Bombed GRE--what to do?

<p>470Q and 600V</p>

<p>I just bombed it. </p>

<p>I'm applying for PhD programs in Anthropology, my GPA is 3.7 (NYU) and I think the rest of my application will look good. Some deadlines are Dec 15th, others are Jan 1/2 or 15/16. I might have just another shot at it for the January deadlines....I WAS looking at schools like Brown, UC schools, Upenn, CUNY Grad Center, and Boston U. Now I don't even know, I'm very discouraged and scared out of my socks. I know Anthro is not a quantitative field but my verbal score is not hot either. </p>

<p>Any thoughts on chances or advice....I'm drawing a really sad, teary blank right now. </p>

<p>:'(</p>

<p>Reeeetake?</p>

<p>retake it for whatever schools will still accept GRE scores. some schools want your tests in by november 1 or 15.</p>

<p>i don’t mean this to sound as harsh as it’s going to, because i realize not everyone knows they want to go to grad school one or two years before they apply, but you should’ve had your first run at the GRE a lot earlier than this. you basically took the test at the last possible moment, giving yourself very few “outs” if you got a bad score.</p>

<p>and you’re right that anthro isn’t a very quant-oriented field, but there is some measure of stats work depending upon what stream of anthropology you’re in. the verbal score’s a bit shaky too. 600V will probably be between 80th and 85th percentile, which isn’t bad, in general, but you’re applying to a lot of top schools where applicants will be in the 95th percentile and up.</p>

<p>your score is going to raise red flags. it will not tank your application all together, though (some programs may base their cuts on GRE scores, but most don’t). you just need to make sure that every other part of your application is perfect. make your writing sample and SOP as strong as you possibly can (get a few trusted professors to look it over for you). if everything else is great, then a good number of schools will ignore the GRE score.</p>

<p>so, don’t give up, there’s definitely still a chance, but you may be too late to retake the test and you’d likely be better served perfecting the rest of your application instead.</p>

<p>Anyways, you can always apply next year. Don’t feel too sad and teary! Eat some chocolate.</p>

<p>Wow, ruxxam. Those are the only two choices huh? The OP either blanked out or has a learning disability. It couldn’t be that some people don’t test well, or that they haven’t been exposed to some of the concepts, right?
I don’t see how your post was very helpful. There are few worse feelings in the world than doing poorly on something so important. No need to rub the OP’s nose in it.
To the OP, it is too bad you can’t retake. But if the rest of your application is awesome, I would go ahead and submit and see what happens. People do get into grad school with bad scores.</p>

<p>take this as a lesson—dont do anymore last-minute things ( you should’ve taken your GRE LOOONG before grad school application)</p>

<p>I totally understand. I have my BA in soc and a MA in anthro when I should have been in a PhD program in 06 but I keep waitin till the last minute. My GRE scores suck worst then yours which means my chances of schools such as UM and CUNY and Yale arent too good and funding chance lower too. So I am like this is my trial run- CUNY, SF and UM and if I dont get into one then I will find a job for this year and dedicate all 2010 to GRE and personal statement. I waited till last minute so I get what I get.</p>

<p>Just make sure u have a good statement of purpose which links your interests to specific faculty.</p>

<p>Save time and money, do your PhD in the UK.</p>

<p>3.7 NYU and good refs open most schools to you. We dont have GREs.</p>

<p>I just sent off applications to two schools. the process really makes me frustrated! I’ve been drafting my statement over and over, wanting to add on this and that, just to get lost in my thoughts again. I wish you the best of luck! Lets keep in touch, if you want to know anything about how a fellow anthro is handling it. </p>

<p>Xo,
breath.</p>