jj2270

Hi All,

Here's my situation. I'll be graduating in the spring with a bachelors (from a well known school with a strong program) in biomedical engineering and a minor in maths. I managed to keep a 3.8 GPA, get a ton of research experience, and obtain some really strong recommendation letters. I'm looking to get a masters in computer science, and I'll be applying to some top programs.

So I took the GRE a few weeks ago and actually got 170s on the math and verbal sections. I was super happy about it, but I just got my AW scores and I only earned a 3.5. Should I retake them? Should I request a regrade (55 dollars and 4 weeks)? I'd like to know what you guys would do in my situation. I really thought I wrote great essays, and according to my Kaplan prep teacher, my practice essays were always in the 5-6 range.

FYI - I feel like I got really lucky with the verbal section, and I'm not confident I could score that high again.

Thanks,
J

ccpsux

I think your GRE is superb. The AW isn't impressive but not atrocious either. I feel your general GRE score won't be a decisive weakness of your application by any means.
However, given that your major is not CS, I would strongly recommend you take the GRE CS subject test.

jj2270

Thanks ccp. Still it feels like I worked super hard to build up a good application and then blemished it with a crappy AW score. As far as the GRE CS subject goes, I'm not really qualified to take it since I wasn't a CS undergrad. It tests things I haven't learned.

Most schools say it isn't required though, and they just want demonstrated technical ability. Maybe they're trying to seem more accommodating than they actually are? No clue. I wasn't planning on taking it though.

ccpsux

Well, the thing is, stellar CS schools would most likely want you to have the basics in the fundamentals of computer science before you pursue their master degree.

The thing is, you don't have anything to show in your application telling them that you know the basics.

jj2270

As far as classes go, I've taken several in pattern recognition, numerical modeling, and signal processing, which are all heavy on computation and algorithms. All of my research has been very much CS related too, and some of it has even been out of the CS department. I really hope that's enough though. What do you think?

juillet

Nobody cares about the analytical writing score unless it is truly abysmal, which a 3.5 is not. Don't waste your money on a regrade (and hardly anyone's score changes on a rescore anyway, and note that your score can go down, too).

ccpsux

If you don't plan on taking GRE CS subject test, I suppose you would like to have your letter writers talk about your CS ability.

jj2270

Yep, that's the goal. All of my recommenders are are aware of my intention to switch to a different engineering field, and I asked them to mention it in their letters.