<p>It seems like this question is usually reversed, but here goes - can my high GPA (3.96) compensate for mediocre GRE scores?</p>
<p>Is anyone else in this situation? Do admissions committees for PhD programs usually use a GRE/GPA combo or have separate thresholds for each? For context, this is in social psychology - which typically has atrociously large applicant pools. </p>
<p>I just don't understand it. I had excellent SAT scores - 99th percentile in the reading/verbal section and in the low 80s for the math. My GRE scores, by comparison, are less than stellar - 84th percentile Verbal and 71st percentile Quantitative.
I am retaking the GRE soon, but a reliable practice test indicates that my scores really haven't budged, so I've largely resigned myself to them. </p>
<p>Aside from the numbers - I have over a year of research experience under my belt, I completed an entirely original project this summer, and I am working on a follow-up study for my senior thesis. Though my lackluster timed writing scores wouldn't indicate this, I can probably drum up some damn fine statements of purpose. My letters of rec should also be very good. </p>
<p>None of that will matter though if admissions refuses to look at the rest of my application because of my scores. It's enough to make me pull my hair out. </p>
<p>Those are good percentages why would you even waste time retaking ? The GRE is the least important part of your application. Your GPA, letters of rec, personal statement, and research experience far outweigh the test. Your GPA is stealer and if you go to a high ranking school you’ll be set </p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don’t exactly go to a high ranking school. I go to one of the least prestigious public universities in my state. Also, who is Juliet, Catria?</p>
<p>Hi, I’m Juillet As Catria said, my PhD is in social psychology (and public health).</p>
<p>That sounds like 157-158 on quant and ~160 on verbal. My psychology department (top 20) recommended that students achieve roughly a 155 on each section to be competitive, and I think that’s fairly standard across top departments. You’ve got that, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much.</p>
<p>And yes, a high GPA can sometimes compensate for somewhat lower GRE scores (although I would say that the reverse is not normally true).</p>
<p>Generally speaking, graduate admissions are holistic. A lot of applicants fear that professors “won’t look at their application” or will “throw their application in the trash”, but that’s not really how it works - your application is evaluated as a whole, not on the basis of one number. An otherwise outstanding student might have lowish GRE scores overlooked, but yours aren’t even lowish - they are above the soft threshold that I would say most psych programs hover around. So I think you can relax on this. Retake it if you wish, but I doubt that your GRE scores alone will be what keeps you out.</p>
As Catria said, my PhD is in social psychology (and public health).</p>