Which GRE scorse to send?

[QuantumQualia]

I'm applying to the most competitive schools for the program most relevant to computational neuroscience.

I took the general twice and the physics subject test once (not required for this program). I am confused which scores to send, particularly because my physics GRE score has no come out yet and I'm not sure if I did well or not (both cases are possible).

Here are my general GRE scores:

2014: 

V 158

80

Q 163

84

W 5.0

93

2017: 

V 165

96

Q 169

96

W 4.0

60

So should I just send 2017 (general only), both 2017 and 2014 general? And what about physics, should I send that along with it since it's all one price, which I do not know the score to? I need to send scores asap.

[TakeruK]

It depends on whether this school appears to value Q/V more or AW. If you are not sure, then sending both probably won't hurt. It shows your 5.0 in AW and an improvement in Q/V over time. I also don't think it will be that big of a deal if you only sent 2017.

If the Physics score is not required and not relevant to this program, don't send it, even if it's free. The biggest exception I can think of is: 1) you did well on the PGRE and 2) the computational neurosciences program is (for some reason) housed in the physics or applied physics department where Physics profs will also evaluate your application. But this doesn't seem to be the case here.

[QuantumQualia]

Okay, so my physics GRE scors came out yesterday, seems like I won't be applying to physics.

I got 830 on PGRE which is 74 percentile so nothing spectacular. I suppose when applying to non-physics departments, it's not worth sending?

[TakeruK]

6 hours ago, QuantumQualia said:

Okay, so my physics GRE scors came out yesterday, seems like I won't be applying to physics.

I got 830 on PGRE which is 74 percentile so nothing spectacular. I suppose when applying to non-physics departments, it's not worth sending?

I'm of the opinion that you should not send anything that is not actually required. It would be so weird for a biology department to receive Physics GRE scores when they never asked for them, for example.

74th percentile is a good score. If you are applying to programs that aren't pure physics and say the PGRE is "optional", it's worth sending if it doesn't cost you more. For example, I am thinking of biophysics, astrophysics, geophysics, planetary science programs etc. For my PhD school, I sent in 40th and 50th percentile PGRE scores and I got in (it was a planetary science program). However, I also got into some astrophysics programs that are based in physics departments too.

So, if you are actually interested in physics PhD programs, don't think that a 74th percentile means you can't get in anywhere. Unless a school told you that you are below their cutoff, if there is a good match, you should apply.

[QuantumQualia]

On 11/24/2017 at 1:05 PM, TakeruK said:

I'm of the opinion that you should not send anything that is not actually required. It would be so weird for a biology department to receive Physics GRE scores when they never asked for them, for example.

74th percentile is a good score. If you are applying to programs that aren't pure physics and say the PGRE is "optional", it's worth sending if it doesn't cost you more. For example, I am thinking of biophysics, astrophysics, geophysics, planetary science programs etc. For my PhD school, I sent in 40th and 50th percentile PGRE scores and I got in (it was a planetary science program). However, I also got into some astrophysics programs that are based in physics departments too.

So, if you are actually interested in physics PhD programs, don't think that a 74th percentile means you can't get in anywhere. Unless a school told you that you are below their cutoff, if there is a good match, you should apply.

It's all one cost regardless of what I choose to send: All general and subject test scores or any combination of them.