<p>I'm applying to Master's programs in measurement & statistics (along the lines of psychometrics / econometrics). From what I understand, quantitative ability is the most important criterion. My math and verbal scores turned out as I expected, but I am concerned about and surprised by my poor analytical writing scores. (I feel I could do much better.)</p>
<p>Analytical writing: 3.5 (18%), and I'm not an international applicant.</p>
<p>Due to application deadlines, I had to submit my statement of purpose and supplemental documents prior to receiving my GRE scores. Had I received the results ahead of time, I definitely would have addressed the low analytical score and possibly retaken the test or submitted a writing sample... My question is, how should I approach this now? Would contacting the department prior to decision time only draw more attention to the issue, or would retesting or submitting a late writing sample be an appropriate response?</p>
<p>I would especially appreciate it if one of you who has taken part in the applicant selection process would chime in. Thanks, all.</p>
<p>Note: If this message seems familiar to you, it's because I also posted it on thegradcafe.com.</p>
<p>Personally, I would not be too worried about it. If everything else seems fine it should not hinder you too much. Keep in mind these scores are a 6 point scale offering only half point increments. So yes, an 18% seems incredibly low, but the percentages have huge jumps in them by nature (I made a 4.5 which was 53%. I thought it was low too).</p>
<p>Also keep in mind, for math and science applicants a lot of schools do not even look at that score very much (there may be a basal cut off of 3 or 3.5) as the type of writing expected of you for that score in no way equals the type of writing you will be or are used to doing. Never in my science career have I been given a prompt 100% out of the ether and asked to write on it for 30 minutes then stop, with no prior knowledge, learning, or research. If you can write intelligently, that will be clear from your statement. Contacting the dept after the fact would definitely only draw negative attention to it. If anything, you might be prepared to talk about it at an interview.</p>