<p>I just took the new GRE today and received a score of 157 (560, 73rd percentile) for the verbal section and a 159 (750, 77th percentile) for the quantitative section. I know it's too late to retake them in time for upcoming application deadlines but am I overworrying? Is this too low for engineering? I understand that it's not an elite score but I'm just trying to put things in perspective. I guess my performance on the quantitative section looks better when using the older scale.</p>
<p>Seems like a good score to me. I got into a top 15 engineering program with a 650Q, but the other parts of my app made up for the low score. I would not worry at all.</p>
<p>schoolofhardnox, if you don’t mind me asking which program did you gain admission to? could you also give me and idea of how your other credentials were just so i can gain better insight? thanks!</p>
<p>It all depends on what kind of program you are aiming for and what the rest of your application looks like. If you have excellent grades and good research experience, it will tip the scales. Also if you are interested in a Masters, the criteria are different than for a Ph.D.</p>
<p>In any case, your verbal score is quite strong for an engineering student and that counts too.</p>
<p>GRE Quant is one of the dumbest things ever in Standardized Testing.</p>
<p>Who came up with the idea that a person who can do 5th grade math calculation perfect and as fast as possible predicts how good of a Biomedical Engineer pHd you will be?</p>
<p>some of the quant questions are so ambiguous it makes me want to punch an ETS employee in the throat.</p>
<p>One wonders why the engineering schools haven’t adopted their own standardized test as is the case for medical and law schools. GRE scores? Are they really useful in predicting academic or professional success?</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies everyone! I am in the process of applying for admission into Fall 2013 mechanical engineering doctoral programs. I graduated from Boston University with a dual BS in biomedical engineering & mechanical engineering; my cumulative undergraduate GPA is not great (overall: 3.17, engineering: 3.08, the GPA factors in transfer coursework done at a state school prior to transferring to BU). I’m primarily looking to specialize in mechanical engineering for specialization in orthopedic biomechanics, polymeric biomaterials, and mechanics of soft tissue.</p>
<p>I am also in my 3rd year as a research technician for a leading orthopedic lab, doing full-time biomaterials research on polymers. I am in the process of writing two 1st authored papers. I already have one publication (although it’s not 1st author). I am getting my recommendations from a BU professor with whom I’ve done well in an introductory course, as well as being the customer for my senior design course in ME; my PI/supervisor who has mentored me the past two years; and the co-director of the laboratory (among the top in his field).</p>
<p>My current list of programs:
- CCNY
- Dartmouth
- Drexel University
- SUNY Buffalo
- SUNY Stonybrook
- Boston University
- Columbia
- Cornell
- Duke
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Michigan
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Washington</p>
<p>uproot: Program was Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC-Davis</p>
<p>Yeah, test scores and GPA were low (3.2), but I also had 2 first author pubs in popular journals when I applied and 3 very good recs.</p>
<p>UG was at a top 10 public university</p>
<p>Depends on your academic and career goals…and of course school selection.</p>
<p>If you want a M.S. and want to do research, then GRE is important.</p>
<p>If you want a M.S. not long after the B.S., then GRE is important.</p>
<p>If you want a M.S./M.Eng for “resume decoration”, then you don’t need a GRE for some engineering schools (namely U-Wisconsin & U-Maryland).</p>
<p>I have a M.S. in Engineering…never took a GRE</p>
<p>that sounds like a pretty expensive way to “decorate” your resume.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>True, but not if you use:</p>
<p>1) Tuition reimbursement from your employer
2) Transfer graduate credits from a cheaper school</p>
<p>:-)</p>
<p>were you working part time at the company too? or were you just a student? I thought about doing that, maybe I still will… But I just don’t want to be stuck on a crappy campus with mediocre professors. That leaves only companies located in the big cities.</p>
<p>A 770 is a pretty typical score for accepted engineering students in general. Don’t sweat it too much- the gre can only keep you out, not get you in. And you did far better than the typical minimum threshold.</p>
<p>Just retake the GRE and get >= 90th percentile on the quantitative section!</p>
<p>seraphz, i’m pretty sure you didn’t read my post. i said it’s a bit too late given the upcoming deadlines.</p>
<p>I would say you won’t be disqualified. As someone mentioned, the GRE won’t get you in, but if it’s too low, you will be cut off.</p>
<p>That said, I’ll be honest, I think your quant is very low. Since you can’t retake it anymore anyway, I’d just go with it. You seem to have a strong app otherwise, so there’s a good chance it can make up for your low quant. </p>
<p>But the reality is, having less than 90 percentile is a huge red flag for top engineering schools.</p>
<p>@uprobot: yeah sorry man, I wish GRE can be easily ignored. But I’ve heard how admissions committee review the graduate applications. If your GPA is 3.9+ and you have amazing letters+publications+essay, they will ignore your low Q GRE. Otherwise maybe you should try applying for the spring semester and use the intervening time to fix your GRE. I completely agree with newmitgrad that anything less than 90% percentile is a huge red flag…</p>
<p>Unless you are talking about an elite engineering school, I think you are exaggerating a bit. A 790Q (90th) is not a prerequisite to get into most top 50 engineering grad schools, which, I believe, the thread author is interested in.</p>
<p>Well, sure, top 50 isn’t exactly being selective. I’m basing my advice on the list of schools that the OP posted. Schools like BU, the Ivies, Duke, Berkeley, GaTech will expect 90+. Even for the others, it’s not ideal because again, this is engineering. People generally score very well on quant.</p>
<p>@OP, I don’t mean to discourage you! Far from it, my own stats aren’t fantastic, and you certainly stand to gain by trying. 
However, I won’t lie to you like many people do online, I’d rather you know the truth, and honestly, your GRE is probably on the lower end for applicants at many of your target schools. </p>
<p>Since this is out of your control now, focus on what you can still control for this application cycle. Just do the best you can as far as putting together a great statement, recs, etc and give it a shot. Good luck!</p>