<p>Hey, just got my chem GRE scores, 770 and 75%. I really don't know much about the subject tests scores, so is this score competitive for top chemistry programs or not?</p>
<p>I don't think the GRE subject score is emphasized too much in admissions...but that score is very competitive for top programs, especially since international students tend to really skew the percentiles for a variety of reasons. I got a very smiliar score (780) and ended up getting into several top programs, but from what I've heard and seen I think that research experience and recs are still the most important things in chem admissions no matter what score you get on the GRE exams.</p>
<p>I've heard that anything between 50th and 70th percentile for an American student is respectable, and I've also heard that the majority of the admitted students at a top 5 university score in the 70th - 75th percentile.</p>
<p>That said, I've known people who received lower scores who were accepted into top tier programs, and I've known people who received scores in the low 70th percentile, and were not admitted to any top 15 schools.</p>
<p>The bottom line? That score will definitely not hurt you, but it's not a guaranteed acceptance. You should be proud of yourself - it's a difficult test, and I'm jealous of your score!</p>
<p>Hi. The comment about the importance of research is spot-on and explains why some with 700+ do NOT get accepted at top schools. A Yale chem prof on the admissions team told us that the GRE subject matter test is helpful for students coming from less well known programs but only an “disaster control” measure for others. An applicant with strong research experience and recs should shoot for 50% or better.</p>