 90th percentile, which is usually around the "cutoff." It depends on the program and your application. If you have a high GPA, great LORs, SOP, and experience, then it won't hurt you. A 162 will not help you get into a top English PhD program, but it won't hurt you very much either if your entire app is otherwise stellar.

I would advise that you look at the results board and see what the scores were for people that were accepted into the programs that you want to apply to.

How did you score on the writing and the quantitative? The quantitative is not looked at really at all, but if it's really low like it is for some English majors, your overall GRE score could be too low for university-wide scholarships. This is usually a low cutoff though, like 300.

If you think you can score higher on the verbal, then you should probably take it again. If you think 162 is your peak, then I'd focus on more important components of your application. If you don't know, then also consider how you did on your practice tests.

Hey thank you so much for your comments! I'm curious, if I do believe that I might be able to do better on the verbal (like spending more time studying verbal, as opposed to what I did which is study verbal and quantitative equally), is there a score that would help me? For example, most of the schools I'm looking at post verbals of 166-170, which makes me nervous about whether or not I'll break into that specific category. I personally think I need to do more focused work on vocab and practice RC questions, but i'm also unsure if I hit that range. If I hit like a 164/165, would that help, or is it necessary to break into the range that they advertise? 

I haven't gotten my writing back, but I'll update in a few weeks when I do, but the Quantitative I got a 164, which is a bummer because I wanted to score something like that or higher for the verbal, not the quantitative haha. 

I haven't put together my application yet, but I'm attempting to start early with this exam and see how I can improve my app and tweak to the best ability. Once again, thanks for the speedy reply!

[KappaRoss]

That's an amazing quantitative score for an English program. It's too bad they normally just look at the verbal. A combined 326 is pretty darn good. Maybe a take a breather during the math section, to conserve for the verbal? Kidding, kidding. Try your hardest on each section.

If the schools normally accept applicants with 166-170s, then I guess you should shoot for that. You don't want to get rejected just because you were a few points below par on a dumb test, and it would give you peace of mind knowing if you could do better or not. Just make sure it doesn't detract from other parts of your application. If you're still in school, you should be making meaningful connections with professors to procure good letters.

What did you score on the practice tests? Did you score higher or lower than 162?

Also, people generally do better the second time they take the test. So, if that was your first time, you might see some improvement just from less test anxiety and more familiarity with the test center and the procedure of the test. And of course, knowing a few choice vocab words can make a difference on your score.

I guess I would take the test again. It feels to me like you're a good test taker (especially from your quantitative score) and it sounds like you think you could score higher if you drill vocab and practice questions more.

But again, it's not an essential part of the application. What's way more important is the writing sample, research interests, awards, letters of recommendation, and GPA.

[parksandrec]

Haha thanks for the advice. It's crazy how fast the test flew by for me! Those breaks in between sections are really insignificant (or nugatory, as magoosh and other practice outlets have taught me) compared to the overall time. 

Thanks for the advice though! I definitely think I'm building strong relationships with my professors, I'm just hoping I can apply for an honors thesis program in my school that would be helpful for awards and getting to know a couple professors a little better.

On my practice tests I varied. I would sometimes score that, below 162, or above 162. I probably scored at or below more often than above, though. Yeah I definitely was feeling a lot of anxiety from this first test, especially by the end of it when they just tell you your scores! So frightening.

I'll definitely try to work on the section over the summer I think, so then I'm not attempting to study for it during school (big mistake, at least for me). Hopefully I'll be able to maintain the rest of the criteria for these apps, though. Thanks so much for all your help!

37 minutes ago, KappaRoss said:

That's an amazing quantitative score for an English program. It's too bad they normally just look at the verbal. A combined 326 is pretty darn good. Maybe a take a breather during the math section, to conserve for the verbal? Kidding, kidding. Try your hardest on each section.

If the schools normally accept applicants with 166-170s, then I guess you should shoot for that. You don't want to get rejected just because you were a few points below par on a dumb test, and it would give you peace of mind knowing if you could do better or not. Just make sure it doesn't detract from other parts of your application. If you're still in school, you should be making meaningful connections with professors to procure good letters.

What did you score on the practice tests? Did you score higher or lower than 162?

Also, people generally do better the second time they take the test. So, if that was your first time, you might see some improvement just from less test anxiety and more familiarity with the test center and the procedure of the test. And of course, knowing a few choice vocab words can make a difference on your score.

I guess I would take the test again. It feels to me like you're a good test taker (especially from your quantitative score) and it sounds like you think you could score higher if you drill vocab and practice questions more.

But again, it's not an essential part of the application. What's way more important is the writing sample, research interests, awards, letters of recommendation, and GPA.

 

[KappaRoss]

You're very welcome.

I would also suggest that you look at this board:

http://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/43-literature-and-rhetoric-and-composition/

It's basically the English board on this website. Full of users who are already in graduate school or who are going to apply like yourself.

You can lurk around there and find a lot of meaningful information.

[parksandrec]

Hey @KappaRoss! I just heard back on my writing score, and just figured if you were interested I'd update you. I got a 6! So now I have a 162V/164Q/6AW. Thanks for all the suggestions!