<p>I've not read in several threads how scoring high on the GRE can actually hurt your application in some ways. I was wondering if anyone can actually explain this to me. </p>
<p>As for my situation, I have yet to take the GRE (October planned). And seeing how I graduated with a 3.4 GPA, I figured I need to score very high on the GRE to make my application more competitive for the programs I wish to get into. </p>
<p>Any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I have not heard of any particular problems with having a high GRE. I suppose if you have a really strange application, it might raise an additional red flag - like if you had a really mediocre app but absolutely aced the test - but even then you were probably already rejected, so what harm did it do?</p>
<p>I cannot think of any scenario in which a very high GRE would hurt one’s chances for admission.</p>
<p>Yes. Getting a high score on the GRE is very bad… if you’re applying to CS graduate programs and are trying to get financial assistance through assistantships or fellowships. Particularly if you are applying to schools like Maryland College Park and Texas @ Austin.</p>
<p>For these schools and those programs, you’re going to want to aim for a respectable 300/200/2. A gentleman’s GRE score. And don’t take the GRE CS subject test, either. They love that.</p>
<p>Don’t let your GPA get too high, either. They’ll think you have no time to devote to research since you must be studying so much. You might want to get that 3.4 down to a 2.8 or so.</p>
<p>If you’re not going into CS or applying for assistantships at the schools listed, do the opposite of everything I said.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help Auburnmathtutor. BTW, Roll Tide, Roll.</p>