GRE scores
 

What is a good GRE score to get into a top-tier grad school? If you have a good idea per section and the writing part, please let me know.

:) Thank you!

Re: GRE scores
 

It would be dependent on your area of focus and what schools are "top-tier" in that area. Generally schools give average GRE schools of their admitted students, so that prospective students can gauge where they fall. And even if you are "less than average" in comparison to other students, other factors influence admittance, like your statement of purpose and letters of rec.

Usually, the program will say they want a minimum of XXXX for the GRE score of applicants. I know the programs I applied to did, anyways :)

My school only required a 350 on each section. I think that's pretty low, right?

For 700 total? I agree with you that it's pretty low.


My program required 1000 total. I had to take the GRE twice, what a glorious experience :p

There are big differences between master's programs and ph.d. programs. additionally, there is a definetely a difference between the university's required GRE score and the department's expected scores. some individual programs will post info about the last five year's worth of applicants including average GRE scores. that may give you a better idea...

- marissa

Re: GRE scores
 

I was told point-blank for the PhD program I wanted at Brown, they wouldn't look at any applications that had a combined score lower than 1400. My particular program didn't require I send the scores, so I think I'm going to just not send them ...

It's cold there anyway ;p

I'm applying to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern as well as a few other J-school, and I've tried to look for a minimum score, but have not had any luck/ Does anyone have that information?

You probably should email the graduate coordinator at each program you are interested in. They would be able to provide you with that information.

Thanks! I'm taking the GRE on Wednesday, so I'm just trying to make sure I have everything taken care of.

Great J-school - if it wasn't for the distance from home, I was seriously considering going there for undergrad.

Contact the school - Medill is pretty competitive, so I'm guessing that either your score would have to be good, or your grades/portfolio would have to be solid.

piece of advice....
 

to anyone applying to a grad program, i encourage you to get in contact with the program director. if possible, i would make an appointment to meet with that person and perhaps a professor in the department. they would be able to clarify admission requirements and perhaps help you present the best application possible.

i did this over the summer for a program i was interested in and found that although the gre was required, it was a huge factor in deciding admissions. the director even told me that student were admitted with less than favorable gre scores but their other credentials were on point.

basically, the school/s you are applying to can answer your questions best.

good luck to everyone studying fro gres and applying to grad school!

I just looked at the scores for the school I'd like to go to and it said a combined score of 1000 is "desirable." So I'm studying like crazy over the break, April just seems to be getting closer and closer....

Learn your basic math formulas!

my experience with the GRE
 

1. the math is the exact same level of difficulty as the SAT

2. the verbal is much more difficult than that of the SAT

3. if you grew up in a country that does not have multiple choice tests (e.g. ME), you will most likely not do fantastically overall, BUT your math will outshine your verbal easily, even if you are bad at math in general