uprobot

I just took the new GRE today and received a score of 157 (560, 73rd percentile) for the verbal section and a 159 (750, 77th percentile) for the quantitative section. I know it's too late to retake them in time for upcoming application deadlines but am I overworrying? Is this too low for engineering? I understand that it's not an elite score but I'm just trying to put things in perspective. I guess my performance on the quantitative section looks better when using the older scale.

SchoolofhardNOx

Seems like a good score to me. I got into a top 15 engineering program with a 650Q, but the other parts of my app made up for the low score. I would not worry at all.

uprobot

schoolofhardnox, if you don't mind me asking which program did you gain admission to? could you also give me and idea of how your other credentials were just so i can gain better insight? thanks!

xraymancs

It all depends on what kind of program you are aiming for and what the rest of your application looks like. If you have excellent grades and good research experience, it will tip the scales. Also if you are interested in a Masters, the criteria are different than for a Ph.D.

In any case, your verbal score is quite strong for an engineering student and that counts too.

jontaejones

GRE Quant is one of the dumbest things ever in Standardized Testing.

Who came up with the idea that a person who can do 5th grade math calculation perfect and as fast as possible predicts how good of a Biomedical Engineer pHd you will be?

spectastic

some of the quant questions are so ambiguous it makes me want to punch an ETS employee in the throat.

brainsprain

One wonders why the engineering schools haven't adopted their own standardized test as is the case for medical and law schools. GRE scores? Are they really useful in predicting academic or professional success?

uprobot

Thanks for the replies everyone! I am in the process of applying for admission into Fall 2013 mechanical engineering doctoral programs. I graduated from Boston University with a dual BS in biomedical engineering & mechanical engineering; my cumulative undergraduate GPA is not great (overall: 3.17, engineering: 3.08, the GPA factors in transfer coursework done at a state school prior to transferring to BU). I'm primarily looking to specialize in mechanical engineering for specialization in orthopedic biomechanics, polymeric biomaterials, and mechanics of soft tissue.

I am also in my 3rd year as a research technician for a leading orthopedic lab, doing full-time biomaterials research on polymers. I am in the process of writing two 1st authored papers. I already have one publication (although it's not 1st author). I am getting my recommendations from a BU professor with whom I've done well in an introductory course, as well as being the customer for my senior design course in ME; my PI/supervisor who has mentored me the past two years; and the co-director of the laboratory (among the top in his field).

My current list of programs:
1. CCNY
2. Dartmouth
3. Drexel University
4. SUNY Buffalo
5. SUNY Stonybrook
6. Boston University
7. Columbia
8. Cornell
9. Duke
10. Georgia Institute of Technology
11. Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute
12. University of California, Berkeley
13. University of Michigan
14. University of Pennsylvania
15. University of Washington

SchoolofhardNOx

uproot: Program was Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC-Davis

Yeah, test scores and GPA were low (3.2), but I also had 2 first author pubs in popular journals when I applied and 3 very good recs.

UG was at a top 10 public university

GLOBALTRAVELER

Depends on your academic and career goals....and of course school selection.

If you want a M.S. and want to do research, then GRE is important.

If you want a M.S. not long after the B.S., then GRE is important.

If you want a M.S./M.Eng for "resume decoration", then you don't need a GRE for some engineering schools (namely U-Wisconsin & U-Maryland).

I have a M.S. in Engineering.....never took a GRE

spectastic

that sounds like a pretty expensive way to "decorate" your resume.

GLOBALTRAVELER

True, but not if you use:

1) Tuition reimbursement from your employer
2) Transfer graduate credits from a cheaper school

:-)

spectastic

were you working part time at the company too? or were you just a student? I thought about doing that, maybe I still will... But I just don't want to be stuck on a crappy campus with mediocre professors. That leaves only companies located in the big cities.

andrew1007

A 770 is a pretty typical score for accepted engineering students in general. Don't sweat it too much- the gre can only keep you out, not get you in. And you did far better than the typical minimum threshold.

seraphz

Just retake the GRE and get >= 90th percentile on the quantitative section!