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Low GRE score - Should I retake it or not??


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I took the GRE this past May and my scores are as follows

 

Quantitative: 146

 

Verbal: 145

 

Writing: 4.0

 

 

I am really debating whether or not it is worth it for me to retake the GRE. In my experience taking standardized tests, no matter how many times I take them, I always seem to get the same score or increase by a point or two. 

 

Three out of the seven schools I am applying to do not even require the GRE, and the other four do not have a minimum score requirement, but say that a total score of 300 is competitive, and I happen to have a 291 overall. 

 

Based on what you all have heard or experienced, do you think it would be worth it for me to spend more money and retake the GRE or should I go with what I got? 

 

I do have a somewhat decent GPA (3.3) and I have great patient care experience and hours so do you think these would outweigh my GRE score? 

 

All advice is appreciated!

Thanks! (: 

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If you're applying to many schools that require the GRE, I'd probably give it another shot and aim for 300+. My GPA's were around 3.3 too, but my GRE was 315 / writing 5.5. The GRE doesn't carry that much weight, but I think you'll have more luck in the application process with 300+. 

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Download and review the math text at GRE.org. It's hard to change your verbal skills unless you need help with the logic of their questions. Getting 9 more points shouldn't be that hard.

 

It's a relatively small investment to pad your changes. Good luck!

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It's hard to change your verbal skills unless you need help with the logic of their questions. Getting 9 more points shouldn't be that hard.

I went from a 700 to 760 GRE Verbal between 1993 and 2008.  In that intervening 15 years I'd learned three new languages, two of which were Hebrew and Greek.  I was pretty impressed with myself. :-)

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Did you prepare well for the exam before you took it?  If you put in minimal effort the first time around, I'd say, with some regular work, you could seriously spike your score in 6 weeks or so.  If you took a course or undertook a significant practice regimen the first time, I'd predict your scores would not as radically improve using the same methods again.  I found the practice exams to be enormously helpful.  I got the ETS book with 3 exams and Manhattan review that came with a whole bunch.  Take at least two tests per week, and spend the interim studying the skills behind the questions you get wrong on your practice tests.  (Reviewing those tests is key.)  If you do that for 6 weeks, given your current score, you'll definitely beat 300.  Of course there are exceptions, but I've been told by several admissions people that GREs (much more than GPA) are looked at on more of a binary scale--meaning if you score above a 300 or so, you get a sort of check mark on your app and if you score lower than their threshold, you get raised eyebrows.  But I've also been told GRE (for PA applicants) tends to be among the least significant admissions factors.  It would be worth contacting each and every one of the 4 schools that require it to ask their admissions staff directly.  Every school is different.  That said, 6 weeks is no big deal, and a 300+ can only help.  To me, there's your answer.  Good luck!

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The importance of the GRE depends to some extent upon your undergrad institution. If you went to a well-known school with a good reputation and performed well, a low GRE might be regarded as a blip. If you went to a school that no one has heard of, adcoms will have to depend a little more on the GRE to compare your performance against people from other schools.

 

The other value of the GRE is that it can help identify people who struggle with standardized testing. I would not consider this grounds for excluding an applicant but it should lead to a process of determining how to improve. I don't think that anyone thinks a computerized standardized test is a great measure of what kind of clinician you will become, but it is what we have for now.

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  • 2 weeks later...

magoosh is extremely helpful and affordable! magoosh.com first week is free I think. I credit my GRE scores to that website

 

I am using magoosh right now and I took 2 practice tests, please tell me the practice test scores are close to the real scoring!! I am very happy with the scores I got from the practice test, do you have experience with that?

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I used Kaplan for my GRE prep after I took the test without studying and doing HORRIBLE on it.  I believe I took 7or 8 full length practice tests and saw improvements each time and when it came down to taking the real test again I had only raised my score 3 points from prior attempts. Had a terrible test.  I truly feel that the GRE is just a "weed out" tool for schools due to increasing application numbers.  I scored a 290 on my latest test and was accepted to PA school. the GRE has NOTHING to do with medicine and is a terrible test. I give Kaplan 2 thumbs up because they were very helpful after the classes ended and gave individual recommendations.  Like I said, I was accepted to school and start in the fall. My application looked as follows.

 

GRE 290

GPA 3.67

HCE 12,000+ hours

shadowing 60 hours

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If you have a good GPA, solid HCE (>500 hours), 50+ hours of shadowing and great letters, getting a sub-300 on the GRE isn't a big deal. If a school denied you solely on that, they would more or less have their heads up their you know what and you probably wouldn't want to go there, anyway. That being said, if you feel you can do better and increases your chances to get in, do everything you can to do just that. 

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I think you could definitely bring your score up, especially in the quantitative section, with a little study.  Also look at suggestions for the writing section on other websites.  Verbal is harder to improve in a short period of time.

 

A school on the West Coast I contacted two years ago said 295 is the minimum value they would consider.  Other schools, such as Philadelphia University and the University of Washington care less about GRE scores.  A little research, or even emailing your schools of choice directly, could guide your decision to retake the GRE.

 

Best of luck!

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