GRE
December 7, 2009 8:19 AM Subscribe
How do I handle my stupid GRE situation?
I am almost done with my MA and applying to Counseling Psych programs for the Fall 2010. These programs are competitive and I have been working my ass off. I have been most worried about my GRE score and have been seriously prepping. However...when I took the GRE on Saturday I totally F'd up the verbal section by completely dismissing the directions to "choose the word most opposite" and chose the definition instead. I didn't notice that I was bombing on every question until I was almost through with the section (about 20/30). I know that the reason that I did this was because of how I studied for verbal. To study I looked at words and picked the definition from a set of multiple choice- just like it looked on the GRE but...opposite. I'm super annoyed about the whole thing because I ACTUALLY KNEW THE WORDS which is apparently rare according to my peers. I also have some pretty extreme test anxiety and was having a hard time concentrating in general. I ended up not canceling my score because I wanted to know what score I got (you don't see it if you cancel), and I didn't want a cancellation of my scores (that can look bad). I did send the scores to my schools but when I retake they will get the first score anyway and I'm not sure if they will accept scores after the date that the application is due. Obviously, my verbal score sucked but everything else went really well. I feel very strongly that if I retake the test I will rock it out.
So I would like to let my schools know that they should expect a second score in mid-January- one that will more accurately assess my abilities. However, all the apps are due either January 10th or 15th and I can't retake until January 2nd (because you have to wait until the next calender month) which means that that part of my app will be late.
My questions:
- Should I call or email my 5 schools to see if they will accept a late GRE re-take score?
- What should I tell them about why I am retaking the test?
- If the schools do accept the late re-take score do I need to address the mistake in any other part of my application (the statement of purpose, a sticky note inside the packet reminding them that new scores are coming, etc.?)
- Any other suggestions or advise?
Thank you!
I am almost done with my MA and applying to Counseling Psych programs for the Fall 2010. These programs are competitive and I have been working my ass off. I have been most worried about my GRE score and have been seriously prepping. However...when I took the GRE on Saturday I totally F'd up the verbal section by completely dismissing the directions to "choose the word most opposite" and chose the definition instead. I didn't notice that I was bombing on every question until I was almost through with the section (about 20/30). I know that the reason that I did this was because of how I studied for verbal. To study I looked at words and picked the definition from a set of multiple choice- just like it looked on the GRE but...opposite. I'm super annoyed about the whole thing because I ACTUALLY KNEW THE WORDS which is apparently rare according to my peers. I also have some pretty extreme test anxiety and was having a hard time concentrating in general. I ended up not canceling my score because I wanted to know what score I got (you don't see it if you cancel), and I didn't want a cancellation of my scores (that can look bad). I did send the scores to my schools but when I retake they will get the first score anyway and I'm not sure if they will accept scores after the date that the application is due. Obviously, my verbal score sucked but everything else went really well. I feel very strongly that if I retake the test I will rock it out.
So I would like to let my schools know that they should expect a second score in mid-January- one that will more accurately assess my abilities. However, all the apps are due either January 10th or 15th and I can't retake until January 2nd (because you have to wait until the next calender month) which means that that part of my app will be late.
My questions:
- Should I call or email my 5 schools to see if they will accept a late GRE re-take score?
- What should I tell them about why I am retaking the test?
- If the schools do accept the late re-take score do I need to address the mistake in any other part of my application (the statement of purpose, a sticky note inside the packet reminding them that new scores are coming, etc.?)
- Any other suggestions or advise?
Thank you!
Send a very nice email to the graduate program coordinator (whoever is collecting the apps for the department) and have that person put a note in your file that a second set of GREs are expected by mid-January. Chances are they will be ready by the time the committee sits down to actually look at your file. You just need to make sure that the coordinator knows and can put the second score with your packet immediately when it arrives.
posted by slow graffiti at 9:18 AM on December 7, 2009
posted by slow graffiti at 9:18 AM on December 7, 2009
Keep in mind also that the admissions departments are not going to start reviewing your applications the night of January 10th. You can also call the admissions department after the deadline and verify that the new score has been added to your file.
Oh, and before you take the test again, take some time to study the test itself instead of just the material. You do not want to spend any time or mental energy on reading instructions and recognizing the types of questions. It's a standardized test; don't put yourself at a disadvantage because you studied words while other people studied how to pass. First and foremost, keep in mind that the first 10 questions are the most important due to the adaptive scoring system. It is far, far better to get 10/10, 5/10, 0/10 than 0/10, 10/10, 10/10.
posted by Behemoth at 9:21 AM on December 7, 2009
Oh, and before you take the test again, take some time to study the test itself instead of just the material. You do not want to spend any time or mental energy on reading instructions and recognizing the types of questions. It's a standardized test; don't put yourself at a disadvantage because you studied words while other people studied how to pass. First and foremost, keep in mind that the first 10 questions are the most important due to the adaptive scoring system. It is far, far better to get 10/10, 5/10, 0/10 than 0/10, 10/10, 10/10.
posted by Behemoth at 9:21 AM on December 7, 2009
Most of the graduate programs I've been looking at state that it takes anywhere from four to six weeks for ERS to send them the scores, that applicants should schedule the GRE appropriately, and that incomplete applications will not be accepted. It sounds like the schools may not have your scores by the time they review applications, but it may depend on the school.
Like slow graffiti, I think the best you can do is write to the graduate advisor or coordinator and let them know you'll be retaking the GRE, but I wouldn't include too much explanation. Not closely reading directions doesn't sound like something you'd want to mention. Including a note with your application (not in the statement of purpose) would probably be a good idea, too.
posted by lunalaguna at 9:26 AM on December 7, 2009
Like slow graffiti, I think the best you can do is write to the graduate advisor or coordinator and let them know you'll be retaking the GRE, but I wouldn't include too much explanation. Not closely reading directions doesn't sound like something you'd want to mention. Including a note with your application (not in the statement of purpose) would probably be a good idea, too.
posted by lunalaguna at 9:26 AM on December 7, 2009
My experience (as an international student) was that schools want submissions quite a bit of time before they are ever looked at. So when I explained to them that my GRE scores would arrive a few weeks after the formal deadline they did not mind at all.
I think a note and phone-call to the coordinator for each school is sufficient, I wouldn't mention it elsewhere in your application as the re-take might not be noticed by faculty anyway.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 9:51 AM on December 7, 2009
I think a note and phone-call to the coordinator for each school is sufficient, I wouldn't mention it elsewhere in your application as the re-take might not be noticed by faculty anyway.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 9:51 AM on December 7, 2009
You can get a feel for the test (for free ;) at the ETS website -- they have a super-realistic practice program that includes instructions, ugly design, everything. It is for PCs only.
FWIW, most of the discussions of scores that I've come across mention higher requirements for the quantitative section than the qualitative. I've seen ridiculous numbers like 500 for verbal and closer to 800 for the math paired together. So if you didn't retake it, you wouldn't hurting as much as someone* who bombed the math but did really well on the verbal.
*like me
don't get cocky about knowing all the words you saw on the verbal section
This is really true. When I took it, my test section, the extra one they throw in, was verbal, so I had two verbal sections. I did marginally better on one of them and so it started throwing in words I had never seen before.
posted by ramenopres at 5:50 PM on December 10, 2009
FWIW, most of the discussions of scores that I've come across mention higher requirements for the quantitative section than the qualitative. I've seen ridiculous numbers like 500 for verbal and closer to 800 for the math paired together. So if you didn't retake it, you wouldn't hurting as much as someone* who bombed the math but did really well on the verbal.
*like me
don't get cocky about knowing all the words you saw on the verbal section
This is really true. When I took it, my test section, the extra one they throw in, was verbal, so I had two verbal sections. I did marginally better on one of them and so it started throwing in words I had never seen before.
posted by ramenopres at 5:50 PM on December 10, 2009
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Also, a word of advice: don't get cocky about knowing all the words you saw on the verbal section. The adaptive testing programs used by the GRE adjust the levels of the questions depending on how many of the previous questions you've answered correctly; the more questions you answer right, the harder the questions get. Since you were providing the program with the wrong answers, it was most likely feeding you easier and easier questions.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:09 AM on December 7, 2009