Low Quant GRE score...next move?

[jmk]

I was pretty disappointed with my quant GRE: V 155, Q 144, AW 5.0 

I signed up for the GRE again mid August. I don't feel as though I can adequately continue to prep when the semester starts unless I change some things around. My GPA is 4.0 in major, 3.9 last 60, and 3.6 cumulative, and I will be a senior this year. Lengthy resume, strong personal statements and letters of rec. 

I had been planning to apply in WA, OR, CA. Obviously my quant score is too much of a deficit to make it in these competitive states. I also took a prep class over the summer, and was scoring higher (152-155) in quant on all the practice tests. Not sure if the practice tests (Manhattan online) were curved, or if for some reason I just really bombed the actual exam. 

I am debating my next move, and feeling pretty discouraged as I start to totally redo my list of schools. 

-Keep current score, change list of schools? 

-Study when I can over the next few weeks (was not planning to retake GRE due to prep class confidence, and cannot devote as much time as I was doing before due to trips)

-Push my GRE date out, and rearrange my schedule to really hit the books

Thoughts, advice, etc. would be appreciated! 

[Crimson Wife]

What about trying the Miller Analogies Test and applying to schools that accept it? No math on the MAT :-)

[ImHis]

I think that is the only part of your application you need to improve and focus your efforts on it and your personal statement.

[jmk]

 

@Crimson Wife- many thanks! The MAT had not even crossed my mind, and there appears to be a healthy dabbling of programs across the U.S. that accept such. For anyone else in CA looking into the MAT- Bakersfield offers the test M-Th for $100, and East Bay offers it one Friday a month for $90. I called almost every place on Pearson's list, and some on the list actually no longer proctor the exam (like Fresno). 

 

@ImHis- thanks! It's definitely hard to feel motivated after such a score, but I am trying to keep my focus up. 

[Jolie717]

CSUN accepts the MAT (last I checked - 2016 app season) but may not advertise it on their webpages.  I don't think I would give up on all CA/WA/OR schools (even those that don't take the MAT) simply because you feel one area of your app is weak.  In fact, it's not even one area, it's only a part of an area as your verbal and written scores are really good!  Also, you already sound as though you've given up on math even for your GRE retest.  Study like crazy for two weeks on your problem areas in math and take some more practice exams.  Don't give up this early!