<p>Hi, I'm a lil anxious about getting into a philosophy phd program in the USA. I have a philosophy degree from UMich with 3.8gpa/3.9 major gpa, my profs will write me strong letters, and I am pretty confident about my sample essay.</p>
<p>My only problem is my GRE scores. I am an international student and English is not my first language. I have 640 in verbal, 800 in math, and 5.5 in writing.</p>
<p>I <em>WANTED</em> to apply to top programs like Princeton and Columbia, but I know my verbal score is going to be a major drawback.</p>
<p>What do you guys think are my chances? Do you guys think that I should mention my background and address the low verbal score in my SOP?</p>
<p>definitely mention english is not your first language.</p>
<p>what do the grad schools recommend as gre scores? your verbal actually isnt too poor- isnt a 640 somewhere around the 85th percentile?</p>
<p>Thank you for the fast reply. I am not quite sure but I would guess their avg would be at least around 700 verbal. A lot of my friends who are also applying have above 700. 640 is about ~90%. (And by the way, a prof from my department has pointed out that "anything above 700 we consider roughly the same, but when we see something below 700, we take a note of it")</p>
<p>If the average is 700, that does indicate that some percentage of applicants scored below 700. ;)</p>
<p>Although every field (and every department) is different, it's not unusual for a committee to consider every score above a certain percentile roughly equivalent. I don't really see a 90th percentile GRE verbal score keeping you out of a program -- the GRE's just not that important, unless you really screw it up.</p>
<p>You've got a great GPA from an excellent school and a very strong GRE score. In the case of the schools I'm interested in for Classics/Archaeology, virtually all require the TOEFL and weigh it more heavily than the GRE Verbal for non-English students. </p>
<p>If the answers aren't on the websites of the schools you are interested in, just email and ask what the policy is for folks like yourself.</p>
<p>And always remember - the GRE is never the most important part of your application.</p>
<p>Thank you for your encouraging words, guys! Then the next question is, William, do you suggest that I take the TOEFL as well? The graduate schools don't require it because I have a BA from an American univ. However, if I do take it, I will certainly do well in it (I once took it for my undergrad admission), but it would cost me extra dollars and time.</p>
<p>I'd say if they don't require it then why spend the money!</p>