preparing for the verbal GRE

studdent
Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:38:37 +0000

This is what I learned from other cc-ers, profs, and my own personal survey:

It really depends on the program you’re applying to and also, who you’re competing with. If you’re at the border line (e.g. someone else has similar credential) then 300s / 400s verbal scores might make a difference. Remember, some schools use GRE as an initial cut-off, some use it to determine the recipient of the highest fellowships, some use it to overcome mediocre GPA, etc.

In my case, I was accepted to a number of excellent programs (not the top 4: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Caltech - well I didn’t even bother to apply to some). I did 800Q low400V, GPA is top 5% (from top 50 univ) with no peer-reviewed publications. My take home message is that GRE would be very important for those schools as all applicants are excellent in all dimensions or have nobel laurette recs / nature pubs. But I wouldn’t worry too much if you’re applying for math / engineering at some ivies or well-known public universities (top10usnews). Just get that 800Q and hope for the best =)

GL! keep us posted on your progress

ps: I think most profs already knew that GRE score is not an accurate indicator to begin with. But you have to understand that schools ranks according to the ‘reliable usnews’ will be impacted by low GRE score, and thus, it would negatively affect the overall credibility of the program, sadly…