GRE Cutoff Scores for Biology

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi everyone. I'm in quite the jam and need some help. I'm a senior biology major (domestic) with an interest in cell biology. Last year, as a junior, I took the gre general test and did OK but not great: Q 710 V 620 AW 4. I wasn't very happy with it and was going to retake it, but my adviser told me it was a waste of time and to stop worrying about it. He was adamant that they would not hurt my application since I had a very strong resume otherwise. Unfortunately, I listened to him. Now, it's time to apply and I'm freaking out after reading some of the grad school forums and department webpages of the top programs. It seems that I may be under the unofficial cutoff scores for the top schools. Here is what MIT's biology department lists as their average gre scores:</p>

<pre><code> Verbal (632; 86%),
Quantitative (760; 85%), and
Writing (5.3; 81%).
</code></pre>

<p>Mine are horrible compared to those! Thanks to my careless adviser, I now have two options: </p>

<p>1) I try and schedule a gre test at the end of this month (so the scores will arrive on time) and just focus on studying for the AW and quantitative sections. However, my verbal scores will be horrible since I'll have no time to go over vocab (which is a big weakness for me). I don't know if this would raise any red flags and I don't even know if I have time to properly prepare for the other sections. Perhaps I could just not answer any verbal questions and just get a zero? My old verbal scores are good, so perhaps just focusing on the AW and Q while ignoring the verbal section might be OK.</p>

<p>2) I hate this one, but I'm thinking that taking a year off from school and reapplying next year might be my only good option. I would be able to study for the gre and be fully prepared for it. Otherwise I might end up spending $1000's on grad applications this year and next (reapplying). This is the least appealing option though, since I'm very excited about starting grad school and would have to instead end up getting a job next year.</p>

<p>Any advice? Before you mention it, applying to less prestigious schools is not acceptable. I'm looking at the top 20 or so schools. I worked too hard to end up at somewhere I don't want to be just because of an incompetent adviser. Please help :(</p>

2

<p>your advisor is right. GRE does not matter to that degree.</p>

3

<p>where did you do your undergrad? It’s my impression that GRE scores matter more for less well known undergrads, as the professors have less of an idea of the quality of the school and of how well you will be prepared for graduate school. Good grades in upper level/grad classes, and very good letters of recommendations and research experiences can definitely make up for relatively poor GRE scores.</p>

4

<p>Your advisor is not incompetent. Those scores will not keep you out of any top biology PhD programs. The “worst” of your three scores is the 710 in Q, but even that is not poor enough to undermine your application.</p>

<p>I will also tell you that not a single acceptee to MIT’s biology program was accepted because of his or her GRE scores; I know several of the admissions committee members from my time at MIT, and I know that is a statement they would agree with. The only reason the average appears so “high” is because the best applicants TEND to have good scores, but not all of them do.</p>

<p>Relax about your scores. They are just about the least important aspect of your application.</p>

5

<p>I have a GRE score of 800M, 410V, 4.0W, and I may apply for MIT as well. As you said above, the GRE is probably the least important aspect of the application, but my verbal score awfully low. Is this too low to get my application rejected, or will it not matter much?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any replies.</p>