September GRE Scores

[AnimeChic101!]

Hi all,

 

so my GRE scores just came in. I've complained numerous times that it never covers the breadth of my field. I don't study Western literature, and this fact obviously showed in my score ( a really, really low percentile). Here's my question: only 5 of my school's require the scores (most of which are the ivy's), so should I even bother attempting to take it again? Should I write about the score in a roundabout way in my SOP? I know that the other factors of my application will be pretty good. I took the exam 2 years ago and I only went up by 70 points (and that's with a Master's degree); My percentile tripled (this all sounds good, but trust me, it's not if you know my original score). Advice? Should I remove my other schools that want the Lit GRE? The fit is there. The other elements of my application are there. 

 

I really dislike these sort of exams, especially when they consist of nothing that my field is about. 

[Warelin]

I've emailed some programs anonymously to try to gain an understanding of their scores.

One school in the top 50 told me that a minimum of the 50th Percentile was needed to be looked at, but that they heavily preferred candidates in the 70th+ percentile). Another school in the top 20 told me that the average admitted student had a score of 660. Another school told me that they weigh the subject score more heavily for those who already have a Master's degree.

This information struck me as odd since the advice given around here suggests that it's just a checklist item.

[Dr. Old Bill]

This is ONLY my personal advice, based on what I am thinking of doing, so take it with a sizable grain of salt...

...but I think I'm going to nix Berkeley and Yale from my list, since my GRE subject score is still mediocre. It's a bit better than it was the last time I took it, but it remains somewhat below the 600 / 70th percentile that some schools seem to prefer. It annoys me greatly, since I KNOW the test is in no way an accurate picture of me as a candidate, but the reality is that some programs have the subject test scores as an unofficial cutoff. There are ALWAYS outliers and accounts of people getting into Ivies with sub-par scores, but the general tendency makes a crapshoot even more of a crapshoot. In other words, I think conventional wisdom around GC about the value of the subject test score is largely (but not entirely) wrong.

Also, to the school that @Warelin says weighs the GRE subject test score more for graduate students...screw you! Seriously, that, more than anything, demonstrates how clueless certain adcoms are about what is actually ON the subject test and how it is conducted. As I recall, there were maybe five questions on the test that engaged with stuff I learned as a Master's student. The rest all derived from my undergraduate knowledge. And it's not like I've suddenly become a faster or more critical reader in two years...or not to the extent that would make a difference on this abhorrent test.

In case you can't tell, I'm annoyed...

[Bumblebea]

5 hours ago, Wyatt's Terps said:

This is ONLY my personal advice, based on what I am thinking of doing, so take it with a sizable grain of salt...

...but I think I'm going to nix Berkeley and Yale from my list, since my GRE subject score is still mediocre. It's a bit better than it was the last time I took it, but it remains somewhat below the 600 / 70th percentile that some schools seem to prefer. It annoys me greatly, since I KNOW the test is in no way an accurate picture of me as a candidate, but the reality is that some programs have the subject test scores as an unofficial cutoff. 

I wouldn't nix them. Especially not Berkeley. I know people who went to Berkeley who bragged about how low their subject test scores were. 

[eyeshadow]

I think it really depends on the school. Some schools may just require it for the sake of requiring it, but probably the top schools that still want it (considering that many top programs are veering towards not accepting it or not requiring it) could be using the score as an important element in the scanning process. If you are really certain that there is a strong fit between you and the program, then why don't you just go for it?

[AnimeChic101!]

I think I may have to remove some programs. I could just apply, but I don't want to waste the money if they'll just too out my application because of my low score. I am nowhere even near that 50th percentile. I really mean it when I say that this exam actually has nothing to do with anything that my field is about. It is really frustrating, and I'm not sure why we continue to have these exams. The things is that there are some people who are obviously doing extremely well. What i've also noticed, is that a good majority of them (that i've interacted with) are working in the fields covered by the exam.

 

On the other hand, I also know some programs that have said that they ask for scores because it's required of them by the graduate school.  Wireline, i think that emailing the programs anonymously is a good idea. I may try to anonymously email my top choices that require the exam so that I can see if I should still apply to them. I have only 5 programs that want the subject test score. 

[AnimeChic101!]

6 hours ago, eyeshadow said:

 If you are really certain that there is a strong fit between you and the program, then why don't you just go for it?

I'll do that. I mean, I just don't want to waste money I don't have. I keep being told that I need to add safety programs to my list, but there aren't any...otherwise I would put the money towards them.

 

Also, would you by any chance feel comfortable sending me a PM about which programs said that? 

Edited October 16, 2016 by BlackRosePhD

[eyeshadow]

@BlackRosePhD   I haven't contacted any departments on the matter actually. But I've been reading some of the feeds here quite thoroughly, ones that were written like 3-4 years ago even, as I'm also applying this year. I don't think any school would explicitly tell their applicants that they don't care about the score, or that they screen their applicants first based on the score. My impression, however, is that if schools do specifically mention their average subject scores (USC, just to name one that comes across my mind right now), or indicate that they look at high scores of subject in applicants (Princeton) then I think scores do matter. Another thing I do is just to check out the program's requirements and handbooks, and to see if that school has requirements like, say, you have to take one course from all Medieval to Contemporary throughout your degree. Since subject does give you the chance to look at English lit from the beginning to end, I think those schools value the goal and want to see how ready the applicants are. 

[othersamantha]

On 10/15/2016 at 10:33 AM, Warelin said:

I've emailed some programs anonymously to try to gain an understanding of their scores.

One school in the top 50 told me that a minimum of the 50th Percentile was needed to be looked at, but that they heavily preferred candidates in the 70th+ percentile). Another school in the top 20 told me that the average admitted student had a score of 660. Another school told me that they weigh the subject score more heavily for those who already have a Master's degree.

This information struck me as odd since the advice given around here suggests that it's just a checklist item.

Is there any chance you're willing to name names here? Just curious as to what the policies of particular schools are.

[Warelin]

25 minutes ago, othersamantha said:

Is there any chance you're willing to name names here? Just curious as to what the policies of particular schools are.

I can't on these forums, but anyone who is interested may feel free to message me.

[othersamantha]

5 minutes ago, Warelin said:

I can't on these forums, but anyone who is interested may feel free to message me.

Will do, thanks!

[AnimeChic101!]

@eyeshadow, I also haven't encountered this (besides the one program that said they wanted to get rid of it but were not allowed to do so....aka the program I am in now )