How will an 88% GRE math sub weaken my stat/biostat PhD application

[stat18app]

Hi everyone,

I am applying to several stat/biostat PhD programs, and just got my GRE math sub score, which is mediocre (860, 88%). Given (I have heard) that admission committees usually expect higher math scores from international applicants, especially those previously majoring in math (and I am), I guess reporting it will most probably weaken my application.

However, there is a program, which does not require or recommend GRE sub, that asks "have you taken a GRE math subject test?" in the application forms, and I suppose there is no reason for me to answer "no" even though I will not send my official score there. I am struggling because I have no idea how this will negatively influence my application, and whether I should still apply there. I feel a bit awkward if I simply change a program, given that my referees have already submitted their LoRs.

Any suggestion or comment will be appreciated!

[statfan]

88% is a respectable score and I doubt that it will hurt your chances, actually it may help you if you come from a lesser-known school. It is not true that admission commitees expect higher gre math scores from international applicants. The fact that international students have higher scores than domestic students is simply because those who scored poorly did not submit the result. 

[stat18app]

59 minutes ago, statfan said:

88% is a respectable score and I doubt that it will hurt your chances, actually it may help you if you come from a lesser-known school. It is not true that admission commitees expect higher gre math scores from international applicants. The fact that international students have higher scores than domestic students is simply because those who scored poorly did not submit the result. 

Thank you! This makes me a bit more relieved. Anyway I should at least report it to the program asking this question... 

[abstract_art]

Jesus christ, 88% isn't mediocre for stats, even for internationals (Stanford's average is 82% and they're the only program that requires it). Definitely submit it wherever you apply. No biostat programs really even asks for it, so you'll be way ahead of the pack there.

[leafpile]

As an international student, I think it would depend on how other student from your school/country did on the GRE sub, and also the particular program you're applying to.

I do have the impression that admission committees expect higher scores from international students (although there's really no way of validating this). My guess is that they compare applicants to other applicants who have a similar training (i.e. students from your school or country). There're schools I know where many people applying to PhD programs score 95%+ on math sub, and students with lower scores usually avoid submitting the scores. It's not saying these people are "stronger" applicants. I think the adcoms would simply expect you to have a really high score if you've been through such heavy training.

That being said, 88% is indeed a respectable score and I don't think it would hurt to submit it unless you're from one of the schools I talked about...

Also, I think the adcoms know the math sub isn't a very good way of gauging advanced math training. It probably doesn't matter that much in the end, and you should be fine as long as you have good grades in advanced math courses. 

Hope this helps!

Edited November 29, 2017 by leafpile

[stat18app]

Thank you @leafpile and @marmle! Indeed I was previously in a school (as an undergrad, but I'm now in a grad program where no one takes GRE sub) where most students got 90%+, so I didn't feel it's good when I saw my score. And it's possibly true that the students who didn't expect to get 90%+ may have simply chosen not to take the test. I did hear that Stanford had an average of 82%, but am not sure whether it's still the case now. I guess the best option for me is to report it whenever asked, but I'm still a bit hesitant to submit it elsewhere. Many thanks again!