<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone knows some average GRE scores for top math programs (e.g. Stanford, MIT, Harvard, etc.). </p>
<p>I know the top guys don't release any official stats, so I was wondering if anyone here (who's applied to such programs) have any ballpark estimates.</p>
<p>I ask because I took the test today and got a V \in [650,750], Q \in [750,800], and want to know if I should consider retaking for a higher verbal?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Your Q is really important. I’m guessing top math programs will probably have 800’s. I don’t think V matters much at all, and your score is really good for math programs. GRE has stats on the average scores per academic field and I think you are well above the average for math verbal.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily trust the score ranges they give you right now. There’s indications that they’re way out of whack - i.e. the ranges are entirely different sets of percentiles. The “range” of 750-800 in verbal is entirely 99th percentile.</p>
<p>The whole reason they can’t give you exact scores is that nothing has been normed yet. So, take them with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Your scores are fine.</p>
<p>I applied to the top math PhD programs last year and asked a few professors (from different universities) whether I should study for the verbal section. Their unanimous response: don’t bother. As long as the verbal score is not so low that people might be concerned about your ability to communicate, no one cares. </p>
<p>I personally scored 610 on verbal and it didn’t hold me back. Lots of math folks seem to score in the 500s. Ironically, my international friends have higher verbal scores than my domestic friends (because they put MUCH more effort into preparing).</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses, guys (or girls). </p>
<p>This has very much eased my apprehension.</p>
<p>Also, @bobbydinero: is there a link anywhere for ETS’s averages you mentioned?</p>
<p>From what I have heard for admission to pure math grad programs, the math subject GRE can be very important (many top programs have explicit or implicit hurdles, e.g. they won’t look an any application with a math subject GRE below the 80th percentile). I’m sure that most applicants score in the 780 - 800 range on the quantitative portion of the regular GRE. For math grad school admission I don’t think much attention at all is paid to the verbal portion of the regular GRE.</p>