GRE and Grad School Chances

<p>Hey all. While in the middle of preparing to apply for grad school MA programs in International Relations and PhD programs in Social Work/Policy, I just found my old GRE scores. They were apparently worse than I remembered them to be. </p>

<p>I took it in December 2004 and scored V-460 Q-610 and AWA-4.0.<br>
I graduated from a state university with a BA in Linguistics and a 3.5 GPA.</p>

<p>However, since that time I have gone on to get an MA in area studies from a foreign university; win 2 fellowships, including a fulbright; and publish a few pieces of work.</p>

<p>I also have a little over 5 years work experience divided among social work, public policy, and education.</p>

<p>I was not planning to take the GRE again and had written an addendum with my application to the schools. What do you think about this versus taking it again?</p>

<p>Could you give honest feedback on my chances at the following schools please?</p>

<p>MA
Princeton - Woodrow Wilson - MPA
Columbia - SIPA - MIA
Syracuse - Maxwell - MAIR
George Washington - Elliot - MA IR</p>

<p>PhD
Brandeis - Social Policy
Bryn Mawr - Social Work
Chicago - Social Work
Harvard - Sociology and Social Policy
Minnesota - Social Work
Northwestern - Human Development and Social Policy
Princeton - Sociology and Social Policy
Suny Albany - Social Work
UNC Chapel Hill - Social Work</p>

<p>Thanks in advance and let me know if I can clarify anything.</p>

<p>Personally I would take it again, no doubt.</p>

<p>Your score as is may be prohibitive at some schools in just getting the application past the first gateway and to the department for review. The fact that you have an MA leads me to believe you should have no problems doing better on it the second time around.</p>

<p>I took the GRE as an exit exam from my undergrad without studying and did not do spectacularly (about the same as you, actually). I took it again after my masters and scored a few hundred points higher.</p>

<p>It will cost you $140 in the US, but that includes reporting to 4 schools which is normally $20 each, so it is really just $60 if you applying to at least 4 schools.</p>

<p>I cannot speak about the schools you listed, but you should check if they have a minimum GRE to apply. I know most places that I applied to required at least an 1100, many were 12-1300, so a 1070 might not even get you in the door.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>I agree, you should take it again. While your non-GRE related stats are great (A Fulbright always looks good), schools sometimes have a minimum GRE score requriement. Even in Engineering, you have to score above a 500 on the Verbal section or otherwise you need to take TOEFL.</p>

<p>Haha, one of my friends (a white dude from San Diego) scored a 790M 470V; I would have loved to see his face if he had to take the TOEFL.</p>

<p>Re-take (10 chars)</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice. I have decided to retake it and will schedule it for the 18th.</p>

<p>I would suggest trying a practice test. It sounds as if you have learned and done a lot since you last took the test. I wouldn't be at all surprised if your verbal score were now significantly higher -- without any additional prep work. Taking a practice test would g ive you a better idea of where you stand and refamiliarize you with the format of the test.</p>

<p>Thanks to the folks who posted the two new responses. Just to conclude this thread I already retook the GRE and did score higher on the verbal section and writing sections. Q was in the same relative range. I do not plan on taking it anymore, as 2 times is enough for me.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>