<p>I'm majoring in CEE and have a 4.0 GPA from a non high-ranked U in FL. I have some research experience and I think I will get some good LOR. I am trying to apply to UC Berkeley, Stanford, UIUC and some other high-ranked grad school, just taking my chances.</p>
<p>Well, the problem is that I completely bombed the GRE Verbal on Friday. 320 V / 790 Q. I do plan on take it one more time at the beginning of Jan, but some school applications are due now. Should I put those score in? And how much does this gonna hurt me? Do you recommend on retaking it?</p>
<p>And yes, I knew I should have taken it like 5 months back, but school/work/FE exam fully occupied me till December. I pulled so many all-nighters this semester that most of my days seem to become 48 hours workday. :(.</p>
<p>Thanks for advice.</p>
<p>At those schools a sub-500 V will hurt you - its not that they can’t look past it on an otherwise strong application (they can), its that they have other candidates who didn’t bomb and who are about as strong. You can make it up some with a dynamite SOP, and/or if you have been published, but right now your app makes it questionable that you can put together scholarly papers. That may not be the case at all, but in engineering apps, the only ways they can tell are by your GRE, SOP, and pubs, and only the GRE is guaranteed to be actually your work! You made one of the classic applicant mistakes: ALWAYS leave yourself time to retake tests like the GRE.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, what is your field? For most engineers, the FE exam is not really worthwhile going into grad school, and sounds like it was a distraction for you during applications.</p>
<p>I “think” I did okay in writing, but I shall see in a few weeks. English isn’t my first language and verbal just isn’t my strength at all; I will study the vocabs this winter break and try a retake.</p>
<p>Structural & environmental engineering. I should have put the FE and a few of my classes in spring instead. I admit it’s a bad planning on my part.</p>